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“What’re you doing here?”
“What a welcome.” His papa brushed past and into Wilder’s apartment.
His father eyed Wilder awkwardly. “Youarealone, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I’m alone.”
Warden sighed with what appeared to be relief. “I’m glad to hear it. Your papa was worried that omega would spend his six months incarceration with you.” He walked past Wilder and into the apartment.
Wilder’s shoulders tightened as he closed the door. He sensed their disapproval mounting.
“What’s this, Wilder?” Wynter asked.
Wilder spun, facing them. His parents were staring at the delicately set table with crystal, candles awaiting their flame, and fine china. “What’s it look like?”
“It looks like you’re awaiting a dinner date,” Wynter said. He focused on Wilder, glaring. “It’shim,isn’t it?”
“And if it is?”
“You’re going to house a criminal for the next six months? What the hell are you thinking?”
“He’s my o—”
“My gods, haven’t you made enough of a fool of yourself?” His papa barely gave him a moment to explain himself, not that he had a reason to. His life was his own. Seeing his parents' mistreatment of Jamie was more than enough to teach him that lesson.
His papa wasn’t done. “I stopped at the club yesterday, and you should’ve seen the looks I was getting. Several people even snubbed me.Snubbed me.Can you not think of anyone else but yourself?”
“Have you ever thought that your personality is the thing pushing people away? Versus my actions? I mean, your own children can barely stand to be in your presence.” Deep down, he realized it might’ve been his active role in Avery’s defense, yet he wouldn’t admit that to his papa.
That was enough to shut Wynter up. Suddenly, tears shone in his papa’s eyes.
“Cool it with the crocodile tears. You don’t have feelings to hurt,” Wilder muttered.
Wynter turned his back and dabbed his eyes. Wilder saw the way his papa’s back hunched over and wondered if the emotion was actually authentic for once.
“I’m glad to hear how you really feel about me,” Wynter said quietly.
Wilder bit the inside of his cheek, trying not to fall for a ploy. But good son that he was, he struggled with a modicum of guilt. “You claim I’m selfish… and claimed Jamie was selfish… yet never seem to see the same in yourself. You’re worried about your reputation. I was worried about my omega’slife.His safety. His freedom. You can see how they don’t compare to some snotty social climber giving you the brush-off, right?”
Wynter turned. “Our reputation keeps the company you run in business. Had it not been for that deal you and your father pulled off, y—”
“My father and I? I was the one who sought the meeting with the Green Trust. Vaughn and I worked that out for ourselves. Father wasn’t involved.”
“He was the one who bought out Amberth and handed you more shares of the company, a company that will now earn millions, if not billions, with the new contracts.”
Wilder glanced at his Father before eyeing his papa. “Don’t try to convince me he did that out of any sense of generosity on my part. He saw a way to get Amberth off the board and line his pockets in the meantime.” He looked to his father. “Am I wrong?”
“Not completely,” Warden murmured. “You’re correct on both parts… but nothing forced me to hand over those shares.”
“You said it yourself. It was a means to convince me to stay. Saddler Morgan wants me leading the company, so you tossed me a little bonus to keep me there.”
A small smile curled his father’s lips. “Yes, it was that, too.” Warden cocked his head. “But did you ever think it might be my way of showing you support?”
Wilder shook his head. “I’m a grown man. My life is my own. You don’t get to tell me how to live it. Avery’s my omega, and he’ll be spending the next six months here,with me,regardless of if you like it or not. I don’t care who snubs you. I honestly don’t care to see either of you outside the office.” He walked over to the door, clasping the knob. “I don’t want you here when Avery arrives. You need to go.”
He swung the door wide.
Avery stood cuffed in the middle of two guards, smiling his head off.
