Chapter 52
Ilay on my bed, stretching my leg out. My ankle being naked felt so weird. I rolled it again, reveling at the freedom. Even knowing that shortly I would have to have the monitor put back on again couldn’t dampen my happiness.
I’d made it. The relief was inexplicable. I was alive.
Getting out of bed was the last thing I wanted to do, but surprisingly the guys hadn’t woken me up. They must have come in at some point because the door was cracked. Unless they’d slept in here, which was entirely possible, but I’d slept so deeply, I had no idea.
Muffled shouting came from down the hall. I rolled off the bed.
What was going on?
Following the sound led me down the hall.
Slowly, I reached the living room.
“It’s in your best interest to testify.” Elias’ voice held a soft threat, his laid-back tone seething with underlying threat.
“We’ll be charged,” a familiar voice responded.
“So cut a deal with them.” Elias shrugged, unconcerned.
I rushed out. Sam turned, and his eyes widened. “Briar?” he gasped, standing. Sinclair, who stood over him, shoved his shoulder until he plopped back onto the couch. “Briar, what the fuck—”
“Eyes off our Omega,” Sinclair snapped. Sam gawked, but I turned away, to the man with a broken nose. My old boss, Tim, the Editor-in-Chief sat next to him, wrinkles of age lining his face. He met my eyes and then looked away.
Both of them were in Bourne’s pocket?
“Unbelievable. That’s why you both brushed me off,” I struggled to say.
“You don’t underst—”
“Shut up, sell out,” I snapped. Sam shut his mouth quickly. The silence after my yell turned eerie.
Elias cleared his throat. “We’re not asking you to lie.”
“Fine,” Tim uttered, gruff.
Sam kept his mouth shut, but jerked his head in a nod.
Suddenly, Sinclair’s fist smashed into Sam’s mouth.
“What the fuck was that for!” Sam spat, clutching his bleeding mouth.
“You upset my Omega,” he answered simply.
“A cop friend of mine is on the way to arrest them,” Kyan murmured, having approached me at some point.
I pulled out of the fog crowding my thoughts.
“Perfect, let me get my recorder and take some statements from you two.”
I rushed out to return to my room.
“Briar,” Elias called out, and I slowed at the entrance of the bedrooms. He crowded into me, and the smile on his lips was blinding.
“The charges against you have officially been dropped.”
My pulse jumped.
“I’m not being dinged for cutting it off?”
“No, you’re all clear.”
The words caused a tunnel sensation. Air sucked out of my lungs. In the same rush, it returned, whooshing in my ears.
I exhaled my relief, falling into Elias’ arms. Tears ran down my face, effectively blinding me.