Chapter TwentySpencer
Chapter Twenty
Spencer
“ I find it curious how a successful alpha like you didn’t have a pack until so recently. After all, you are so much older than everyone else, Mr. Thanukos.” Mrs. Beekman stared at me across my desk as we sat in my office.
So much older. Ow. I was less than three years older than Evan. I’d started graying very early–after Elaris died.
“Time,” I brushed off. “Not all alphas have packs, you know.”
Also, the fact I’d lost my mate should be on record.
“True, even so, you also don’t have personal relationships in or outside the pack. Don’t you want children, a connection?” Her tone turned judgmental.
Ow. I shrugged. “I’m fine with the arrangement.”
Not that long before Evan lost his parents, I lost my mate, Elaris.
It had devastated me and for a moment I hadn’t been sure I’d recover.
Selling our company that we’d created together, back when we were still students, because I couldn’t run it without her, and focusing on Evan and his sisters, had been exactly what I’d needed.
I’d started this company, and then we’d formed our pack. Sure, I got a little lonely sometimes, but I was fine. They were good people, and I cared for them all so much.
“Do you have any other questions for me?” My calendar sent me a reminder. Leave work early and spend time with Ri so she doesn’t feel neglected. I shot off an email to IT to find and close whatever loophole Riley had exploited. It was a game she and Wes played.
“That’s all for now. Thank you for your time.” Mrs. Beekman stood and left.
Brennan texted the pack group chat with a screenshot of two women entering the house.
Brennan
Who’s at the house?
I had no idea who they were, but one of them wore an Omega Center polo.
My executive assistant, Mrs. Katsopolis, came into my office. Her wife and my father had been research partners back in Greece, and she was like a second mother to me. She’d been my assistant from the very beginning of Compass BioTek, though it had taken a lot to lure her out here.
“I’m a little concerned about what Special Projects is actually getting up to. Especially with the lab you’re making for this mysterious Dr. Ellington,” Mrs. K told me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You know exactly what they’re up to.” I kept my expression neutral. She was convinced that I was continuing my father’s research in secret.
Her eyebrows rose. “Did you see that Riley hacked your calendar again?”
“At least this time she rescheduled my meetings.” Personally, I didn’t mind moving today’s meetings. Usually, Riley and I met on Tuesdays, but sometimes she came to eat ice cream in the cafeteria on other days. Mrs. Katsopolis adored her.
As did I. I was counting down the time until she was old enough for a work permit so I could hire her. She was incredibly talented and needed some direction before she ended up in jail for hacking into the wrong things.
“This was dropped off. You’re seeing someone?” She set a bag from my preferred jeweler on my desk.
“They’re for Grace.” Hopefully, she’d like everything. I tucked the bag away in my briefcase.
Her lips curved into a smile. “You’re courting her?”
This was my contribution to getting her set up before the home inspection.
“Did you find out about the new portable particle accelerators?” I changed the subject.
I was considering courting Grace once she settled in with Wes and Evan. The moment I met her in the kitchen, I felt something that I hadn’t in a long time. Not to mention she was extraordinary–and very different from my Elaris.
“A particle accelerator isn’t a good courting gift,” she laughed.
“It depends on who it’s for.” The particle accelerator was actually for all of Special Projects. We’d still need to use the large one at Rock Tech, one of the local universities, occasionally.
Her look softened. “You’re right. Though back in my day they were the size of rooms, not refrigerators. Having one in the building makes me nervous, given how dangerous they can be… and what happened.”
Same.
“Grace reminds me of your wife,” I whispered, remembering how often they’d come over to our house for dinner when I was growing up.
“That’s what concerns me. When will Grace be out of the hospital?” Her brow furrowed in concern.
“Hopefully tomorrow,” I replied.
Evan replied to the group chat.
Evan
Department of Dependent Services and the Omega Center are doing a home visit.
I frowned. That didn't bode well.
“I understand your concerns about the particle accelerator. They’re safer than they used to be, and we have more mandatory security protocols now.
” The lab my father and Dr. K had at their university in Greece had been destroyed in a supercollider accident, taking most of their research and staff with them.
I’d been there that day, helping out as I so often did.
I’d only just left when the accident happened, and luckily hadn’t been seriously hurt. Unfortunately, so many others had.
At least it didn’t cause a black hole, or worse. A supercollider explosion was no joke. Not to mention, they were researching the fifth and sixth dimensions. I loved to help him, not necessarily because I wanted to follow in his footsteps, but because I enjoyed learning new things.
“I see.” She nodded and left my office.
Another text came through the chat.
Jett
Headed home.
I finished a few emails, then packed up my laptop in my briefcase, and grabbed my phone and the bag.
“Heading out? Have a good weekend. Give Riley my love.” Mrs. K waved as I passed her desk.
I waved back. This wasn’t the first time Mrs. K had warned me about the dangers of following my father’s research. I understood that far more than she knew.
But I wasn’t a physicist like my father. Like many people in the Thanukos family, I was an entrepreneur. While they’d taught me about business, my father taught me how to recognize brilliance. Also, I understood enough about science to know what truly had potential.
Instead of following in my father’s—or family's—footsteps, I built an empire of my own.
When I got home, Jett sat at the table, texting frantically, his amber scent a touch burnt with fear.
“Everything okay?” I looked around the empty kitchen as I took off my shoes.
“No. I caught the tail end of it.” Jett shook his head. “I’m glad you’re here. I need to go, but I didn’t want to leave them.”
“Dependent Services came? Caroline called and reported Evan?” I frowned.
“They don’t work that fast. Usually, if there are kids in the house and someone is being investigated for domestic abuse or neglect, it would make sense for Dependent Services to swing by for a welfare check. However, if Caroline calls, it’s not going to help our situation,” Jett explained.
“Did the home visit go well? You all worked hard,” I said. We’d been up half the night.
My phone lit up.
Evan
Can you come home for lunch? Ri could really use you.
Oh, he thought I was still at work.
“It wasn’t a visit for Grace. It was a welfare check for Evan.
He said it was routine and that it went fine.
I think he even knew the person doing it.
It was the Dependent Services officer who came with her that was the issue.
Shit, she was hard on Riley. I think she upset Evan, too. Why are you home so early?” Jett asked.
“Riley hacked my calendar again. I’ll take care of them. Go to work.” I headed upstairs and texted Evan.
Me
Coming
The sunken sitting area on the third floor now had a gaming chair with a pillow that said fuck off. Evan sat on the couch holding Riley, who had her face pressed into his chest.
Riley was crying , her anise scent salty with sadness, which made me want to hurt someone for her. She was essentially our pack’s child. I’d known her all of her life.
“Hi.” I put my stuff on the chair and joined them on the oversized couch.
“Fuck of the morning to you, too,” Riley mumbled.
“I got your meeting request. Is the fancy pizza arcade sufficient, or does this warrant something else?” I asked softly, holding them both. They were my family, and we’d been taking care of each other for a very long time.
After my father had died, my mother and I moved to Rock Springs, a little over an hour away from Rockland. She wanted to be close to her university best friend–Evan’s mom. My mother had since returned to Greece. But moving there had been just what we needed.
“Meeting request?” Evan’s eyebrows rose, and glanced from me to her and back again.
“I worked hard last night and today. You and Jett have to work. I deserve some fun on my day off. Your IT department sucks, hire me,” Riley said.
“As soon as you’re sixteen. That’s when you’re old enough for a work permit–and as long as your grades don’t suffer,” I told her. Her birthday was in November.
“Really?” She sat up, brightening. “The fancy pizza arcade can cure anything.” Her look went sly. “We need to play the dance game.”
“I suppose.” I gave her a fond look. She thought I hated the dance game, but I actually enjoyed it.
I turned to Evan. “Is everyone all right? What did Dependent Services want?”
If everyone was this upset, it didn’t feel routine.
“I know we were waiting for Riley’s next physical, but I think we should have her officially tested today,” Evan said softly.
“Oh. I see.” I got out my phone to make an appointment for her at the private clinic we went to.
“Tested for what?” Riley’s head cocked. “Brilliance?”
“Rare designations. We could swing by on the way to the fancy pizza arcade, then have ice cream after. Since doctor visits get ice cream.” I found an appointment on my phone and booked it.
Riley thought for a moment. “Am I that chaotic, adventurous one?”
“A kappa? No.” I shook my head. They were nearly extinct, mainly because they were impulsive thrill seekers that chaosed themselves right out of existence with their fun-loving, but not usually well thought out ways.