Page 14 of The Omega Accountant

He turned to face me, something resolute gathering in his expression. "Iwant to understand whatI'mpart of now.Beyondthe missing money.Whatclaiming me really means for you, politically."

The directness of his approach caught me off guard—this was no cowed omega seeking reassurance, but an equal demanding truth.Ifound myself respecting him more for it.

"It meansI'vedefied my father publicly,"Iexplained, removing my jacket and loosening my tie in a deliberate display of normalcy. "Rejecteda strategic alliance with theSouzas.Claimedan omega my father considers beneath our family's status.Effectivelydeclared my independence from his authority."

"All to protect me?"Skepticismcolored his voice. "Thatseems... disproportionate."

"To protect you,"Iagreed, moving closer to him, drawn by some instinctIcouldn't fully name. "Andto protect myself from a marriageIdidn't want.Tochallenge my father's outdated methods.Tosecure an ally who can help me trace the missing funds."

I stopped just short of touching him, close enough to see the slight dilation of his pupils, to catch the subtle shift in his scent as honey brightened with something like interest beneath the suppressants.

"SoI'mconvenient," he said, the words lacking the bitter edge they might have carried.

"You're necessary,"Icorrected. "There'sa difference."

Luca's eyes searched mine, looking for deception or manipulation.Findingneither, he nodded slowly, accepting my assessment if not fully embracing it.

"We should establish boundaries," he said pragmatically. "Forthis... arrangement."

"Boundaries,"Irepeated, amused despite the gravity of our situation. "Youwant a contractual claiming?"

"I want clarity," he countered. "IfI'mto be publicly yours,Ineed to know what that entails privately."

The question cut to the heart of what lay between us—the tension that had simmered since our first encounter, the biological pull neither of us had acknowledged directly.Theclaiming existed on paper, would soon exist in public perception, but the physical reality remained unconsummated.

"It entails what we choose,"Isaid carefully, acutely aware of the power imbalance between us. "Nothingis required beyond what's necessary to maintain the public claim."

Relief flickered across his features, followed by something more complex—disappointment?Interest?Thecontradiction fascinated me.

"And what's necessary?" he asked, voice dropping slightly.

"Scent transfer.Proximity.Eventually, a claiming bite."Idelivered the facts clinically, as if discussing business terms rather than intimate acts that would bind us physically. "Butnone of it needs to happen tonight."

Luca nodded, processing the information with the same analytical focus he'd likely apply to financial records. "Andsleeping arrangements?"

"The penthouse has four bedrooms.Youcan have whichever you prefer."Igestured down the hallway. "Thoughfor appearances, we should share the master suite when guests are present."

Another nod, practical and composed.Onlythe slight acceleration in his scent—honey warming, citrus sharpening—betrayed his response to the discussion.

"Thank you," he said finally. "Forthe clarity.Andfor the protection."

"Don't thank me yet,"Icautioned. "WhatI'vedone puts you in more danger, not less.Myfather was right about one thing—you've been pulled into something far larger than missing money."

"I realized that when men followed me home,"Lucasaid dryly. "Thequestion is what we do about it now."

"Now,"Iechoed, "we fortify.Prepare.Investigate.Andabove all, we present a united front to anyone who challenges us."

Luca considered this, then straightened his shoulders slightly. "Ican do that."

The simple declaration carried more weight than elaborate promises might have.ThiswasLucaBianchi—straightforward, intelligent, resilient in his quiet way.Asurprising allyI'dclaimed for strategic reasons, now finding myself increasingly drawn to for entirely different ones.

"Get some rest,"Isaid again, stepping back to restore professional distance between us. "Tomorrow, we start hunting."

He retreated toward the hallway, pausing at the threshold. "Matteo?"

My name in his mouth sent an unexpected curl of pleasure through me. "Yes?"

"You said you'd make me strong," he said quietly. "Youdon't need to.Ialready am."

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