Words spilling too fast, Gary immediately launches into apologies layered over explanations layered over stress. He talks about numbers. Cap space. Long-term planning. Future direction.
I grip the counter as I drink my hot beverage. My brain is already feeling like it’s going to combust. Gary keeps talking in circles like he’s afraid to just get to the point of why he called. And the longer he talks, the harder the pounding in my head gets.
I’m about to interrupt him when he finally gets to the point.
“All that mixed with the blatant disregard the two of you had with the matchmaker has led us to make the decision we did.”
Ahh, the matchmaker. I should’ve known that would come back to bite us in the ass. But neither of us cares because we wouldn’t change a thing. Bayleigh was and is meant to be our omega.
“Because we had our own omega and chose to add Korbin's brother to our pack?”
“Yes, well, it had a large impact. The two of you, for lack of better words, just aren’t meshing well with the Scorpion franchise any longer.”
I just nod my head as if he could see.
“So, what’s the real reason that you called?” I finally blurt, fed up with this whole thing.
“We’ve finalized a deal,” Gary says. “It came together late last night.”
I swallow. A deal. Fuck. It can only mean one thing. A trade. But this isn’t how me and Kor planned it. We wanted to be in charge of every aspect of a trade to ensure we stayed together. I get a sinking feeling in my stomach, and I hate it.
“Okay. What kind of deal?”
Another pause. Then he speaks.
“We traded you. Well, both of you.”
The words land heavy, and I have to close my eyes to process what he’s saying.
It hurts. It always does. Even when you expect it. It’s an extra sting to the ego since we wanted to be the ones breaking the news to them. We wanted to be the ones who initiated the trade. Not them.
“Where did you trade me to?” I ask, voice steady and cold.
“To the Krakens.”
My breath stutters.
The Krakens.
Bayleigh’s team.
But that’s me.
What about Korbin?
Before I can think more about it, Gary keeps going.
“And—you weren’t the only one; Korbin was traded there as well.”
“Both of us?” I ask again, wanting to make sure I heard him correctly, while hiding the excitement that wants to bubble up.
“Yes,” Gary confirms. “You and Korbin. Package deal. They wouldn’t have it any other way. Gave us a trade deal we couldn't refuse. Now you’re going to be their headache. I need the two of you in my office at two this afternoon to go over everything formally and for the press release.”
“We’ll be there,” I tell him, then hang up.
I pick up my coffee cup and step over to the table, breakfast forgotten about, and drop down into a chair.
We got just what we wanted. Off the fucking Scorpions, both of us on the same team and one that can win. Best of all, we have Bayleigh.
