Page 200 of Retribution

Yes, like the dog Paula fucking is. I’m hurt, angry, and need retribution for what she did. I almost lost everything because of her actions.

“Yes,” I grunt, blowing out a breath.

We’re in Indianapolis for the night, and already dropped Oli and Alesso off where my ex-employees live. Funny enough, they’re roommates at a duplex. They’re going to scare the fuck out of them, chase them while wearing masks, and then drug them. If they can make it home, great. If not, the winter elements can take them. It’s thirty-five degrees tonight as we enter March.

The odds aren’t in their favor since those girls will probably be in their pajamas and there’s still snow on the ground. Fuck around and find out is a bitter pill to swallow.

Sliding out of the passenger door, Grant and I leave Isolde in the back seat of the running car near the back door of the police station. Shoving my hands in the pockets of the black sweatshirt, I walk to the door and knock on it.

Grant called the Police Chief to tell him that we were coming to pick Paula up, and he’s breaking all protocol tonight. Technically, she wasn’t even properly booked into the systemsince she was being baby sat by the police for us, but Paula doesn’t know that.

She’s going to learn how well we run the city.

The door swings open as a large brick wall of an alpha opens it. Officer Baylor is huge. His hand is wrapped around Paula’s bicep as he pulls her forward, and her wrists are in handcuffs behind her back. Paula is giving him an earful about her “mistreatment.”

Soon, she’ll be begging to go back into police custody.

“You said I was going home,” she complains. “Where’s Grant? He’s supposed to be picking me up! Lucas said so.”

I don’t know if those were my exact words, but she hasn’t seen either of us yet. It’s dark out, and she hasn’t stopped yapping long enough to look up.

“Mr. Reid?” Officer Baylor groans, and I decide to take pity on him.

“I’m here,” I murmur, stepping into one light over the door. “I’ll take it from here.”

“Thanks, I have a splitting headache,” the big guy groans. “Here are the keys. Do you need duct tape? She’s real mouthy, sir.”

“I got it,” Grant reassures him, a sock in his hand and a black tie to wrap around her face.

“I wish this was legal,” Officer Baylor laments. “This woman won’t shut up.”

“I’m sorry,” I apologize to him, watching as they wrestle with my ex-secretary.

“No. No! Lucas, why—” her words become muffled as Grant shoves the sock into her mouth and then shoves the material of the tie in as well so she can’t spit it out.

After securing it around her head, Grant shakes his head.

“Will you judge me if I toss her over my shoulder?” he asks Officer Baylor.

“Not at all. She pretended her legs were broken while walking over here. I had to drag her most of the way.”

Paula looks worse for wear in the local lock up’s blue uniform. They didn’t put any effort in or care that it’s cold, so they’re a pair of shorts and t-shirt. She’s wearing a pair of socks that won’t prepare her for running in the forest either.

Unlike Miranda and Tracy, there is no possibility that Paula will be surviving the night.

Grant is rough as he carries Paula over his shoulder, and I pocket the keys to the handcuffs.

“We got her from here. Thank you,” I tell the officer.

“Not a problem at all. Have a good night.”

The door slams shut, automatically locking behind the officer. Trudging back to the SUV, Grant and I are silent as he opens the trunk and tosses her roughly in. Shaking my head, I watch as Paula begins to breathe heavier as Grant manually shuts it and we get back inside the vehicle.

“You’re a disappointment,” I say, finally breaking the silence as Grant begins driving. “I trusted you with my family, and you spit in my face. Isolde is my scent match and Grant’s soul bonded omega. Do you know how rare it is for that to happen?”

Isolde glares dispassionately at Paula from the back seat, already wearing her mask. It’ll glow in blue and red X’s for the mouth and eyes, and it's honestly better if Paula doesn’t realize who is watching her.

Grant is driving to a nearby park since that’s also where Alesso and Oli will be tormenting Miranda and Tracy. It’s a large park with lots of trees, and it’s easy to get lost. The police actually find dead bodies of people who lose their way and die in the cold regularly enough for there to be warning signs not to enter after dark.