Page 47 of All That We Keep
"So, you're literally behind everything?" I press. "Trying to ruin my life just so you can get Luca?"
"He was always going to be mine," Ward says with absolute certainty. "But Hudson got greedy and wanted to keep him for himself. So, I paid Hudson more money, and he promised to deliver Luca to me alive and relatively damaged. However, Hudson kept stalling, making excuses," Ward continues, apparently enjoying the opportunity to explain his cleverness. "But I had more power than he did. More resources, more connections. Hudson was just a useful idiot in the end. Well, useless because he still couldn’t fucking grab Luca." He steps closer, his presence radiating the menace of the buyer rather than the soft version of the officer I trusted. "Now give me Luca, and we'll call it a day. No more complications, no more drama. Just hand him over."
"You must be out of your fucking mind," I say, letting some of my rage show. "It's my bite that's in his neck. It's Maceo's bite. It's Grayson's bite. He's at home with Blake and their babies, and that's where he'll stay, protected by his pack."
Ward's expression darkens. "You think you can stop me? I've been running this operation for longer than you'll ever know. You might have grabbed some Omegas from my house, you might have helped shut down my operations in this city, but you have no idea how far my reach goes."
I pull out my phone, realizing that Ward thinks he’s the most powerful man in the city when he isn’t. "No, I have no idea. But I know someone who does." I dial Agent Thane and put the call on speaker. Ward watches with amusement, clearly thinking this is some kind of bluff. "Hey, I have someone here who'd like to talk to you," I say when the call connects.
"There's nobody on the other side of that phone," Ward scoffs.
Then a gruff voice comes through the speaker. "Am I talking to Elliott Ward?"
Ward's amusement falters slightly. "Who the fuck is that?"
"I work for the FBI," Agent Thane begins. "I've been alerted about your trafficking operation. We're currently in your city and have been picking apart your organizational staff, as well as interrogating people who've been in contact with you. It would be in your best interest to stay where you are so you can be apprehended peacefully."
The color starts draining from Ward's face as the reality of federal involvement sinks in.
"Should you try to run, that's your prerogative," the FBI agent continues, "but it won't end well for you."
Ward reaches over and ends the call, his hand shaking slightly. "You're bluffing. I don't know who the fuck you are, but you don't actually have friends in the FBI."
He tries to regain his composure as he straightens his jacket. "I'm going to go. This was fun, but pointless." A cruel smile spreads across his face. "When the board votes after your little Starfalls expansion party tonight, by the way, the company's going to be sold. And I'm going to end up buying it. You’ll have nothing left to protect that Omega you stole from me and then he’ll be mine. Oh, and you will be showing up tonight, right? I know Luca just had his baby boys, but if the CEO doesn't show up to his own expansion party, that wouldn't look good."
I snort as I hold up my phone and shake it, hoping that my bluff is as good as my poker face. Ward clocks it and then laughs. "The police will never believe that recording," he says quickly. "They'll think it's fabricated. That evidence is too clean and for you to explain that you lured me out in the middle of the morning? Fuck that."
"I don't need the police to believe me," I reply calmly. "You are the police. However, the public? That's a completely different game."
All the color drains from Ward's face as understanding dawns. "You wouldn't."
"I already did," I lie smoothly. "It's been live broadcasting since the moment you walked in here. Good luck explaining your confession to trafficking federal crimes."
Ward's composure finally breaks completely. He turns and runs from the building, cursing loudly as he goes. I can hear his car tires squealing as he speeds away. I immediately call Maceo, switching to video so he can see my face. "How did it go?" he asks immediately, concern evident in his expression.
I give him a brief recap of Ward's confession and threats. "He admitted to everything - buying Luca, orchestrating Hudson's escape, manipulating the corporate takeover." I add in that I told Ward I was broadcasting it, chuckling through the whole thing despite the darkness of the situation. The shock on the poor man’s face even with the blood caked into all of the cuts I caused earlier was worth it.
"Were you really live broadcasting?" Maceo asks with obvious admiration.
I laugh. "Fuck no. I don't know how to do that technical bullshit. However, I did send the recording file to Blake, and I'm hoping he knows how to post it somewhere public."
We both laugh at that, the tension finally breaking. "You really think it's going to be that easy?" Maceo asks more seriously.
"Absolutely not," I admit. "I think it's going to be a bumpy road going forward. The effects of what Ward has done are going to ripple through this city for a while. We won't know the long-term consequences until we get there."
I start walking toward my car, suddenly desperate to get home to my family.
"Will Ward get caught?" Maceo presses.
"I absolutely think so. And I think he's going to try to show up tonight to snatch Luca from the house." I pause, considering the tactical situation. "However, I've got plans for that too."
"Yeah, and I think Blake has a few plans as well," Maceo says with a mysterious smile.
"Oh, what are those?" I ask, curiosity piqued.
"You'll just have to wait and see," Maceo replies cryptically.
"Blake tells me almost everything," I protest. "What is he hiding?"
