Page 62 of Storm

"Does she ever not?" Jonathan replies dryly.

"I'm sitting right here, assholes," I snap.

"We're aware," Reed says, his voice deceptively calm. "I can smell your defiance from across the room."

I flip him off, which only makes his lips twitch in what might be the ghost of a smirk. Smug bastard.

Alexander strolls in from the kitchen, carrying a mug that smells like herbal tea. "How's the etiquette lesson going?" he asks, dropping into an armchair with graceful ease.

"Fantastic," I say with mock enthusiasm. "I'm learning all about how to be a proper doormat."

Alexander laughs, earning a glare from Jonathan. "You'll have to forgive my brother," he tells me. "He gets tense before the father’s visits."

"I don't need forgiveness. I need cooperation," Jonathan says, turning back to me. "Tomorrow night will determine whether my father’s decide to take a more active role in managing this situation. Trust me when I say you don't want that."

I sink back into the couch, feeling a flicker of genuine anxiety beneath my bravado. I've seen Jonathan's father’s exactly once, and that was enough to know they're dangerous in a way most people aren't. Cold, calculating, powerful men who view the world as something to be controlled.

"Fine," I concede with a sigh. "Eyes down, mouth shut, pretend I have no thoughts in my pretty little omega head. I get it."

Jonathan's shoulders relax slightly. "Thank you."

"But you should know," I add, unable to help myself, "this goes against everything I believe in."

"Noted," he says, the word clipped but not unkind.

Frankie enters from the direction of his room, hesitating when he sees all of us gathered. He's been more relaxed since our dinner last night, but still moves with caution around the alphas. Our eyes meet, and he gives me a small smile that instantly makes me feel better. At least I'm not alone in this madness.

Reed's phone chimes with an alert, drawing all of our attention. He pulls it from his pocket, glances at the screen, and lets out a growl so vicious it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

"He fucking found us," Reed snarls, his knuckles white around his phone.

Jonathan's eyebrow rises. "Already? How did?—"

"Fucking Holloway," Reed cuts him off, his voice tight with barely controlled rage. "He's in the lobby of the building. Right now."

My heart stops, then restarts with a thundering beat.Rook. Rook is here. In this building. So close I could touch him if they'd let me.

"How the hell did he find this place?" Jonathan demands, but I barely hear him over the roaring in my ears.

"Does it matter?" Reed retorts. "He's here. Security just notified me."

I leap to my feet, my entire body electric with hope. "Let him up," I demand, my voice shaking with emotion. "Let him up right now."

All three alphas turn to look at me, their expressions ranging from pity to frustration to cold fury.

"That's not going to happen," Reed grits out through clenched teeth.

"Please," I say. "Please let him up. I need to see him."

Jonathan shakes his head. "You know how this would look. He can't be here, especially not with our fathers visiting tomorrow. If they find out?—"

"I don't care what they think!" I cry, desperation making my voice crack. "He can stay hidden in my room. I won't tell your fathers. I'll be perfect at dinner, I promise. I'll be whatever omega you want me to be. Just let me see him. Please, Jonathan."

The words pour out of me, raw and pleading. I hate begging, hate the vulnerability of it, but for Rook, I'll do anything.

"Stay in your room?" Reed repeats, a low growl building in his chest. "Absolutely not."

Jonathan and Alexander both join in, all three alphas growling in unison, their combined scents thick with territorial aggression that fills the room like a physical presence.