Page 45 of Deadly Ties

Kelly gives Rory a grim nod, and then my brother is whisking the omegas through the dark curtains. Cam’s hand is on my shoulder, but my eyes are on Marku. I don’t realize I’m crying until he swipes a big thumb over my cheekbone and holds it up to the light. “As I said. You will be the one who is left out, kopil.”

Elvana

A subdued air hangs over us as we head back to the townhouse. Kelly is still holding my hand, but I can feel the energy draining out of him the further we get from Link. We’re squished together in the town car, with Arben and Rory sitting opposite, but I still feel cold.

Is it guilt? Shock at seeing Link? Or just the whole night getting to me? For a quick trip to get ice cream, a lot of heavy stuff went down. “You could have gone with them,” I murmur into Kelly’s ear. We’re wrapped around each other like a pair of snakes, but even with the blanket Arben got from the trunk and the hot air blowing, he doesn’t feel any warmer than me. “You could’ve taken Rory and talked it out. I wouldn’t have minded.”

It's a lie. I would have fucking hated it. But I can feel the unsteady beat of his heart under my hand. How would I feel if he’d just told Arben to walk the fuck away?

He just nudges my cheek with his chin and gives me a soft smile. “I’m glad you said it, because it was what you needed to say. It might hurt, but it would feel a hell of a lot worse if you had to lie to him for my sake.”

I flush, both pleased he’s taking my side, and feeling like a petty bitch, because holding Link to that promise he made is kind of a dick move. Yes, he’s a manipulative asshole who tried to trade me away to get Kelly back. But it’s not like I don’t understand his motivation. I don’t have a fraction of their history, and I’ve already killed for the man I’m holding in my arms. Besides, at some point I just have to own my past, or it will own me.

You are a delight to eavesdrop on, my love. So much wisdom, I want to lick it up like ice cream.

I smirk at Arben, those same midnight eyes that watched me on the stage gleaming back at me. He and Rory are sitting close enough to touch, their thighs only inches apart and Arben’s arm across the back of the seat. They look delicious together, but I don’t let me thoughts wander. We’ve already shared a lot tonight.

Then stop licking your lips, my love. Anyone would think you’re still hungry.

I ignore that teasing comment and twirl the end of Kelly’s hair around a finger, tugging gently. “Luckily I have some Ben and Jerry’s in the deep freeze, or I might hold the lack of ice cream against someone.”

Arben grins at that, but Rory sits forward, his green eyes intense. “Link knows about the townhouse. He’s probably gonna turn up here.”

I stiffen, because Link is Mr. Logistics. He’s probably tracking us right now. But Kelly just shrugs. “As long as he doesn’t try any shit tonight, he can camp out in the street if he wants.”

Arben grunts, his fingers tapping his thigh. “He tries to pitch a tent near either of you and he’ll answer to me.”

Kelly cackles at that, but I gape at Arben. He’s staring straight ahead, but there’s a smile playing around his mouth. “Was that your first ever gag, Mr. Marku? Because it wasn’t half bad.”

He leans forward and drags me off the seat, plopping me down on his lap. The robes we borrowed from the theater are paper thin, and I can feel every inch of him as I straddle his thighs. But it’s midnight eyes I focus on as he murmurs, “Call me sir and I’ll show you what I can do with a gag.”

I lean forward and lick his bottom lip, because I just can’t help myself. “Now you’re just getting my hopes up, Alpha.”

He’s eyeing the sash on my robe like it’s giving him ideas, but then his cell pings in his pocket and that yummy smile dies away. I try to move to give him room, but he grips my hip as he fishes it out, then drops me into Rory’s lap like I weigh less than a napkin. I stiffen at the feel of his arms closing around me, but Arben shoots us a sideways look of warning and holds the phone out, showing us it’s on speaker. “Roan. You’re back?”

I jerk, but Rory’s arms tighten around me, his breath in my hair as Bisha answers in Albanian. “Just now. Where are you?”

“Midtown.” Arben answers in our native language and his voice is deeper, harder, but also more cautious. A zog talking to his pack alpha. “Everything okay? Are you with Leka?”

He’s talking about Roan’s main driver and bodyguard, but there’s a long silence before Bisha replies. “Yeah, he’s here. We’re just leaving the airport. When can I expect you?”

Arben’s fingers flex on his thigh, but he answers smoothly enough. “I can be at the Tower when you arrive.”

“Good. Make sure you are.” There’s a rustling sound, maybe some low chatter at the other end, and then Bisha says, “We have some guests from London. They’ll be staying with me, and I want to show them how we operate. All the alphas, and the full entertainment. I want you to lead it, yes?”

Anyone else might miss the wince in Arben’s face, but I have it committed to memory. And he’s fucking pissed at this order. “Of course. I’ll start setting it up right away.”

Bisha hangs up without another word and I study Arben’s profile as he stares out the window. “You’re angry.” He shakes his head, but his fingers are tapping on his thigh, his gaze on the street. “What can we do to help?”

He smiles at that, turning all the way around to study us. Rory’s arms are crossed over my chest, his bigger body swallowing me up, and I’d like to think it didn’t bother me. That it feels no different than if he was the stepbrother he’d once pretended to be. But that would be a lie, and Arben knows it. “Just stay together,” he says quietly, then looks at Kelly. “Sit with them,princi. I want to see you altogether.”

My brows shoot up at that, but they swap seats, Rory’s arms opening to pull Kelly into his side. I frown at the sight of Arben alone on the other side of the car, but it’s Rory who murmurs against my hair. “You okay, little wolf?”

Am I? It’s weird hearing the voice of the man I thought was my dad and knowing it’s all a lie. It’s strange to see my mate alone, while warm bodies surround me. But I’m mostly disappointed that Arben is leaving. And worried about what he’ll be walking into when he returns to the enemy camp. “I just want us to stick together. All of us.”

Kelly takes my hand, but the car is pulling up outside the townhouse. I stare out at the familiar street, wondering why it already feels like I’ve moved on. Is it because I’ve found out the truth about my father? Or because once my mom got sick, this was never much of a home to begin with? Maybe a bit of both, but my hearts says it’s because of the man sitting opposite me.

I leap off Rory’s lap and fling myself at my mate, loving the way his arms open wide. Like I’m not throwing myself at him, but coming back home.

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