Page 98 of Running on Empty

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to.” James’ eyes shone with a hectic light. “I know you’re going to kill me, but at least I’ll go with the satisfaction of knowing that you’ll join me shortly afterwards. None of us trusted the other enough with the formula, so we each kept our codes secret, memorised.” James tapped his temple. “And the only way to access them was via the brains of your family members you just blew out.”

“We’re out of here,” Ash said to us, and with that all my alphas and the soldiers moved as one, rifles trained on everyone else, but they paid us little mind. When we got down the stairs we heard a gun go off, then some shouting, but we didn’t stick around to find out what, everyone in agreement with Ash’s words.

I didn’t remember muchof the extraction, just that people told me where to go and what to do. It felt like I reappeared in the field, the cows looking on, like no time had passed since the moment we’d arrived. Only Scarlett, with her keen eyes, seemed to sense what was going on with me. She put her hands on my arms carefully, looking me up and down with an objective eye as Charlie approached.

“If she was my sub, I’d say she needs aftercare.” I just stared at her mouth, no longer slicked red with lipstick, watching it move, but not really taking in what she was saying. “Whoever took her into a scene, they let her go too far and now she’s experiencing sub drop.”

“Trauma hangover,” Charlie declared, so I stared at her blankly now. “I need blankets, now!”

She clicked her fingers imperiously, and someone must’ve done as she asked, as something soft and warm was wrapped around me and that’s when my eyes closed. Then it was Jax’s voice in my ears, right before he hoisted me into his arms.

“Don’t worry, omega, I’ve got you.”

Chapter57

Jax

We got on a plane as soon as we got back to the city.

Tobias Lockwood seemed intent on getting Scarlett back home, even as the beta shot him a serious side eye. But then he turned around and offered something we hadn’t considered.

“Come with us.”

Charlie York, the Murphy’s omega brightened at that idea, her lips parting, but she waited for her turn to speak.

“Get out of the city, let things settle down after everything that has gone on.”

“We couldn’t—” Ash started to say, answering for everyone, as per usual.

“We have space at our horse farm,” Charlie said, then flushed a little.

“There you go, collecting more lame pigeons,” Lock said with a wink, but he drew his omega close, placing a gentle kiss on the crown of her head. “Of course, we do.” He looked at us. “We’ve got a place outside of town. Quiet, peaceful and we just so happen to have one of the best trauma specialists in the country on staff.”

“I’d be happy to pay your costs,” Tobias said. “Just name your price.”

“Oh we couldn’t…” Charlie started to say.

“Yes, we could,” Seb replied much more firmly. “You look like a fella with deep pockets. Looking for a tax break supporting a not-for-profit organisation?”

And so we got on a plane, leaving the city and heading to South Australia.

Scratch,scratch, scratch…

I looked up from the cup of tea I was preparing to see Ollie raking his claws across the door of the bedroom we had been sharing.

“Ollie!” I hissed at our dog, the bloody bastard turning around for a second before starting scratching again. “Fuck’s sake, Ollie—”

“He wants Stevie,” Ronan announced, appearing in the small kitchenette that came with the cottage we had been given. He looked too pale except for the dark bags around his eyes. My brother hadn’t been sleeping. What was I saying? None of us had, but Stevie. “Don’t blame him.”

But when he walked over to the door to let the dog in, Ash walked in with a frown.

“What the fuck are you doing?” All the same Ash Kelly autocratic bullshit was back and twice as insufferable. “Don’t let that fucking mutt in there. Stevie’s sleeping.”

“All she doesissleep,” Ronan shot back, the green light in his eyes sparking, then fading away.

“And who’s fault is that? I knew that bringing her in on the Jack Spencer thing was a fucking mistake. You could’ve taken him out on your own, bathed in his blood, played with his entrails, or whatever the fuck it is you do, then report back to Stevie. She would have been protected—”

“And that’s why she’ll never pick you, you dumb fuck,” Ronan snarled. “She—”

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