Page 33 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

My tension ratchets up, and I shove Roseland’s arm up. The gun goes off but into the air. I hit Blaze hard, sending him flying back, but am immediately caught by Rolly, who drops me to the ground and bites the back of my neck.

I go completely and perfectly still. If he bonds me, I will never escape him.

“Babe, where you going?” he whispers and runs his hands up under my shirt, causing my skin to break out into goosebumps.

“I’m going to stab you in the balls with a kitchen fork.”

“Mm, kinky.”

“Get off me and stop drooling on my neck,” I spit out, furious but a little tiny bit scared, too.

“Can’t help it, you are so damn tasty.”

“Leave,” Roseland says in a deep growl. He raises the gun, but I shove Rolly off me and slam into him before he can shoot them.

I stand between the pack and the van that has my family in it. My body trembles with rage. I weigh every single possible move and realise there are no options. I inhale and exhale, then roar at this fucking idiot pack that won’t let me go.

I turn to the car.

“Desi, drive.” It kills me to say those words. Kills me.

“No!” Bonnie shouts.

Vale and Rory hold her.

“Don’t you dare, Desi!” Meg cries out.

“Sorry, baby, but we have to survive to fight another day,” I hear Desi yelp.

I angle myself, making sure I’m between my family and these assholes. It’s only when they are far enough away that I look up and meet the gaze of the alphas who think, who dare to think, for one fucking second that they can keep Daega O’Connell captive.

Blaze walks towards me and touches his fingers to my cheek. “You will come to understand-”

I reach up and snap his finger.

“Keep your fucking hands to yourself.”

His smile doesn’t fade or even dim. He just straightens his finger and makes a humming sound of happiness.

Once I’m satisfied he’s keeping his distance, I turn on Roseland. “If you ever raise a gun to my family again, it will be the last thing you do.”

“You think you can threaten me?” Roseland growls.

I spin, knocking the gun out of his hand and have a wire wrapped around his throat before he can speak.

“I know I can. I can end you. You live at my mercy, Aaron, and I’m running out of fucks to give.”

I let go and kick him in the back, turning to face Rolly and Sage, both of whom are watching me like they hadn’t expected me to be this angry.

“You are mine,” Blaze whispers.

“I don’t belong to anyone,” I say back. “I never have, and I never will.”

I ignore the four of them and walk back to their bunker and the prison that I haven’t been able to escape.

King is waiting when I get back. He takes one look at me and gets out of my way.

The frustration inside needs an outlet. I turn back to him and swing. He gets an arm up and blocks me. We go around fighting until I’m sweaty, and we’ve somehow made it to the gym. I collapse on my knees; the fire inside is banked, but it isn’t gone.