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“Yeah,” Jackson said. “We left you alone after that, dude. We knew where you were, and that was all that mattered. You probably needed your space out there.”
I nodded slowly but didn’t reply. He was right about that. Seeing Dad was difficult these days. It was enough to deal with without fielding questions about companies and acquisitions.
At least my team understood that. I could count on them to protect my time if I needed it.
“Anyhoo.” Jackson stepped away. “Things to think about, people to do.” He snagged a couple of pastries and a take-out coffee before he left my office.
“Same.” Brody also helped himself to some breakfast, and once they were gone, I turned to my sister.
“Sorry about that. I just needed to head out there. I should have said.”
She shrugged. “No worries. Sometimes we all need some time.” She bit her lip, looking uncharacteristically uncertain. “How are they both doing?”
I sighed. I couldn’t help it. I always sighed when I thought about Dad. “Not much has changed, really. Dad’s still the same. I put him to bed and slept on the floor next to him.” I stretched out my arm and my elbow cracked as if to emphasize my point. “Not the most comfortable night I’ve ever spent.”
“But worth it,” Davina murmured.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Always worth it.” My gaze wandered around the interior of my office. Dad had never seen all that I’d achieved, and I regretted that, even though my money and leadership of the pack had made him as comfortable as possible.
I shook my head, discarding my sudden melancholy. “I talked to Mom a bit. She told me I’m the favorite.”
Davina grinned and shoved me as I laughed. “That’s a brazen lie,” she said. “You’ll go to hell for lies like that.” But she stopped teasing me and looked thoughtful. “I’ll go out there in a day or two to make sure, though. Can’t have you trying to usurp my status. I must have been the upgrade — they stopped with me, after all.”
“Can’t improve on perfection,” I countered. “I’m not sure why they tried.”
She laughed as well. “You’re such a dick.” She reached over and took the last pastry from the box. “But if being a dick means you’ve started bringing breakfast, carry on.” Then she beamed. “I’ll leave you to get some work done, assuming you’ve stopped ignoring the company you run.”
The door closed behind her before I could reply, and I dropped my empty coffee cup in the trash before grabbing another one and settling myself behind my desk.
It was a beautiful day in Carwyn City, and the sun streamed through my thirtieth-floor corner office window. I could see Lycan Heights from here. Most of the city, really, and many of the buildings where we’d taken and dismantled companies.
The Novelli river wound through the city, and I glanced in the direction of the small, squat buildings that held most of our shipping companies at the docks, including Gold Moon.
Up here, I was definitely king of my world. A true alpha.
I’d made it.
I woke my computer and plowed into my emails, answering work queries and pack questions alike, balancing both my Apex and alpha roles. I didn’t know any other way.
Hours flew by in a glorious mix of phone calls and consultations.
Finally, my phone pinged with a message and I reached for it. After I’d sent my reply, my gaze rested on the small red dot on the phone symbol. I hadn’t finished checking my missed calls or my voicemails earlier, but I had time to do that now.
I listened to the voicemails, occasionally scribbling down a note with something to address, until a familiar voice lifted my heart.
“Just a quick call to thank you.”
Only she didn’t sound at all like she was thanking me. Something was wrong.
My heart dropped as quickly as it had lifted as I listened to the rest of her message, and rage unfurled slowly inside me with each new word she spoke.
When the call cut off after her final command to leave her the fuck alone, I sprang to my feet and left my office, charging down the stairs instead of taking the elevator and leaving through the main front door. I slammed the door hard enough behind me that the crack of breaking glass probably echoed through the entire city.
Leave her the fuck alone.
That wasn’t going to happen.
13
