Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
CASEY
" T ime to join the party downstairs." The Alpha’s words rumble behind me, so close, I feel the heat radiating from his body. I fight the urge to step away or, worse, lean back. What is wrong with me? Stockholm syndrome setting in already?
"You know," I say as his fingers wrap around my upper arm, firm but not painful, nothing like Julian’s bruising grip. "If you wanted to hang out, you could have just asked me for coffee."
A low chuckle, and damn if that sound doesn’t tickle me deep inside. "Somehow, I doubt you would have accepted."
"You’ll never know now, will you?" I try for breezy, but my voice catches as we move down the stairs. They curve down into what has to be the most luxurious great room I’ve ever seen.
"Careful," he murmurs when I hesitate, his other hand coming to rest on the small of my back. "Steps are steep."
"Thanks for the safety tip, kidnapper extraordinaire." But I let him guide me down, very aware of how his massive frame towers over me. If I slipped, he could catch me before I fell. Or let me tumble to my death. Fun choices.
The room that opens up below us belongs in a luxury real estate magazine. Exposed wooden beams cross a cathedral ceiling while a wall of windows showcases the forest beyond in the late afternoon sun. A massive stone fireplace dominates one wall, flanked by built-in bookshelves filled with what look like first editions. The furniture is all rich leather and sleek lines—definitely not your standard criminal hideout decor.
An open chef’s kitchen gleams to the right, all stainless steel and granite, while the dining area features a table that could seat eight. Everything speaks of money, but not the gaudy flash Julian favors. This is old money, refined taste.
"Sit." He guides me to an oversized armchair by the fireplace.
The other two Alphas arrange themselves on the couch across from me. Not looming over me, not trying to intimidate. Interesting. Even Julian, who played at being civilized, always positioned himself to assert dominance.
"I’m Axel," my escort says, settling into another chair with lethal grace. Up close, that scar through his eyebrow is even more distracting, especially when he tilts his head to study me. His black t-shirt does nothing to hide his impressive muscles, and just staring at him can easily have me fantasizing and losing my mind.
"That’s Logan." Axel nods to the serious one with steel-gray eyes. "And Nash." The man with glasses who’s watching me with a frown at the bridge of his nose.
Logan lounges back against the leather with a false relaxation, one ankle crossed over his knee. His dark brown hair is still damp at the temples, and a jagged white scar disappears beneath his collar. He’s all sharp jawline and broad shoulders that make his Henley look painted on. There’s something almost sinful about the way he moves, as if he knows exactly what effect he has on Omegas.
Nash might look softer at first glance with those glasses, but there’s nothing gentle about the way his forearms flex or how his dirty blonde hair falls across his forehead in a perfectly messy way. A hint of stubble shadows his jaw, and when he glances up, those amber irises with gold flecks catch the light like something feral. He’s built leaner than the others, but every movement suggests hidden strength.
My attention swings back to Axel, who hasn’t taken his attention off me. I try not to stare. Really try. But it’s like trying not to look at a thunderstorm—impossible and probably stupid since it might kill you. His black hair falls around his face, but it’s those ice-blue eyes that really do it—the way they cut right through me, as if he can see every secret I’ve ever tried to hide. God help any Omega who has to face that look for too long… a.k.a. me.
"Charmed. I’m Casey, but I assume you know that already," I drawl, channeling every ounce of attitude my brother taught me. "Do you always kidnap girls before introducing yourselves, or am I special?"
A laugh rumbles from Axel, deep and rich, and damn my treacherous heart for skipping at the sound. This is why Omegas are supposed to be kept safely locked away—Alphas are literally designed to make us lose our minds. Even Beta females aren’t immune to their perfect genetics and overwhelming presence. I’m surrounded by three prime specimens, and my hormones are having a field day, despite my brain screaming danger !
I shift in my chair, trying to find a position that feels less vulnerable. The leather is butter-soft against my bare arms. Everything about this place speaks of capability and resources.
"I know you kidnapped me for that asshole, Julian," I blurt out before they can start whatever interrogation they have planned. Might as well get straight to the point. "Save us all some time, and just tell me what he’s paying you."
"Is that so?" Logan’s voice is careful, measured. A soldier’s tone, used for interrogations, I bet. "Tell us more about him."
"What’s to tell?" I force a laugh that’s only slightly hysterical. "He’s a psychopath and serial killer in the making, if you ask me. Stalks and hurts Omegas, walks over anyone in his path. That paint a clear enough picture?"
"Not particularly," Nash murmurs, pushing his glasses up. "Details would help."
"Details?" I’m twisting the ends of my hair nervously. Old habit. Bad tell. I force my hands still. "How about the fact that he gets off on causing pain? That he collects Omegas like some people collect cars? That he—" I cut myself off, the memories threatening to choke me.
"And you’re his fated mate." It’s not a question the way Axel says it, but there’s something dark in his tone that has me looking up sharply.
"What have you been snorting?" The words burst out of me. "Fated mate? I’d rather die. We dated, and then I saw the real monster hiding behind those perfect white teeth. I guess he’s become a bit obsessed since I broke things off."
The tension in the room shifts. I see it in the way Logan’s jaw tightens, how Nash’s fingers are still on his thigh, and how Axel’s knuckles crack as he flexes his hands. For a moment, none of them look civilized. I stiffen in place, unsure of their reaction.
"You give me to him," I finally say into the heavy silence, "and he will kill me."
Nash tilts his head, studying me. "Has he threatened to do that?"
"Not in so many words." I unconsciously rub my inner arm, where the scars lie hidden beneath the sleeve. "His actions speak pretty clearly, though." I turn to Logan, remembering the phone call I overheard. "Look, I appreciate you not telling him you have me. Just... tell him you never caught me, and I’ll be on my way."
No one moves. The only sound is the tick of a clock and my own too-fast heartbeat.
"We can’t let you go just like that," Logan says.
"Why the hell not?" I surge to my feet, unable to stay still. Three pairs of Alpha gazes track my movement, but none of them tense up. They know I’m not a threat. Or they are aware I can’t escape. Probably both.
"Julian’s frantic," Nash explains, his voice gentle in a way that makes me want to scream. "He’ll be watching your home, your friends, your family. Where would you even go?"
"Not your problem." But my response wavers because he’s right. I have nowhere safe to hide.
"This was meant to be a simple job," Axel mutters, more to himself than me. "Clean retrieval."
My eyes light up. "I’ll pay you whatever he’s offering." It will take me time to save up the money…
"You can’t afford it," Nash cuts in, not unkindly.
"Have you got anywhere else to go?" Axel leans forward, those beautiful eyes with long lashes intense. "If we decided to help you?"
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. They’re right; Julian will be watching everything—my brother’s place, my friends’ families, probably even has Nexus convinced I’m his mate. Speaking of which, the government will also be searching for me for escaping from their bus, making returning home impossible. Hawaii beckons in my dreams, but I was so young when we lived there. No contacts, no plan.
Panic rises, threatening to drown me. I’m trapped. Completely cornered. If Nexus finds me first, Julian will find a way to claim me as his Omega. So, either I run blind and hope Julian doesn’t find me, or I end up back in his training room, learning new lessons written in scars.
I pace to the windows, pressing my forehead against the cool glass. The forest stretches endlessly, dark and ominous—like my future if I don’t figure something out fast.
A cold bottle of water appears in my peripheral vision from the lights in the room and the darkening woods. Logan holds it out, his expression unreadable.
"Breathe," he says quietly. "We’re not deciding anything right now."
I take the water with shaking hands, my mind racing. I need protection. I need help. I need... My gaze drifts to the papers still spread across the dining table.
My stomach lurches, and I set the water down before I drop it.
These Alphas watching me are scary—everything about them radiates danger. I have no clue who they are, but they haven’t hurt me yet, haven’t tried to break me like Julian did. Haven’t looked at me like I’m a toy to be played with until I break. Still, trusting them feels like jumping off a cliff and hoping someone will catch me. Except I’m already falling, aren’t I? Nowhere to go that Julian won’t eventually find me.
Even if these men don’t hurt me themselves, they could just hand me over to him.
My fingers find the scars on my arm, tracing each line like a prayer.
I need to make myself valuable to them somehow. More worthy than whatever Julian’s paying. My gaze drifts to the papers on the dining table once more. The heist plans they were discussing.
"Earlier," I say slowly, lifting my attention to them, "you were talking about a job. Some kind of break-in." Of course, they won’t be happy with me knowing anything about their plans, but I need to use the information to help myself.
"How much did you hear?" Nash asks sharply. I notice Axel and Logan haven’t stopped watching me, their attention heavy.
"Enough." I straighten my spine. "You said something about needing a distraction for your mission. I can be that for you. Let me help, and in exchange..." I meet each of their gazes in turn, knowing I’m crazy but out of options. "Let me lie low here. Hide from Julian. From Nexus. Don’t tell either of them you have me."
The silence stretches. Their faces give nothing away, but the air feels charged with possibility—or maybe that’s just what happens when three powerful Alphas focus all their attention on you. I feel like a mouse being watched by very attractive, very dangerous cats.
"We don’t need you for the heist," Logan states finally. "You’ll compromise things."
"You have no idea what I’m capable of." I lift my chin. "And a distraction by an Omega is easier to pull off than a guard seeing an Alpha in tactical gear coming at him. Trust me, I know how to make men underestimate me."
"You have no idea what you’re asking," Axel growls.
God help me, the sound does things to my insides that burn me up.
"I do know." My voice cracks, vulnerability seeping through despite my best efforts. "Fuck, I know." I hate showing weakness, hate being desperate, but I’m one wrong move away from begging these Alphas to help me. "But I have no other options, and I’m out of time. And you..." I gesture at their collective deadly beauty. "You’re clearly capable of handling yourselves. And Julian."
They exchange looks loaded with meaning I can’t decode. They seem to have a silent Alpha communication between them that excludes the lost Omega.
Finally, Logan sighs. "We’ll discuss it. You stay in the house. Don’t go outside, don’t answer the door. This place is off the grid. Most people aren’t aware that it exists."
"That’s perfect," I say quickly, hope flaring dangerous and bright. "It’s exactly what I need."
Axel grabs a remote, switching on a massive TV mounted above the fireplace. "Make yourself at home."
I watch them head down a hallway, presumably to debate my fate. This wasn’t my first choice—hell, it wasn’t even in my top ten—but maybe... My attention sweeps the room, taking in possible exits, vantage points, and...
Wait.
I scan again, more carefully this time. No landline. No phones anywhere. Even the table where they’d been working is completely clear now.
Shit.
I’m not their guest. I’m still their prisoner—just in a nicer cage. And I just volunteered to help three dangerous Alphas with what’s probably an equally deadly heist.
The question is… did I just make a deal with devils who might actually protect me, or have I jumped from Julian’s fire into an even more treacherous flame?
The TV drones on, some daytime show host telling jokes to canned laughter, but all I can hear is Julian’s voice in my head.
Every choice you make belongs to me, sweet girl. Every step you take leads back to me.
I really hope he’s wrong. Because right now, three criminal Alphas feel like my best chance at freedom.
How fucked up is that?