Chapter 73 *

Chapter 73 Chapter 73
Angelina’s POV
We got out of the car.
I could feel eyes watching us from the shadows.
Daniel adjusted his tie for the third time, looking more nervous than someone about to walk into a business dinner should be.
"Once we're inside, I need you to stay hidden," Daniel said. "I have some private matters to handle on my own."
I kept my expression neutral. "So why am I here?"
"Protection. Like a professional would do it. Stay in the shadows, watch my back, but don't make yourself obvious."
"Fine."
That was all the conversation we needed.
The moment we stepped through those doors, I disappeared into the crowd. I'd changed into the dress back at the airport. Black, knee-length, nothing fancy. People at these events never really looked at anyone unless they were important or useful. A teenage girl in a simple black dress? Invisible.
I positioned myself near the dessert table, close enough to keep Daniel in my peripheral vision but far enough that he couldn't see me from where he stood. The ballroom was massive, filled with the kind of people who measured their worth in zeros. Everyone held champagne flutes and fake smiles, trading business cards and empty compliments. This was where the wealthy and powerful came to pretend they liked each other.
I grabbed a small plate and pretended to examine the tiny cakes while keeping my eyes on Daniel. He'd moved toward a group of older men in expensive suits, shaking hands and laughing at jokes that probably weren't funny.
This was going to be a long night.
The scene felt familiar and disgusting. In my previous life as the strongest Alpha, I'd attended countless gatherings like this. Everyone smiling while calculating how to stab each other in the back.
I hated it then. I hated it now.
But it made me appreciate even more the peaceful life I had now. Coming home to Mom's cooking. Leo's stupid jokes. Ethan worrying about me. The normal, boring routine of high school.
"Entschuldigung, wo ist die Toilette?"
I turned to find an older German man looking at me expectantly. He had to be in his sixties, with gray hair and an uncomfortable expression that suggested he really needed that bathroom.
"Den Flur runter, zweite Tür links," I replied, pointing toward the hallway.
His eyebrows shot up. "Oh! Vielen Dank!"
He hurried off before I could respond. I went back to my fake interest in the desserts.
People really needed to stop being surprised when someone spoke their language. It wasn't that impressive.
"Get away from me! I'm serious!"
A girl's voice cut through the polite murmur of conversation. I glanced up to see a blonde girl in a sparkly silver dress stumbling through the crowd, three young guys in suits chasing after her. She looked about my age, maybe a year older, and she was pissed.
"Savannah, just listen for a second," one of the guys called out.
"No! I told my father I didn't want you here!" She spun around, nearly tripping over her own feet. "If you don't leave right now, I'm going to make sure he throws all three of you out!"
The guys kept following her anyway, like puppies who didn't understand they weren't wanted. Rich kids. Probably the sons of her father's business partners, trying to win favor with daddy's princess.
Savannah turned to run again, but her heel caught on the marble floor. She pitched forward, heading straight for my dessert table.
I dropped my plate and caught her arm, steadying her before she could face-plant into the petit fours.
"Oh my god," she gasped, grabbing onto my shoulder. "Thank you so much!"
"Are you okay?" I asked, though I could see she wasn't. Her ankle was already starting to swell.
"Savannah!" The three guys came running over, practically tripping over each other. "Are you hurt? Do you need to sit down? Should we call someone?"
Her face went from grateful to furious in half a second. "You three need to leave RIGHT NOW or I swear I will have security drag you out of here!"
"But your ankle—"
"I don't care! Get lost!"
They backed off, looking like kicked dogs. Savannah took a deep breath and turned back to me, forcing a smile.
"Thanks again," she said. "Sorry you had to see that."
"It's fine."
She limped away, still shooting death glares at the three guys who were now hovering at a safe distance. I watched her disappear into the crowd, then checked on Daniel. Still talking to the same group of suits.
I grabbed another plate and went back to my surveillance.
Everything was going smoothly until the Creek Pack showed up.
I noticed them before Daniel did. Five men in dark suits, moving through the crowd with confidence. The one in front was built, with eyes that scanned the room like he was hunting.
They walked straight toward Daniel.
The lead guy stopped right in front of him, close enough to be threatening without actually touching. The businessmen Daniel had been talking to suddenly found reasons to be somewhere else.
"You're Victor Wu's son, aren't you?" The guy's voice carried across the room.
Daniel's face went pale. "I... yes."
"You've got some nerve showing up on Creek Pack territory." He stepped closer. "Who else did you bring with you? Call them out. Now."
I stayed where I was, watching Daniel's reaction. His eyes flickered around the room, looking for an escape route.
This was Trent, I realized. Creek Pack's Gamma. I'd heard descriptions, and they all matched. Big, intimidating, and not particularly bright.
Daniel's shoulders slumped. His eyes found mine across the room, and I saw the apology in them before he even opened his mouth.
"She's over there," he said, pointing at me. "By the dessert table."
I wasn't surprised. Being in the shadows only worked if the person you were protecting could handle pressure. Most couldn't. It was annoying, sure, but I'd learned to expect it.
I walked out from behind the table and moved to stand behind Daniel.
Trent's eyes widened when he saw me. Then he laughed.
"Her?" He looked at Daniel like he'd lost his mind. "Your backup is a teenage girl? You've gotta be kidding me."
The other Creek Pack members started laughing too. One of them was actually holding his stomach, like it was the funniest thing he'd heard all year.
"This is hilarious," another one said. "The Blackwater Cartel is hiring kids now? What's next, kindergarten assassins?"
"Maybe she's got a juice box in that dress," Trent added. "You know, in case she gets thirsty during all that protecting."
More laughter. Daniel's face was red now, embarrassed and angry. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.
"They're laughing at you!" he hissed at me. "If you're so capable, prove it!"
I looked at him, keeping my voice flat. "That's your problem. I'm only responsible for keeping you alive."
"But—"
"I don't protect your dignity. Just your life. That's the job."
Daniel's mouth snapped shut. The young, mature businessman act he'd been putting on all night cracked completely, showing exactly what he was underneath. A kid playing at being powerful, and not handling it very well.
Trent ignored our exchange completely. He focused on Daniel, stepping close enough that Daniel had to tilt his head back to maintain eye contact.
"You need to leave," Trent said. "Right now. Before our Alpha gets here, because once he shows up, you're going to wish you'd never set foot in Wyoming." He smiled, and it wasn't friendly. "You know what your father did, right? You know what happens when Blackwater Cartel and Creek Pack are in the same room?"
Daniel didn't answer. He didn't need to.
"We're going to beat you half to death," Trent continued. "And your little bodyguard here? She can watch. Or try to help. Either way works for me."
He still wasn't looking at me. None of them were. To them, I was just some kid Daniel had brought along. Not a threat. Not even worth acknowledging.
Fine by me. People who underestimated me tended to regret it.
A younger Creek Pack member came running up, slightly out of breath.
"Trent! The Alpha's here. He just pulled up outside."
Trent's eyes went wide. "Already? Shit." He turned to his crew. "Come on, we need to greet him."
They all rushed toward the main entrance, not even bothering to give Daniel or me a second glance.
Daniel waited until they were out of earshot, then turned to me.
"What do we do?" His voice cracked slightly. "The person I'm waiting for isn't here yet, and if we stay, we're going to run into Creek Pack's Alpha."
I waited. There was more.
"You don't understand the history between our organizations," Daniel continued. "Years ago, my father killed Creek Pack Alpha's Luna. His mate. It's not just business rivalry, it's personal. It's—"
"Just get to the point."
Daniel flinched at the interruption, but he got the message. "If we run into him, can you get me out of here safely?"
I studied his face. The fear was real. The desperation was real. He was genuinely worried he might not make it out of this building alive.
"Are you questioning my ability?" I asked.
"No, no, I just..." He held up his hands. "I'm just asking. Just want to know if you can handle it."
"I can handle it," I finally said.
Daniel let out a breath he'd been holding. "Okay. Okay good."