Page 9 of Rest In Knotty Pieces

“I regret ever meeting you.”

Pix smiles, and it hits me hard in the chest. “Oh, I know, but I’m going to win, Roseland. I’m going to make you mine. You’re going to beg, to scream, to cry my name. You’ll crawl on your knees and give me everything, and when I’m satisfied you’ve paid your debt, you’ll wear my bond.”

My breath explodes out of my lungs. “You wish.”

“I don’t have to wish; I’m going to make it so.” He removes the knife but doesn’t step back.

He’s terrifying.

“Are you two done?” Blaze asks calmly. “The omega is hurt, and if you are going to continue making the room unlivable, you can get out until I’ve checked her over.”

“You aren’t going to be alone with her, ever!” I snap instantly.

The room bristles with alpha anger. The challenge I’ve laid down is heavy in the air. It’s almost a declaration of war for one alpha to tell the rest of the scent matches that they can’t be trusted around their omega.

Pix vanishes his knife and turns back, letting go of all the aggression as easily as if he just dropped a towel.

“Relax, Rosey just needs a good orgasm to get rid of all that rules and protocol funk he’s been pouring out of his mouth.”

Rolly shifts closer to Pix, the latter of whom smiles innocently at the deranged alpha. I can see he’s up to his old tricks, trying to appear as innocent as ever. Again, Pix's scent seems to not affect these particular alphas. I can see his frustration, but he’s masking it well.

I ignore them and turn back to find King gently brushing Merle’s hair back. I have to bite my tongue to stop from growling at him.

“Right, she looks okay. I can’t find any wounds or broken bones. She’s likely just exhausted,” Blaze says, stepping back.

He looks at Sage, and the two share something: a look, a commune, something that has me writhing with jealousy. I blank my expression and look away, refusing to admit to the feelings I’ve been refusing to have.

My stepbrother is watching me when I look back up, and our gaze collides, full of things I don’t want to deal with.

“Take her to the blue room,” Blaze says.

King lifts her up and walks away. I take a step to follow, but Rolly appears in front of me.

“Aaron Roseland. As in…Detective?”

I drop my gaze to the criminal and sneer at him. “Yes.”

“You are far too lickable to be a cop.”

I scowl harder. “Move.”

Rolly grins; it’s slow and diabolical. “Make me.”

I growl low in my throat. “I don’t have time for the games you or Pix want to play.”

“Sure, you do. You’re not leaving,” Sage says cheerfully.

I whip around and glare at him. “You can’t keep me prisoner.”

“Actually, I kinda can. Rolly.”

A needle is jabbed into my neck. I gasp as my body floods with heat, then cold, and I suddenly feel weak. The world tunnels, and then I’m in Rolly’s arms. He’s carrying me bridal-style. He’s stronger than he looks. Damn, I was looking at the wrong danger.

“Don’t worry, Detective. I’m going to take good care of you.”

I wake up reaching for my gun, which is not there. In fact, most of my clothes are gone. I’m in a white cotton T-shirt and my underwear. The world is swimming, but there’s a shape sitting on my bed beside me.

“What happened?”