Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
KNOX
Sometimes one of the Misfits drove the limo, but for events like this we used a security contractor. Tonight, we had a few members of Ace’s security team tailing us too, though none would be allowed into Bella’s house once we arrived.
By the time we stepped out onto Bella’s driveway, her party was already in full swing.
Her mansion was more extravagant than the Manzo home, with a long front drive, the modern design with more space than anyone needed.
Some of the tall windows were open to the Nevada evening, and I could hear voices floating out from her huge lounge.
The years separating me from being in chains had created more of a fog than I realised. I had lived under Rogue for long enough, however, that it all cleared as we stepped from the limo and I ran out of reasons to distance myself.
Rogue looked smug as he grasped the chain in a fist, winding it tight and examining it as if it were a prize. I fought my growl—and the urge to lunge at him. An old resentment boiled up, but then I caught violet eyes peering at me from under Ace’s arm and somehow dug up what remained of my sanity.
Thistle was breathtaking tonight, with dark smudges beneath her eyes, Bunny in one fist, heavy black boots on her feet, and a thin-strapped dress with slits up both thighs so Ace’s vicious bites were as easy to see as possible.
A beautiful mess of madness and Omega instincts.
Her beauty was real, but tonight was a performance from all of us. I had to remember that. Even if Rogue had balled the chain in his fist and was tapping it against his other palm. Even if each clink of metal was like a splinter in my brain.
This was a show.
The doormen were two young Alphas wearing suits with the signature dead look of those working at Bella’s mansion.
They ushered us up the steps, taking in Ace and Thistle, then Rogue, and finally me before I saw a spark of comprehension in their eyes.
One turned to a spot behind the door, vanishing for a moment before reappearing with a thin metallic box with a ribbon around it.
Ah.
Great.
It was one of those nights.
This wasn’t an event in which we engaged with the ‘product’.
No buying or selling—and it wasn’t a sex party.
What any of these demons did after hours was their business, but the event was supposed to be clean.
Bella pushed those boundaries, though, and many of the Ring enjoyed that as if it was a game, with different levels to play on. All too rich. All too bored.
Ace took the metal case, not revealing for a moment that he had no idea what it was. Perhaps he did. Could he have enough intel on the Ring that he understood a detail like that?
I internally kicked myself, furious at having fallen into his trap. He bluffed at every turn, knowing it kept people guessing—that was his fucking M.O.
Of course he didn’t know.
Ace’s eyebrows raised as we stepped into the expansive entry room with two massive doors open to the party beyond. Bella’s absinthe scent lingered everywhere, and I gagged, forcing the bond further away as the proximity threatened to pull me under.
I made to follow the other two as Ace led Thistle to the room, but Rogue coiled the chain, drawing me up.
“Let Thistle have her moment.”
I scowled. I knew the translation of those words: Rogue wanted me to have my moment, too—he wanted the spotlight on us when we entered.
I didn’t answer—I could feel the eyes of the two doormen on my back. The show we were putting on tonight had already begun.
Rogue’s gaze slid to me for half a moment, uncontained humour glittering in his eyes as he tapped the chain with his finger. “You want to share a pack, Knox?” he asked. “I get tonight.”
I grit my teeth.
I wanted Thistle, I reminded myself. This great oaf was just the price.
One night only, though—and if Rogue didn’t think I’d keep score, he was sorely mistaken.
Ahead, the talk in the room quieted down, which meant Ace and Thistle had entered. I don’t know how far rumours had reached, but this was Ace’s first public appearance since he’d been declared dead.
The Ring hadn’t been in his close circles, but they knew who he was—if they hadn’t, Thistle’s auction wouldn’t have caused such a stir.
A few had dealings with him personally, like the bad blood between him and Evan Green.
Rumour had it Evan had tried to back out of a deal.
The Brotherhood had hunted down half the members of his pack, and Ace had been the one to kill them one by one.
Those videos had circulated for a while among our own.
That prick would be here tonight, too. He never missed a gathering like this. There were so many ways tonight could go wrong.
Rogue’s tug on my chain drew me sharply from the spiral.
“Our turn.”
He led me into a huge space, where members of the Ring had gathered along a table stretching to the far end of the room.
Bella sat like a queen at the head of the table, and on the opposite end, nearest us, a chair had been left open for Carrion.
Of course, it was empty; he never showed, but Bella, who didn’t hide her attraction to power and dominance, never failed to show him deference.
We had, however, made a disruption.
Every eye fell on me as we entered, and my flesh crawled as they fixed on the muzzle before their attention turned to Rogue.
They’d witnessed this before, but last time Rogue, thanks to Ace, was on the receiving end.
I knew how much Rogue hated these people, but this was the same crowd I’d used to humiliate him, and tonight, he was clearly pleased with himself as he held the leash, presenting a different image.
For an age, Bella took us in, gaze flicking around the pack as if, by looking enough times, she might make us vanish.
Finally, she stood, and Rodrick Banner tailed her as she made her way toward us, heels clipping against the tense silence.
I noticed Banner had one hand on his gun, and the guards milling around the edges of the room were on high alert.
We were on the precipice of Ace’s bluff. If the initial pretence didn’t work, we would find out now.
The number of weapons we’d brought felt useless; we were outnumbered both by Bella’s six loyal Alphas, and her security lining the walls.
“What an unusual surprise, hosting Ace Maverick and his…?” Bella trailed off as she reached Ace, keeping her cold green eyes on him. “Pack…?” The word sounded like an insult with the look she shot at Thistle.
“Pack,” Ace said, pulling Thistle tighter against him, nodding at Rogue. “And…” He glanced at the chain in Rogue’s fist. “Pet.”
Bella’s gaze lingered on me too long before drifting to Thistle, then, finally, bitterly, back to Ace.
She looked her usual pristine self, with that perfectly straight blond hair, and a signature red dress.
I hoped the disgust I felt looking at her came through in the bond—it was the first time I’d deliberately let the rest of this vile pack in.
I did see the faintest downturn of her red lips.
Thistle was tense. Her attention flickered to me for a moment, gaze meeting mine before dropping to the open wound on my chest covered by the black dress shirt.
“Well, what an unusual guest,” Rodrick said, stepping forward. “We don’t usually host Alphas returned from the dead.”
Rodrick clapped a hand on Ace’s arm, reaching out with his other for a handshake.
I knew from experience it was more a threat than anything else.
Especially now, since the last time Rodrick Banner set eyes on him, Ace had been feral, tearing one of his pack mates to pieces.
This was a dominance play, though he was still cautious enough not to have bullets in our skulls yet, so they weren’t sure if there was more to our confidence than bluster.
I found myself, for the millionth time, wishing I wasn’t in the exact same fucking boat.
“Banner, isn’t it?” Ace said, his low voice carrying through the deadly still room. He didn’t take the hand Rodrick had offered. “Omega,” he brushed his hand along Thistle’s waist. “If I’m not mistaken, this is one of Colt’s… cousins?” He glanced back at Rodrick.
Colt Bishop was Ace’s old pack mate—one Thistle didn’t have a high opinion of if my memory served.
Rodrick’s hand dropped from Ace’s arm, expression stiff as he looked to Thistle.
Thistle perked up, eyes wide as she looked from Rodrick to Bella. “I hope it doesn’t run in the family,” Thistle said in a mock whisper that easily reached my ears—and likely the ears of most in the muted room.
“What would that be?” Bella’s voice was tight.
“Sometimes he’d have trouble… well, you know…” She lifted her hand, fingers pointing toward the ceiling. “If he caught the scent of an Omega in heat…” Her hand flopped down comically.
Ace breathed a laugh.
“Wasn’t long since I was last near an Omega in heat,” Banner said, dark eyes lingering on Thistle with a nasty sneer across his face. “I don’t recall issues with enthusiasm.”
At my side, Rogue went still, and I felt my own hackles rise as I thought back to the night I’d been forced to bite into Bella’s pack. The night they’d given Thistle the heat drug.
“Ew. Well, I never found out.” Thistle grinned, ignoring Rodrick’s subtlety as she looked back at Bella. “Too many Alphas dying too quickly.”
My chest tightened, and I scanned the room again.
Their security was on alert but not moving.
Everyone was hanging from every word. Bella’s smile was twisted, and again her gaze roamed over us, as if trying to work out what was happening.
Trying to work out what was in the way of executing us all now.
Well, all but me.
I watched her wind an arm around Banner’s waist—for comfort? Or as a signal?
Banner snorted belatedly, still not taking his eyes from my Omega.