Page 107 of Knot Going Down

“So how dangerous is tomorrow gonna be?” Emily asks.

I knew it was coming, but the words still hit like a gut punch. I flick a glance at Knox, who’s gone still beside me. Of course he heard her.

“Will you have backup or something?” she adds, her voice lower now, tinged with worry. I can almost picture her biting her thumbnail, pacing some room I’m not in.

“We’ll be fine,” I say, trying to sound confident, trying to sell it.

Knox looks over, his eyes catching mine in the dim light. We both taste the lie.

I sigh, jaw clenching. We’ll have backup, but I shouldn’t discuss details of an active case—even with the woman I love.

Woah.The woman I love? Yeah, I guess that tracks.

“We have it under control. If we do it right, we get Glenn, and no one gets hurt.”

“And if you don’t do it right?” Emily asks.

“Then we improvise.”

“Jesus, Dec,” Knox mutters.

Emily’s silence is heavier now. “Just promise me something.”

“Anything,” I say without hesitation.

“Put me on speakerphone. I want Knox to hear this too.”

I hesitate for only a beat before flipping the phone to speaker and holding it between us. We’re close enough that he’s heard every word, but I know better than to deny Emily anything.

“Alright, baby, he’s here.”

“Hey, sunshine,” Knox says, and though the smile is audible in his voice, it’s tired around the edges.

“Promise me you’ll look out for each other, okay?” Her words come out quiet but firm. “I don’t want you going into this dangerous situation when you don’t trust each other. If you’re going to take Glenn down, you need to be a team. And… well, the same goes for makingthiswork.”

I know exactly what she means. Not just the job. The pack. The bond forming between all five of us. The realness of it. The risk of it. Whether or not Knox will be part of it.

We both murmur our compliance, and Emily makes kissing noises at both of us before she hangs up. Sweetheart.

My eyes find Knox’s as we stop at a light. His brows are furrowed, lips pressed in a line, but he doesn’t look away until the light turns green.

We ride the rest of the way in heavy silence.

Could I really pack up with a man like Knox Carrick? He’s reckless. Dangerous. A fucking flirt. But he’s also loyal. Fierce. Smarter than he lets on. We’ve clawed and snapped at each other since the day we met, but somehow that hasn’t burned the bridge between us. Instead, it built a connection.

By the time we pull into the hotel parking lot, I know what I need to do.

It’s time to put Knox Carrick to the test.

53

KNOX

The hotel isn’t fancy, but it’s clean. Neutral walls. Muted carpet. A forgettable piece of abstract art over the bed. There’s only one bed. Which I clock immediately, because of course I do.

There’s no couch. No armchair one of us could sleep on. Just the bed, one bedside table, and a wheelie chair in front of a desk that probably has a Bible in the tiny drawer.

Declan doesn’t say anything about it. Doesn’t say much at all.