Chapter Forty-Two – Gideon
Jose leads me to a room full of computer screens and smart-looking people. He hooks my phone up to some contraption, gets a read on it or whatever, and then I’m able to unplug it and pace the room while waiting for Bradford to call.
It has to be him. It has to be. I don’t know anybody else who would care enough about Chase Jewels to do something like this.
I wanted to go with Pax, but I’m not stupid enough to think I’d help him by going.
He’s trained. He’s trained a team to handle situations like this.
I’d only get in the way, be a detriment.
Sitting back and letting someone else handle things isn’t something I’m used to, but then again, I’ve never had someone like Pax before in my life.
In my pack.
It still feels odd to think that, but that’s what we are. A pack. And I know in my heart Pax would never let any harm come to Raeka or Colter. He’ll do whatever he has to, hurt whoever he has to hurt, to make sure they’re safe.
If Bradford hurt them… maybe it’s not right, but if he hurt them, I hope Pax kills him. I’m not a vengeful person, but taking both Raeka and Colter was wholly uncalled for—and for what? Just to put me up against the wall and force me to sell my lion’s share of the company to him?
An indeterminate amount of time passes before my phone rings, and I glance around at the technical crew around me. Jose types something into his computer, then gives me a nod, and I answer the phone, putting it on speaker so they can all hear.
“Bradford,” I say his name.
“Gideon. I take it by your tone, you already know why I’m calling.”
“Yeah.” I frown and shake my head, even though the other alpha can’t see it.
“I can hear the worry in your voice. Don’t worry, they’re fine—for now. As long as you give me what I want, you’ll get them back, no worse for wear.” He pauses. “You know what I want.”
“My company.”
He laughs. “Oh, be real. It hasn’t been your company for years. You’re running it into the ground. No matter how much I pushed, though, the board wouldn’t hold a vote of no confidence in you. The Chase name runs deep, apparently.”
“It is Chase Jewels,” I growl out, taking a page out of Pax’s book. “It’s in the name.”
“Yes, but let’s be honest with each other here: you’ve been phoning it in ever since the accident. A terrible tragedy, really, but you refuse to let it go.”
“Why do you even want it so badly? What’s it to you? As far as I’m aware, Alpha Life is doing amazing on its own. You don’t need Chase Jewels.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, the name Chase Jewels is still desired among the higher-ups in society, craved as a status symbol by those in the middle and lower class. Especially your older designs. The vintage scene is crazy—I want to capitalize on that. I want to bring Chase Jewels back to the level it used to be, something you’re clearly not capable of doing anymore. ”
Money. It always comes down to money. Even if someone has a lot, they could always have more. I’ve never lived a gaudy, fancy life, even before I became Colter’s guardian. All that stuff, ironically, just wasn’t my style.
I see Jose give me a thumbs-up, and I think that means he’s got the location. He turns from his computer screen and gives me a nod.
Bradford says, “Just sell me the company, Gideon. I’m not asking you to part with it for pennies. I’ll give you what it’s worth, and I’ll hand over your omega and your beta with fucking bows on them. It didn’t have to come to this.”
“No, it didn’t,” I agree.
“I’ll send over the papers. You have until tomorrow to get them back to me, otherwise I can’t promise you your omega will return to you whole.” The threat of Raeka’s mutilation hangs in the air, and I wish I was with Bradford so I could punch him in his face.
I’m quiet for a few moments, and then I say, “Send them over, and I’ll take a look.” I end the call and run a hand down my face.
All this, for a fucking company. If I didn’t have Pax, selling would be a no-brainer. I’d give up everything if it meant keeping the ones I love safe.
And then something else occurs to me: does Bradford even know that Pax has been living with us?
Is he aware that there’s another alpha and his whole team in the equation?
It’s quite possible Bradford had an in at Chase Jewels, someone who he bought or bribed.
That person would’ve seen me at the office and told him when to strike.
Pax might be able to take him off-guard. That might be to our benefit.
Please, please let them all be safe. Now that I have a pack, the last thing I want is to lose it.