Page 131 of Traded

“I suspect that what happens in your house would be of great interest to the NOC.” Lauren sets down her knife and fork with a clang against her plate. “There’s a name for your kind of discipline, and it doesn’t belong in any decent home.”

“Now, listen here—”

“I don’t think I will.” Lauren pushes her chair back and tosses her napkin on her still-full plate. “Excuse me. I can’t sit here and listen to this shit for another minute.”

Liam reaches for her hand as she passes, but she slaps it away. A door slams a few moments later. Erin and Julia don’t move, their eyes lowered.

“Well,” John says, clicking his tongue. “I see now. Quite the behavioral issue you have on your hands, son. I thought the other one was the problem. Disappointing.”

I inhale slowly. Liam’s voice is pleading. “We have some things to work out. I told you. We’re making progress.”

Making progress.

I pick up my glass of wine and refill it, keeping my words light. “I’m about to be a really big fucking problem, John. Sorry about that.”

He stares at me. “Actually, scratch that. I’m not even a little bit sorry.”

“Rosie,” Liam snaps sharply. “Sorry, everyone—"

“Is this what you want?” I ask him abruptly. I gesture to a silent Erin. “A fucking ghost? No offense, Erin. You seem like a sweetheart. But your alpha is a fucking abusive asshole.”

Liam’s chair tips back as he pushes to his feet. “I think this is getting out of hand.”

“You thinkI’mgetting out of hand, you mean.” I tilt my wine glass to his father in a silent toast. “Got any soap handy, John? We can make this a group activity.”

Liam’s dad looks at his son. All of us do. And all I see is a coward who shrivels under his father’s disapproval. “You going to let her talk to me like that, son? Or you?”

He turns to Jonas.

I turn as well. “Yeah, Jonas. Anything you’d like to say? Feel free to use single syllable words. I know they’re easier for you.”

Jonas looks between the two of us, flustered. “Rosie… Look, sit down, will you? You’re not helping here.”

I was braced for disappointment. But it still fucking hurts. His jaw tightens, but he holds my gaze. “Seriously, sit the fuck down.”

“Look at you,” I say softly. “A real little mini-Kessler in the making.”

“We’re leaving.” John gets to his feet. Julia and Erin stand swiftly, as if they’re only echoes of him and not individual people. “I thought this pack was in hand, but this was a mistake.”

“A fucking big one.” I stand as well, bracing myself as he stares me down. “Now get thefuckout of my apartment. Don’t let the elevator doors hit you in the ass on the way out.”

“Such a mouthy little omega.” He shoves Erin aside as he moves around the table, and I force myself not to shrink back as he approaches me. “A good beating would sort you out.”

I hold his gaze as my nails dig into the palms of my hands. “Erin, you’re welcome to stay. I can get you help. You don’t have to go back with them.”

I turn my face from the seething alpha several inches from my face. Erin is watching me, and her expression breaks my fucking heart. “Please.Don’t go back with him.”

John’s face twists. “You interfering littlebitch—”

His huge arm swings back. I brace for the hit—

An arm smashes against his hand, throwing it back before it touches me. “Don’t you lay afucking handon my omega.”

My breathing echoes loudly in harsh, rasping noises. Liam pushes between us until my nose is pressed into his back. “You heard what Rosie said. This was a mistake.”

“You’re the one making the mistake,” John growls in his face. “I spent years raising you right, boy, and a few years in the city and you think you’re big fucking shit? Good luck keeping a pack together like this. Your omegas have bigger balls than you do.”

I lean forward until my shaking forehead is pressed into Liam’s shirt.