Page 57 of Their Knotty Pack (Starbrook City Omegaverse #3)

Hunter immediately shakes his head. "No. I don't think they're the ones physically picking them up off the streets, but…it does look like they're canvassing targets."

His words make my stomach turn. "I…I can't believe I…"

"Hey. No. No, Bethany." My face is in Hunter's hands as he presses a quick, fierce kiss to my lips.

"No. This is not on you, bluebell. It's on them.

Only them. There's no way you could have known" His fingers flex slightly.

" None . Don't you for one second try to shoulder any of the burden that is theirs to bear. "

I swallow roughly. "I want…I want them to pay for what they've done."

"They will, bright eyes," Damien presses a kiss to my temple. "Our fearless leader will make sure of that."

"And everyone else involved with this…travesty." Hunter's eyes flash dark before he stands, brushing himself off. Georgia is looking between Hunter and I with a little smile on her face, like she can't quite believe what she just saw but she's glad she did.

"I'm going to…I'll be back." Georgia heads for the door before turning back to us. "Coffee? Anyone?"

We all decline, and she gives another one of those smiles before leaving and shutting the door behind her. Hunter stands, running a hand through his hair. "We'll search through the records again, looking for any phone numbers that line up."

"They won't," I realize, my stomach sinking again, "they…

fuck, I feel so fucking stupid!" I stand my hands clenching into fists.

"They had burner phones. They would tell me they were 'special work phones' but now…

" I shake my head, ready to tear out my hair.

"They said it was to keep better call logs for time spent on the phone with clients, but now I realize they were burner phones.

They wouldn't risk having any of their contact information on their real phones. "

"Hold on there, bluebell," Hunter rubs my arms, "the omegas…they would have had to reach out to the Hansen Law Firm first. We'll get them there, okay? If each of the missing omegas made a call to the firm before disappearing, that's enough to let us look into it further."

"Gods, I'm so fucking glad we filed that restraining order," Damien mutters, running a hand over his face.

The restraining order. Gods, I had been so happy when Hunter told me it finally went through. Now, all I feel is anger. I still have no idea why they were so intent on getting me back. Was it just so their egos wouldn't be bruised? Or did they have something more sinister planned?

"Wait." I huff a breath, closing my eyes.

When I lived with them, there was an office I was never allowed to go in.

Because Grayson is "particular" and didn't want me to mess anything up.

But now I wonder… "What if…what if we bugged them?

They have an office, if we got a recording device or something in there… "

Hunter is already shaking his head. "We can't use illegal recordings as evidence in court."

"You wouldn't have to. You could find out what their next move is before they make it and catch them in the act. Or find out exactly who is running this whole thing."

Hunter is thinking. I can tell, because his jaw ticks, and the corner of his eye wrinkles slightly. "It's not a bad idea…"

"Of course it's not," Damien says behind me, "look at who thought of it."

"I could do it." The words burst out of me, desperate to atone for the fact that I played a part, however unknowing, in these women's kidnappings.

"No," Dam ien sputters at the same time Hunter's gaze turns hard and he says, "Absolutely not."

"But—"

"No, Bethany." I've never heard Hunter's voice as harsh as it is right now. "No way. You realize we just got a restraining order approved? Even if I wanted to let you go, which, again, absolutely fucking not , they would see right through you."

"You're not—"

He talks over me again, and Damien doesn't even try to stop him.

"I'm not what? Willing to put my omega in danger?

Correct. Not stupid enough to send my omega back to her abusive ex-pack all wrapped up in a pretty little bow?

Again, correct." He's so close to me now that our chests brush, his pupils nothing but black voids.

"I may not have physically claimed you yet, Bethany Thomas, but make no mistake, you are mine .

" He growls the word, sending goosebumps along my flesh.

"And it'll be a cold day in hell before I willingly endanger what.

Is. Mine." His chest heaves with each punctuated word, his nose only inches from mine, and I find myself frozen in place.

Something about the possession in his voice, the claiming of his words…

warmth curls low in my belly, and Hunter's nostrils flare for a moment before he shakes his head, his pupils returning back to normal.

Well, mostly.

"Get her home," he grits out to Damien, who immediately nods, standing and guiding me out the door.

Damien drives me home, his hand on my thigh, but all I can do is look out the window and wonder just how many women I've helped condemn.