-What the fuck, Lucrezia? yelled Killian.
-You better watch your language boy. I raised you. I can dispose of you anytime, but I'm sentimental about family. Please don't make me do something about your attitude!
-Why did you do that to Damian?!
-I do not need a spy that is working more for you than for me. I don't know what your little tantrum at the research center was about, but the fact that I had to hear about it from a weed instead of my planted watch was enough reason to dispose of him.
-Is he dead?…
-Oh, don't make that face to me. We both know he was just a flower for you to bloom at the nearest convenience. Don't get mushy on me. It's disgusting!
-IS HE DEAD?!
-Ugh, no. I still appreciate his family enough for him to have another way of survival. Far too generous of a gift for a filthy omega in my opinion.
-What happened to him?
-Packed him up nicely and sent it to Sanchez for a month or two. Just to learn his place in the world without my protection.
-WHY WOULD YOU GIFT HIM TO OUR SWORN ENEMY?
-All this yelling gives me a migraine. You're a grown man acting like a toddler who lost his favorite toy. All is strategy, my idiotic nephew. Sanchez has a drug I'm interested in. A hand wash another one for a good deal.
-You sold him to a garden?
-I have no idea what Sanchez would do with him. I've never met the man. All I know about him are stories.
Lucrezia shrugged indifferently.
-I was next to him when you last called.
-What?
That meant Lucrezia knew Clara was selling out secret information about their new drug. Killian broke a cold sweat. Both his life and Clara's life were on the line. He cleared his throat in an attempt to calm his nerves.
-You know about the mole?
-Darling, I am the mole.
-What?
-God, I was cursed to have to explain the simplest, most obvious things to you, wasn't I? You're just as stupid as your mother, I swear!
-So Clara is innocent?
-She was the one I put in charge of selling me out. A rebellion phase to be more believable for the little mutts nipping at my company's feet. A smart trap to see if there are any true leaks, to see what companies are our friends and who would sell us out. I gave it all to Sanchez.
-But Claus is the CEO of Greenleaf.
-That hot blonde bimbo is nothing but the legal face of the company, snorted Lucrezia.
-Sanchez owns Greenleaf?
-I don't blame you for not knowing. I found out recently too. A small crack of the story was enough. The story of the beta turned-alpha making such a big threat to us from nothing but ashes was always too much of a fairy tale for my taste anyhow.
-But what's the connection between them? Why would Sanchez give Claus Greenleaf?
-We'll find out eventually. Now, onto the important topics: what you did when you found out about the leak; what progress did you make with the Wilker family's heir; what do you need to do next.
-I analyzed every possible leak before actually considering Clara the mole.
-I do find your loyalty one of the very few redeeming qualities you have, but you are impulsive and reckless. Just like your whore mom. You tortured our research weeds, you threw threats right and left and you not only failed to keep it hidden from me, but you got Damian in trouble too. What was your next step?
-My next step?
-If Clara was the mole.
-I would have come to you.
Lucrezia scoffed and took another slow sip of her Italian wine. She was hoping it would stop the headache her useless nephew caused.
-At least you have the decency to lie. Next.
-I tested out the new drug with Luther. It worked until the second stage.
-Why not third? Is your dick limp for the little arrogant virgin?
Killian shifted uncomfortably.
-You're not even good enough to fuck, laughed dryly Lucrezia. Ok, got it. When do you plan to reach the third stage?
-As soon as he calls.
-How long have you been waiting?
-Two days, mumbled Killian.
-So you can't even kiss properly. At this point, what's your use in this company?!
-He'll call.
-Talk about optimism. You have 2 more days before I will replace you. Next.
-What am I to do next? I'll settle down the deal with Luther. I will do whatever you ask to get Damian back sooner.
-I might negotiate for only a month of punishment. Easy punishment. Nobody likes a used hole after all.
-Thank you.
-Try again.
-Thank you, Auntie.
-Good. Report to me about the Wilker's omega in two days. You better bring good news. I have my limit. I could always give you for the freaks who want to bloom an alpha for a good enough deal. Don't force my hand.
Lucrezia moved her hand in a dismissal gesture. Both the alphas knew there was no trust in their relationship. A small slip would be enough for them to devour each other.
Claus woke up on the muddy ground, covered in his own nose-blood and vomit, as the sky started to pour. His phone vibrated as it shut itself down. He took a moment to recreate the latest events in his head before the coldness started to creep into his bones. Luther's kidnapping, the deal going south with Sanchez and those pheromones. Claus gagged at the memory of that poisoning stench.
"The voicemail" he jumped in a panic. " If Killian knew about what went down, not only the company would be in danger. A single word from the Wilkers and I will wish I would be dead"
He tried frantically to power up his phone. No matter the number of attempts, the device was dead.
"Luther", he shivered." I have to save Luther myself."
But how? Sanchez was the most dangerous person he knew. And he had nothing without him. No money, no connections, no job. How could he save Luther? Could he trust the process? Could he really trust that Sanchez wouldn't kill his childhood love?
"I gotta win Sanchez's favor. If he's in a good mood, he'll let me visit" calmed himself Claus. "I'll take Luther and vanish."
With the newfound purpose, Claus lifted himself from the puddle of misery he was lying in and made his way back to his hotel. Tomorrow will be the start of a long way toward freedom.