“Is that a way to talk to your friend and boss?”
“I don’t think you’re my boss anymore, and my friend, well, I don’t think you ever were my friend.You used me.You used my work to get rich, and you never cared that people were being hurt.You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”
Victor leaned back in his chair.“Why should I?”
“Anyone with empathy would.”
“Maybe I don’t have empathy.Are you here to judge me, Alan?”
“I’m here to get answers.”
“Oh?I thought you wanted money.”
“I want both.I worked for you for close to a year.We ate countless lunches and dinners together.We stayed in the office until late, talking and planning and trying to help people.Forgive me if I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that all of that was an act.”
“Not all of it.I do care about you, Alan.”
Alan knew that wasn’t true, but Victor made it sound like it was.Hell, he was making it sound like Alan was exaggerating and like he’d misunderstood the entire situation, which wasn’t possible.Alan was sure of what he’d heard.
Victor had always been a smooth talker.He’d always known exactly what to say to get people on his side.Alan wouldn’t fall for it this time, though.He was here to ensure that Victor paid for the pain he’d caused.
“Why?”he asked.“You’re rich.Your family’s rich.You’re a shifter.Why would you want to sell people like you?Why do you need more money?”
“Everyone always needs more money.It’s what makes the world go round, isn’t it?”
“Just stop, Victor.Since you tried to kill me, the least you can do is give me answers.Once this conversation is over, you won’t ever see me again.I’ll take my money and leave.”
“How am I supposed to believe that?You could stick around and ask for more money.Like you said, I’m rich.”
Alan needed to convince Victor to explain himself.He knew the man.He knew what made him tick and what would push him in the right direction.“That’s not the person I am, and you know it.I hate taking money from you, but it’s the only way for me to get out of this mess.You have connections and money.I have neither of those.If I want a chance at surviving, I need to go along with what you say.”
“And you think that I want to give you money to keep you quiet?”
“Oh, I know you don’t want to give me money.If I’m going to leave the area, though, I need a way to start fresh.Unless youwantme to stick around?”
Victor watched Alan.Alan had no idea what was going on in the man’s mind, and he didn’t want to know.
“Ask your questions, then,” Victor said.
“I already did.Why?”
“Why not?It was an easy way to make money.I already had access to the names the company was looking for.It didn’t take much effort.”
“You hurt people.”
“And?They’re not my people.Why should I care?I did what anyone in my position would have done.I worked with the winners, which in this case is the Glass Research Company.”
Alan leaned back in his chair.That was all the enforcers needed, wasn’t it?Victor had just confessed that he was working with the company.
That was why Alan wasn’t surprised when several people in the coffee shop got to their feet.Victor didn’t notice them immediately.He was focused on Alan, and Alan made sure to keep his expression neutral.He couldn’t continue doing so when the enforcers came to a stop behind Victor, though.
Victor noticed something was wrong.He frowned and turned, and when he saw the people standing there, he got to his feet.“Gentlemen,” he said smoothly, looking from one enforcer to the other.“What can I do for you?”
Dante was there, too.He stared at Victor as if he hated him, a feeling Alan shared.Alan stayed where he was, eager to watch Victor get what was coming for him.
“My name is Dante, and I work for the council.Can you please come with us?”Dante asked Victor.
Victor was silent for a moment.Alan didn’t think anything of it until Victor moved.
