Page 82 of Knot Your Romeo

“I do. Name your price.”

“We’ve been friends for years. My price is twenty-five percent of your import business. And a fresh start between us as business partners.”

This deal would compromise everything I’ve built. But now...

“Find my Omega and kill her stepfather and I agree,” I say without hesitation.

“Beck,” Eli grabs my arm. “You don’t know what you’re agreeing to.”

I meet his eyes, seeing my desperation reflected there. “I know exactly what I’m doing. And I’d give far more to get her back.”

Dmitri’s laugh is genuinely pleased. “Good. Send me a photograph of the Omega and the man, any information you have. Location if possible. Consider the problem solved.”

“How quickly can you—“

“Is already in motion. I have a helicopter too, better than his. Faster.” His Russian accent gets more and more pronounced the more he talks. The line goes quiet for a moment. “Beck. A man who steals from your family will learn this is a mistake. You understand?”

I understand perfectly. When Dmitri’s people find Blake, there won’t be enough left to identify through dental records.

“I understand.”

“Good. I will bring your Omega home safely.”

“I want to go with you,” I tell him.

“That’s not a good idea.” The line goes dead, and I immediately start gathering the information Dmitri will need. Blake’s photofrom Rita, who I doubt is really called that. But I’m trying to remember the tail number I glimpsed on his helicopter.

“Here.” Rita hands me intelligence about the Montana compound.

“Beck.” Eli’s voice is carefully controlled. “You made a deal with the Bratva.”

“I made a deal with someone who can get results faster than the legal system.”

“At what cost? You think Dmitri’s going to eliminate Blake and just walk away? You’ll owe him forever. Whatever he asks for next—“

“Then that’s what I’ll pay.” I turn to face him fully, letting him see the absolute conviction in my eyes. “You know better than most that it’s just money.”

His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t answer immediately. Because we both know the truth—when it comes to protecting the people we love, there are no lines we won’t cross.

“If we’re doing this,” he says finally, “we do it together. Like a pack.”

“I can’t risk your life, Eli—“

“She’s not just your Omega, Beck. She’s ours. All of ours.” His green eyes blaze with determination. “You want to make deals with dangerous men? Fine. But you don’t do it alone.”

The simple statement breaks something loose in my chest. I’ve been carrying the weight of responsibility for everyone in my family, making decisions in isolation because I thought it was my burden to bear. But Eli is right—he is our pack now, and Emmie’s safety is all our responsibility.

“Together,” I agree.

My phone buzzes with a message from Dmitri containing coordinates and a timeline. Whatever resources he’s mobilizing, they’re moving fast.

“Jude should know what’s happening,” Eli says, pulling out his own phone. “He’s probably losing his mind with worry.”

“Tell him to stay put. This is going to get ugly, and someone needs to be here when we bring her home.”

While Eli makes the call, I turn to Rita. “I need everything you can tell me about Blake’s operation. Financial assets, business contacts, properties—anything that might help us track him.”

She nods, her face set with grim determination. “He has accounts in three different countries, properties in Montana, Wyoming, and somewhere in South America. The compound in Montana is where he...” She swallows hard. “Where he planned to keep his children and Emmie until they came of age.”