Page 38 of Pack of Crooks
Pack Lennox is running this show.
“Meet our new recruit, Bubblepop.”
My lips curl into a grin, but it’s probably good Bubblepop can’t see my expression. The Ghost Face mask turns in my direction. The weight of her gaze is more curious than vicious, definitely less intimidating than Ezra’s mask.
“Mmm. Fresh meat,” Bubblepop muses. “What’s your codename, sweetheart?”
I hesitate. I spent all of thirty seconds contemplating a good alias. It’s not the most creative, but it’s fitting given the interaction with Ezra in the hallway. I glance at him and murmur, “Prey.”
Ezra shifts closer, arm brushing mine. My skin buzzes at the contact. Electrified by a seemingly innocent touch. “Prey it is.”
Bubblepop cants her head. “Wolf, Bear, Hawk, and their prey.” A scatter of laughter fills the room. “Does she know what she’s getting into?” The genuine concern in her tone surprises me.
That reminds me, I have yet to learn what they wanted an omega for. I know absolutely nothing and I hate being in the dark. I assume I’ll learn the details tonight. What if I can’t do what they need? What if I’m not prepared for the job? Regardless of the hesitancy swirling inside of me, I know I have to stay. For Lottie. No matter what the job is, I’ll find a way to make it work.
“It’s time for orientation,” Kill says. His words inspire more chuckling, and I shift on my feet, debating how long it would take me to get to the door and if they’d even let me out alive nowthat I know where their hub is. Before I can decide, Ezra grabs my hand and pulls me toward a door painted the same black as the walls. Kill and Maddox meet us there.
I hadn’t seen it earlier because there’s no handle, but as we get closer, the outline is more pronounced. All eyes are on me as Ezra accesses a keypad on the side panel. The pocket door automatically rolls back and he releases me, sweeping his hand toward the room.
The three of them crowd the entryway, making it impossible for me to slip by without touching them. My gaze flicks between their masks quickly before taking in the simple office. A basic desk facing a wall of monitors, half of which are showing camera feed of the hub space. There’s a sitting area and a coffee machine. The ergonomic chairs are fancy, probably stupid expensive. There are no decorations. No personalization. But I guess that makes sense.
No reason to leave behind anything that might give away who you are.
“Tick tock, pretty thief.” Kill. His mask might be a different color, but I know his size. . . his voice even while distorted has that same melodic, almost deranged mad scientist quality to it. Did they really think I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart?
“Having second thoughts?” Maddox asks.
I probably look like a deer caught in headlights. Straightening, I stride into the room and turn, watching as the three of them enter, filling up the space with their size, blocking my only escape and closing us in the room together. My pulse flutters, but not because I feel trapped. My scent sweetens in the air. Apparently, my body has decided this pack is safe and I’m not complaining.
The three of them breathe in at the same time and I bite my lip under the bunny mask, relieved they can’t see the flushblooming over my cheeks. What is it with this pack that turns me into a blushing virgin?
Then they move in sync, approaching me slowly, and with every step they take, my stomach flips in anticipation. They could kill me and I think I might enjoy it. My head tips back as the pack stops before me.What are they thinking?What I wouldn’t give for them to take their masks off.
“Why are you here?” Ezra asks, stepping to the right. Kill and Maddox move with him, circling me. It’s so very predatory and my pulse drums in my ears, breath catching as they stalk around me.
“I need money,” I say, throat suddenly dry.
“Why do you need money?”
I turn, moving with Maddox and answering his question with one of my own. “Is that any of your business?”
Kill’s finger brushes along my back, making me turn to him. “Don’t forget we’re courting you. Your business is our business. Why do you need the money?” he asks again.
“My sister,” I confess. They know about her, but they don’t know the whole story. “My mom died and I managed to get custody, but finding work when the only skills I have are illegal isn’t as easy as it seems.” I glance away from the Xs of his mask. “I have to take care of her, and my car just got repossessed. The types of jobs I qualify for don’t exactly have a work life balance, so, here I am.”
“Here you are,” Kill murmurs, drawing my focus back to his mask. He’s wearing the green one today. It doesn’t seem right though. What I know of Killian so far is that he’s a vibrant, unbridled red. Green is too tame. Blue is too controlled.
“Sorry your omega is a mess.”
“We love messes,” Ezra murmurs.
They slowly move around me, inching closer, and this time, Maddox stops in front of me. “You’re here and we’re courtingyou, which means we’re extending a certain level of trust, but that means nothing to those people out there. In Resistentia, trust is earned.”
“You have to prove you’re here to contribute to the mission,” Ezra continues, taking Maddox’s place. “You have to prove you’re not a snitch. Are you a snitch, pretty thief?”
“No.” That I can say with confidence.
Kill fills the space Ezra vacated. The other two stand at my back, close enough the electricity between our bodies tightens, threatening to pull me into their arms. Do they even realize how magnetizing they are? Kill laces his hand around my throat. My stomach flutters. Heat swoops to my core. Probably not the sanest reaction. His mask hovers over mine. “Do you know what happens to people if they betray us?”
