Page 141 of Hard Knot

"And the well can flow freely again," Carter finishes, understanding dawning in his tone.

The metaphor isn't subtle, but it's accurate.

Vivian's influence has been like poison in my empire's veins, slowly choking off vital connections and opportunities.

But poison can be purged, given the right antidote.

Given the right allies.

"The Morrison name carries weight," James continues, his voice taking on that edge of authority I've noticed he uses when discussing business. "Weight that even the Sinclairs can't ignore. If we combine our resources, realign our interests..."

"We could essentially force a reset of the market's perception," Felix concludes, and I can hear the calculations already running in his mind.

"Exactly. And once people see the potential returns from working with a combined Morrison-Holmes venture..."

"They'll conveniently forget whatever reservations Vivian planted," Carter says, a grin evident in his voice.

The casual way they discuss dismantling years of careful sabotage should probably bother me. Their easy assumption that I'll agree to this plan, their readiness to reshape the market around their will — it should feel like overstepping.

But all I feel is a weight lifting from my chest.

A weight I'd carried for so long I'd forgotten what it felt like to breathe without it.

Maybe this is what Elizabeth meant about breaking shackles.

"I'll tell Holmes in the morning before we begin," James says, his voice carrying that casual authority that makes even simple statements sound like royal decrees. "And if he doesn't like it..." He pauses, and I can practically hear his shrug. "Well, he has no choice. Whatever path will make the Morrison Empire rise is the path I'm taking."

"You're making yourself sound like a bad guy," Carter mutters, though there's amusement in his tone.

James' quiet laugh fills the room.

"If that means getting a stubborn man hiding a heart of gold to go along with it, so be it." His voice softens slightly. "Besides, we should start spreading the word that we have a potential Omega."

"Why's that?" Felix asks, curiosity evident in his tone.

"Because it'll get them talking," James explains, enthusiasm creeping into his voice. "Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away, and then the holiday season hits. You know how the underground gets during the social season, everyone watching everyone else, measuring success by who shows up where with whom."

I can hear him shifting, probably leaning forward as he continues.

"By starting the hype now, dropping hints about our pack's potential Omega, we'll have them salivating for information by the time the first events roll around. They'll be desperate to see us in the flesh, to confirm the rumors."

"Create artificial scarcity of information," Felix muses. "Drive up interest through strategic mystery."

"Exactly," James confirms. "By the time we make our first public appearance, they'll be so invested in the story they've created in their heads, they won't even remember why they were avoiding business with Holmes in the first place."

"We'll let you know when he's awake," Carter says, and I can hear the grin in his voice. "This might actually be fun."

"We should get some real sleep," Felix suggests. "Carter, you want to grab Eli? I'll help James with Holmes before he permanently damages his neck or something else now that he's getting old."

"He's twenty-eight," Carter chuckles. "Not forty-eight."

"Whatever," James retorts. "He acts like an old man."

Their quiet laughter fills the space, warm and genuine in a way that makes something in my chest ache.

"Ready to do this for the next six weeks?" Carter asks, and I hear him moving closer, probably to collect Elizabeth. “Survive some classes, deal with Thanksgiving, prove we love our Omegaand voila. By Christmas, we sign those papers and we’ll be free from this initiation bullshit at Knot Academy.”

“Hard Knot Academy,” James taunts in correction, making Carter growl.

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