Page 29 of Escalating Alpha

I watched the interview and tried not to cringe when I broke down crying on camera. I hated that I’d done it and people would give me shit about being weak and being too emotional as a woman—all that bullshit I did my best to sidestep.

Galvin sent me a text saying I certainly handled the situation with my pictures. I fibbed a bit and told him that hadn’t been the original plan but after I found out about Topher… Things just spun out. He was understanding and said things would be okay.

I appreciated the lie because we both knew it would get worse before it got better.

Right as I was falling asleep, the bed shifted and I felt Reagan slide in behind me. He kissed my hair and told me that he loved me. That we’d protect Topher and that people were pissed for me. That was a huge shift. That we could get through this.

That said a lot because everything was always too crazy for him. He was my strongest Beta and was at the top so I was safe, not because he wanted to. He handled so much because he loved me even if it wasn’t what he wanted.

I really needed to give him more credit for that.

Which was why we had sex in the shower the next morning even if it was a bit painful for me since it was my time of themonth. I was doing my best to move past my mindset about my period, but… I was a work in progress.

Such was life.

“Something happened,” Reagan muttered as I sprayed my hair before I wrapped it in a towel.

“So what else is new?” I drawled, super helpful like that.

I thought I got a pass.

He rushed out of my room with only a towel hanging low on his hips. I enjoyed the view of his naked back and body.

Until I heard what someone said from the TV in the living room. Then I darted out there, morning routine forgotten.

“From what we’ve identified, this audio is between the president, the director of the CIA, the chief of staff, and possibly the new vice president,” the on-air correspondent said. “We warn people that it’s disturbing and you should remove children from the room.”

I blinked at the TV. What? Like… What now?

“Don’t even come back in here and give me some bullshit that it’s real,” the president said, his voice full of venom unlike I’d ever heard. It was completely different from how he normally behaved, but it was clearly him.

“The threat is real and Thomas sent me proof,” the director of the CIA said firmly. “I don’t have all of the details, but I would absolutely have made the connection to the First Lady too. We all told you she’s been going over the line and—”

“I want her fired. I’m tired of all of her—she’s gone. Supe-loving Galvin too,” the president snapped.

“You can’t ever fire Thomas now, sir,” the chief of staff sighed. “Nor Galvin. Not because of anything supe-related.”

“I can do whatever I want.”

“There are protestors outside right now who all agree the First Lady has gone too far and is the cause of this even ifshe didn’t hire the hit. They think shecould have, and that is a serious problem, sir,” he said, struggling to keep his voice even.

“I agree,” another voice said, the one they thought might be the vice president. “The First Lady has to apologize. A real apology and stop this. A hit was taken out against two people because—”

“They’re notpeople,” the president snapped. “She’s a whore dog, and I’m tired of having to pretend—who cares if she’s shot? Good riddance. It’s disgusting that she’s in charge of Chicago’s office. Galvin should be out for that, and—she gets more powerful over those animals every day. We have the reports. I want to know how to help the—”

“Her son is human,” the vice president snapped.

“According to her. You can’t believe a lying whore animal. She probably already infected the boy and—”

“He’s still a baby,” the director of the CIA seethed. “I know you hate supes, but Thomas has done a lot for this country. She’s—you don’t have to like her, but she’s one of us—a citizen that—”

“She’s ananimal!” the president roared. “And she’s gone too far daring to smear a good woman like my wife. She’s out and begs for forgiveness or worrying about some hitman will be the last of her problems. I’ll take everything from her and those beasts in Chicago. The bloodsuckers too. Everything.”

“I’m not continuing this conversation if you won’t be rational and accept how off the rails this all is,” the director bit out. “And I won’t be party to you abusing your power and taking down a good agent. You don’t even care a baby could die because of the bullshit your wife has been spewing. I don’t—”

“I expect your resignation then if you won’t have the stomach to—”

“To what?” the director yelled. “I’m CIA. We don’t go after US citizens, and Galvin is the best thing for the FBI and thiscountry. Thomas too. I’m not quitting. I worked my whole career to get here and protect this country while you seem to want to tear it apart and set it on fire. So with all due respect, sir, I suggest you remember the oathyoutook and we can talk later.”

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