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The others fall into step around us like a very uncoordinated human shield.
Theo: steady and comforting. Ash: quiet, razor-focused. Kai: swaggering along like he’s auditioning for a role calledSexy Chaos. Lucian: still storming ahead like the world’s angriest luxury predator.
“I’m just saying,” Kai announces like he’s narrating the movie version of this mess, “this feels like the start of a heist film. You’ve got the soldier,” he gestures to Ash, “the CEO with unresolved authority issues,” to Lucian, “the golden retriever with a savior complex,” he nods at Theo.
“Don’t,” Theo warns, voice tight.
“- andme, obviously. The wildcard with perfect abs and no moral compass.”
“Shutup, Reed,” Lucian bites.
I’m too busy trying not to combust in Theo’s arms to ask how any of them apparently know each other.
“Almost there,” Theo says, just for me.
“Almostwhere?” Kai crows.“Vale still hasn’t confirmed if his little murder mansion comes with blackout curtains or silk restraints.”
“Reinforced walls,” Lucian clips. “Electric gates. Security cameras. Medical isolation wing.”
“So… a very expensive panic room,” Kai snorts. “What, you keeping her safe or storing government secrets?”
“It’s secure,” Lucian says. “Which is what she needs.”
“Shehas a name,” Theo mutters, holding me tighter.
Lucian's gaze cuts sideways, but his steps don't falter. “Shehasn’tgivenit.”
I press my face deeper against Theo’s chest, forcing a rasp from my throat.
“…Rhea.”
Theo’s hand tightens on my back. “Her name is Rhea.”
Kai lets out a long, low whistle. “Damn. Pretty name for a pretty mess.”
“Kai,” Theo growls in warning.
“Sorry, Bambi,” the youngest Alpha says instead.
Ashsnarls. “Stop calling her that.”
“Why? You thinking of trademarking her?”
“Do youwantyour jaw relocated?”
“Can youidiotsshut up for fivefuckingminutes?” Lucian interrupts. “I want to make it to my car without anyone fighting or dry-humping in the fuckingcorridor.”
His eyes are a storm barely contained, and every one of them - even Kai - falls silent under the weight of it.
"We're not dragging this out," Lucian says, stalking forward again. "We move fast. We stay quiet. We don't fuck this up."
We move back into step, nothing but quiet falling around - until we pass a catering entrance.
The scent-neutralizers sputter above us like dying bugs, and two Betas glance up.
They sniff. Then freeze.
I brace.
