Page 25 of Harley & Her Ferals

Feral has never danced for real though. He looks longingly at the big screens that project the latest music videos of Jin’s most famous song, “Caged Dreams”, between the rounds on fight nights.

Jin is at least thirty years younger than Dad.

I shudder at the thought of Dad kidnapping and bonding him.

I can’t bear to think of a Beta who has brought such light and happiness into our lives being dragged into the dark.

My sister claps her hands, excitedly. “Oh, yes. He would be perfect for you, Dad. He’s just your type.”

“He’s not,” I blurt. “He’s too high profile. I mean, it’s a big risk, right?”

“How fucking considerate of you to look out for me.” Dad leans closer to me. “But that’s the point. It’s why we have the status that we do because we have the balls to do what we want. After all, the last Omega who I had kidnapped as a prize for the Championship Special is fucking high profile. He’s from the billionaire Romeo pack, who own the ballet academies. The sweet Omega, Laurent, has been in magazines and on TV shows for years being lusted over as one of the most beautiful Omegas in America. It’s fucking hilarious to see how many people are weeping over the little shit going missing.”

“Is he okay?” Lionzio’s expression is carefully blank. “I haven’t seen him in the house.”

“Vinnie has him.” Dad takes another casual bite of toast. I wrap my arms around myself in distress. The poor Omega is trapped with the Hades.That must be real hell.Dad gives a slow smile. “The other mafia families are going to be fucking furious that they didn’t have the knots to pluck that little rose before I did. I’m going to make a dramatic performance of Laurent’s debut.”

Alphahole.

Dad saysdebutlike he’s politely introducing Laurent at an elite bonding ball and not as a prize at a cage fight.

I shudder.

Why does Dad call Laurentlittle rose?

My brother coughs, rapping his fingers on the table.

I glance at him surprised.

It’s not like Lionzio to draw attention from Dad deliberately.

Lionzio nods at the files. “Are they the reason that you summoned us here together this morning? Or is this about something else?”

Dad quirks his brow.

He drops the toast, carefully wiping his hands on a napkin to drag out the suspense of the moment.

Then he fans out the files in one quick move.

He’s ever the showman.

I peer at the files, at the same time as my brother and sister eagerly lean forward.

The files are gray but have a label in the righthand corners with each of our names on them.

Dad’s lips quirk.

He knows that he’s hooked us.

He’s good at knocking us down and then drawing us back in again with his manipulations.

“They’re about each of you,” Dad says.

“You’re investigating us…?” Allegra rests her trembling hand on the top of the table.

For the first time, she looks scared.

What’s she hiding?

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