Page 106 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

I roll my eyes. “I’m going to try not to.” A horrible thought occurs to me, I hesitate. “If…”

Mark waits, staring at me with too much wisdom in his gaze.

“If we fail, and she’s alone…”

“I’ll take care of her. You have my word.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, and then he’s gone. The Sanderson’s, their dogs, their kids, their lives, all gone. I listen to the cars tear away, straining until I hear the roar of a bike.

When I look towards the door, Bonnie and Meg are standing there, staring at us. They are hesitant and unsure. They know, someone told them about Merle and they don’t think leaving is right. I get it.

They’d also have been informed of who she is. The wary respect in their eyes startles me.

“Run,” Raven says. “Run and don’t stop. Keep moving and stay alive. Be smart. No patterns, nothing he can track.”

Bonnie dips her chin. “Be safe, sister.”

Meg growls, pushes past, and pulls Raven into a hard hug. “Make sure you bring that silent bitch back alive. I’m going to teach her how to throw a punch properly.”

Raven lets out a startled laugh. “Will do.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

There’s nothing else to say. I watch the two omegas disappear and the sound of their cars reverse. I plant my feet, but at the last moment, I rush to the door and out onto the lawn, ignoring the roses, ignoring the neighbours watching, my eyes on the figure in black on the motorbike as he races away.

Leaving me shattered and broken again.

A hand grabs hold of mine. It’s not Raven, and it’s not Merle. When I look at her, it’s Kestrel, her expression twisted into one of pain and sympathy.

“That was one of the bravest things we’ve ever seen anyone do, Aaron Roseland. You are an incredible alpha, and we are so glad to know you.”

I turn into her arms, burying my face in her hair, pretending that I’m not crying, that I’m not falling apart. That it’s not breaking me into a million pieces that the omega I’ve spent the last year trying to escape from is finally leaving me.

I love him, too.

“Come on, Aaron. Let's get out of here,” Sage murmurs and pulls me off Kestrel, helping me into the car Vale left for us.

I climb in and fall into a numb state that takes way too long for me to claw my way out of. The conversation around me is stilted and uneasy.

“There’s a drive-thru burger joint ahead. Go through it. Let's get food, and then I’m going to tell you what I know.”

“Isn’t that against detective rules?” Rolly says, half teasing. He’s been much quieter, withdrawn into himself, watching the unraveling of the pack over the last couple of days. I don’t think he’s terribly happy about it.

“I was fired seven months ago,” I say flatly.

Sage jerks hard, almost driving us off the side of the road. “You were what?”

“I was fired, Sage. He’s got reach everywhere. They are investigating me for tampering with investigations, calling me a dirty cop. My career is gone.”

“What the fuck?”

“Food first, then let’s talk, okay. There is a whole lot of information you’re going to need to know if you even want a chance at surviving this asshole.” I feel ancient and broken. How much more can I take before I collapse?

Sage parks the car while Blaze hands out the food. Rolly opens Kestrel’s burger and hands it to her. He’s cautious and hesitant, but it’s a gesture, it’s an attempt to make nice.

“Thank you,” she murmurs.

I pick at my food, not wanting to eat when I know what conversation is coming.