Page 140 of Unhinged

“Said it was dark. Looked like a young guy. Not the wormy one you sent. Could be an associate.”

“Maybe,” I grunt. “We’ll check it out. Thanks, Nikola.”

“You want backup?”

“No. We got this.”

I hang up and turn to my brothers.

“Gear up. We’ve got a lead. Meat factory on the north end. I want our omega backnow. Her heat’s gotta be close—maybe a day, maybehours. If Earl thinks he can use that to bind her to him?—”

Acid’s already halfway to his room. Arrow’s right behind him.

No one speaks.

We just move.

I head to my room and grab what I need—my Glock and an extra blade. We meet beside our bikes. The engines roar, echoing off the cement walls of the clubhouse. My heart’s pounding like a college drumline.

She traded herself for her kid and my sister.

That’s the kind of omega she is.

Ours.

And I’ll fucking burn this city down to get her back.

BRYDGETT

I open my eyes when the door creaks again.

Earl.

Shit.

I didn’t mean to doze off. But I’m hanging by my arms, and exhaustion won the fight. My shoulders are on fire: screaming, stretched, burning like a motherfucker. I thought he’d be backsooner. I waited, ready, holding still like a coiled spring. Ended up passing out like a damn rookie.

So either Tina didn’t tell him what I did—or he doesn’t care.

He strolls in, all smug swagger and empty menace. His boots scrape against the concrete floor, slow and heavy, and he’s got that stupid satisfied look on his face. He touches my face. His fingers are soft, pretending tenderness where there is none.

"Such a pretty little omega," he murmurs, like we’re sharing a moment.

I spit in his face.

The slap comes fast. It snaps my head to the side. Heat flashes under my skin, pain sharp on my face, but I’ve had worse. I’vedoneworse.

He wipes his cheek slowly, and I see the shift in his eyes. Rage. Embarrassment.

My pulse spikes, but I lock it down.No panic.Not now.

I smile. Just a little. Just enough to piss him off. “You hit like a bitch,” I rasp. “Almost as pathetic as you fuck.”

That gets him.

He grabs my hips to steady me, and I don’t give him the chance to think. I wrap my legs around his middle and then use that grip to twist hard, throwing my weight sideways. He stumbles, trying to stay upright, but I plant my feet on his chest and kick off with everything I’ve got. The force knocks him backward; he crashes to the floor, cursing as he lands hard on his back.

Perfect.