Chapter 22

"You think we're far enough away?" I ask Griffin, staggering to a stop. I bend over, placing my hands on my knees so I can catch my breath. My heart is racing and my lungs are screaming, but the adrenaline is pumping through my veins.

"Yeah," Griffin huffs, putting his hands on his hips as he catches his breath too. "I think we lost them."

"Ugh," I groan, my belly feeling funny. "I don't think doing that much running after eating ice cream was a good idea."

"Are you okay? Do you need water? Are you going to be sick?" he asks. I love his concern and need to take care of me.

"I'm good." I straighten up and wipe my brow. "Just can't do any more running."

"Let me call a car to come pick us up."

Griffin makes a call and tells me they will be here in ten minutes.

We find a spot in the shade to wait, and Griffin pulls me down onto his lap. I go willingly, placing my head on his chest, and listen to the beating of his heart.

"Is it always like this?" I ask him.

"You mean the fans?" he asks and I nod. "Nope, sometimes it's worse. This is the best case scenario. Normally, we don't have any security with us because we don't go out much. Always working leaves little time to enjoy life. We're so stupid for not even thinking about it this time. You could have gotten hurt."

"I'm fine." I shift my head to kiss his neck before snuggling my face there. "But yeah, that was crazy."

"I'll talk to Calvin about getting some men to trail us for the rest of the tour."

I nod and just enjoy the feeling of his arms around me. "Not going to lie, that was fun." I laugh.

"It was, wasn't it?" he chuckles.

The car comes and picks us up, taking us back to the hotel.

"What on earth are you wearing?" Everett asks when we walk into the hotel room. He's there with Zane, Calvin, and unfortunately, Gianna.

"We got spotted, and needed something to cover up with," Griffin answers.

"Are you okay?" Zane is in front of me in a flash.

"Relax, big guy, I'm fine." I roll my eyes. "We ran, it was fun."

"You guys know better than to go out so carelessly. What if you got hurt?" Gianna directs this to Griffin.

"It was a group of girls. We would have been fine," I tell her.

She swings her gaze to me. "That shows just how little you know about their lives," Gianna states with a scowl. "Sure, it's a group of girls now—but what if it was a bigger, rowdier group? Or someone who isn't a fan of the band and feels the need to express that, ultimately putting their lives at risk?"

Embarrassment fills me, and I feel like a scolded child for a moment. "Sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about," Griffin reassures before looking at Gianna. "She's not to blame here."

Gianna's eyes widen. "I—I wasn't blaming her, Griff, I was just stating facts."

Why does it bother me so much that she uses his nickname? I hate it.

"It was our responsibility to bring security, and we didn't," Zane adds in. "We should be fine for tonight, but I think it's a good idea to bring a few guys along for any future outings."

"I agree." Gianna nods. "I will assign a few guys for this tour."

"Thank you, Gianna," Calvin says. "Is there anything else needed from the guys? If not, we have dinner plans in an hour before going out again."

"Oh." Her face falls as she looks around at the guys. "You have more plans?"

"Yup." Griff pulls the hoodie off and tosses it onto the couch. I don't miss the way Gianna's eyes drop to the patch of skin that peeks out when his shirt rides up. I grit my teeth, holding back my impulse to stake my damn territory. This is something I'm going to have to get used to. I've never felt so possessive over someone before. Lie—I've always felt this way about how the girls in high school acted toward the guys, but it's been years.

"What are you going to do?" she asks, looking back up at him.

"Ghost tour stuff." Griffin shrugs, sitting down on the couch.

"That sounds fun." She licks her lips and looks around at the guys once more, putting a smile on her face. "I've always wanted to do something like that."

Is she for real? Is she fishing for an invitation? Because maybe I'd be nice enough to offer her one if, you know, it wasn't for the fact she's been nothing but a bitch to me and clearly hates me.

I don't want to go out and have to worry about her being there, ruining the fun. But I keep my mouth shut because this is the guys' manager and they can make the choice for themselves. I will just have to deal with it.

"Ah, maybe another time, Gigi." Griffin gives her an awkward smile. "We want to take Jade out, spend time as a pack, you know? Jade's never been out of Vegas before, so we want to make this tour the best vacation she's ever been on."

"Oh." She nods, huffing out a fake laugh. "Totally get that." She looks to me. "Have fun," she forces out before turning around and leaving.

I'm part relieved they said no and part pissed that Griffin has a nickname for her. I'm trying not to be a crazy girlfriend—not that I'm their girlfriend just yet—but I can't deny the jealousy coursing through me.

"Speaking of security, I was thinking we get Jade her own bodyguard when we can't be with her," Griffin suggests to Calvin.

"Why?" He narrows his eyes. "Do you really want another man around her?" Calvin growls. "Plus, I can just watch her. No need to hire anyone."

"One." I glare at the sexy older alpha. "Who said it had to be a man? Two, watch me? I'm an adult, not a child. I don't need to be watched. And three, I can handle myself."

"You will have someone with you when we can't be," Zane insists. "You still haven't seen half the shit that comes with being in the spotlight, Trouble, and we would burn this world down if anything happened to you."

"Fine," I sigh because he's right. They know more about this than I do. "But, Calvin, you have a life, a job. You can't just follow me around all the time."

"I can and I will," he responds like it"s not a big deal. "You"re my omega, Jade, and that changes everything. I can work from practically anywhere."

I just roll my eyes, knowing there"s no point in arguing with them.

"WELCOME TO THE JACKThe Ripper tour! Where we will spend the next two hours following in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper and his unfortunate victims in London's East End. We will be visiting the sites of his murders and learning about the mysteries and the rumors surrounding the unsolved serial crimes. We will begin here..." the tour guide announces as we stand in the dark near the police station.

I'm so on edge, my heart already racing. I fucking hate the dark, why did I think this was a good idea?

"This is pretty cool," Everett comments, coming to stand next to me. I jump, my eyes snapping up to his. "Shit, Tiny, the tour hasn't even started and you already look like you"re going to piss yourself."

"Fuck off," I mutter, rubbing my arm up and down as a cool breeze swirls around me. "It's really dark, that's all."

"There are street lights," Zane points out.

"Yeah, enough to keep me from falling on my face. But I'm sure the whole tour won't be lit up. Look, the guy has a flashlight."

"Don't worry." Griffin chuckles. "Your alphas will protect you."

"I'm not worried," I lie because I know I'm going to be jumping at everything.

"Mhhmm." He chuckles, and I flip him off, making him laugh harder.

"Don't worry, Darling," Calvin purrs from behind me, pressing his front to my back, making me shiver. "I'll protect you."

I look up, biting my lower lip.

"Stop that," Zane huffs. "I don't need this whole group knowing what my girl smells like."

My eyes snap to his. "Listen, I'm an omega. And the lot of you are hot, sexy, tattooed alphas. You expect me to tell my pussy to relax? How"s that going with your dick? Is he relaxed?" I raise a brow. He glowers at me, adjusting himself and proving my point. "That's what I thought."

Zane steps forward, trapping me between him and his brother. "Are you going to fight me on everything, Trouble?" he murmurs. "I don't remember you being this bratty."

My breath hitches, and I swallow hard. "I'm not the same girl I was back then."

"Hmmm," he muses. "It appears so."

"Hate to break this up, but the group is leaving without us," Everett cuts in, getting our attention.

"Shit," I hiss, sliding out from between them and over to Everett. "Save me."

"From what?" He chuckles as he takes my hand, Griffin joining me on my other side to take my other hand.

"From the sexy, tattooed, growly brothers," I sigh. "I'm sorry I'm always so horny. I've only had sex a handful of times over the past six months, okay? And now I have these mouth watering alphas at my disposal. All I have to think about is your knot inside me and I'm a fucking mess. You guys make my brain turn to mush," I huff in annoyance.

Griffin and Everett look at each other and burst out laughing. Dicks.

I FEEL LIKE I'M INa horror movie. Who knew walking around London at night would be so damn terrifying. The tour includes a lot of narrow cobblestone pathways with a lot of twists and turns. It's very easy to get lost, especially in the dark.

Overall, it's been pretty cool to learn about Jack The Ripper. Freaky as hell to know we keep standing on the ground where people died. I swear to God if I leave with a spirit attached to me, I'm going to drown myself in Holy water.

Everett and Griffin are wholeheartedly invested in the tour, listening to the guide's every word and asking lots of questions, so I've hung back a bit, letting them enjoy themselves. It's pretty cute to see them so carefree.

As for Calvin and Zane, they've been bickering for the past twenty minutes over stupid shit, like an old married couple.

A cool breeze has me shivering, and I curse myself out for not bringing a sweater. Looking up at the night sky, I see a cloud start to cover the moon. It feels like it's going to rain and none of us brought an umbrella. Lovely.

Opening up the purse Griffin got me, I dig around for my new camera, wanting to take a photo of the guys looking so relaxed. As I grab it and pull it out, something gets caught and falls out of my purse.

"Fucking hell," I mutter, watching it bounce a few times against the ground before rolling down the side alley. Letting out an annoyed sigh, I go after it without even thinking.

It eventually stops rolling, hitting the wall and coming to a stop. I bend down to pick it up, groaning when I see what fell out. It's the damn bullet vibrator Griffin got me when he snuck into a little shop across the street from where we ate lunch.

I swear, I never know what to expect from him. He really is a dirty-minded wild card. But he did promise to use this on me, so I can't lose it. It would be rude, right?

Shoving it back in my purse, I start to rush back to the guys, knowing they can't be too far ahead.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here." A guy steps out of the shadows from one of the adjacent alleys.

Startled, I take a step back, my blood pounding in my ear. "Ah, hi," I say, trying to hide my unease, but it only grows when two more men step out behind him. "If you don't mind, I'm with the tour. I just dropped something, but I gotta get back." I go to take a step around them, praying they let me go. They sidestep me, and I swallow down a whimper.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" the guy asks, cocking his head to the side. I can't see him very well, it's too dark. But I can tell they are all alphas, just by their size.

"Fuck, Buck. She smells so damn good," one of the guys behind him groans. "That"s a sweet fucking omega pussy right there. I bet she would feel so damn good wrapped around my knot."

Fear spikes within me, my breathing coming in quick pants. Don't react, don't freak out. Remember to be level headed. I've dealt with plenty of assholes at the club in the past.

I give him a smile. "Sorry, boys. I have a pack."

"We don't give a fuck," another one snorts. "Pussy is pussy."

"Look, I don't want to do this, but my alphas are just down the path. If I scream, they will come running."

I will not cry, I will not give them the satisfaction. But I will fucking scream if they don't let me go. I don't plan on going down easily. Fisting my trembling hands, I get ready to fight.

"Fuck, I can smell the fear rolling off of you," the guy in the front growls. "Makes my fucking cock hard."

"I don't want any trouble."

"What if we do." He moves forward, making me take another step back. The moon light shines down on him, putting his nasty, leering smirk on full view.

Fuck it. I suck in a big breath, ready to scream, but as soon as I open my mouth they lunge. The guy in the front shoves his hand over my mouth as he pushes me back against the wall. The force makes my head bounce off the bricks. I cry out against his hand, pain splintering through my skull.

Where are the guys? Why haven't they noticed I'm not with them!

"Not so fast, omega." He chuckles as I stare at him with wide fearful eyes. My nostrils flare, trying to breathe through the panic as his rancid breath wafts over my face. "We're not done with you yet. The fun has just begun."