It already started
VINCE
Throwing darts helps me ease my mind. It helps clear up my thoughts. Like it was doing at the moment.
There wasn't a particular thought that was haunting me. They were all just jumbled up. They were happy thoughts, sad thoughts, anxious thoughts, scary thoughts.
I'm struggling to shut out the scary ones but they keep infiltrating my mind. I've never felt so anxious in so long. It's what comes with having Elena near me.
She…she unnerves me. She weakens me. She makes me tiptoe. Without her, I'm reckless. I'm fearless. With her around, I'm just…a fucking simp. I'm extra cautious and I hate it. I hate what loving her does to me. I hate it but I love it at the same time, it's insane.
I spent all day trying to figure out how to keep her safe. What to do. The next tactical move to take. I don't wanna be too rash. I don't wanna do something drastic. But at the same time, I need to do something thundering enough to frighten my enemies and ruin a bit of their very well-calculated plans.
But then, if my plan backfires, it'll only stir up the bee's bonnet. They're gonna attack in mass and Elena's gonna get hurt.
I just need to think. Deeply think. I'm sure I can figure out the most devious and perfect plan.
Think, Vince. Fucking think.
The door opened. I glanced at the figure walking in.
“Boss.” He bowed.
“Speak. What did you find out?”
“It's Liam Roosevelt, boss. He's been playing P.A for Alpha Richard for a while now.”
I threw the last dart and turned around. “I'm not surprised. I mean, I suspected it was him.”
It had to be him. That way, my puzzle becomes complete. It was missing one piece — the inside man. Someone close enough to keep an eye on Richard and his stocks, his properties, his moves, his family.
I had my bet on Tracy for a while. Until they pulled the alliance-with-sorcerers stunt. Then I knew it was beyond Tracy. I'm not saying she's completely innocent. Hell, no one's innocent. Everyone's a suspect to me at the moment. But she couldn't convince her Father to ally with sorcerers. She's not that convincing. Elena, sure. But Tracy, nah. Richard don't fuck with her like that.
It had to be someone else. Someone more…strategic. Twisted. Two-faced. Someone who knew how to play his cards right. Smart as shit. And no one else ticks that box as perfectly as Liam.
So he managed to convince Richard to ally with sorcerers. Then he got involved in Richard's business deals. And then he got engaged to Elena. Marrying her seals the deal for him. He wins. He really had it all figured out and it was all going according to his plan.
Liam-fucking-Roosevelt. I wanna kill that bastard so bad.
“What are you thinking, Boss?”
“Take a wild fucking guess, Miguel.” I grabbed the bottle of scotch on the table and filled up my glass. Drinking helps me think. That's why these bottles are always around me.
“Do you think he's working with the rogues?”
“Bingo.” I took a sip of my drink.
“What if he's not?”
I shot him a look. “Miguel, c'mon. Help me out here. You're supposed to use your fucking head. Do you think he advised Richard to ally with these twisted sorcerers out of the good of his heart?”
“But…but what if we're wrong? What if he isn't part of them? What if there's someone else?”
“Let’s see. If we say Liam isn't the bad guy, then we're saying he was just concerned for Richard and advised him to get sorcerers because he sincerely believes that they would help Richard's Pack. That means Liam is such a selfless and caring punk who just wanted to help Richard. Does that seem logical to you? Liam, being a good bastard?”
He sucked his teeth. “It doesn't seem logical, boss.”
“Good. Now imagine this. Liam is working together with the rogues. He convinced Richard to get sorcerers and that way, Richard is trapped in his own pack without even realizing it. Matter of fact, they're all trapped — Richard, Elena, my daughter…”
My voice faded at the agonizingly perfect analysis I just did. If it's true, which I deeply think it is, then Elena's in danger. She's in more danger than I can fathom.
“If that's the case, then they already have Luna Elena and Alpha Richard. We're already a step behind.” Miguel pointed out.
I was fighting out his words but they managed to seep into my heart, skyrocketing my fear.
“Yeah, they haven't made a move to hurt her yet so that's comforting…” I was trying to comfort myself but Miguel ruined that instantly.
“But they will soon. If you try to attack them now, they'll grab her and use her to humble you. If you don't attack them now, she's safe for a little while but they'll eventually use her. Either way, she's gonna be bait for you, boss.”
That was very humbling and traumatically precise. And also a damn fact, yeah. She's gonna be my bait as usual.
If only I could get her out of that house alongside Claire. If only I could lock them up somewhere far away from here until all this is over.
The door opened and we both looked in the direction. Leo walked in, flashing us smiles.
Miguel took that as his cue to leave. Leo came for my glass of drink, emptying it. Then he pulled out a lounge chair, settling into it.
“What's up, man? Why do you look so downbeat?”
“Nothing. We were just talking.”
“Right. Let's talk too, Vince. Because I can't keep it in anymore. So I'm just gonna go ahead and ask. I don't care if you kill me for it.”
“Go ahead.” Not promising I won't kill him, but yeah, I wanna hear the question.
“Why do you have photos of Elena from the party?”
I was static for a second. How did he know that?
“Don't kill me, but I saw them on your table…”
Right. That night he came into my study.
“What does that mean, man? I'm going crazy trying to figure out what your thoughts are; what your plans are. Then I figured I'm never gonna get the answers to my question except I ask you directly.”
I gulped down the lump in my throat. Telling him the truth would be easier if I didn't spend the last three years convincing him that I'd forgotten about her.
“Bro, c'mon. Tell me.” He persisted.
“She…was with me last night. We spent the night together. Go figure.” I replied flatly, pouring myself another drink.
If Leo was very startled, he didn't show it. He seemed to have firm control over his reaction. He just nodded, smirked a bit and that was it.
“So why did you spend three years lying to me, bro? That hurts.”
“I couldn't admit it out loud. I was scared the wrong ears would hear.”
“What wrong ears?”
“Trent…Vanessa. If they knew I was still hung up on her, they'd have to grab her sooner and it'd be all messed up—”
“Wait, I don't understand. What does Trent and Vanessa gotta do with this?”
Keeping him in the dark has been hard and awful. I should just tell him the truth. We're all in the same deep shit anyway.
“Listen, Leo. I'm not gonna say it twice, and I don't have very detailed explanations for what I'm about to tell you, and it's gonna sound crazy, but you need to know it anyway.”
“Sure. Tell me.”
“Trent and Vanessa —”
His phone rang, ruining the moment. He took the call while I settled back to drinking. I had my gaze away from him for two seconds. Two fucking seconds. And when I looked at him again, he looked pale. Like a damn ghost.
His hand was trembling. The phone fell. I was quick enough to catch it.
“What is it?” I demanded. He was zoning out. I patted his cheeks. “Leo! What is it?”
“Cheryl and my son…they got into a fatal accident.” He mumbled lifelessly.
Oh, shit. It already began.
“Take this,” I shoved back the phone into his grip. “Call the damn ambulance. Tell them to bring your family to my Pack. Dr. Drake will take care of them. Do you hear me? Leo!” I landed a firmer slap on his face.
He blinked rapidly at the impact.
“Make the damn call!”
“Uh-huh…sure.” His trembling fingers began working on the phone. I was freaking out watching him make the phone call.
Dear God, not Elena. Not Claire. I'll die if any shit happens to them.