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Chapter forty-nine

VIOLET

Sofie spends a few more moments with me before disappearing back into the kitchen, leaving me to drag on a pair of pants and shirt. I forgo a bra because we’re not going anywhere and I know it’ll get our Alphas all riled up, even more so when I tell them they’re not allowed to touch. A deviant smile spreads across my lips as I reach for my phone, just about to step into the hallway when it buzzes.

I expect it to be Camila, telling me some new thing in her life but it’s an unknown number. Curiosity gets the best of me, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up, telling me that this could be a trap. Still, I open the message.

Xavier:

I have information that might help the investigation. Meet me in an hour. Alone.

He must think I’m fucking stupid to fall for that.

No can do. Where are you anyway? The police are looking for you.

Not anymore, Violet. See, the information I have could go either way.

What the fuck is he talking about? The man’s an asshole but his threats weren’t all that great. Other than firing me, I wasn’t scared of him. I stare at the last message, wondering what’s going on when a second message pops up. It’s a grainy image but I can still make out the night of the showing, Puma standing in front of me by my car.

Another text comes in.

See, I know where you’re staying. It only takes a few well-placed clues for me to pin everything on them.

The fuck? They never bought or sold anything fake, Xavier.

But they did, didn’t they? Bid on one right before the showing.

Frustration bubbles up in my stomach as I place a hand on the doorknob, ready to alert my Alphas that Xavier is fucking playing games with our safety. But the next message changes that. Pure dread coils in the pit of my belly as I reread the words several times.

It won’t just be a quick trip to the station, Violet. They’re going to rot in jail with the evidence I have. Everything will be stripped away from you, that house, the safety, maybe even your Omega.

Don’t you fucking touch her.

I won’t need to. The system will when they find out she aided and abetted the Ashford pack, leaving you alone without any family.

That thought terrifies me, especially after I just found my happily ever after. The blood in my veins turns to ice, my grip tightening around the phone as I read it again, as if the words will shift into something less dangerous, less inevitable. This has to be bait but there’s also a chance Xavier isn’t lying.

Why would I believe that you have evidence I can use when you just fucking threatened my pack.

Pack?

Fuck. I shouldn’t have said that. I confirmed what he already knows but I’m not budging on this. I take several breaths, trying to calm my nerves. No need for my Alphas to rush in here, asking what’s wrong.

Does this give you a bit of incentive?

A slew of other pictures hit my phone, pictures that this man shouldn’t have. Pictures from that one night we went out to dinner and headed to the beach afterward. Pictures from Sofie and I hanging out on the front porch, Gray being a goddamn menace. Pictures of Puma fucking into me on the driveway. But it’s the one picture at the end that gives me pause. The others just mean Xavier is stalking us, waiting for us. But this one means he was at some point in the goddamn house or someone he’s in contact with. Because the last picture is one of Sofie’s wide eyes staring out into the kitchen. I recognize that moment, just yesterday, the moment when our Alphas were ‘arrested’.

We still haven’t talked about what happened or how they were let go. All I know is that whoever Xavier has got in his back pocket was in my damn house. And he’s got his sights locked on Sofie.

Yeah, fuck that.

I barely get into the kitchen before Hawk is studying me, searching my face. He can read me just as easily as Puma can feel me and I hate it. “Trouble, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing! Nothing. Just… I realized that I need to start cleaning out my apartment. I didn’t renew the lease but like—” My explanation is flimsy at best as I steel my emotions, closing off the connection to my Alphas. They can’t know what I’m about to do. Sofie’s words ring in my ears, the ones where she told me to do whatever I had to but to make sure I came back to her.

And I will.

But I’m not going to let them hurt Sofie or my Alphas. Hawk raises an eyebrow, his hands moving up and down my arms as he just nods. The others haven’t noticed my presence just yet, Hawk using the distraction to case me in against the wall. “Trouble, tell me the truth. What’s going on? I don’t need a bond to see that something unsettled you.”

He caresses the side of my face, leaning down to press his lips to mine. The touch softens me, allows me to relax even with the truth lingering around me. “Nothing.”

“Again. One more time. Lie to me one more time and I’ll believe you. Or tell me the truth so I can help.”

“You can’t help,” I whisper, a whine following. “Hawk, you… I can’t. They…” It’s about to all come spilling out and I won’t be able to do a fucking thing to ensure the safety of my pack. He curls me into his chest, holding me as I cling to him for safety. He’s murmuring something in my ear as my fingers dig into him, his purr lulling me into a false sense of calm.

My phone vibrates again but I ignore it, staying in this moment.

“Tell me when you’re ready but don’t do anything stupid. Let’s go get that stuff from your apartment.”

I nod, letting Hawk guide me into the kitchen as he announces our plans. None of our Alphas look convinced, Sofie glaring at me over the edge of the couch. Hawk just grabs the keys and we walk out the front door, my eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary.

“What are you looking for?”

“Xavier. He was texting, saying he’s known all about us and he had pictures. He’s been here. It’s why I had to go. Why I need—”

“Not alone, Violet. Never alone.”

I agree, knowing that my semi plan of running off to save the day would have either gotten me killed or seriously hurt. No, this is a much better plan. I swallow nervously, climbing into the driver’s side, Hawk lovingly closing the door after me. I watch him walk around the front, his eyes searching the area like mine were.

“Drive.”

A voice from behind me pops up, the click of a hammer ringing in my little car. I twist around to see the barrel of a gun in my peripheral but it isn’t pointed at me. It’s pointed at Hawk.

“Drive or he’ll be the first one on the floor.”

I don’t think. I just do. And the look on Hawk’s face nearly breaks me but god, at least he’s still alive.