“Seconded and passed.” Dad grins.
Icarus looks floored.
This is part of the plan that I did keep secret. I am allowed one more of them, right?
“But,” Icarus blinks, “I’m the manager. I’m not an elite Alpha.”
“Who knows the hotel better than you do?” I finally stand out of the seat, gently taking the dazed Alpha by the shoulders and guiding him to sit in the CEO seat, before dropping to sit in his lap. “Who is respected more by the staff? You are perfect to lead the chain into its revolution and new era. Congratulations, President Sinner.”
I kiss him.
“Is this more of your make-believe?” Maya sneers. “You always did spend most of your childhood daydreaming or acting out fairy tales.”
I glower at her. “This is real. My dream, more like your nightmare.”
Zero tilts his head. “Bad luck for you, bitch, your bonded Omega and his daughter are the majority shareholders. And they’ve just ousted you as CEO. All we have to do is kick your arse out as Head Alpha, and I’d say that you were fucked.”
“You’re lying.” Maya snatches at the papers; her eyes are wild, as she scans them.
She becomes paler, realizing that not only is Zero telling her the truth but that we have the evidence of…everything…that she’s been doing for years.
Piper’s expression becomes harder.
He grabs Maya by the neck and slams her over the table. “Don’t miss the letter of emancipation in there because of your abuses, which has been drawn up by Senator Knight. You’re toothless, Alphahole. You’re never going to harm another Omega again.”
Maya’s chest is rising and falling; she howls but she doesn’t struggle. “You scheming, manipulative Omegas.”
“Thank you,” I reply, proudly.
“How?” She pants, broken. “How did you do this?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Not knowing will drive her fucking mad.
She deserves it.
To my shock, Hatton falls to his knees in front of Ellington, shielding him.
“Please,” Hatton’s eyes glimmer with tears, “I know that we haven’t talked about this. We couldn’t. I wasn’t sure if we could pull this off, but you’re so amazing sis, I should have known that you would. But don’t punish my dad. He has been trapped as well in ways that you don’t know about. He has been helping me too, as well as advocating for the staff whenever he could. Still, I know that he has… he has hurt people.”
My eyes narrow at the memory of the bruises on Icarus’ side. The fear of the staff being taken by Ellington for discipline. His contempt toward Papa.
“It’s okay,” Ellington says, softly, resting his hand on Hatton’s shoulder. “Stand up, son. Don’t kneel like that. Whatever is done to me, I won’t fight it. Just stay here with your sister. I don’t believe that she is unfair enough to take out her anger at me on you. And bring your brother back from the Institute, you hear me?”
So, Ellington truly does care about Bird. He cares about saving him more than saving himself.
My expression softens.
I glance at Dad. “What do you think?”
Dad lifts Papa’s hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. “It’s up to Papa. He is the one who has suffered under Ellington the most.”
Ellington’s shoulders slump. “I suppose you would likemeto kneel?”
I hold my breath.
I have no idea what Papa will say. I hate how distressed Hatton is.
