Page 52 of Knot Your Kismet

I’ll do whatever it takes to see it through.

No one will control me again.

No one.

30

My Kismet

Calista

Ivy screams, smacking her hands against the door, but there’s no way she will get to me. She can’t even hear me, despite me being able to watch her on the monitor. I could speak to her if I wanted, but I’m not wasting my breath. I could stay in this room for months.

“My father always said this room would save us one day,” Lucas says, startling me.

I twirl around and bolt toward him, jumping up into his arms. I bury my face into the crook of his neck and kiss his skin. My body trembles with adrenaline, and I squeeze my eyes shut so he doesn’t see I’m on the verge of crying.

“You did good, Lis. It’s okay now. I got you. You can take a breath. I won’t let anyone touch you again. I’m sorry you had to find me, and I couldn’t get to you. I was waiting for them to clear out so I could get to the proper authorities without intervention.” Lucas rubs his hand along my spine soothingly, keeping me close to where our bodies touch completely.

“They separated me from Nolan,” I say, my voice cracking. I don’t want to cry. I should be stronger than this. My mom never cried, even in her worst moments.

“I know. They should’ve never done that. What they’re doing is completely out of line. I believe that Ivy and Will are pulling some strings. The United Alphas wouldn’t send their agents—not without a proper investigation.” Lucas strolls with me toward the monitor and peers at the video feed. “And by the look of her panic and Will’s anger, I’m ninety-nine percent certain of it.”

I sigh out a long breath, pushing away my rattled nerves. Lucas’s minty scent settles my frayed edges, allowing me to focus.

“I don’t think Ivy was initially in on this but is now cleaning up Will’s actions. I…I remember things. Alexander didn’t want to give me to Will. Will was trying to take control from Ivy.” I think about the moment outside of City Hall again and shudder. What would’ve happened to me had Alexander complied with his demands? I never thought I’d be thankful for the mercy of a monster.

“Don’t excuse her—”

“I’m not,” I say, cutting Lucas off. He doesn’t need to convince me of anything. Ivy is the last one I’d come up with justifications for this. I was just stating my thoughts. I’m trying to think of answers as to why. Why risk it all to do this?

Lucas kisses me. “Okay, Lis. I believe you. I’m just…fuck. I need you to get out of here. I’ll distract them through the monitor, so you can leave through the tunnel. This isn’t just a safe room. It’s our safest getaway.”

Fear sprouts in my lungs, stopping my breath for a moment. “Leave without you? No. I’m not going anywhere.”

“They can’t get to me in here. I’ll just talk to them. See if they’ll admit their guilt,” Lucas turns from the monitor and carries me a few feet away. “You need to find Jensen. He has to have found surveillance by now. There’s no way Will managed to wipe everything.”

I wiggle in his arms, forcing him to put me down. “Are you crazy? Nolan will beat the crap out of you if you let me out of your sight. I’m not leaving. I—”

“Calista Kismet, open this door right now. It’s over. You’re not thinking clearly and need my help. I’ll fix all of this. Just come out.”

I gasp at the sound of Ivy’s voice echoing from the small speaker by the monitor.

“How in the hell?” Lucas rushes toward the monitor, leaving me frozen. He swivels and gawks at me, his eyes screaming something his mouth doesn’t say. He’s afraid. His fear peppers his cool scent with something richer, muskier.

“What’s—”

“Lis, come on. We need to go. Now.” Lucas pulls himself together and charges me, lifting me up and over his shoulder.

My hair cascades toward the floor. I hang upside down, disoriented as he moves a bookcase away from the wall with one hand.

I expect Ivy to bust through the safe room door at any second.

I should’ve known better than to think I could ever be safe.

Not from her and Will. Not from the world.

“Cali, don’t be stupid. You’ve been raised better than this.” I don’t know how Ivy manages to speak from the monitor. She shouldn’t be able to do such a thing. Only one of the Kismet brothers could get past the security software to…