Page 56 of Fate Awakened

“Yes, it appears you’ve come into a bit of our property recently. I’m just calling to see where we can pick it up,” he says, with confidence or maybe arrogance in his tone.

“Your property? Not sure what you’re referring to,” he retorts, tapping his pointer fingers against his lips and smirking.

“Oh, I forgot, you’re new to this position. Maybe you haven't been brought into the loop,” Dante starts, his condescending tone is less than subtle. “One of our delivery boys brought you something that belongs to me. Now, I wouldn’t want to overstep your authority, so if I need to talk with Deacon, I would be happy to call back at another time when he and I could have this chat.” The smile drops from Tony’s face immediately, and I internally cheer, understanding precisely what Dante is doing.

Men and their egos.

“You will talk to me. My Alpha doesn’t have time for your trivial matters,” he responds, leaning toward the phone now.

“Glad to hear it. The reason for my call is that the property you received isn’t exactly without strings,” Dante begins almost conversationally. “You see it’s, how shall I put it, protected, politically that is, and if it isn’t returned, the people sniffing around here may just be pointed in your direction. Now I know I wouldn’t be too happy if my Second took something that didn’t belong to him, and along with it came an entire government investigation. I know that hasn’t gone so well for you guys in the past. How is Vincent holding up? Where is he again? Ely State Prison?” As he continues to speak, a growl rumbles out of Tony, and I wonder who Vincent is to him.

Family member? Coworker?

He looks furious, and his face turns red as he tries to hold back his frustrations.

“And what makes you think I have this property? It sounds like with that kind of heat, it may have been damaged on its way here or extinguished when it arrived due to its less-than-ideal circumstances,” he retorts, surprising me with the mental tennis match he’s trying to play.

My teeth bite down on the inside of my cheek as I decode the meaning of his statement and feel his eyes slide over me again.

Shit. I don’t want to be damaged or extinguished.

“Now, I’d guess that could’ve happened, but it wouldn’t be for me to decide. I’m sure the investigation will go smoothly for you all since you have nothing to hide. There wouldn’t be any evidence of my delivery boy and the package walking into your consulting firm fifteen minutes ago.” Like clockwork, the computer on his desk dings, and he turns to the screen, clicking the mouse a few times before throwing it in frustration, ripping the cord right out of the machine.

“Get out!” Tony yells, pointing to the two guards behind me before slamming his gigantic hands flat on the desk. “What do you want?” he yells into the phone. All semblance of patience evaporated, and the vein in his forehead pulsing with each heartbeat.

“I can see that you're in a bit of a bind here, and as I need something from you, I’m willing to make a deal,” Dante says, completely calm and rational, the complete opposite of the hulking man in front of me.

“Terms,” Tony spits, falling back into his chair, causing it to groan at the sudden influx of weight.

“There was a deal on the table to release two Florida contracts. Complete that deal, return the package to my custody, and you’re clear. No investigation, no follow-up, and no trouble with your Alpha,” Dante explains.

“You want three for nothing. No deal,” Tony replies almost immediately.

“Not for nothing. You got to turn one of mine against me, found a way to steal my property, and you walk away from all of this without bringing down the entire organization in the first few weeks in your new role. Now I would say that’s more than fair,” he surmises, sounding very convincing, and the hope that slipped into my chest grows just a little.

For a long moment, neither party says anything. I stare at the phone, not daring to look up at Tony. His response is my life hanging in the balance, so I hold still, slow my breathing and do everything in my power to keep from swaying his decision.

“Not good enough. I want you to return the heir. You can pay the million for the contract releases and produce Kole. We will ensure the release in Florida and set up the trade here.”

“Now I believe the contract release was half that. Half a million, two releases, and the heir for the package.” He sends back the counteroffer.

“Deal,” Tony says, his smirk returning like he won something.

“Glad we could come to an arrangement. Now I want proof the package hasn’t been harmed. Once the money is transferred and I confirm the release of the Florida contracts, we can set a time for the swap. I assume you will want that to be sooner than later, so you can present the heir to your Alpha upon his return,” Dante says.

“Speak, girl,” Tony orders, and for a moment, I’m at a loss for what to say.

“Hey, Brielle. You doing ok?” he asks, his voice softer, more comforting somehow.

“I’m fine. Unharmed.” I reply, my voice wavering a bit.

“Good, I’m happy to hear it. Hang in there, and we will be seeing you soon. Tony,” he shifts back into his more serious business tone, “email the wallet address for the funds' transfer. I assume crypto will be fine? Once you have evidence of the contract's release, let me know the time and meeting location. I can be in the area in under two hours.”

The phone clicks off, signaling Dante has ended the call. I exhale, releasing the stress I was holding in.

I’ll be home today.

Schooling my expression because I know it’s far too early to celebrate, I shift my eyes to Hudson, attempting to read him. I thought he’d be relieved, hearing that his family would be released soon, happy that he got the desired result, but all I see is pain. Turmoil rolling off him as he processes everything.

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