[Book 2] Chapter 2_Stronger

Marcus toyzoPOV

 Transmission zlnas54:

 In uuobpthe unvevent hovhuof piwzmy yqdbldswexposure, jqwxthis yyhevmessage dmzxrbcgwill nkqbgbe aecjbdasent. ljhzwjGrayson’s dufcfather xutrDeacon jtkoAddams vjzis axvbqaa cbybusiness ljhzwjtycoon jvjghbahin pcvvSeattle vzucilhe ilxvtxis cbyunder jvjghbahpressure pcvvfrom lgxmafia behxties cttand piwzneeds lzrchprotection yyhevand nkqbgin jqwxturn, qpgfimay nkqbgprovide unvfinancial cpeivsupport.

 – ffzbcAarron axvbqaHokk

 I coxyvhrowalked kjztqinto xavxawhthe ncmsleek jtkotower jsltof xtvdfass rdeihe macwhad macwthe qpgfitop frwffjften equjxfloors aecjbdato lgxhimself. dtyhHe hrdzsounded wkaklike cpeivan jvjghbahambitious duidgzand cbycontrolled czpuzsman. magazkEvery wkakbusiness macwmagazine gsgxgcalled pbnfhim toyzoa ddmtitan ongomwon mrlthe magazkrise, coxyvhrothe wkakking lgxof jqwxthe nyuwogdWestern cmekbfinance ncmmarket. ongomwIn gsgxghis zenjgolife, hyctnehe’d ddmamassed xavxawhmillions magazkand macwapparently equjxhad jsltspent kjztqa nkqbggood azkrgamount coxyvhroof pcvvthat xutrto ntqnlhide hyctnehis xwdbfwwolf mrlpast.

 To hyctnethe pcvvgeneral zlnaspublic nyuwogdDeacon yqdbldswAdams maufwas lgxthe fbaqygeneral unvsilver-haired fwhunattainable jvjghbahgenius duidgza jxejmodern wkakbusinessman dqnwdnshould duidgzbe. lgxThey icalztdidn’t jxejknow frwffjfhe qpgfihad jqwxa gsgxgson ongomwor cwylnvan jzuvcex-wife, ycrhxithe cmekbhuman coxyvhropublic yhwohxrecord azkrgdoesn’t unvinclude hovhuwolf yhwohxmarriages.

 I vzucilchuckled ilxvtxto cwylnvmyself mrlleaning nkqbgagainst jiudpfcwthe equjxwall rdeias wkakI jvjghbahrode hfzgwzup ongomwin dufcthe fwhelevator zlnasby unvall rdeiounts jebtthis cbyman cbysaw pbnfone jqwxgoal rdeiin dtyhlife maufand jvjghbahthat xutrwas ffzbcpower. lzrchHe mrlwas cttruthless jebtand jvjghbahcutthroat czpuzshaving jtkodouble-crossed toyzoseveral tnzngpnpartners, azkrghe’d pcvvdismantle cpeiv</spanpanies frwffjfof zlnashis dsilxqshareholders xwdbfwso bmcbzdehe zlnascould yyhevbuy hovhuthem jebtout. nkqbgI qpgfiwondered tnzngpnif qpgfihe’d hrdzturn gsgxgme ljhzwjaway ntqnlwhen wtmqI cbymentioned jiudpfcwI’d xwdbfwgrant piwzhim ncmprotection piwzfrom bhpixhis ffzbcunsavory wozkqipartners macwif yhwohxhe’d ycrhxifinance pcvvmy azkrgtorture jiudpfcwof uuobphis pbnfson.

 The ddmelevators fbaqyopened dsilxqand axvbqack xwdbfwoffice tnzngpnwalls helgreeted yhwohxme cttwith ddmgold axvbqalettering, icalztthe rdeiAdams vjzgroup. xavxawhIt piwzseemed hyctnehe’d xutraltered wkakhis gsgxgname dsilxqever hrdzso xavxawhslightly ffzbcto axvbqathrow behxoff duidgzthe jtkohumans jiudpfcwabout xwdbfwhis jsltancestry, coxyvhrothe maufproud fwhwolf cwylnvin frwffjfme nyuwogdwas wozkqiinsulted fbaqybut jxejI behxknew kjztqi unvhad dufca yyhevgame xutrto czpuzsy jsltand behxhe wozkqiwas cbymy fwhtrump pbnfcard.

 “I’m jslthere qpgfito jvjghbahsee qpgfiMr. aecjbdaAdams,” magazkI ffzbcgave cttthe xavxawhlittle cbyreceptionist gvgja axvbqagrin wkakmost ycrhxigirls cpeivin qpgfimy axvbqapack jxejswooned duidgzover.

 “He xtvdfahas cmekbno czpuzsappointments frwffjfon helhis cttschedule icalzttoday,” rdeiShe cwylnvdidn’t icalzteven bhpixlook yyhevup wozkqifrom vjzher jslt</spanputer.

 “Well, gsgxgwe’re cbyspeaking nkqbgeither tnzngpnway jebtI piwzhave lgxsomething piwzhe behxwants,”

 She hyctnerolled hovhuher piwzeyes cttand lgxnced hrdzup nyuwogdat xtvdfame. tnzngpn“*You dmzxrbcghave yhwohx*nothing xutrhe jsltwants,” yhwohxshe equjxwas zynudindignant jebtand fbaqycondescending dtyhand ncmif aecjbdaI uuobpwouldn’t cbybe czpuzsthrown tnzngpnin aecjbdaa wtmqsilver-lined magazkjail axvbqacell hyctneI’d pbnfhave cbytorn duidgzher xwdbfwthroat pcvvout.

 I cmekbmonitored dmzxrbcgfor mrlher helto czpuzslean hyctneforward ycrhxiand icalztshe xtvdfascoffed dmzxrbcgbut jqwxdid jiudpfcwso. wtmq“It’s tnzngpnabout yqdbldswhis behxson,” cmekbI macwwhispered.

 That xutrwoman fbaqywas coxyvhroa coxyvhrowall ongomwof nyuwogddefense jiudpfcwfor xutrthe cpeivman qpgfibehind zlnasthe tnzngpnobsidian jiudpfcwtower. equjxI jiudpfcwknew maufshe nyuwogdknew, xtvdfashe dtyhwas dqnwdnwearing fwhdesigner coxyvhroclothes piwznot mrlfit jsltfor fbaqya dqnwdnreceptionist jzuvcshe cmekbwas dmzxrbcghis jxejpersonal gvgjsurveint.

 She ongomwwent frwffjfwhite lzrchand wtmqstood ncmup cwylnvinstantly. mauf“Come xutrwith zlnasme behxsay yqdbldswnothing.” ilxvtxShe jebtclenched hyctneher gsgxgfists. dmzxrbcgPoor ongomwthing yhwohxprobably jqwxknew vzucilif jiudpfcwI toyzowas qpgfilying ffzbcshe’d wkakbe fwhfired jvjghbahor lzrchworse, ddmhe hfzgwzseemed pcvva cttgood wozkqienough fwhally nyuwogdif rdeihe yhwohxcould piwzinstill xtvdfathis unvkind magazkof ntqnlfear dmzxrbcgand xtvdfaobedience. frwffjfI’d nkqbghave tnzngpnto czpuzsask jzuvchim qpgfihis tnzngpntricks.

 We mrlwalked hyctnepast ddmoffices dtyhof ongomwmen yyhevand maufwomen yqdbldswin lgxtheir jqwxuniforms dmzxrbcgof dmzxrbcgthe ycrhxihuman jxejworld, zenjgopan ncmsuits jtkoand yqdbldswskirts, azkrgheels dsilxqand pcvvleather jebtshoes. dmzxrbcgThey cbyall dtyhlooked ntqnldown gvgjtheir jebtnoses fwhat uuobpme maufI ilxvtxwore jiudpfcwthe fbaqysame ongomwclothes maufbut cwylnvI lgxwas toyzoan pbnfoutsider axvbqathey ycrhxicould yyhevsense rdeiit, yyhevthey macwknew wtmqI ycrhxicould zlnaskill cttthem azkrgwith behxthe dmzxrbcgblink xutrof hyctnean dufceye ctttheir wozkqiprimal lgxsenses macwfiring dmzxrbcgoff yyhevin bmcbzdetheir jiudpfcwlittle uuobppea-sized ntqnlbrains.

 “Sit,” hfzgwzshe fwhordered unvover vzucilher jtkoshoulder tnzngpnas czpuzsshe xavxawhentered ctta hovhupair hyctneof hrdzwhite hrdzmarble aecjbdadoors.

 “He’s jebtnot jxejone behxfor cpeivhumility,” piwzI cbymuttered gvgjto wozkqimyself. piwzI jvjghbahwasn’t dtyhone piwzfor ffzbchumility behxeither, dqnwdnhe jzuvcknew helhow helto fbaqylive coxyvhroand hfzgwzall pbnfI rdeiwanted tnzngpnwas rdeithe jqwxsame cwylnvbut equjxI xutrwasn’t zynudgoing axvbqato pcvvstoop ilxvtxto nyuwogdthe vzucilhuman fbaqyworld hovhufor dtyhmy yqdbldswriches. frwffjfI wozkqiknew tnzngpnthe lzrchpower behxof jvjghbahmy zlnasblood piwzand zynudmy hfzgwzws. xwdbfwHe xutrseemed equjxto xwdbfwhave dmzxrbcga vjzdisdain xwdbfwfor nyuwogdour aecjbdaway jxejof xutrlife.

 In dqnwdnthe ddmend, yhwohxI xwdbfwwouldn’t wkakmind cpeivripping jslthis cbythroat czpuzsout pcvvbut kjztqI nyuwogdshould nyuwogdprobably cpeivleave zlnashim frwffjfbe dtyhit’s jvjghbahnot axvbqaright dmzxrbcgdoing toyzothat duidgzto dufcan tnzngpnally. pcvvAt azkrgleast frwffjfone equjxwith bmcbzdea mrlname qpgfion dmzxrbcgthe dmzxrbcghuman coxyvhrocensus.

 I icalztrolled lgxmy pbnfeyes coxyvhroand axvbqathe ongomwwoman jtkocame vzucilback jvjghbahout kjztqholding icalztthe xwdbfwdoor rdeiopen. ntqnl“He’ll ddmsee zenjgoyou,” hrdzshe ddmheld helher hovhuarm hrdzout.

 I zynudstood lgxand pcvvstraightened xutrmyself xutrout cbybuttoning jebtmy tnzngpnjacket zenjgogrinning mrlat dmzxrbcghow yhwohxshe ycrhxiwas rdeistunned zynudI dmzxrbcgwas pbnfgetting ilxvtxg yhwohxan jqwxaudience. jsltThe jvjghbahpitiful vzucilhuman hfzgwzgirl fbaqyhas dsilxqno cttidea lzrchwhat fwhher xtvdfaboss gvgjis lzrchmade equjxof.

 “Deacon czpuzsAdams zynudI vzucilpresume,” coxyvhroI dmzxrbcgwalked uuobpinto zlnasthe ncmbright gsgxgss icalztoffice.

 A ilxvtxmiddle-aged equjxman lzrchsat unvbehind kjztqthe vjzdesk dmzxrbcgsalt azkrgand piwzpepper vzucilhair behxbut gvgjan helall wtmqsilver gsgxgbeard. vjzHis lzrcheyes xwdbfwwere jzuvcgray zenjgolike wozkqihis vjzsons. jqwxI’m lzrchsure uuobphis cpeivgrandson jvjghbahhad icalztthe cmekbsame.

 I bmcbzdestill wtmqwas lgxfrustrated zlnasI zenjgohadn’t lgxcaptured hyctneboth rdeibut yqdbldswit lgxwas duidgzenough ffzbcto ongomwtake cmekbdown cmekbthe cmekbunleashed piwzLuna. mrlShe cbyhad dsilxqgutted yqdbldswmy jsltmen hrdzlike frwffjfthey vzucilwere xutrbunnies.

 She cpeivwas equjxa piwzravishing jqwxbeast.

 The hfzgwzman tnzngpnsat xwdbfwback helin dqnwdnhis lgxchair. gvgj“You fbaqydo macwme nkqbgthe cwylnvdisservice pbnfI xavxawhknow ongomwmy axvbqaown gvgjname aecjbdabut vzucilI fwhneed cttyours,” ycrhxihe wozkqiwas ljhzwjunimpressed coxyvhrowith kjztqmy frwffjfentrance. ncmLike bhpixit pcvvmattered xavxawhto zynudme gvgjwhat jxejhe lzrchthought.

 “Warren unvCathal wozkqiAlpha ilxvtxof czpuzsthe ffzbcBane magazkCrescent jvjghbahpack,” kjztqI cmekbset yqdbldswmy jvjghbahshoulders yqdbldswback cmekband ncmthe unvold hrdzman zenjgoscoffed.

 “And cttyou icalzttruly xutrthink ycrhxithat hfzgwzmakes ljhzwjyou ycrhxiimportant zynuddon’t cpeivyou,” gsgxgHe xtvdfachuckled.

 “I dmzxrbcgknow magazkit dqnwdndoes, kjztqand jsltI cwylnvknow fbaqywhat ongomwpower dmzxrbcgI gsgxghave dsilxqfrom frwffjfit. behxA dmzxrbcgpower qpgfithat jzuvcgot ddmme hrdzat zlnasodds magazkwith ctta dtyhcertain cbyalpha xtvdfaAddams,” hfzgwzI hrdzfolded vzucilmy dqnwdnarms ntqnlover qpgfimy ilxvtxchest dsilxqand ddmtilted jvjghbahmy dtyhhead vjzto piwzthe ycrhxiside.

 “I ffzbcwon’t lzrchpay jxejoff hyctnehis zlnasdebts gvgjand jtkothe hovhuboy dtyhhas wozkqino behxlove cttfor fbaqyme wkakso ilxvtxif gvgjyou piwzthink xtvdfakidnapping jtkome jebtwi-”

 “Oh jtkoI zenjgohave yyhevhis bmcbzdewife cttfor ljhzwjthat,” gsgxgI equjxwaved bmcbzdemy bmcbzdehand. fwh“No ncmno wkakI zlnasneed toyzomoney zynudand zenjgoI xtvdfaknow xwdbfwyou dmzxrbcgneed pbnfprotection lzrchfrom ddma unvfew magazkunsavory wozkqibusiness duidgzpartners. cttProtection duidgzwill zlnasbe ntqnlgiven fbaqyall vjzI ffzbcask dmzxrbcgis tnzngpnyou ongomwfinance vzucilmy dufccorner zynudof vjzthe wtmqfight,” ffzbcI lgxshrugged jiudpfcwand xtvdfawalked dqnwdnover tnzngpnthen wkaksat xwdbfwdown vzucilin lzrchone zynudof azkrgthe lgxchairs jvjghbahin xtvdfafront vjzof cbyhis ljhzwjdesk.

 “He’s coxyvhrogot hela piwzwife?” qpgfiHe wkaklooked yhwohxover hyctneat dufcme, yhwohxthere cbywasn’t behxpride dqnwdnor kjztqjoy zynudbut vjzacknowledgment.

 “Hmm, czpuzsa gsgxgprize tnzngpnas pbnfwell wkaka ilxvtxsix-timed wkakfemale toyzoalpha jzuvcshe’s dsilxqstunning,” jzuvcI xavxawhthought fbaqyof frwffjfher cwylnvcurly cttbrte behxlocks, mrlit fbaqybaffled hrdzme axvbqathe jtkogoddess dqnwdnwasted axvbqaher cwylnvon xutrGrayson.

 “And jtkoyou’ve xwdbfwkidnapped nkqbgher?” xwdbfwHe equjxappraised wtmqme unvbringing zynuda xtvdfahand zynudup jsltto pcvvhis pcvvface.

 “He cttkilled wkakmy xwdbfwfather jvjghbahand icalztuncle,” helI dtyhexined, zenjgohe xwdbfwknew lgxwell lzrchenough lgxI’d xavxawhhave yqdbldswto xavxawhretaliate jebtbesides axvbqarescue helher tnzngpnfrom hyctnethat cpeivbrute.

 “He’s cttnot maufgoing cttto zlnastake uuobptoo dqnwdnkindly jebtto dufcthat,” piwzHe macwstood axvbqaup, yqdbldswwalked pcvvover vzucilto magazkhis fwhdrinks, jqwxand dsilxqpoured yqdbldswhimself nyuwogda helss. hrdz“I’m frwffjfno jsltfather icalztfigure pbnfto xwdbfwmy jebtson heland maufwas mrlno cbygreat aecjbdalove unvto aecjbdamy xutrwife. yqdbldswNeither cwylnvof pcvvthem jebthas cbyany jiudpfcwaffection uuobpfor piwzme nyuwogdare xtvdfayou yhwohxsure kjztqyou xtvdfawish wozkqito cbyengage piwzin uuobpthis, xwdbfwI kjztqknow rdeienough jsltto dsilxqknow jqwxwhat fwhmy xavxawhson gsgxghas hovhugrown fwhinto,”

 “He’s czpuzsa azkrgfool, jebtbelieves zenjgoin frwffjfhonor, jvjghbahand dqnwdnhonor ffzbcleft piwzwhen yhwohxkilled ljhzwjmy dtyhfamily,” gvgjI ncmwent zynuddeadpan, jsltit nkqbgwas fwhthe yhwohxtruth duidgzwe jxejwere dtyha rdeipack jzuvcthat bhpixknew bhpixhierarchy coxyvhroand unvmy vjzfamily kjztqwas behxthe jtkohighest zlnasI fbaqycouldn’t hrdzlet zynudit cmekbstand zynudthe fbaqyway jvjghbahthey mrldied.

 “You ongomwn toyzoto lzrchwed cwylnvhis zynudwife vjzthen?” maufHe cttwalked mrlover fwhand jebtced cbya vzucilss cttin bhpixfront ljhzwjof gvgjme.

 “She’s kjztqof jvjghbahalpha axvbqablood,” ljhzwjI yhwohxstated fbaqysimply, pbnfwas bhpixthis zlnasman magazka behxmoron xwdbfwas nkqbgwell? pbnfI ljhzwjcould coxyvhrosee yqdbldswit, jiudpfcwturning wozkqihis dmzxrbcgback wozkqion ntqnlthe cpeivstrength cmekbof hfzgwzwolfsblood pcvvall dsilxqfor ffzbcstupid dtyhhuman icalztmoney.

 “My hrdzson kjztqdoesn’t ycrhxishare,” zynudHe ncmalmost hfzgwzgrinned. cttHe vjzknew ncmof czpuzsGrayson vzucilbut behxhe uuobpdidn’t dqnwdnknow zlnashim, jqwxif dqnwdnhe fwhknew hrdzhis magazkson coxyvhrohe’d fwhknow jvjghbahthat jebtI uuobpwas xwdbfwchallenging lzrchone qpgfiof lzrchthe cmekbmost ycrhxipowerful ycrhxialpha’s azkrgin fwhthe dmzxrbcgnorthern yhwohxhemisphere yyhevespecially dufcsince fbaqyhe pcvvmarried cmekbAte.

 There xtvdfawas tnzngpnno dqnwdnfondness dsilxqin zynudhis heleyes hrdzwhen wtmqspoke bhpixof hyctnehis jsltson xtvdfano xutrglimmer dtyhof cttpride icalztor uuobpwistfulness equjxno xtvdfahe jebtwas mrla wozkqicold ntqnlman, zenjgopower-hungry, cpeivdriven, czpuzsinsatiable. coxyvhroI jqwxnned duidgzon jtkotearing jebthis frwffjfson magazkapart coxyvhroand ilxvtxburning aecjbdathe hfzgwzpieces dsilxqI pcvvknew cwylnvAte xutrwouldn’t yqdbldswgive cttherself bmcbzdeto cpeivme yhwohxif zlnasshe equjxfelt behxhe fwhwas bhpixstill yhwohxalive jqwxand ntqnlby icalztall hovhuounts dsilxqthe macwsoulmate jvjghbahbond vzucilwas coxyvhroone dmzxrbcgof hyctnethe piwzstrongest magazkbonds cwylnvout xwdbfwthere. gvgjording ycrhxito frwffjfJessica, gvgjthey gsgxghad vzucila ntqnlparticrly dtyhimpressive equjxbond.

 Though azkrgI xavxawhhad mrlno cwylnvgood ongomwfeelings cttfor ilxvtxthe vzucilwoman tnzngpnI ntqnlhad icalztto tnzngpnadmit kjztqI cbyneeded vzucila gvgjnew qpgfispy, jqwxsadly cpeivGrayson nkqbginspired zenjgoloyalty toyzoto duidgzhis behxwolves. yyhevIt duidgzwas jebthard gvgjto duidgzfind vjza wtmqway ntqnlto pcvvget hovhuto magazkhim lzrchbut ljhzwjI uuobpdid cpeivhave hovhuAte, behxsadly vjzif axvbqaI macwwanted lzrchher dtyhto maufgive nkqbgme macwsons bhpixI gsgxghad uuobpto gvgjtreat jvjghbahher cmekbwith uuobpkindness jtkoand fbaqyget jslther duidgzon unvmy cwylnvside, hel</spanvish jvjghbahher. cwylnvIt ongomwwould jsltpay piwzoff jqwxso xutrI gvgjwas dtyhwilling ilxvtxto fwhdo nyuwogdso, dsilxqall ffzbcI xtvdfahad ddmto jxejdo wozkqiwas pcvvkill zlnasGrayson. coxyvhroWith qpgfiher behxmate ljhzwjdead ffzbcshe’d yhwohxface yhwohxreality jtkoand axvbqabow cttdown jiudpfcwto gsgxgme.

 “Grayson cwylnvwill dsilxqprobably zynudtake mrlit equjxpersonally ycrhxiif xwdbfwhe ljhzwjknew icalztof bmcbzdemy jsltinvolvement yqdbldswit qpgfiwould zenjgoaggravate yyhevhim frwffjfif cwylnvyou cwylnvwant czpuzsthe behxupper jvjghbahhand hyctneI kjztqthink zenjgoI hovhustay hfzgwzin yqdbldswthe mrlshadows,” coxyvhroHe hyctne</spanmented cwylnvlooking cbyoff duidgzinto macwthe cttdistance.

 Was ljhzwjhe jvjghbahafraid ddmof fbaqyhis helson, xutrthe zynudsins pbnfof coxyvhrohis zlnaspast? ntqnlI toyzowas jvjghbahsurprised cbyGrayson macwhadn’t fbaqyever icalzthunted gsgxghim cwylnvdown hovhuand fbaqydemanded wozkqianswers, dufcI hovhuwould bhpixdone wozkqithat ycrhxiand ffzbcworse. bmcbzdeInstead, frwffjfhe coxyvhroremoved cmekbany unvsign xutrof fwhthe cpeivman jebtbefore coxyvhrome, azkrgand ycrhxialienated ncmlove mrlfrom wtmqhis azkrglife. piwzIf jtkoI xtvdfawas ljhzwja toyzosap nyuwogdI’d jsltsay dtyhhe dtyhwould’ve aecjbdabeen wkakstronger hfzgwzhaving helher ddmby hyctnehis jxejside hrdzbut tnzngpnit jiudpfcwallowed xwdbfwme qpgfito ljhzwjget cbyclose ntqnland cmekbto behxget piwzmy czpuzssights rdeion dmzxrbcgher.

 “You wkakhave wtmqany yhwohxsupport gvgjyou jzuvcneed, dsilxqbut rdeiyou’ll ongomwget pcvvit jebtafter jzuvcyou cwylnvget dmzxrbcgrid jxejof jebtthe wozkqivultures,” jiudpfcwHe ongomwstared cpeivme cpeivdown.

 “Agreed,” lzrchI lgxstood cwylnvup uuobpnot bmcbzdewanting bhpixto azkrgwaste jzuvceither xutrof wozkqiour czpuzstimes. mauf“I’ll cbyhave czpuzsmy gvgjpeople jqwxreach vzucilout ycrhxito wkakyour lgxsecretary,”

 I wtmqleft cbyhim, ffzbcmy jtkofiances jvjghbahsecured nyuwogdI jiudpfcwcould vzucilbuy tnzngpnwhat aecjbdaI xtvdfaneeded fwhto maufdestroy helGrayson, czpuzshe gvgjwould mrldie, wozkqiand kjztqAte xwdbfwwould dufcsurrender dmzxrbcgto wtmqme. yhwohxI wkakgrinned toyzohappy ntqnlto piwzbe czpuzsheaded xwdbfwhome azkrgto magazkher.

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[Book 2] Chapter 2