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“I know you hate dream-walking, but this is the only way to help him find his way to you.”
She jumped up from her seat. “I’ll do anything.”
The Dream Lord laughed.
Against the protests of his pride members, Daniel went ahead with the transfer of ownership of his stocks and dividends to Jeremy, and wrote an official announcement of his resignation from the company. He also documented his abdication as alpha of the Manhattan lions. Liam Ruska, the pride treasurer and corporate lawyer for the company, who strongly objected to the transfer of power, added a clause for Daniel’s protection: in the event that Jeremy was found responsible for Charlotte’s injuries, the aforementioned agreement would be nullified and Jeremy would be punished according to the pride’s law.
As Daniel headed to the rendezvous point, phone calls and texts flurried in the background. Daniel’s chief of staff was overwhelmed with fending off people who wanted to talk to Daniel, including Daniel’s father and his sister Anika. With the exception of his stepmother, everyone was not thrilled with his decision. Daniel, however, had made up his mind. Nothing could sway his determination to save Charlotte.
Daniel made it to Peter Luger on time. Against the advice of his trusted men, he went alone. The maître d’ directed him to Jeremy’s table. His stepbrother was dining with three of his friends. Seeing him arrive, Jeremy dismissed his friends temporarily. Daniel recognized Jeremy’s lackeys. The three of them were young lions from his stepmother’s former pride, which had long ago dissolved and merged into the Addington pride.
Daniel took the empty seat across from Jeremy. Without a word, Daniel pushed the documents in Jeremy’s direction.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” said Jeremy.
“I’m a man of my word.”
Jeremy looked at the documents briefly. “It seems everything is in order.”
“Where’s Mary-Anne?” Daniel demanded.
“She’s on her way to Seattle. You’ll see her tomorrow morning.”
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“You don’t. You just have to trust me.” Jeremy gloated. “We are blood, after all.”
Daniel suppressed the urge to take a swipe at him with his sharp claws. He willed himself to stay calm and focus. He’d sacrificed his place as alpha to his pride to save the woman he loved. For her, he willingly took this kind of insult. “You better pray you had nothing to do with Charlotte’s accident like you said. If you did, there’ll be hell to pay.”
Jeremy pretended to look hurt. “You don’t trust me, big brother?”
Daniel narrowed his eyes. “I hope you don’t plan to travel overseas in the near future, Jeremy. Stay in the country.” He rose and left the restaurant.
Outside, his men greeted him with worried eyes.
“How was it, Alpha?” asked Liam Ruska.
“It is done. And don’t call me ‘Alpha’ anymore.” Daniel got into the car.
Ruska and the others didn’t seem happy with the sudden power change. The lawyer climbed in, sat next to Daniel and said stubbornly, “In my heart, you remain my alpha, Mr. Addington.”
His private Gulfstream jet touched down at Seattle-Tacoma Airport before dawn, and by six A.M, Daniel was sitting by Charlotte’s bedside. The doctor gave him a brief report on her condition. Daniel promised that the donor would come shortly so they could start the transplant procedures.
Anika stormed in and started raising hell about his arrangement with Jeremy.
“Have you lost your mind?” Anika railed at him. “You risk the sanctity of our pride! Ninety percent of our members are loyal to you! With you not in charge, we could lose many important people.”
Daniel regarded her with little interest.
“Danny—” Anika started.
“Sister,” cut in Daniel. “It is a done deal.”
“You’ve made a selfish decision. How could you—”
Daniel shut her up with a withering glare. “It’s Jeremy. You share the same mother with him. Why do you take my side?”
Anika quieted, eyes still blazing. “My loyalty lies in the pride’s best interests.”
