Chapter 41
Graham
Lark has a meeting with Harold Muldane about the lease on her warehouse. Silas was near when she took her last call with the guy, and just about lost his mind at the way Mr. Muldane talked to our omega. I don’t have half of Silas’ dominance, and I would have snapped if I had been there.
So, obviously, we all go with her for their scheduled in-person meeting.
We’ve all prepped for it. Saint looked up building codes and records.
I spoke with a friend who teaches in the law department to find out about precedents.
And Silas has practiced his menacing stare.
I've seen it. It's extremely effective and he knows it.
He's been looking forward to this meeting.
“Remember, this is my meeting.” Lark points her finger at Silas. I get so turned on when she’s bossy, even when it’s not directed at me.
“It’s your meeting,” he agrees, “until he crosses a line. He won’t talk to you that way, again.”
“He’ll pee his pants when the three of you walk in. He’ll be on good behavior.” She strokes his beard. Silas’ expression softens for exactly half a second.
Then the menacing stare is back. His fingers flex. It’s almost like he’s hoping the guy isn’t on his best behavior, like he wants an excuse to flex his dominance. Saint and I share a look. Silas doesn’t let it out too often. This might be fun.
Lark walks in first, followed by Silas, then me, Saint, and OmegaBox’s lawyer. Mr. Muldane and his lawyer are already in the room. Harold’s eyes go wide when he sees us, but he quickly gets his response back under control.
“Harold,” she says. “It’s good to see you again. I wish it were under more amenable circumstances.”
He doesn’t bother to stand. “Who do you have with you, Lark?”
She offers him a coy smile. “These are my alphas. Our pack leader, Silas.” She pats Silas’ arm. “My alpha, Graham,” she says, pointing to where I stand on the other side of Silas. “And this is Saint.” Saint lifts his chin in greeting.
She turns to her lawyer. “I believe my attorney has made himself known to yours.” The two lawyers shake hands.
Harold smirks. “Worried you couldn’t handle this by yourself?”
Silas lets out a low, warning growl. Lark ignores it. She’s fucking got this and I’m going to enjoy watching every second of it.
“Not at all. I tried to convince them to stay at home, but they all wanted to meet you. Silas especially.” Harold swallows. Hard.
We all take our seats. Before the opposing attorney can begin, Harold opens the folder that’s lying on the table.
“Don’t know why we even need this meeting.
You signed a lease and agreed to make improvements to the building.
It’s all in writing.” He taps the paper, indicating a clause in the lease agreement.
“It’s not my fault you failed to make the improvements in a timely manner. ”
Lark looks down the long table to her lawyer. “Do you want to answer, Levi, or should I?”
He gestures with his hand for her to take the lead.
She fixes her eyes on the men across the table.
“Unfortunately, that argument does not suffice. The lease agreement also indicates,” and here she takes out her own copy and points, “that the building was in good condition and that any upgrades OmegaBox made would be for the purpose of improving appearance, comfort, and working conditions. Not structural improvements.”
I’m getting hard watching her dismantle Harold and his lawyer. She calls herself ‘Boss Bitch Lark’ sometimes. Boss Bitch is my favorite.
Harold’s lawyer responds. “I have here a document signed by you, Ms. Jensen, stating approval and acceptance of a building inspection. The property was deemed safe and in good condition when you took possession.”
Lark and her lawyer smile at one another. We expected this, too. It was Saint who had made the connection. I reviewed the documents multiple times and missed it.
“That is true. My client did accept the judgement of good condition by the inspection company, Garden Brook Buildings. That is the same company registered to co-owners R.F. Jacobs and M.H. Muldane.”
The lawyer’s eyes go wide before he looks at his client. He whispers something in his ear. Harold’s mouth tenses, but he shakes his head at whatever his attorney said.
The attorney takes a breath and then turns to face our side, once more. “That appears to be correct. Is there a reason you are pointing out the names of the owners? My client has assured me the M.H. Muldane in question is not a relative.”
Lark’s smile is lazy. “That is correct. He is not one of Harold’s relatives. He is Harold. Matthew Harold Muldane.”
And there it is. Lark’s mic drop moment.
Lark looks across the table at Harold. “Isn’t that correct?”
His hands squeeze into tight fists. Silas leans forward, practically daring the guy. The fists relax a little.
Lark pats Saint’s shoulder. “It was my alpha, Saint, who questioned the connection. He’s a firefighter in East Rock.
It didn’t take much effort to inspect the records of buildings in this town to find that you lease several buildings to businesses in the area.
All inspected by Garden Brook Buildings as a condition of the leasing agreement. ”
“I wonder how many inspection results would alter if another company completed the building reviews,” Silas adds.
“I believe several would,” Saint says. “I’m acquainted with Garden Brook’s fire marshal. His building inspection records show repeated concerns about safety and structural integrity for Mr. Muldane’s properties.”
My packmate, the man who spent weeks acting like he wanted nothing to do with any of this, just casually threatened a slumlord with a fire marshal investigation.
I love him.
“What are you suggesting?” The lawyer asks.
“My client is seeking termination of the lease and reimbursement of all rents paid. We attest the original agreement was signed under false pretenses.”
Harold’s lawyer nods.
“We also seek a full review of all Mr. Muldane’s commercial properties. Each should be inspected by a third-party inspection company that is not affiliated in any way to Mr. Muldane.”
My cocky packmate casually adds, “Fire Marshal Davis has been made aware of my concerns and awaits your follow-up about when the inspections will begin.”
Harold’s lawyer piles all his documents back into his folder. Without consulting his client, he says, “I believe my client is open to resolving this without litigation.”
Harold grumbles. “Don’t expect me to renew your lease on the other building.”
Lark only smiles. I’d already helped her find better warehouse space in East Rock. The buildings aren’t available now, but they will be in four months.
The two men leave. When they shut the door, Lark’s lawyer speaks.
“I’ll follow-up with his legal representation. I suspect we’ll have this finalized within a week.”
Lark stands and shakes his hand. “Thank you, Levi.”
He shrugs. “Thank yourself and your alphas. I had very little to do with today’s meeting.” He turns and shakes all our hands before leaving.
When he shuts the door, I turn to Lark. “That might be the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”
She laughs. “Which part?”
“All of it was good, but the best part was when you revealed Harold and M.H. Muldane are the same person. I’m getting hard just thinking about it.”
She steps forward. “You have a thing for Boss Bitch Lark, don’t you?”
“I really, really do.” I pull her in for a dirty kiss, grinding my hips into her belly.
“Take me home,” she gasps against my lips.
“I have an idea,” Saint whispers into her ear. “How about a replay of that day in the car?”
Silas chuckles. “Graham likes to watch so he can drive this time.”
“Fuck yeah,” I agree.
Lark looks between the three of us. “I was going to suggest we celebrate with lunch.” She picks up her purse. “I like your idea better.”
“I think I need some food.” Lark lies on her back in the nest. Saint on one side, Silas on the other, and I’m nestled between her perfect thighs.
“Pizza?” I ask.
Her stomach rumbles in agreement with my suggestion. I kiss it. “What toppings?”
She grimaces. “I shouldn’t. I already let you feed me donuts this morning.”
I crawl up her body, hovering above her. Silas and Saint both grouse but they inch aside and make room for my hands.
“Remember what I said about denying your omega?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m giving my omega everything she needs. More sex with her alphas. More time in the nest. She can go without pizza.”
I lower myself for a kiss. “Not tonight she can’t. You’ll be in heat soon. You need to let her have everything she wants. After heat, you can return to your everything-in-moderation philosophy.”
“What if her omega doesn’t want pizza, Graham?” Saint kisses her cheek. “It may be craving Chinese or Indian.”
“Oh, no,” Lark says. “She’s definitely vibing with the pizza idea.”
Silas chuckles. “I’ll order us a few options.” He gets out his phone and starts tapping the screen.
“Help me up,” Lark says.
I pull her from the nest then carry her to the bathroom for a quick shower. If it takes a little longer than it should it’s only because I’m very thorough about cleanliness.
“Damn, Graham,” Saint smirks when Lark and I finally sit down at the kitchen island.
She swats his shoulder. “He was being attentive,” she says defending me.
Saint pulls her tight to his side. “I can be attentive, too.”
She giggles. “Maybe after pizza.”
Silas sets a plate in front of her, then adds two pieces of pepperoni and jalapeno pizza. “Your favorite,” he says.
She tilts her head to look at him. “Do you think it will be like this forever?”
His eyes go soft. “This is what it’s like for my parents. I don’t see it being any different for us.”
“Maybe a little more hectic when we start having kids, though,” I add.
Three sets of eyes turn to me.
I look up from my pizza. “What? We all want children, right?”
Saint and Silas look at Lark. Neither is willing to speak until she does.
She swallows her pizza, then reaches for my hand. “I do want children, just not right now. Maybe in a year. Possibly two.”
My heart explodes. “I knew you did!” I can’t temper the happiness I feel. “I mentioned it once before and you didn’t reject the idea. But it’s good to have you say it.”
Saint lets out a relieved breath. “That’s perfect. Now that I’ve decided to start my coffee company, I’d like to give that some time before having kids. At least long enough to settle names and trademarks.”
Silas walks around and wraps his beefy arms around Lark. “We’ll wait until the time is right for you, little bird. As soon as you’re ready, we are too.”
She relaxes into him. “Thank you. I want us all to be ready for it. My parents waited before they had me. It was good for them. They never regretted waiting.”
I snort. “We had very different parental experiences.”
She squeezes my hand. “But our babies won’t.”
The table goes very quiet. Then Silas kisses her bond mark. I push my glasses up. Saint adds another piece of pizza to her plate.
“Eat up,” he says. “We have more practicing to do. I want us to make a baby on the first try. When we’re ready for that.”
I laugh, adding a piece, too. “Yeah, eat up. Practice makes perfect. You’ll need your energy.”