Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
KNOX
“You want me to erase all traces of Thistle Maverick from their databases?” Doyle’s voice was utterly shocked.
“We’re not talking about a different Thistle Maverick, right? We’re talking about an Omega who chopped up Ace Maverick himself?”
I was seated in a twenty-four-hour diner across from Doyle, the retired detective who coordinated my work with the authorities. Neon signs and scattered table lamps threw warmth on red vinyl booths and chrome countertops. Around us was a buzz of late-night patrons chatting, and the smell of burnt coffee and fries filled the air.
I scowled, my eyes darting to the side as the old jukebox began a loud rock song. “I need it done.”
“Do you know how stupid this is?” he demanded.
I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to ground myself.
I was falling apart at the seams.
She had mounted me when we’d woken this morning and told me she desperately needed me to let Rogue out of his cage—right after she’d sunk her tight little cunt over my cock. Then she’d pulled back just when I was on the edge of climax, giving me a bratty, doe-eyed look.
I’d fucking caved, shooting a text off to the misfits’ chat to let him out when one of them was up and about.
Then I’d fucked her into the sheets until she was shivering and three orgasms deep.
She’d spent the rest of the day working on her first sketch, adding a downpour of rain over the craggy landscape, focused on the little details.
It was now nine in the evening, which was when Doyle was available for a meetup, and she was fast asleep in my bed, Bunny and sketchbook cuddled close by the time I snuck out.
It had sealed the deal.
“Can’t we do a massive data wipe?” I asked Doyle. “So, she isn’t singled out?”
I needed an exit plan for her—and that meant I wanted her records wiped. The Ring kept records, took blood and prints. It was intimidation—so those they caught knew they couldn’t ever really escape. It was also so they knew who’d bought whom, and could tell if there was a leak.
One of the first things Doyle had done when I got in contact with him was try and wipe mine. Odd thing was, I had already been removed.
“The moment they realise I’ve got someone in their server, it’s gone. Do you know how long it took us to get this far?”
“You fucking owe me!” I hissed.
“It’s too high risk?—”
“I’m the one at the parties. I’m the one showing my face to these monsters.”
“You get me Carrion’s I.D., I’ll do it. We won’t need the servers anymore.”
“You think I’m not trying?” I asked. Carrion was the pseudonym for the highest-ranking member of the ring—overseeing almost everything—but he never showed his face.
“You know I can’t do it,” Doyle said, though he looked pitying.
I grit my teeth but we were silent for a moment as the waitress set down two coffees for us. When she was gone, Doyle began emptying packets of sugar into his. “Also, keep an eye on your security,” he said. “There was something odd going on a few nights ago.”
“Something odd?”
“Security teams had issues connecting with two of the safehouses for a few hours. Likely nothing, but thought I’d give you a heads up.”
The safehouses?
They hosted the ones I’d freed who were willing to speak to the authorities.
“Which ones?” I asked. “And why are you only telling me now?”
“I only found out this morning, and besides, nothing happened. The only reason I’m mentioning it is because both had someone of yours living inside.”
I frowned. “Everyone’s safe?”
“We’re already relocating. It’s likely nothing, just stay alert and check your own systems.”
“Designations?” I asked.
“Of the ones that were yours? Both Omegas. Female.”
I tapped on my coffee cup, something about that not sitting right with me.
“What is this Maverick thing, Knox?” Doyle prodded, eyeing my curiously. “Is she a scent match? I heard how much you paid for her.”
Ah fuck. “She’s not my scent match.”
“But you care about her?” he asked.
“Would I be here if I didn’t?”
He sighed, downing the last of his coffee and reaching for mine since I hadn’t touched it. “I’ll… I’ll see what I can do, but don’t hold your breath,” he grumbled, his reluctance clear. “Maybe we can swap some data in, but I’m not making promises. Nothing that they’ll notice. She better mean the world to you, because if I do it, it might risk everything you’ve done so far.”
When I got back into my car, I turned on the security app and checked it. Thistle was a lump in my bed, curled up and nestled deep beneath the covers. The memory of her lingered, but I forced myself back to the present, focusing on Doyle. I looked at the bottom of the screen to see a little green light beside the words “2 devices online.”
Not uncommon.
The misfits left it on sometimes to monitor, but it was late, so I shot off a text to Callum anyway.