Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
KAYLA
T he wind rips through my hair, tugging at the strands that escape from beneath the helmet. I’m clinging to Ryker, pressed against his back as he maneuvers the motorcycle with a controlled ferocity. He’s slower than he probably wants to be and I know it’s for me.
“Almost there,” he shouts over his shoulder, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engine.
I nod, though he can’t see it. The echo of that shout—the guy who recognized me in the park—ricochets in my skull. “There she is! The missing Omega!” It’s like he branded the words onto my brain.
My stomach churns. Three Alphas have knotted inside me but does it make a difference? Nexus doesn’t play by the rules; they’ll do whatever they want. They shocked Jess until she convulsed on the ground. What’s to stop them from punishing me for evading them?
I shudder, pushing away the invading thoughts.
We skid into the gravel driveway of the mansion, and Ryker cuts the engine. Helping me off the bike, his touch is surprisingly gentle. We shed our helmets and jackets in swift, unspoken agreement.
“Inside. Now.” Ryker’s hand is outstretched, urgency etched into every line of his body.
I grab his hand and we bolt for the door.
Inside, Liam and Dane are at the kitchen counter, their hands full of French dip sandwiches. The savory smell hits me hard, and my mouth waters. I want nothing more than to snatch one and devour it, but my stomach rebels, twisted in knots.
“Kayla, you okay?” Dane’s eyes rake over me, concern wrinkling his brow.
“Man in the park,” I gasp, struggling to catch my breath like I’ve been running forever instead of the quick jog from the garage to here. “He knew me.”
“Did you take care of him?” Liam’s gaze flicks to Ryker, his tone is deceptively casual.
Ryker’s jaw clenches. “No. But I made sure he won’t forget today.”
I flinch at the violence in his words. The potential for brutality I know Alphas are capable of still scares the hell out of me.
“Shit. That means we gotta move,” Dane mutters, dropping his sandwich back onto the plate. “I knew it was a bad idea to let her go out.”
“Fuck, we thought we along and took precautions. She can’t stay inside here forever like a prisoner. Pack what you need. We leave in ten,” Ryker snaps.
For a second, I stand frozen, the pull of my heat nipping at my senses. Not when Nexus might already be closing in. We’re running again, but it’s only a matter of time before we’re cornered.
And I’m so damn tired of being afraid.
“What about Charlie and the registration?”
Dane shakes his head. “He’s booked up until Monday and out of the country. Besides, even if he could squeeze us in, trying to register her legally is a death wish. Nexus has eyes everywhere. They’ll know the moment we step into that office.”
“So? We just get another lawyer to do it for us.” Liam crosses his arms, but still manages to look casual as he leans against the counter.
“No lawyer will want to touch this,” Dane adds, a grim look on his face, “we accepted the bounty to find her and turn her in. If we register her, Nexus could sue us for breach of contract. And even with Ryker’s money, I doubt we could afford their lawyers. They’ve got deeper pockets.”
“But this Charlie could do it?” I ask, my voice shaky.
“Yeah. He’s got special access since he works with Nexus freelance. Once Kayla’s registered as our Omega, then Nexus can’t do much.”
“That’s six days out, we can’t wait that long. We need to leave.” Ryker paces the kitchen.
“No.” The word slices through the room, hard and final. I feel it like a shockwave rolling off my tongue.
“Running isn’t living,” I say, my throat tight, my heart hammering against my ribs. “We can’t keep doing this. We just need to wait it out a bit.”
Ryker uncrosses his arms, steps closer, his presence enveloping. “Kayla, that’s a huge gamble and one I’m not willing to take.”
“We can’t just—” Liam starts, but I cut him off.
“We’re mated. All three of you knotted me. That has to mean something. And with the registration papers, that will help. Besides, Dane, you said they’re watching the house.” I shake my head. “It’s too risky to try and leave. They could follow us or ambush us on the way.”
They’re silent and I can’t tell if they’re considering my words or how to tell me we can’t stay here.
“Please.” My voice softens, pleading now. “I hate having to look over my shoulder. I had to do that with Gary—my stepdad. I don’t want to have to do it anymore.”
There’s a long silence, heavy with the weight of unspoken fears and desires. I can see the conflict in their eyes, the war between instinct and reason. But beneath it all, there’s something else—resolve.
“Okay,” Ryker finally says, and his hand finds mine, large and warm and reassuring. “We’ll stay here. But any hint of trouble and we leave. No questions asked. No hesitation.”
“Whatever we have to do to keep you with us and safe,” Dane adds and Liam nods with a smile.
“Good.” I squeeze his hand back, letting out a shaky breath. “Because honestly, if we don’t change something soon, I’m afraid we’ll never be free.”
A ll day, I feel like pins and needles have been wedged under my skin. I can’t sit down and even Liam’s massage on my back and shoulders didn’t do anything to calm my nerves.
“Sit down,” Liam pats the bed next to him, our video game running through a cut scene.
“Have you heard from Dane?” I lift my chin to his phone on the console. One of the first things I’m doing after we’re registered and certified is getting a replacement for the one I lost on the bus.
“Nope, but I’ve got the ringer turned all the way up and on vibrate. Relax. He’ll let us know as soon as he hears back from Charlie.”
“What’s taking so long?” I chew on my nails, pacing in Liam’s bedroom.
“Maybe he’s fucking his wife? Who knows but wearing out a hole in my carpet isn’t going to solve anything.” Liam reaches out, pulling me onto his lap. He tucks my hair behind my ear, then holding onto the side of my neck, pulls me to his mouth, kissing me until I sag against him. “Better?”
“Yeah,” I murmur against his lips.
His fingers slide under the hem of my shirt, leaving a trail of warmth and electricity as they trace over my skin. I shiver, rocking my hips back and forth, feeling the friction of his erection in his pants straining to reach me. His tongue circles with mine and he growls in appreciation, making my underwear slick.
“Fuck! Mother fucker!” Dane booms from downstairs and it’s as though someone has poured ice-cold water on me. A second later, Liam’s phone buzzes so hard it slides off the console.
Liam sighs against my mouth. “Guess we’ll go see what’s going on.”
Quickly, I hop off Liam and straighten my shirt. Together, we head downstairs.
Ryker is already there and he gives me a grim look that has my stomach tightening.
Dane sees us and his brows pinch. “There’s a hang-up. Charlie’s out of the country in Guam. That’s why it took most of the day before he got back with me.”
“So?” Liam shrugs. “We fly to Guam.”
“And let every Alpha in the airport and on the plane see and smell her? Fuck no.” Ryker shakes his head.
“You’re rich. Throw money at a private jet.” Liam picks up an orange, offering it to me and when I shake my head no, he starts peeling it for himself.
“It’s not that simple.” Dane rakes a hand through his cropped, dark hair. “He’s there on business. The place is crawling with Nexus head honchos from all over the fucking world for conferences that he can’t skip. Going to be Tuesday before he’s done and back.”
“Shit.” My knees threaten to buckle and I sit at the kitchen table to keep from falling down. “That’s five days from now.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Liam peels off another piece of the orange’s skin. “We just lay low here and wait it out. Then hop over to Charlie and get the paperwork done. Simple.”
“Liam’s right.” Ryker strides over, kneeling in front of me and taking my hands in his. “It’s just a few more days.”
Might as well be an eternity because it’s like I can’t catch a freaking break. But I let out a breath and nod. “Okay.” And with Nexus watching the house, we need to be extra careful.