Chapter 9 Emilio
Emilio
I crossed my arms over my chest as I scanned the room, careful not to let my discomfort show.
I hate meetings like this. Too many hotheads with something to prove in close proximity to each other that were willing to shoot first and ask questions later.
Not that a bullet would put us down, but it still hurt and was messy and ruined alliances.
Since this meeting was a last-ditch effort to avoid war, I hoped no one would be trigger-happy.
I stood directly between Santino and Nico’s chairs at the long conference table. That alone made a stance. Usually, I was there for Santino and would be directly behind him as his second, but I was representing both of them today. My Patri and my mate.
Directly across from us was Josef Petrov, the leader of the Grizzlies.
He was an older man, in his late sixties, with thick gray hair and even thicker eyebrows.
For the most part, things had been peaceful between us and the Grizzlies, even back when Santino’s father had been in charge.
There was a long-standing alliance between our groups, and while we weren’t exactly friends, we stayed out of each other’s way.
There had also been a truce so we could cross into each other’s territories as long as it wasn’t for business.
Therefore, Nico hadn’t violated the agreement at all. It had all been the Grizzlies.
Next to Josef was his oldest son and heir, Ivan.
He was older than us, in his thirties, and honestly looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.
It was no secret that he wanted no part of the family business, but he was the only legitimate offspring, and Josef refused to let any of his other children, that had all been born outside his mating, take over, even if some would be a better choice.
It had led to resentment and infighting all around, but it wasn’t any of my business.
If Petrov was willing to let his empire collapse due to outdated traditions, more power to him.
His eyes fell on Nico, narrowing in disgust. It was no secret that Petrov had an old-school mentality when it came to omegas. He didn’t believe they should be allowed to have any power or a say in anything.
Nico lifted his head, and I didn’t have to be looking at him to know he met Petrov’s eyes. Calm and arrogance were radiating off our partial bond. Petrov snarled. Nothing would piss him off more than an omega who didn’t cower in an alpha’s presence.
But he knew his position was way too precarious to do anything about it beside glare. He turned to Santino. “Shall we get started?”
Santino waved his hand. He was lounged back in his chair, looking for all the world carefree and unbothered, even if it couldn’t be further from the truth.
“By all means. I am interested in what excuses you have for me.”
Petrov’s huffed in annoyance. “I already told you I had nothing to do with the attack on the omega. It was unfortunate but not my call.”
I bared my teeth but was careful to keep the rest of my form human. It was against the rules to shift in meetings like this.
“So, you’re telling me that you’ve lost so much control of your men and your territory, that marked Grizzlies are going around and attempting assault on one of your closest allies and you’re clueless?”
Petrov shrugged, trying to stay casual, but the tightness in his jaw gave him away. “It’s a large territory. I can’t possibly be responsible for every minor . . . mistake my people may make.”
The growl escaped me before I could stop it. Mistake? That fucker called what had happened a mistake? I was going to gut him—
Nico reached back without turning around, his hand blindly finding my wrist. Immediately, I felt calmer. I took a breath. Losing my cool wouldn’t help anyone.
“This was a strategic attack, alpha.” Nico spoke up for the first time.
“Not one man who tried to take advantage of an unfortunate situation, but a prepared plan that also involved the use of a drug that is not readily available to the public. Where did they get that, Alpha Petrov? How did they organize?”
Petrov faltered like he couldn’t believe that Nico was capable of questioning him that eloquently. Classist fucker.
His fists flexed on the desk, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was trying to prevent his claws from forming. He looked at Santino, like he expected him to reprimand Nico. Instead, my best friend just raised an eyebrow. “Well? Answer him.”
Petrov’s face turned bright red, likely because he was furious. Next to him, Ivan sighed. “Just tell him, Father. Why are you trying to protect him?”
Petrov’s look to his son was deadly. “Silence, Ivan. This doesn’t concern you.”
Ivan rolled his eyes. “Then why am I here?” He looked up at Santino and then over to Nico.
“One of my half-brothers has been . . . causing problems lately. There has been a lot of rumblings about some of the lower ranks in our pack defecting and pledging their support to him. Father doesn’t have proof that they were responsible for your brother’s attack yet, which is one of the reasons he was reluctant to tell you, but we can’t fight both them and the White Wolves. ”
I was shocked. I’d never considered Ivan having a shred of intelligence, at least when it came to the business. But he’d somehow been able to look past the family pride and realize that it was smarter to appease us than have to fight a war from both sides.
“What’s his name?” Santino asked.
“Ivan—” Josef warned, absolutely lethal. I felt kind of bad for Ivan. Things were not going to be pleasant for him after we left, but he seemed mostly unworried.
“Arlo. You won’t find him, not easily at least. But if you find his second, Dimitri, you’ll get to Arlo.
” For the first time, Ivan glanced over at his father, something uneasy in his expression.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He stood and slipped out before Josef could stop him.
The alpha couldn’t follow him because the meeting was still in session.
If Ivan was smart, he’d be out of his father’s range long before Josef was able to go after him.
Growling, Josef waved a hand at one of his guards, and order to follow, but I had a feeling Ivan was already gone.
Santino turned toward Josef. “We will verify your son’s claims. If true, then it is within in our right to demand punishment.”
Josef’s nostrils flared. “You can have Dmitri, but Arlo will report to me for discipline.”
“That is fair, but I must agree that the punishment is satisfactory and not just a slap on the wrist, Petrov.”
He didn’t speak for a second, then finally sighed. “Fine.”
Santino stood and pressed his palms against the table, leaning toward Josef. His men stiffened, but Petrov waved them off.
“If we find out that Ivan was lying or that either of you were involved, then I won’t give you the courtesy of a meeting. This was your one chance to avoid the full force of the White Wolves. There won’t be a second.”
Understandably, Josef didn’t like that, but there wasn’t much he could do. He nodded once. “Understood.”
We left then. I was on edge the entire time, never letting either Nico or Santino out of my sight.
Even after we walked out of the building where the meeting was being held, I was on full alert.
We were still on our territory, we’d earned that right since they’d been at fault, but you couldn’t be too careful.
I wouldn’t start to breathe again until we finally made it back to the packhouse.
“I’ll start to verify everything Ivan said,” Nico told us as we were driven back to the estate. “It should be easy enough to find proof. Someone bought those drugs, so there has to be a trail.”
I leaned over and grabbed his hand, glancing quickly at Santino, but he wasn’t even looking in our direction.
“There’s one important thing you’re forgetting, little wolf,” I whispered in his ear. I was sure Santino could hear me, shifter hearing was really good, but he didn’t acknowledge it.
Nico frowned at me. “What is it?”
I extended my canines. “It’s about fucking time that I make you mine.”