Page 33 of Pack of Crooks

The bar is on the floor, really, but I have hope that Pack Lennox will far exceed my every desire. Smiling, I allow myself to imagine our future together.I’m a total goner.

ten

KILL

The light in her apartment eventually goes out, and I wait a bit longer, hidden in the shadows of the alleyway across the street, before heading inside. What would Hazel think if she knew I were out here? Would she be mad? Insult me? Or would she get that far away look in her eyes, the one that makes me wonder if she’s ever known what it’s like to be loved.

A car with heavy bass music rattling through it zooms by. I peel away from the wall and cross the street, eyes on the building, checking for cameras. She lives in a shitty part of town. While I hate that, and the dilapidated building I’m approaching, it has its advantages. There’s no security.

I slip inside, nose wrinkling as I head up to her floor. I hadn’t known which apartment was hers until I saw a glimpse of her through a window. Getting out of the stairwell, I head right toward the apartment at the end. She deserves better than this shitty place.

There are spare bedrooms in ours. One for her sister and one for Hazel’s nest. It’ll have to be slightly modified to accommodate her nest, but I’ll buy her every pillow and blanketshe wants. Ezra and Maddox would say I’m getting too ahead of myself, and maybe I am, but my instincts are never wrong, and right now, they’re screaming that she’s our one and only.

Pulling out my lock pick kit, I make quick work of the flimsy lock—she doesn’t even have a deadbolt—and carefully let myself inside. I close the door and lean against it, breathing in. Sunshine and strawberries. My chest pulses with possessive desire. Eyes adjusted to the dark, I take in the small kitchen, bare walls, and my omega sleeping on a worn couch.

She doesn’t even have a bed? My jaw clenches and I make my way toward her, steps quiet, gaze steady on her face which is pinched. “What’s haunting your dreams?” I whisper, squatting beside where she lies.

The street lamp from outside paints shadows across her features. Her pillowy soft lips are slightly parted, long blonde hair splayed out around her. A trickle of sweat slides down my spine. It’s hot as hell here. I glance around, but see no evidence of an air conditioner or mini-split. My brow wrinkles in annoyance.

That won’t do.

“You deserve better, pretty thief.” My voice is scarcely a whisper, more like a breath, and I smooth some of her hair from her forehead, gaze tracking down her body.

A thin black camisole and short shorts. That’s all she’s wearing. My throat bobs, I focus on the peak of her nipple beneath the fabric, and my scent grows stronger, tangling with hers.

“Mmm.” The husky, pleased sound goes straight to my cock, but I hold myself completely still, breathing through an assault of lust.

Throat dry, I carefully open the bag I brought, taking out the bunny mask I bought her, the letter Ezra wrote, and the small jar of cream Maddox gave to me. I’m pretty sure there’s more thanlotion in the jar, but who am I to judge him for wanting to mark her with his scent? I set the items on the rickety coffee table in front of her.

“Kill,” she moans.

My head whips around, but her eyes are still closed, features no longer pinched but relaxed, a lazy smile tugging at her lips as her legs press together in her sleep. I watch her writhe, mesmerized by the curves of her body, and fist my fingers so tight it hurts. I want to touch her, to slip my hand between those soft thighs and tease through her wetness, but that would be crossing a line.

Stalking and murder are fine by me, but touching her without permission is something I’d never do. Neither would Ezra and Maddox, no matter how tempting she is with her back arching, tits pushing into the air, nipples begging to be worshipped.

A growl catches in the back of my throat. Fuck. Time to go. Standing, wincing at how hard I am, I force myself to leave before I lose control. I haven’t rutted in a long time, but I still remember the early warning signs and I won’t do that to her, not until she’s good and ready. Begging for me to knot her.

Then I’ll take everything she has to give, bury myself so deep she’ll remember me for days. I pause with my hand on the doorknob. What am I forgetting?

Hazel whimpers behind me.

My teeth grind, but I pull out my phone, stride back to the couch, and press record. It’s hard to see her in the dark, but every sound she makes, the heavy pants of her breath come through crystal clear.

I send the video to Ezra and Maddox then leave. Each step away from her feels wrong. Like I’m trudging away from destiny, but it’s not forever. Only for a night.

Some things need to happen before I can wrap her in my arms and keep her there:

Hazel has to start working with us.

Eventually, when she’s ready, she needs to claim our pack.

Then, she and her sister can move in. They’ll be safe with my pack. Protected. Cared for. Given more than they have right now. Fuck, my pack would give them whatever they wanted.

Hazel Lennox.

Yeah, I think I like the sound of that.

eleven