I watch the intimacy they share, it’s almost like they’re in their own world but at the same time, Darius would be hyper aware of everything happening around him. He’d put his life on the line for her in an instant if he had to.
But I need them back here, so we can agree on a game plan. “Come on, let’s start.”
Heidi swings around to look over at me, stirring the air. She’s relaxing, her crisp apple scent becoming more mellow, the tartness making way for her usual sweetness which is such a relief. I can also see she’s back in the game. Her posture and the sparkle in her eyes is back. I knew she was thrown, shocked as well, but if anyone would bounce back so quickly, it would be her.
Kai joins us and even more of her tension lessens. He closes the door without saying a word, but I’m watching as Allan starts his evaluation. Which is good. It’s what I want.
“Allan, my brothers Kairo and Darius,” I interrupt Dare with Heidi to introduce everyone.
They approach him with their hands out to shake, and Allan takes a small step back to reassess before he closes the distance and introduces himself properly. Heidi looks to me.
“It’s an interesting sight: triplets alive and truly thriving it seems,” Allan talks before I can explain, and in a sense he surprises me by taking the floor. He’s not one of those Alphas that steals or demands attention, he’s detached in presence but you’d be a fool to forget he was around. He’s astute, just not threatening physically, but like he’s just admitted it’s good to remember anyone can become a murderer.
“I’m hoping my brothers and I are more of an enticement than you wasting away in a jail cell,” I reply, guiding us past introductions.
Heidi sways in her indecision where to sit. I’m not going to demand she sits near us, but regardless she takes the seat that Kai holds out for her between him and me.
“My brothers were already aware that you were here, Allan, can I update them on why? Or you’re welcome to,” I say, trying to be efficient in the way I speak. It’s easy to see he’s a man of purpose but he’s also happy to go with the moment, as long as it is how he sees things moving.
He looks at Darius before his eyes lock on Kai. “I’ve killed the Board.”
And Darius spits out a mouthful of water, making Heidi laugh quietly before she gets out of her chair and opens a side cupboard to hand over a couple of napkins.
“Jesus, Allan, a bit of warning,” Darius grumbles, but it’s not rude. And since I know my brother, I know he’s lending himself to be a distraction to the moment.
Allan is on a roll though. “I asked Heidi to call the police so I can distance her and our family name from the obvious fallout, but instead Ramses asked for the chance to offer an alternative outcome. Which I’m yet to hear.”
“Can you not see the reason yourself?” I ask because there’s nothing like a challenge for a man like Allan. And that’s what my brothers and I are.
“I’d like to understand your ‘reasonings’ better before I delve too deeply into my thoughts on what is in front of me,” he says, resting his hands on the table and leaning forward slightly.
Heidi hops up to start handing out refreshments, but Kai’s faster and takes over, serving her first before each of us. She settles back and lets him drag her chair closer so he can focus on her needs while also being a part of the discussion. My brother is such a caregiver. His whole life has been a dry run for the Omega sitting next to him. I know it, he does too.
“I want you to help us get the Triplet law overturned so we can go public as Heidi’s pack.”
“Something like that would take time,” he replies, but he’s not being dismissive, it’s more like he’s driving a point to make sure we’re aware of the reality of the situation and how it’s not an overnight fix.
“I’m hoping,” I make a point of looking at Heidi before I go on, “I’m hoping we’ve got as much time as you need. And I think you’d have to agree this would be more rewarding than being incarcerated.”
He waves me on but immediately after he turns to get out a pen and paper. The man has a stationery cupboard in his briefcase, but he’s been living with his brilliance his whole life and would know what he needs to keep his mannerisms and nuances working for him, not against him.
“My thoughts are that we help you by providing an alibi for the next few days and or weeks while the Board continue to waste away in front of the world, and then you spend your time helping us get a more workable law passed.”
“I have a potential interest,” he says, his face not betraying much. “How does this benefit you, Heidi?”
As she looks at him, her brown eyes sparkle with her intelligence and also her confidence. “The triplets are working out a few things with the hope of us working together.”
“And what do you want?”
“I want to take over Verdune, and one day I’d like a pack. But the reality is, I’m already making my own headway on achieving both. Pack Lowly are a done deal, Verdune is next.”
Darius growls at her, and she turns to look at him, a wicked smirk on her face. She is going to push my brother like no one else does.
“I think Ramses’ idea though has legs. And if the Executives are as guilty as you say, then they deserve the death you have delivered. If I had the choice, I’d much prefer to have you not in prison, of course. But like you’ve always said, Allan, you have to do what pleases you. So, what pleases you? Would you working on a study on whether the triplets are a threat to me or not be enough to appease your guilt?”
“I have no feelings on what I did.”
“But you do. You wanted to remove yourself from my life, to lessen the possibility of fallout on my future and the future of Verdune. The initial reason you came to ask me to buy your shares out is enough to send waves through our company and the shareholders. You being involved in the death of the Board would be cataclysmic for my success. I personally don’t see any other way forward but for you to completely deny any involvement, even if it means lying through your teeth.”
