desk. Refusing
to look at Mark, he concentrated on the men he didn’t want to kill.
Don’t kill her father. His death would make a mess, and there are more
humans in the office than not.
He tried to reason with himself. The more he thought
about what he learned of Clara, the harder it was not to hurt the bastard.
“This asshole,” Bill said, pointing at Mark. “Stormed into your building shouting out his demands.”
Bill looked ready to commit murder.
Get in line, Bill. Anyone who takes out this fucker will have to answer
to me.
“He caused a stir, terrified the women, and started bad-mouthing
you.”
Moving his attention to Dean, he waited for another
explanation.
“I tried to get him out of your office, Nick. He wants
more money,” Dean said, shrugging.
Getting his anger under control, Nick turned his
attention onto the man he wished to murder. “What gives you the right to come
into my place of work and start mouthing off?”
“I want more money.”
“I paid you one million dollars for your daughter.
You’re not getting another cent from me.” Staring at Clara’s father, Nick
couldn’t stop the feeling of repulsion coming over him.
“She’s worth a lot more than a million.”
“I heard your wife say Clara is the runt of the
litter. She means nothing to you. A million is more than fair.” In truth, Nick
would pay triple if not more to keep her.
“If you don’t pay me more I’m going to the collection
of alphas.”
Nick raised a brow and turned to Dean, who shook his
head.
“Interesting. You’ll go to the collection of alphas?” Nick asked, standing up. The
collection of alphas was responsible for his outlawed status. People referred
to them as either the “collection of alphas” or as “the collective”. The only
desire he had to deal with the collective was to hurt them. The collection of
alphas acted like social workers or the modern legal system for wolves.
“They would make you pay more.”
“You really think they’d help you?” Nick asked, taking
a step toward the other man. All he needed was any excuse to end this sack of
shit’s life and he’d do it in a heartbeat.
“I’m a pack wolf. They still answer to our calls, not
outlawed bastards like yourself .”
Leaning against his desk, Nick folded his arms over
his chest, staring at the other man. “Go and get them. Tell them all that I
won’t pay you another cent of my money.”
The other man looked confused. “I will.”
“Good, then you can make them all aware how you sold a
woman for money. Not only will you incriminate yourself, you’ll bring everyone
else down with you. I wonder how long you and your family would survive being outlawed
with a lot of enemies, stronger enemies.”
He let his words sink in.
“I’ll get you for this,” Mark said, pulling out of
Bill and Dean’s hold.
“I’m sure you will. Bye.” Nick watched the angry man
leave his office.
“Why does he suddenly want more?” Nick asked, turning
to Dean.
“From what I hear he learned who you were and that you
could pay a lot more money for her. He feels cheated that he only got so little
from you instead of a larger payout.”
“Fucking
asshole.” Nick made arrangements with Bill to increase
security. Once he was alone, he dialed one of the security firms he trusted and
put a man on to trail Mark. The last thing he needed was for him to turn up and
ruin his plans to mate with Clara.
****
Walking around naked was not something Clara was ever
going to be comfortable with. For so long she’d been forced to wear clothing
that changing her habits was going to be hard. Hearing the door shut she stayed
seated and watched the doors leading out of the kitchen to the patio close,
beeping with a lock.
When she heard the gate close she stood up going
toward the window. She tried to open one of the windows. None of them would
move. The small draft came from a partially opened window near the ceiling.
Unless she wanted to risk