Page 49 of The Forgotten

I want to isolate Dylan so that he begins to feel squirrelly and uncomfortable. He disrespected my soulmate, forced her to go to a dark place in her mind, and I will never be able to forgive that.I need us to move as quickly as possible on killing him, but my brothers want me to stay my hand a little longer.

I know they’re afraid I’m going to do something reckless. They don’t have to worry because I want to be around for a long goddamned time. Olivia needs me, and once I figure out how to get over Aled’s bullshit, I’ll admit to myself that I want to be around for him too.

Dylan rented the entire floor of this luxury building. The rooms are flooded with his people, and ‘Uncle’ Raynard admitted that Dylan had more people come in since yesterday. It appears to me that he’s trying to incite a war.

Uncle Raynard warned Aled that Dylan has become more haphazard in his cruelty. Just in the year we’ve been working in Minneapolis, Dylan has been mixing his depraved pleasure with business. The men and women working at the sex club are unhappy and want to leave unless there’s a change in ownership.

Aled promised Raynard the sex club for his help. We’ve never received those profits anyway, so it’s no skin off our noses. Raynard was surprised but agreed to throw his full weight of support behind us under the promise to give the sex workers fair wage. He also agreed to keep them safe from the predilections of men who don’t understand the word ‘no’. The other ‘uncles’ in the family are following suit in giving us their blessing, which means that they’re quietly turning some of the men Dylan brought with him.

All this hinges on following the notes of carefully crafted anarchy. Sneaking into the stairwell, I avoid everyone as I run down the ten flights of stairs and then escape out the back door into the street.

The cold air dries the sweat on my skin as I walk three blocks down to my car. Sliding into the driver’s seat, I find myself missing Olivia. She’s been quiet and withdrawn the last couple of days. At night, I throw away caution for cuddles. I don’tsleep well without them, and I’m well acquainted with my own nightmares.

So I pull her into my arms with Balthazar finding his way to wedge between us at our feet all night. I walked in to check on her before I left this morning, and found that her self-inflicted wounds were completely healed. Olivia begged me not to tell anyone, and I simply slipped my sweatshirt over her head before I kissed her goodbye.

She has her reasons for things, and I don’t owe my brothers her secrets. If she doesn’t want them to know, then I’m not saying shit.

The drive home is boring, long, and full of rush hour traffic.

“Fuck,” I sigh. “Is it too much to ask that people move out of my way?”

I’m cranky because I want to be homenow,but it takes another twenty minutes to get to the gate. Aled is right behind me as the gate opens, making me sigh. I don’t know if I have the mental spoons to deal with him right now.

I’ve been texting him all day, why do I have to look at him? Sure, he smells good, he has great hair for face fucking, and he’s gorgeous. Even though he’s identical to Cai, I still know all the differences. They could attempt to switch places, and I’d still know one from the other at a party.

I always have.

Parking the car in the garage, I quickly get out as he roars in behind me.

“Can you just wait?” he growls, following me as I slam the door closed.

“For the apocalypse, your dad to drop dead, or an apology? Ya know, just looking for some clarity,” I complain, striding toward the door as he remotely shuts the garage doors.

“Gareth,” Aled groans as he follows me inside.

I freeze as I inhale a deep breath of alpha pheromones and angel cake. Next, I hear a scream from the living room, and I break into a run.

“Olivia!” I yell, worry flooding my veins.

“Is she in heat?” Aled asks, on my ass as his pupils begin to blow out with desire. “Gareth, remember Maddox and Cai wouldn’t force her into anything?—”

“She screamed,” I growl, rounding the corner. Logically, I know that she can get loud during sex, but I’m still concerned.

Walking into the room, I’m shocked as I watch Olivia slap the fuck out of Maddox as she rides his cock. She sees me and abandons Maddox before she runs and jumps into my arms. I catch her easily, gasping as she bites me hard. The connection between us fully snaps into place, helping me relax. Olivia is very horny and deep into her heat, but otherwise unharmed.

“She wouldn’t let us help unless we agreed to hate fuck her,” Maddox says, dropping onto his ass in exhaustion. “We’ve been fucking nonstop for three hours.”

“She’s been biting, clawing, and hitting us,” Cai snorts. “No, she hasn’t bonded with us. I’m pretty sure she’s still pissed at us.”

“That’s because you deserve it,” I mumble, hugging Olivia tightly. “You didn’t text because you thought I didn’t have my phone, huh?”

“Yeah,” Cai agrees. “Wait, were we wrong?”

“No,” I lie. I’m allowed my secrets too. “How are you holding up, Angel? Your skin is so warm.”

“It hurts,” she admits.

“Do you want the knot ring?” Cai asks me, stumbling as he stands. “I need water and food before I come back. Olivia is a sex starved gremlin. I don’t know if you’ll be able to keep up with her alone.”