Page 18 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

I groan and dump the cutlery on the table. It’s a massive rectangle monster that can fit twelve people. I’m not sure who he’s expecting to come to dinner, but twelve seems like overkill.

“Shut the fuck up, Rolly.”

“You really know how to make an impression.”

I snarl at him.

“Boys, behave,” Blaze says, gliding into the room just a moment before I tackle Rolly to the floor and beat the living shit out of him.

I’m going to do it anyway when Pix walks in and my brain turns to mush again. I stand up, my cheeks burning, watching him intently.

“Your staring is creepy,” Pix notes with a sidelong glance at me.

“He’s enamored,” Rolly says, then blows a kiss at the omega. “Just like me.”

The tips of my ears feel like they have been scorched by the sun.

Pix looks between us and rolls his eyes. “Move, I’m hungry.”

I drag Rolly into the corner, giving him a massive space to go and choose any seat he wants to sit in. I hold my alpha there until Pix chooses a seat on the other side of the table. He doesn’t look away from me.

Which sucks because I can’t find any words. I’m just mindlessly, silently staring back at him.

Sage drags Roseland in and shoves him towards the table.

“Sit!”

“Don’t tell me what to do!” he snarls.

I relax, letting go of Rolly as I watch the alpha posturing. He yanks out a chair at the end of the table, where he can see Pix and us, and folds his arms over his chest.

“How are you feeling, Detecti-”

“Do not speak to me!” Roseland hisses, glaring at Rolly.

I can feel my alpha’s pure pleasure through the bond. He jumps into the seat between Pix and Roseland, but to both of their disgust. I choose my seat as far away from them as I can get.

“So, King was telling me how gorgeous he thinks our omega is,” Rolly purrs, putting his chin on his interlocked fingers.

Roseland turns to him and scowls hard. “Not our.”

Pix flinches, and all at once, my brain and my words return. I walk over to Roseland, grab his arm, and slam his head down on the plate, breaking the ceramic.

“We need a new plate!” Rolly shouts.

“King!” Blaze snaps from the doorway.

I don’t speak; I just hold him there, then let go. Roseland surges up, but Pix just smiles lazily. Warmth curls through my chest.

“You know, for someone who has zero care for me, you sure do get really hot under the collar when you talk about me, Detective. Makes me wonder what nasty little thoughts go around in your head late at night.”

He could be talking to me. He could be talking to a priest. It doesn’t matter, the way he’s saying the words has me wanting to drop to my knees and worship him.

Sage puts a massive casserole dish down that is filled almost to overflowing with meat and veggies.

“Sit down and eat,” he says.

Roseland, though, looks like he’s going to explode. He gets up and goes and takes my chair, leaving me to sit down beside Rolly.