Page 63 of The Twelve Knots of Christmas
“Don’t speak to my wife that way.” Theo said it from the other side of their SUV with one foot already in the car. There was no strength in his words.
I gave him a sharp try-me smile. “Now get the fuck off our land before I call the cops to arrest you for trespassing.” I didn’t wave as I walked off. I didn’t even look back. Screw them. “Happy fucking Christmas.”
Mariska’s family wouldn’t contact her. I was sure of it. That was one more reason why we had to do something. I looked at Balthazar. “We need a plan.”
He finally stopped pacing and came to stand opposite of me around the kitchen island. “What about what you and Lucian were working on with the job?”
I gnashed my teeth. The whole mess was turning out to be more difficult than I anticipated. So much bureaucratic bullshit, and it was extra slow because it was almost Christmas. “Nothing is settled yet. I texted Dale three times this morning for news, but I haven’t heard a thing.”
“What about Blue Skies? It’s not ideal but—”
“Mariska won’t go back there. She’s not going to take just any job.” That was one thing I could be certain about. She’d called the board sexist assholes who only cared about profit not the environment. “She’s smart and talented, and fuck, she’s full of fire.”
“Damn right she is.” Balthazar smiled tightly and reached for the beer I opened. He took a gulp and groaned. “Did you see the way she called me out on my lie? I need that Omega.”
I couldn’t help but grin that he liked the fact she didn’t take any of his bullshit.
He tapped the bottle on the counter. “You know I only did it to make things go smoother with her family, right? I didn’t want them to think she was shacking up with a pack just to get knotted. The rest of the world doesn’t understand how it is between Alphas and Omegas. I wanted to make her look good. I want her to have a loving family. All I want to do is take care of her and make her happy.”
“I get it, man. I do.” It’s all I wanted as well. If I’d been the one to arrange the Belmonts coming to the house, I might have done the same thing.
The front door opened, and I dashed out of the kitchen. Mariska was back.
My heart was pounding as I rounded the corner to see Lucian holding a bunch of grocery bags and kicking off his boots. No Mariska.
It felt like I had slammed into a wall of ice.
“We’ve got to make a plan to get Mariska back.” Lucian walked past me to the kitchen. At least we were on the same page. A single-minded pack was a force to be reckoned with.
“What happened? Where is she now?” Balthazar demanded as he loomed over him.
“I drove her to Primrose House, and then to the hospital. Without Lyla. Something went on in that house.” Lucian frowned and shook his head. He set the bag on the counter and leaned forward. “I waited for a while at the hospital. I peeked in at her and she was with Eloise. Minnie, you know, Derek’s cousin, works as a nurse, told me Mariska asked for a cot because she’s spending the night there.”
“So we go bring her dinner and get her to come back to us.” Balthazar burst out, grinning as if it would be that simple.
Lucian and I shook our heads.
“She wouldn’t see us. Not tonight anyway.” I focused on the goal. This was a huge thing. A major change her entire lifetype of choice for Mariska. We couldn’t do it over a bucket of fried chicken or butter burgers.
“It has to be a big gesture.” Lucian tapped his fingers on the counter.” We have to show that we’re willing to change our lives for her as much as she will have to if she chooses to stay with us.”
“Like what? Say we’d go to California with her?” Balthazar folded his arms. “We can’t leave the farm.”
I didn’t want to leave the farm either. This was our whole lives, but that was the thing, wasn’t it? We were asking Mariska to give up her whole life to be with us. “I could do a lot of my work remotely. We could buy a second house in California and take turns spending time there with her. We can make it work. We have to show her that she comes first.”
“That’s fucking shit.” Balthazar huffed.
“I’d do it.” Lucian didn’t hesitate, but his gaze went to Balthazar. “Don’t you think she’s worth it?”
Balthazar growled and hit the counter. Pulling at his hair, he started pacing. Again. “I can’t lose her. I can’t. So I guess, yeah. Fuck. I hate it, but if we can make it work. Shit, maybe I would give up the farm for her.”
“Then it’s settled.” I slung an arm around Lucian and gave him a hug before reaching over to pat Balthazar on the back. We were together until the end. Everything had to be perfect for Mariska. She deserved nothing less than all of us hearts, bodies, and souls. “All right. Let’s get some food together and sit down to make a plan. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and we need to make a miracle happen.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - Mariska
It didn’t matter that the cot was incredibly uncomfortable, I would have slept like crap in my own bed. Without my Alphas.
No. Not mine anymore.
