“Dad, get the women and Mayor Pratt away from the windows,” Victor told Harry before turning to Heather. “Please take the family to the rec room to finish their meal.”Heather nodded and led the family out of the room.“Benson, can we put something against the windows in case they throw anything else?” Victor asked.The way he stayed calm and protected the most vulnerable among us was a sign of a true leader and another reason why I loved him.“I’ll check, sir,” Benson said and hurried from the room.Amy was determined to go outside and face the mob. She pulled her arm from my grasp and headed for the front door.“Amy, no,” I said as I tried to stop her from going outside. Something had set the crowd off, and they were getting far too dangerous.“I have to do something, Daisy,” Amy insisted. “Did you see the terror on those kid’s faces? They deserve safety and comfort.”“I agree,” I said. “But let the police deal with the protesters. They stepped over the line by breaking your windows
Why would John Cameron’s son suddenly try to cause problems for my best friend?John deserved to be in prison for what he did. Yet, it was likely Josh Cameron felt like he was avenging his father in some twisted way.“How cowardly to go after your friend’s homeless shelter,” Victor said.“Being a pathetic bully must run in their family,” I said.Victor took my hand. “It’s a good thing John is still in prison.”“But he isn’t in prison, Mr. Klein,” the cop said. John Cameron disappeared from prison two weeks ago. We discovered he bought off his guards, and they let him stroll out the door.”“Why wasn’t I told about this?” Victor demanded. “John Cameron had a grudge against my fiancée and myself. We should have been notified immediately when he escaped.”“I hope the guards have been punished,” Mayor Pratt said. “Some people will do anything for money.”“I’m afraid they disappeared with him,” the detective said. “We know they left the country by private jet bound for Virople.”My stomach
Alex called at noon the next day. I was relieved to know he and Cassidy were home safely.“I want you and Victor to come to dinner tonight,” he said. “Be here around five, and we’ll have that talk you’ve been wanting to have with him first.”“I’m nervous,” I admitted. “Will you help me make him understand why I didn’t tell him before this?”“Don’t worry, sweetheart. When I tell him everything, he will understand and be glad you kept the secret,” Alex assured me.“Was your trip successful?” I asked.“Yes and no?” Alex replied. “I’ll tell you and Victor all about it later this afternoon,”“Okay,” I agreed, wondering what that meant. “We will see you then.”I hung up and went to the kitchen counter with my laptop and sat on a stool. I would work on my report until it was time to go to the mansion.I had gotten a few of my questionnaires back overnight. Every one of them told the same story.They were discouraged from applying to colleges by their high schools and then rejected when they
We arrived at the mansion and went inside. Alex and Cassidy were waiting for us in the foyer. Their voices were welcoming, but their expressions were strained.When Alex and I embraced, he whispered, “Stay calm. Victor will understand.”I nodded and moved to greet Cassidy. “It’s good to see you home,” I told her.“It’s good to be home,” she responded.“Let’s go into the living room,” Alex said. “Benson, have all of the staff left yet?”“Only myself and the cook are on your property,” Benson replied. “She won’t leave the kitchen while making dinner, and I’ll stand guard outside the living room door.”“Excellent,” Alex said. “Come, Victor and Daisy, we have much to discuss with you.”Victor took my hand as we walked back the long hallway. “What is going on?” he whispered.“Wait for Alex to explain,” I said. “I don’t know nearly as much as he does.”“You can’t even give me a hint?” he said.I shook my head and put a finger to my lips. Victor would know soon enough.We filed into the livi
My heart was breaking. He still hadn’t come back. What if Victor couldn’t forgive me for not telling him about the passages? I couldn’t imagine my life without him.“Daisy, you didn’t lose Victor,” Diana said. “He and Adam went for a run to clear his head. Can’t you feel it? He’s on his way back, feeling much calmer.”“Thank you,” Diana,” I said. “You’re always there for me when I need you.”“And I always will be,” she assured me. “Ooh, I can feel Adam coming closer. They are almost here. Just be honest with Victor and help him through this trying time. Everything will be fine between the two of you.”I heard footsteps outside the door and knew Diana was right.Victor walked into the living room and straight to me. He pulled me to my feet and held me in his arms for a moment while kissing my forehead.“I understand why you didn’t tell me, sweetheart,” he said. “And keeping it from me was the right thing to do at the time. Stopping the faction is our first priority.”After a brief kiss
I knew who Victor meant before he said their name.“Will Findlay be able to stay safe while on this mission?” I asked. “He is married. Perhaps his husband won’t like it. I wouldn’t want you to be in danger like that.”Ever since getting to know him better, I found I like Findlay. I liked him well enough to be worried about his safety on such a dangerous mission.“Daisy, everybody is in danger until the faction is stopped,” Victor said. “I don’t want Findlay mingling with these murderers, but he is the most loyal employee I have. We’ve been together for years, and I trust him implicitly.”“Call him and ask him to come here,” Alex said. “Tell him it’s important, and you need to speak to him right away.”Victor sent Mickey Findlay a text message, and his loyal assistant was led by Benson into the living room fifteen minutes later.“Findlay, we need your help,” Victor said after his assistant sat beside me. “The Association is in danger of a hostile takeover.”“I’ve suspected this for wee
I almost panicked when Mrs. Park lost consciousness. But then I saw she was still breathing, and I laid my sweater over her.“Hang in there, Mrs. Park,” I said and gently stroked her dark hair. “Help is almost here.” She had to live. Her family needed her.I felt terrible that this poor Beta woman got hurt trying to help me expose the corruption in the admissions system. It was brave of her to meet me here with the documents.She was doing it for her son, but the information she gave me would help many non-Alphas in the future to get the education they deserved.The man who ran into the diner to tell us a woman had been struck by a car approached me.“Is she alive?” he asked. “I can’t believe that driver just hit her and took off like that.”He was still shaking and freaked out from seeing the car hit Mrs. Park. He needed to be calm enough to tell the police what happened. I had to help him calm down and think clearly.“Yes, she is,” I said. “And the ambulance is almost here to take h
“Have you met Shane Ross before this?” Victor asked on our way to the restaurant.“No, but I’ve read all his articles,” I replied. “My Ethics professor arranged for me to meet him tonight. Have you met him?”I was puzzled by Victor’s odd behavior ever since I told him who I was meeting.At first, I thought he was excited to meet Shane, but I sensed he was feeling apprehensive with a tinge of jealousy.But why?“I was introduced to him at Moonglow,” Victor replied. “It was right after his first article on slumlords came out.”“I remember that article,” I said. “Amy brought a copy of it to school.”“That article forced Alex to create new laws for landlords,” Victor told me.“Good. New laws were long overdue,” I argued. “All tenants should have basic necessities like heat and plumbing in rental properties.”“But then the landlords raised the rents,” Victor reminded me.“And Shane wrote another article that inspired Alex to start a rent supplementation program,” I said. “Shane is doing wh