14. Grey

14

GREY

I don't want to bring Lexi with me today, but my father texted me early this morning and ordered it. The fact that he wants me to do something so risky suggests he's feeling confident about his position. This morning's paper featured another article and more photos from our date the other night, including the interview quotes from each of us as we entered the restaurant. Clearly, he's pleased about us winning points with the public. But he's a fool if he thinks that gives him carte blanche to walk an outsider into a meeting like this one.

Then again, he's not walking her in. I am. And she's not an outsider. She's Franco's granddaughter, which, technically speaking, means she has a right to attend.

Or that's what I tell myself as I shower and put on a suit. In the mirror, I check for any imperfections—if I don't fix them now, they'll be used against me later. Inspecting myself carefully, I straighten my tie with a quick tug. And even though I don't spot a single wrinkle, I smooth the fabric out of habit anyway. I make myself a promise: when I take over this city, I'll never wear a suit again.

It's a small comfort.

There's nothing to be done about the darkness that lingers in my eyes or the circles beneath them.

Fuck it.

Even monsters can look tired, I guess.

My phone buzzes with a text.

Crow's message is quick and to the point, as usual. Nothing to report from Greece.

He's texted me the same update ever since I had him start following Ramsey. Maybe there's nothing there.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

If he was bound to me, I'd know for sure.

I think of the blade stashed inside a hard case in the warehouse but dismiss the thought as quickly as it comes. Using it would mean giving myself away as an alpha. Am I ready for what I'd have to do next?

When I emerge, Lexi's standing in the kitchen in nothing but my t-shirt, holding a mug of coffee. She looks rumpled from sleep and so damn fuckable. I walk right over to her and weave my hands into her hair so I can tilt her head back and kiss her deeply.

She melts against me, offering up whatever I want to take from her. Which is everything. Starting with bending her over the counter right here and now.

She'd let me. I can feel it in her already hardened nipples and the way she's rubbing herself against me. And maybe I should. Burying myself inside her would probably go a long way toward helping me prepare mentally for today. But we can't afford to be late. Not for this.

I reluctantly let her go, adjusting myself.

"Good morning," she says, smiling up at me with swollen lips.

"Morning," I say in a voice that's probably not as warm as she deserves, but it's the best I can do right now. My stress is always higher on meeting days, but bringing Lexi into the mix has me tenser than usual.

"You look nice," she says as her gaze slides over my suit questioningly, and my balls tighten at the compliment. I shake off my fantasies of stripping us both down to nothing and force myself to refocus.

"I'm headed out for a meeting."

"Oh." Her expression falls, which makes bringing her even easier—and more torturous.

"Would you like to come with me?"

She brightens. "Do I need to dress up?"

"It would be best. The generals will be there. And my father. It's an official mafia pack meeting, and my father requested you join us."

"I see." Now, her excitement is tempered. That's smart. She sets her mug aside, her chin lifting with a bravery I'm sure she doesn't even recognize in herself. "I'll go get ready."

I don't move as she walks past me. Her scent washes over me, but my control is absolute. It's not until her bedroom door shuts that I make a beeline for the living room, where I put on music to drown out the sound of her running the shower. Anything to keep from picturing her naked on the other side of that wall.

Since our trip out to the ward line last night, the mate call has grown stronger. My desire for her—along with my hunger to bite and claim her—is almost unbearable now. The only thing holding me back is her safety. If I bite her, and she doesn't survive it… I couldn't live with that.

My phone rings. When I see who it is, I answer quickly. "What's up?"

"We need to chat about what happened last night," Mia says.

"Which part?"

"The part where she basically went into heat right in front of us."

"I'm not talking about this right now."

"You and I both know there's a way to trigger her wolf."

"It's not guaranteed."

"You're right. It only works if her wolf is strong, and considering she almost attacked an entire wolf pack to defend her claim on your dick, I'd say it is."

"You don't know for sure," I snap.

There's a beat of silence before she says, "Is that why you haven't claimed her yet? You're scared of the bite?"

"I don't want to talk about this right now," I say, my voice a warning.

"She's a human in a shifter war. We can't afford that kind of liability."

"She's a liability as a wolf," I say.

"What are you?—"

"The moment she's a wolf, my father won't hesitate to compel her with alpha power. He'll control her completely."

"Unless you're her alpha," she points out.

"I'm not ready yet." I swallow hard then take a deep breath. "This is how I keep her safe."

Mia sighs. "She's a target either way, Grey."

"All my father wants is her title."

"Bullshit. He wants more—he always wants more."

She's right, of course. But I don't admit that. If I do, I'll have to admit she's right about everything else. That the only way to save Lexi is to do something that might kill her. "I need to get going or I'll be late."

"This conversation isn't over."

I end the call, silently arguing with myself about Mia's warning. Lexi would be stronger as a wolf—and more vulnerable. The indecision is twisting me up inside.

Half an hour later, Lexi rejoins me. "Does this look okay?"

She's wearing a navy-blue sheath dress. It's simple and elegant and sensible. There's absolutely no reason I should be rock hard at the sight of her in it. And yet, I adjust myself discreetly behind the kitchen counter before setting my coffee mug in the sink and rounding to where she waits.

"It's perfect," I tell her, my voice embarrassingly hoarse.

She moves to walk by me, but I reach for her, pulling her against my chest. This close, I smell her freshly soaped skin, and beneath that, the scent that makes her unique—and irresistible.

Her lips part invitingly, her pulse speeding. "We could skip it," she says as my mouth brushes hers.

I groan.

It takes everything in me to pull away from her.

"When we get home," I tell her, gripping her hips possessively, "I'm going to take that dress off you with my teeth."

She shivers, her smirk more like a dare. "I look forward to it."

Fuck.

"Come on," I say, propelling us to the elevator before I change my mind.

"So, what's the meeting about?" she asks as we ride the elevator downstairs. I bypass the garage and instead take us to the lobby's main exit, where Elio, one of the men assigned to my security detail, has our car waiting.

It's best to keep up the expected pretenses, which include allowing myself to be driven to these things.

"Grey?" Lexi asks as we cross the lobby.

"Hmm?"

"Is everything okay?"

"These meetings aren't my favorite," I say, and she nods like she gets it.

She doesn't.

Outside, the morning sun is bright and hot, promising to bake the city before the day is done. Lexi looks up at it, angling her face as if to soak it in before she ducks into the car ahead of me. With a nod at Elio, I slide into the cool interior behind her.

I don't bother to check behind us for Cruz and Darius since I already know they'll follow us over.

"What do I need to know about this meeting?" Lexi asks.

"It's a full pack meeting," I start.

"Okay. I've met them all before," she says, "and your dad's currently happy with us so that's a good start. What else?"

"The meeting includes the entire Indigo Hills mafia pack leadership," I explain. "It won't just be my father and our generals."

"Franco will be there," she says, eyes widening as understanding dawns.

"And his generals," I add.

Her bravado slips and her cheeks pale. "Dom."

I nod. "And a couple others you haven't met yet."

"Do I have to be there?" she asks nervously.

"My father wants you there, but technically, the answer is no," I tell her. "In fact, there might be a few complaints that I've brought you, considering we're not married yet and you haven't been officially recognized as Franco's heir." My gaze flicks to the ring she's wearing.

She twists it nervously, though I don't think she realizes she's doing it. "Then why did you?"

"Well, my father suggested it."

"But?" she prompts.

"But the truth is that I brought you because I can protect you better if you're with me."

She doesn't protest my reasoning. Nor does she point out how caged that must make her feel. I don't add that she deserves to see how things work in my world. To see what she's gotten herself into. Or that I'm double checking that she meant what she said about wanting to stay in this city with me.

Maybe that's why I haven't told her about the mate thing yet. Maybe I'm waiting to see if she changes her mind about the life I'm asking her to live with me.

Fuck, maybe I'm the one with trust issues here.

"Will Dutch and the others be there?" she asks.

"Mia and Ramsey will. Their dads have begun training them for their future positions."

Her brow creases. "The others aren't being trained?"

"Rocco wants to train Dutch, but my father refuses."

"Why?"

I sigh. "He suspects Dutch knew about my failed coup five years ago. He doesn't fully trust him."

"Did he?"

My thoughts darken at the memory of that time. "He covered my trail so my father wouldn't know where I went or how to find me."

"And Razor and Crow?"

My mouth lifts. Telling her this one cheers me up. "Alvaro invited Razor, but he refused to come unless Crow's invited too."

She matches my half-smile. "Good."

"Listen," I say, sobering quickly, "what you'll see in there… It's not going to be pretty."

"I don't expect it to be."

"The thing is, they're monsters who get off on hurting people, but they're also just enforcing what we consider our laws. So, it's not something we can talk them out of."

"Okay."

"What I mean is?—"

"Grey." She lays her hand over mine. "I'm walking into a room full of the most ruthless predators to walk the earth. I'm not expecting an ice cream social."

Her smile's probably meant to put me at ease, but it only makes me more certain I should've left her at home.

Too late.

The car pulls to a stop in front of GV Industries, the high-rise that houses Franco's professional offices and serves as the pack's headquarters. The sound of raised voices draws my attention, and I glance out the tinted windows to the street beyond. The sidewalk in front of the building is already lined with reporters blocking the doors so they can get a clear shot of us before we go inside. I was expecting that. What I didn't expect is the crowd assembled across the street, many holding posters and signs and chanting words too muffled to make out.

One of the signs reads Expose the Scandal . Another says Stop Stealing From Our Kids .

"What's going on over there?" Lexi asks.

"Looks like a protest," I say, frowning. "Word must've gotten out that school funds are missing."

"Missing?"

"Re-allocated," I say, shaking my head as my temper spikes hot. "Franco probably decided he needed another mountain cabin."

Recently, Dutch dug up proof of a huge chunk of tax money being siphoned into the Giovanni Foundation—Franco's supposed charity, which mostly operates as a smokescreen for laundering more than his share of city funds back to himself. According to Dutch's hacking, some of that money was meant for the local schools' music and arts programs.

Apparently, Dutch and I aren't the only ones who've put the pieces together. Citizens of Indigo Hills aren't stupid; it was only a matter of time until they figured it out. But protesting in the street—in front of Franco's building, at that—isn't going to win their cause any points.

Before I can explain it all to Lexi, Elio opens my door.

I hesitate as the protestors' chanting hits me.

"Fund our schools! Fund our schools!"

Lexi nudges me, and I shove my worry for these people aside as I climb out. There are cameras and reporters waiting for us, but for once, they're not here for quotes about the happy couple's pending nuptials. This is pack business, plain and simple, and they all want to broadcast or headline the main events. The public thrives on news, even when it's sadistic. Especially then.

Lexi joins me on the sidewalk just as another limo pulls to a stop behind ours. Mia and Charlie Reyes get out. Lexi hesitates, waiting for Mia, but I grab her hand and pull her along.

"Not now," I say quietly.

Mia doesn't even look over at us as she tosses her hair for the paparazzi. Beside her, Charlie Reyes looks past everyone like he's above it all. Including Lexi and me.

I let him stride by us before leading Lexi toward the doors.

Behind us, Mia pauses to give an interview. I don't hear what she says, but the reporters all roar with laughter.

Inside, the air is cool, the sounds from the street muted. Everything about GV Industries is clean and white and perfectly polished. I'm not surprised or fooled by it. The blood of Franco's sins isn't here; it's on his hands.

Lexi sticks close as we enter the building's auditorium just off the main atrium. Inside, several others have already arrived.

I nod at Ramsey seated beside his father. He gives a quick raise of his chin, his gaze sliding from me to Lexi. His brow quirks at the sight of her. It's the only indication of surprise or concern he offers.

We won't speak here.

Not in front of so many witnesses.

With Lexi's hand in mine, I climb the steps toward the higher rows, choosing a seat where I can look down on the crowd rather than have an enemy at my back. Lexi settles in next to me, and my leg warms where hers presses against it. It's a comforting feeling, having her touching me, but I don't let myself look at her. Instead, I scan the rows of seating below, taking inventory of the players.

My father is seated up front, as usual, his back to me. He and Alvaro have their heads bent in some private conversation. Suddenly, my father stops talking and looks up—directly at me. His eyes narrow when he spots Lexi beside me. His mouth hardens. It's an angry look I don't understand, considering he's the one who suggested she come today, but he finally turns back to Alvaro and resumes his conversation, effectively shutting me out.

I exhale and tear my eyes from the asshole to look at the others nearby.

My mother sits in the third row beside the other generals' wives. Even from here, she looks stiff and closed off. She hates these things almost more than she hates being married to my father.

Franco made attendance mandatory for alpha's mates and their offspring right around the time I began spying for him. He can't take it back now without looking weak, which leaves me with enough gray area to have Lexi here today. If he balks at it, he'll only look like a fool.

Or that's my theory.

It could go the other way, and he rejects her as his heir and names Dom instead. But I'm banking on the element of surprise working in my favor.

Slow and quiet.

Chipping away at them from all angles until their authority is gone.

That's how we'll fight.

Even as I think it, the alpha in me stirs.

"Are those Franco's generals?" Lexi asks, pointing.

I nod, looking at the trio of men all seated in the second row on the right. "That's Santiago on the left with the gray hair," I say. "And beside him is his brother Conrad. They've been with Franco since they were kids. The one with the tattoos is Toros. He used to be the leader of a street gang here in Indigo Hills called The Bane, who fought against the corruption of the alpha regime."

"Seriously? How did he end up as Franco's general?" she asks.

"When the gang became powerful enough to be a threat to Franco's status quo, he made Toros an offer to join him or be destroyed."

I don't tell her what a fucking disappointment it was to learn Toros had turned. Or how close Dutch and I came to reaching out to The Bane to form an alliance right before Toros switched sides. That would've been a fucking mess.

It's also the reason I can't count on anyone else to help us do this. We have to do it alone—which means we have to do it right. As a bonded pack.

"Who are the women seated in the row behind them? And the ones next to your mother?"

"Gloria is next to my mom," I explain. "She's Alvaro's wife."

Gloria turns to glance behind her at the back of the room. Lexi studies her, saying, "Razor's mom? Wow, he looks just like her."

"Don't tell him that," I warn her. "They're not close. And beside her is Sonesta. She's married to Rocco."

I don't know either of them very well as they've managed to remain firmly in the background of their husbands' lives over the years. Probably more for survival than anything else. But they always attend these meetings and keep to themselves when they do.

Smart.

"So, Sonesta is Dutch's mom?" she asks.

I nod. "You look surprised."

"I guess I just didn't realize those assholes had managed to find a woman to stick with them."

My lips twitch, because in a room full of shifters, I can guarantee her words are carrying. But I still explain, "Divorce isn't exactly an option in this pack."

"I see." She frowns, her forehead creasing in thought.

"Whatever you're imagining, I can promise you it's worse," I say quietly.

"What about Mia and Ramsey's dads? Are they married?"

"Charlie and Anthony are both single. Mia's mom died from an illness when Mia was young," I explain. "As far as I know, Charlie's hasn't even dated since."

"And Ramsey's dad?"

"Anthony's wife Kim was killed several years ago."

"Killed by who?" she asks. And then in a lowered voice, "Franco?"

"No," I say grimly. Again, I don't bother sugarcoating it. Anyone listening already knows. "Anthony found out she was having an affair."

"That's awful." She swallows hard, and I wait, wondering if she's heard enough. But then she clears her throat. "And the women behind Franco's generals?" she asks. "Are they generals' wives too?"

"Yeah, the brunette, Gina, is married to Conrad," I say. "The blonde beside her is Andy. She's Toros's new wife."

"She looks my age," Lexi murmurs.

I don't correct her. The truth is, Andy is barely twenty years old. I've never spoken to her, and I can only hope she chose her marriage willingly—a valid concern considering her groom is a mafia general twice her age.

The room finally begins to fill up as various lieutenants and other leaders join us.

Meetings like these are designed to include the generals' regimes, to give them a glimpse into what they're a part of. Franco says it inspires community and loyalty, but I know what he really uses this gathering for. Fear. It's his favorite motivator, and one I've seen both him and my father wield like a weapon whether we're in a boardroom or a brawl.

I notice the moment Franco walks into the room.

My eyes are drawn to him like they would be to any predator who's just entered my environment. My blood pumps harder and hotter. My wolf strains against the leash of my human body.

The alpha in me thirsts to spill his blood.

Is this what my father feels all the time? Has the thirst driven him slowly insane after all these years?

Lexi tenses, and I realize she's seen Franco now too.

I reach over to reassure her, but movement in the aisle draws my attention. I look up just as a body drops into the empty seat on Lexi's other side.

"Hello, Jericho." Dominic Albero grins at me, a flash of white teeth that's more snarl than polite greeting. He doesn't wait for me to say a word before turning to Lexi. "Hello, beautiful. Is this seat taken?"