Page 41 of Alpha Geek

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After several more calls fromNick, Tripp took the SIM card out, then he crushed the phone under the heel of his boot.

When would Craig decide to speak to him? It was clear that Craig held all the cards. Whatever his reasons, Tripp couldn’t drown the anxiety that rose in him.

He took several deep breaths, and the wolf inside him growled. The animal was as anxious as he was.

Tripp paced for several hours; he was wearing the soles of his boots thin.

Just then, a door swung open, and one of Craig’s goons stepped inside. It wasn’t the one he had initially met. He was short and burly, built like a brick wall. His face was flat and squashed. As though he had run face first into said brick wall.

“What do you want?” Tripp asked. His voice was curt, his anger only barely restrained.

The man smirked. “I’ve been told to bring you to the master,” the man said. His voice was low and rumbling. He had an accent that Tripp could not identify.

He definitely wasn’t American.

“What does your ‘master’ want?” Tripp couldn’t hide the disdain in his voice.

The chip on Craig’s shoulder could have been seen from space. It was unfortunate that his half-brother was such an idiot.

But maybe if your father hadn’t hidden him, denied him his birthright, none of this would have happened?the voice in his head argued.

Maybe,Tripp argued back,and maybe he could have been more civil. I would have given him whatever money he wanted.

The voice in his head fell silent. As much as his father had been a bastard, he wasn’t ready to place all the blame on the man.

Sure, he had messed up by hiding Craig. By rejecting him. But Craig had responsibilities too.

“You’ll come to him,” the man said, “and you will find out.” He smiled an ugly smile. The very few teeth he had left were gold-plated. The man turned with a curt nod and left the room. After a moment’s hesitation, Tripp followed.

They walked down several dark, winding passageways before they ended up in a round room.

Tripp stopped behind the short man and surveyed the scene around him. The room was completely modernized, unlike the rest of the place, which was dilapidated.

And in the center of it all sat Craig. Tripp’s half-brother had a smug smirk on his face.

The man who had led him to the room turned and left. And it was simply the two of them.

“I am sure you have many questions,” Craig said. For a second, Craig held a startling resemblance to their father.

It was like looking into the past, seeing old photos of his father.

Craig had the same determined look on his face. His eyes were cold and hard, flint-like.

Ever the businessman. That was always the expression Gloria had used about his … their … father.

Tripp had not inherited that same steely resolve. The resolve to be the best, to be the wealthiest, to be the most successful.

But it seemed his literal bastard half-brother had inherited what had passed by Tripp.

Tripp shrugged in response. A flash of annoyance crossed Craig’s face. But then his features settled into practiced nonchalance.

“No matter. I’ll answer any questions you might have. Now or in the future.” Craig stood from his chair and turned, smiling at his equipment.

He really is taking this villain thing seriously, isn’t he?Tripp thought disgustedly. He could feel his own face twisting. Equal amounts of nausea and pure rage coursed through his body. The wolf inside him growled restlessly.

“I was able to pursue my claim to my rightful inheritance because a generous benefactor of mine has your company in his sights,” Craig said, turning back to Tripp.

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