Page 63 of Petals and Strings
“Don’t patronize me,” I growled. Clearly, I misjudged Cross, too. “She does smell incredible, but the connection we have is different. Did you know Ansel is speaking? Caspian has had two full days of feeling more normal. Rydell was coming out of his room and interacting more. We are all feeling it. Hell, Kane made her tea and she made him a journal to keep him present. Newsflash, Cross. It’s fucking working.”
Director Cross sat back and let out a breath. “This is serious, Ledger. We can’t have you all starting a relationship here at ARC! I’ll be legally obligated to separate you.”
“No!” I yelled, startling us both. “If you do that you risk all of us. Haven’t we all endured enough fucking broken bonds? This separation is already killing them both.”
He leaned back, eyes closing. “I’ll give it a day or two to observe, but this isn’t something we can just let happen, Ledger. She isn’t safe being the center of all of your attentions.”
“This is a mistake,” I said, standing. “You’re risking shutting down an entire group that has done nothing wrong and sending Rydell and Ansel into a spiral.”
Fuck, this was a huge mistake. I couldn’t take it back now, either.
“Noted,” he said in a gruff tone. It was clear we were both not getting anywhere now and it felt like time was already ticking down by the time I stormed out of his office.
I wasn’t sure what would happen if he followed through with his threat. Right now I knew I had failed her, failed us all. I shouldn’t have said anything but I thought it might give Rydell justification for his reaction.
It did. If everyone would just fucking listen instead of sweeping shit under the rug and worrying about how things would look, then maybe we all wouldn’t be suffering so damn much in this godforsaken place.
If he wouldn’t listen, then I guess it was time to talk to dear old dad.
Instead of using the phone in Cross’s office, I headed for the kitchens. I stepped around the dining tables and pushed through the door. The man I’d built rapport with over the years looked up, grinning when he saw me.
I’d saved his ass when someone acted out once when I first arrived and had earned his respect.
Now it was time to cash in.
“Hey, Raymond. Cross’s office is busy, can I use the phone here to call home and check in?”
He didn’t even hesitate, pointing his ladle toward the small office.
“It’s right there, just you and me here now, so good timing,” he said.
It wasn’t the first time he’d trusted me and a small part of me hated that I’d have to betray it.
A bigger part of me hated that I might be selling my soul to the devil to get us out of here.
I sat in the rickety chair and typed in my father’s number for the first time since arriving. He couldn't be trusted, but I needed to know I had the option should it rise.
The consequences would be worth it if she was safe, though.
“My son,” he answered in that lazy drawl of his. “Are you ready to end this madness yet?”
“Close,” I said, not bothering to beat around the bush. “Things are… changing. But I won’t be alone.”
“Interesting,” he said. “An omega?”
“Possibly.” Give nothing more than I had to was my usual mantra.
He hummed. “Say the word. I’ve been waiting for you to get your head out of your ass and join the ranks again.”
“Not yet,” I sighed. Just his voice was setting me on edge. We both knew what I was agreeing to if I called in his help. “Loose ends and all that.”
“Fine. I’ll be waiting.” The call ended abruptly as he hung up and I dropped the receiver back down with a defeated breath.
Calling him felt like defeat. I’d trusted him once and ended up tethered to an omega I never wanted and all for a business deal. Then stuck here with no way out.
The family name could end with me for all I cared.
As much as I loved the idea of tying myself to Audrey for the rest of our lives, I knew that things weren’t that simple.
