Hard Feelings Aside

Hard Feelings Aside
BRUCE
When I set off with Rick with the intention of finding Opal, I told myself I wouldn't return home without her, but that's what I had to fucking do. 
Saying I'm disappointed is an understatement. 
I'm livid. 
I know our plan was crazy to begin with, so I don't blame Rick for what happened. They would've realized sooner or later that we were lying about who we were, and they'd always act on it.
What I hate is the fact that we were so close. So damn close that I could smell her in the air. And then, she was gone. 
I tore that place apart. I don't care. I took my anger out on everything those rogue bastards owned, and then, I set fire to the whole place. Not my brightest moment, since right now, I'm worried they'll take it out on her, but I couldn't control my anger at the time. 
There was a room in the house...I could smell her on the bed. 
It fucking terrified me. 
I reach my office and Rick follows me in. He shuts the door behind me. Soon, Megan will come to figure out what happened. 
I can't face anyone right now. Not without another plan.
"I know of a few more spots," Rick tells me. We haven't had the chance to talk about this on the way here. "I can check those and—"
"How long would that take?"
"About a week."
I punch my desk. The wood splinters. "That's too much time, Rick!"
"I know. I'll do the best I can."
"Maybe your best won't be enough this time," I say honestly. "We need another plan. I'm thinking we have to go all the way in. No more holding back."
Rick nods. "At least we know she's with them now. We have the certainty."
I nod. I smelled her in the room. There's no way I made a mistake with that. 
There's a sharp knock on my door that interrupts us, and then Quinton walks into my office. I wasn't prepared for the sight of his face. I burst out, "What the fuck are you doing here!?"
"I came to fix the mess I made," he explains as he steps closer to my desk. "I know you don't want to see me right now and that's understandable, but you've got to let me help."
I scowl. It's almost impossible for me to control myself right now. "Help? Why would I let you get anywhere near this situation? You're the one who messed this up!"
"I know, and I'm trying to fix it. Let me, will you?" 
I open my mouth to tell him to leave one more time but he speaks before I have a chance to. "This is about Opal, Bruce. Right? This is about her and her safety. You want her back home. I have a good plan, so why won't you listen to what I have to say for her sake. It's been a week. Do you have a better plan? If you did, then she'd be home by now."
"Fuck you!"I spit, pointing a finger at him. I wanna hit him; that's what I want to do. He deserves to have his face beaten to a pulp for what he did. 
Quinton searches my eyes and raises his hands. "Look, you want to fight me? Let's do it. Fight me right now. I'm sure you'll beat my ass and I'll deserve it. I'm the one who caused all this. But I had a plan, alright? She just didn't make it there on time."
I shake my head at him. "How could you fucking break it to her the way you did? I don't understand why you thought that was your call to make!"
His expression softens. "You're right. I acted out of despair. I thought you were going to use her, and that your agreement with Walter was still on. I made a mistake. Please, let me fix it. Look, Bruce, if you don't let me help, then I'll be convinced that you really don't love her. Yeah, I said what I said."
I clench my jaw hard and narrow my eyes at him. "How dare you question me?"
"It is what it is. We have a good plan."
"Who's we?"
Quinton looks at me for a few beats, then opens the door to my office, steps out, and calls someone. Two people appear—one of them is Opal's Aunt Janice, who is actually her biological mother, and the other woman is younger. I remember her face. 
She's Opal's best friend. 
Janice is crying. She wipes under her eyes. Rick looks at me  uncertainly and asks, "Would you like me to give you a moment of privacy, Alpha King?"
"No, you stay here. You I trust."
Quinton looks hurt upon hearing this, but I couldn't give a shit less. "So, let's hear it. What's this plan that will bring Opal home?"
It's Janice who starts talking. "I never thought that things would get to this extent. I always dreamt of breaking it to Opal and telling her that I was her mother. I imagined the moment so many times...but I was afraid of how she would react."
Her eyes meet mine. "I trusted my brother to take good care of her. Believe me when I say that I had no idea this was going on. Gwen here filled me in on everything. There's only one way we can fix all this, and it's by telling the rogue leader who she is. We have to do that. He won't hurt her. If he's anything like his father, he won't do it."
"But that's Walter's plan," I argue. "How can—"
"I'm gonna have to interrupt you, brother," Quinton cuts in. "No, it was never Walter's plan. Walter was going to use her to blackmail them. The rogues would have never gotten access to her. This time, it's different. They have her, and it's the only guarantee that she won't get hurt."
"I'll tell the story," Janice volunteers. "They'll believe me. The boy knows me."
"Boy? Kyle Dresmond is no boy. He's been staging attacks all over the city."
"In any case, that's what I'll do. It's the only way we can make sure that she doesn't get hurt."
Quinton looks at me. I look at Rick and he shrugs. The choice is up to me. If I agree to this madness, then I'll have to face all the consequences of my actions, and the worst part is that I don't know what these consequences will be. 
But I'll have to give it a shot. 
For Opal. 
"Fine," I say. "We'll go with this."
It's the only plan we have. 
I pray to the goddess that it's all going to work out.