Page 43 of The Knotty Girls Club

Kinsey licks her lips and bobs her head, using the back of her hand to wipe her eyes. I hate that she is going through this. She doesn’t deserve this kind of terror.

“Okay.” It’s all she can manage to say, and I don’t prod for anymore. She’ll speak her thoughts when she’s ready. I’ll do what it takes to prove I’m here for her regardless.

I kiss the tip of her nose and then her forehead. “I swear we’ll get everything in order. It won’t be long until Gilded Sands is under our reign.”

Her waning smile hurts more than if she didn’t smile at all. “I know.”

I hope she believes me. I wish she hadn’t taken another suppressant pill, so I could really ensure that she’s good. It’s harder to read her on her visual cues alone, apart from the fear. She worries about our situation, considering our bond is forbidden in Saint Vista. The only way I can prove I’m in it forever is to act on my promise and see it through.

Silence fills the air as we wait for Desmond, but it’s not awkward or unwanted. It calms Kinsey down, allowing me to listen to her heart settling to beat in sync with mine.

It only takes Desmond ten minutes before he appears with Holly. She carries a small bag, and another one hangs on Desmond’s shoulder. He already knows the backup plan and where we’d take Holly if we had to. Holly shuffles toward the car and doesn’t wait for Desmond to open the door to the backseat. She slides in and frowns at me, peeking over the seat to glance at Kinsey still glossy-eyed and frozen with her nerves.

Desmond circles the car, waiting for me to roll down the window. He leans in and gets close to my ear. “Everything is clear, but Wilder wants some time with the guy. I’ll join you as soon as Dad leaves. If he asks about you, we’re going to say that you went out with Kinsey.”

“Sounds good, brother. I’ll send you a couple messages as soon as we arrive at my apartment. Kinsey recognized the guy and might be able to help.” I keep my voice low, whispering the words to keep Kinsey and Holly from overhearing. “She’s in shock right now, so I don’t want to overwhelm her.”

Demond nods. “I understand. Now keep them safe, or you’ll lose your fucking head. Wilder’s promise.”

The bastard. How dare he threaten me. He knows that I’m plenty capable of protecting Holly and Kinsey.

Leaning through the open window, Desmond stretches his arm and touches Kinsey’s cheek. “I’ll see you later, Kinsey. Have Enzo let me know if you need anything. He’s going to take good care of you.”

Her pouty mouth trembles with her whisper of okay, and I can tell that Desmond wants to just join us in the car right now. But he can’t. He needs to help our brothers. And all I want to do is get out of here.

I wait until Desmond disappears back through the tunnel before hitting the opener to the garage. Holly and Kinsey instinctively hunch down, though no one would be able to see them through the dark tinted glass.

I peek in the side of my peripheral vision, spotting Kinsey reaching back and taking Holly’s hand. I feel terrible and angry for both of them. Their lives have come crashing down because of alphas, who should be the ones protecting and treating them as the most precious beings in the world. And that’s something I want to change. There are far too many brutal pack leaders. They can’t see how they’re only setting up their lives to fail. They won’t have the same loyalty. Others will have enough and rise against them. I’ve seen it myself. I’m living it now. Look at me and my brothers. Had my father been more kind and caring as the man he should’ve always been, we wouldn’t be in this situation. We wouldn’t have to dethrone him. We could’ve been a family.

I turn on the music, keeping it just loud enough to fill the air. I rest my hand on Kinsey’s knee, gently rubbing it until her body starts to relax. The farther we get away from the palace, the more she perks up. She scoots in the seat, sitting more erect, and cleans the shiny stains of her tears.

All I know is I can’t wait to draw her a bath, feed her, and cuddle the hell out of her in my bed. I’ll fill her with so much of my affection that she’ll only be able to think about me and not the other bullshit today. At least, that’s my hope. My goal. Today has truly tested me and showed me just how much I want this woman.

I navigate the car into the gated community and straight to my four-story condo with an underground garage. I use the place when I just need to get away from my brothers for a couple of days in the city. While my brothers and I love to live together, sometimes we need a moment apart. We each have our own places throughout our territory, but I have to say, mine is probably the best.

At least for us now.

“Holly, why don’t you get yourself settled in your room on the top floor? I’ll see about making something for you to eat. I just need a little bit of time with Kinsey, if you don’t mind.” I shift in my seat to meet my sister’s eyes.

Holly thins her mouth. “Sure, but how about I make something for all of us? It’s been a while. You could also use a shower, brother. You have blood spatter on your face.”

I reach back and ruffle my fingers through her hair, messing up the strands. “You are the best, little sister.”

She smiles at me and pushes her door open. “Don’t you forget it.”

I chuckle and watch her stroll toward the door that leads up, waiting just a couple of seconds before I get out of the vehicle and walk around the hood to get Kinsey from the front seat.

She tries to stand on her own, but I don’t let her. I don’t want to test the strength of her legs right now. The only thing that flits through my mind over and over is how I need to get her cleaned, fed, and cuddled. I’m a man on a mission, and nothing else will take precedence. Even allowing her to do her own thing can’t stop me.

Luckily, she doesn’t resist or try to act like she doesn’t need me. She accepts my help and hugs me close as I carry her to the master bedroom, which takes up the entire second floor above the kitchen, living, and dining room. At the very top are three guest bedrooms and a rooftop deck that overlooks the city.

Kinsey peers around the room, her muscles relaxing as she finds comfort in a space that probably smells and feels familiar and like me. My scent won’t mess with her as much right now because of the suppressant pills, but she’ll still recognize me on my belongings.

I don’t set her down, carrying her straight to the bathroom, where a garden tub rests on a platform with a view of the park across the street. I place her on the counter and run the water, filling the air with steam.

Kinsey watches as I quickly wash my face in the sink, ensuring that there is no evidence of blood on me before I take her into the tub. She drinks me in as I unbutton my dress shirt and shrug out of my formal clothes. I stand before her completely naked, loving how I can practically feel her gaze tracing over my body, each of my muscles flexing, my desire for her prominent in my hard cock.

She nibbles her lip seductively, her beautiful face softening with her longing, her eyes meeting mine. I step forward and kiss her, unable to resist giving her my affection. I reach around and unzip the back of her gown, needing nothing more than to feel her skin against mine.

---