“To me too.” My pulse is roaring in my ears. Why am I the sensible one? I have never seen Icarus snap like this before. Someone has finally found Icarus’ limit, and I am about to see what it’s like when an uber Alpha explodes. “But the only way that we save everyone is if we have the power.”
I can’t say any more in public.
We both know, however, that we mean the heist and then the board meeting when I will make Maya bleed out in a way that will truly hurt her.
I will take revenge for all of us.And it will be fucking sweet.
But will it be too late for Bird?
I’m too aware of the cameras monitoring me. I shudder, skin crawling.
“The Idols are guests,” Icarus growls. “They don’t know our boss like I do. The Alphahole is prepared to send her sick son to the Institute. But I know what she likes. I have something to trade. Stay outside. I won’t allow her to hold hurting you over my head like she did your parents.”
“Hold on.” I dart forward, grabbing Icarus’ sleeve. Reluctantly, he stops. “What do you mean?”
He avoids my gaze. “We have to find out where she has taken your brother. She tore him from your dad’s arms with the threat to his other kids and granddaughter. It wouldn’t have mattered if they’d clung to Bird harder, Mrs. Frost would have summonedher security in a moment and hadallof them sent to the Institute.”
“But she can summon security onyouas well. She can also have Ollie and you kicked out of the hotel or even sent on trumped up charges to the Alpha Center.”
“Don’t you think I know that, Grace?” Icarus wrenches his arm away from me with a growl of frustration. “She’s threatened me with that for years. This time, however, I am going to give her the one thing that she truly desires from Alphas in exchange for Bird.”
Alarm makes me dash in front of Icarus, as if I have any chance of blocking him from taking another step if he truly wants to. “I won’t let you… I won’t let her…”
Icarus brushes the back of his hand down my cheek, before glancing at the camera.
He shrugs like he has literally reached the point of no longer having a fuck to give. “Mrs. Frost isn’t interested in Alphas in that way. But haven’t you wondered why she has accepted me taking responsibility for so many of the staff’s mistakes or misbehavior? Why she has no interest in bonding Betas or Alphas?”
I wrinkle my nose. “She’s an Omega obsessive. Alphas like her are only interested in being surrounded by Omegas.”
Icarus pulls me close, as if he’s straightening my uniform.
Then he whispers in my ear, “I didn’t want to tell you this. I’ve tried to hide it from everyone. Please don’t tell Ollie or…just no one, okay? But Mrs. Frost employed me as your pretty Alpha friend precisely because she wanted an Alpha around who she wasn’t bonded to but who she could control. I think she had her eye on me since I was in high school. Alphas like her don’t bond with Alphas because they can’t cope with anyone else challenging them. She loves being my boss in every way. She isn’t romantically drawn to me. Her turn on is causing a strongerAlpha pain. Knowing that I hate being pushed into submission but that she is my boss and I have no choice. And that makes her the weakest Alpha who I have ever met.”
“Icarus.” My voice shakes. “I’m sorry that I recommended you for the job. I didn’t know Maya?—”
“Don’t.” Icarus pulls back from me, sharply. “Being here with you saved my life. It gave Ollie and me our family. I wouldn’t change a thing. So, don’t start any nonsense like feeling guilty but do obey me for once about staying outside the office. There is one submission that I have never given Mrs. Frost. I’m going to exchange it for Bird.”
“I’ll go in with you. I can’t let you face this alone.”
Icarus smooths down his shirt, checking that his suit is immaculate. “I’m never alone. You’ve been in my heart every time that I’ve faced Mrs. Frost. Pain is nothing when I have the memory of your delicious scent and the taste of your slick.”
He ducks around me, stalking to the high mahogany door at the end of the corridor. I stumble after him.
He glances over his shoulder. “Am I a mother duck?”
“I’m an Omega duckling,” I say, stubbornly. “We’re in this together.”
Icarus can’t hide his smile fast enough. “One concession. You can stay outside in the corridor. Don’t let Mrs. Frost see you. Are you going to listen to me?”
“Maybe. If you’re very lucky.” I let my hand touch Icarus’ fleetingly. “Will it help to know that I am here?”
He nods. “It will be like I am submitting to you and not her. So, aren’tyouactually lucky?”
My breath hitches.
Before I can answer, he raps on the door.
I hurriedly hide to the side of the corridor.
