Knightly
“Phoebe is not cut out for this.” I rub my eyes as Perry plays back the footage for us. If my father hadn’t ripped Garrett Rizen apart the way he did, we would have what he was using to disrupt the security system, but no one can blame him after taking a look at my mate’s face when she cries. “She’s sympathizing with my father.”
“He’s never betrayed her,” Roman scoffs. “He will eventually. That’s his move, Man. You
know that better than most.”
“Take her to Magique. She’s bored, Knight. Let her stretch her legs,” Perry suggests.” You’ve been keeping her all to yourself for a while now.”
“My old apartment is available and furnished. I can talk to the manager when I return from a pack meeting later. It’ll be easier with more of us around them,” Violetta adds.
“You’ll also be a fifteen–minute run away from her,” Roman agrees. “They can hang out
at the tower with us.”
“Umm,” Vy shakes her head.
“Your tower is a kid haven,” he scoffs.
“Yeah, for me. Those aren’t toys. Some of my shit is worth more than your entire existence,” she says nonchalantly.
“My mom isn’t going to like that. I know she was the one that came in and got rid of
the bodies before the twins could see.”
“Yeah, well, no one really cares about what Maria wants,” Vy scoffs. My mate might.
“I’ll run it by Phoebe,” I agree.
“The one time I’m not spying, she gets a black eye,” Perry growls. “It’s kind of unfair that Arnold is having all the fun. I just want to put the three of them in a holding cell while we piece together everything we need.”
“I’m a little alarmed that Arnold and the Northerner have new tech. Whatever Garrett had on him was tampering with the audio,” I tell her. I want that too. More than anything. Maybe not a holding cell, but something better than this.
“I was thinking the same thing. I’m trying to fix it now. I’ll be able to clear up some of the static once I figure out this fucking code,”
“You’re still on that?” Roman asks. “Send me some files so I can run it through my shit,”
“Bet.” A bunch of files pop up on the mirrored screen.
“Holy shit,” we all say at the same time.
“Yeah,” she grins. “Someone out there is just waiting for me to go bully them,” she
claps excitedly. “Selling weapons to civilians is a big no–no. Bunny is helping me. We‘
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ve been having tracking sleepovers.”
“You sound like sorority girl, bitch,” Vy laughs.
“She is a sorority girl. An AKA sister,” I announce. “ASA,”
“How do you know that?” Perry screams.
“What?” Roman and Vy both laugh.
“You joined the Alpha Kappa Alphas? What the fuck, Perry?” Román falls out of his chair, laughing.
“Thanks, Knight,” she sighs.
“I still get emails about the new recruits. Even for the ASA branch. Welcome to the family.” I’m actually very proud of her. She’s getting along great. Becoming a Lycan has been a blessing to her.
“Fuck off,” she flips me off. “Yes, I joined. It started off because I was trying to find the new glass builds for the supercomputers. I was only supposed to do rush week. Then I finally found people who know how to fucking hold a conversation. Most people have an average IQ of a hundred. I’m at One–eighty–two. There’s not a lot people who obesses like me and Sigma bitches are a little crazy. Like Violetta. What are you hitting like one sixty?”
“One–sixty–two,” she nods.
“Knight has us all beat,” she scoffs. “They make us all take the test during rush week and they have a shrine to this bitch,”
“One ninety–four,” I nod. I’ve seen it. They have pictures of every single one of my music phases in their hall of fame. Like Perry, I’m mostly embarrassed.
“Ugh, no wonder you’re all fucked in the head,” Roman groans and tosses up the stress toy he’s been playing with.
“What are you hitting? You might be just as screwed,” Perry laughs.
“I have never been placed. I don’t even have a high school diploma,” he shrugs.
“Hey, guys.” I almost jump out of my skin when Phoebe appears behind me. How the fuck did she get in here without making a sound?
“Hey,” they all greet her. Perry has to mute her mic because she can’t stop laughing.
“I hate her.” I clear my throat.
“You should have seen your face,” Perry cries into the mic when she turns it back on. “I have that shit. Who wants it?”
“Me,” even Phoebe jumps in place beside me with her hand raised. She sets a bento box on the table beside me.
“The twins are going mobile for school, so I have to get their packets and stuff down there a little earlier. I made you a snack cause I might be a little longer than usual. You
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get a little crabby. I’ll see you later,” she kisses me and then turns to face the camera.
Bye guys,” she waves. “Don’t get too crazy on your computers, kids.”
“Bye,” they all wave at her as she walks away.
“Dude,” Roman shakes his head.
“Don’t listen to him. Rome is a straight–up hater, Knight. That is what being mated looks like. Did she put you on a schedule? Jonas has different ones so when we’re out of the house.” Perry dances happily in her chair.
“We’re all on the twins‘ schedule,” I shrug. She’s not that bad.
“Oh,” she coos. “You’re so cute. Jo is a major control freak. I know a let me do it, you’re so slow, asshole anywhere. Did your dad teach her how to mask her presence?”
“He’s teaching her a lot of shit, yeah. She likes taking that information and adjusting the customs she’s teaching the twins. You should hear the way Arnold talks about her willingness to cooperate,”
“The new Labubu,” Vy says, holding up a pink plushie. “Of course he’s in love.”
“Yeah, he’s excited to have a new student,” Perry agrees. “A clean slate and one that can hold a conversation about business.”
“She also boosts his fucking ego. I’m telling you, she loves him, and so do the kids.”
“I mean-” Violetta shrugs.
“What?”
“Come on, Knight. Your dad is a hard ass, but he’s a dad and he’s super good at it. None of his kids grew up to be losers. You included,” Perry adds.
“Then there’s the thing with Phoebe being an orphan living in some fucked up conditions. Have you seen the reports?” Vy asks.
“Yeah.” I take the binder I’ve been putting together for her so she understands why they’re going to be executed. “She’s going to have a problem with the sentencing.”
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