Page 160 of Down Knot Out
“You’ll come crawling back,” he shouts over his shoulder. “When you tire of not having a real Alpha, I’ll be waiting!”
The door closes behind them, cutting off his shouts.
The room falls quiet except for my rapid breathing. Dominic’s hand rests at the small of my back, steady and warm. Nathaniel moves to stand beside me, his presence solid and reassuring.
Harrison adjusts his glasses, clearly rattled. “I’ll… prepare the documents.”
Gregory rises from his chair, buttoning his suit jacket. His face has returned to its usual mask of control, as if the past minutes never happened.
“The money will be transferred once the papers are signed,” he says, back to being all business. “I expect this to be the end of our association, Chloe.”
I straighten my spine. “That’s what I want, too.”
He studies me for a moment longer, and I catcha flicker of regret in his expression. “You could have had everything.”
I take my Alphas’ hands. “I already do.”
He turns to Harrison. “My office. Now.”
They leave without another word, the door closing behind them.
The sudden drain of tension from my body nearly buckles my knees. Dominic’s arm wraps around my waist, supporting me.
His breath warms my ear. “You did it.”
I lean into his strength. “Wedid it.”
Nathaniel gathers our documents. “It’s not over yet. Simon won’t let this go.”
The reality of his words settles over me. Simon’s rage wasn’t just the tantrum of a spoiled man denied what he wanted. It was the fury of someone who believes something has been stolen from him, something he’s entitled to.
Me.
Dominic rubs soothing circles on my back. “Without the Sinclairs hiding him, the police will be able to arrest him.”
“If the Sinclairs don’t take a more permanent step to stop him from talking,” Nathaniel says.
Milo closes his briefcase with a decisive click. “I suggest we continue this at my office. The paperwork will take a few hours to prepare.”
“Sounds good,” I say, exhausted as the adrenaline that carried me through the confrontation ebbs away, leaving me shaky.
Nathaniel’s hand finds mine, his fingers intertwining with my own. “Ready to go?”
I take in the conference room one last time before turning away. “Yes, I’m ready.”
We walk out together, my Alphas flanking me. No one speaks on the elevator ride down. No one needs to. The bond between us pulses with shared triumph and relief.
As we step out onto the sunlit sidewalk, I inhale. The air tastes different, filled with possibility. Behind me, the towering glass of Sinclair & Associates reaches toward the sky, but its shadow no longer touches me.
For the first time in my life, I am truly free.
But as Nathaniel makes arrangements for us to meet Milo at his office, I can’t shake the memory of Simon’s face twisted with rage, his words echoing in my mind.
This isn’t over.
Chapter Forty-Three
Chloe
