Chapter 104
(ARLO)
I feel foolish the minute that thought comes to me. What the hell am I doing getting all gooey over a few words of praise? What does it make me if a few kind words from Miles make me forget that he is my enemy? He is still the second to the alpha that I want to destroy. I’ve only had a setback. That’s all. I still intend to take Sasha down and grab all of his wealth, and I’m not backing down.
I scowl while shifting to face him. “Is this your way of getting me to drop my vendetta against Sasha p>
“No.” He says. “But since you brought it up, are never going to succeed. Your chances of succeeding are even lesser now that I know your plan.
I shrug. “I guess we’ll see p>
“You will die if you try again this time.” His eyes glitter in the dim light.
“Then so be it. If I die, I die” I grumble. “Nothing has changed p>
“Everything has changed, Arlo.” He says, propping himself up with his elbows. “You don’t have the advantage anymore. Sasha knows you are coming p>
“Not if I kill you in your sleep p>
“Do you really want our syndicates to go to war? I doubt your men will second that. And what about Dalton? You will have to contend with him if he is still alive. Don’t you think settling your issues is more important than your obsession to take out Sasha p>
“No p>
“But Dalton is more of a threat to you than Sasha is p>
I grit my teeth. “Sasha Adonis needs to die p>
“Then you’re denser than I thought. Going after Sasha is a suicide mission. Our syndicate is ten times more powerful than yours. You stand no chance against us. We won’t hesitate to annihilate you p>
I growl as frustration eats at me. I have to do this whether I have a choice or not. Whether I die or not can’t rest knowing how you unfairly treated my father and finally killed him p>
I expect him to snap some demeaning retort at me again, but he doesn’t. Instead, he says quietly, “Arlo, I can’t pretend to understand the depth of love you had for your father. You already know that I wasn’t close to mine. But you aren’t looking at this situation logically. The head of a syndicate has to act logically. Not from a point of emotions. That is what you need to think about before you go starting a fucking gang war, Arlo p>
“I don’t want fucking war.” I snarl. “I just want Sasha to pay back what he took from my father p>
“Whatever Sasha took from you were material things. You are going after his life, and I won’t let you. None of the men will p>
“Then try and stop me. See what happens then.” I hiss. “Sasha will pay for humiliating my father and killing him p>
He is quiet for a few seconds then says, “What would you have expected Sasha to do? Your father hurt his omega. He was pregnant then and almost died because of your father’s recklessness. Do you really think it would have been alright if Sasha let him off the hook after what they did to Tyler? Sasha would have been in danger of being perceived as weak. You know how things work in the mafia p>
“He took away almost all of my father’s wealth. He embarrassed and humiliated him p>
“And as I told you earlier, Sasha showed mercy on you. You don’t understand that letting you off the hook was him trying to be fair. By all rights, he should have slaughtered your entire family. How can you not see that p>
“You’re not going to make me change my mind about anything. Just stop already. Let’s not talk about this anymore.” My voice wobbles.
He looks frustrated. “It is hard to keep silent, especially after everything that I have witnessed in this life, Arlo. So many good men die because of arrogant and naive decisions, just like the one you are making now. Maybe you won’t understand now because you are young and blinded by excessive pride p>
“Your opinions are your own, Miles. You mean nothing to me p>
“I probably don’t, but do you care about your bloodline? Do you want the Sullivan bloodline to die with you? Is that something that your father would have really wanted p>
His words make my stomach churn. I hate that he is right. If I die before leaving an heir, then my bloodline goes with me. The curse of being an only child. I’m the only one who can avenge my father’s death to his honour. It seems like Miles isn’t grasping that. “It can’t be helped p>
“Yes, it can be helped.” He says as he lies on the bed again, disgusted. “If your father wanted this, he would have done it himself. So you think you are honouring your father by setting yourself up?” he huffs. “You are destroying everything he ever worked for. You are spitting on his grave, Arlo p>
My face heats as anger jolts through me. “Fuck you, Miles p>
“Be careful what you ask for.” He says in a threatening tone.
The hairs at the back of my neck stiffen, and so does my dick.
I have to tread carefully with Miles. He is an alpha, and not my prisoner anymore. My pulse races as I turn back on him again. “I don’t want your advice. I don’t need it. Hell, I want nothing from you, Miles. I hope to never see your face again once we are back in the city p>
“You probably will if you come after Sasha again p>
I close my eyes. I’m trying so hard to ignore the shrill that his deep voice sends through me. I move away from him so that our skin doesn’t touch in any way. He is confusing me. His motivation to stop me from getting my revenge confuses me even more. Could it be that he is just trying to protect his boss? It doesn’t strike me like that. It feels more like he is protecting me. Why is he protecting me? After all the bad things that I did to him, he should only be wanting bad things to happen to me.
None of us speak again. I feel agitated and it takes me a while to fall asleep. Eventually, I drift off. My dreams are a jumbled violent mess of Miles and Dalton and I jerk up awake, trembling and covered with sweat. I’m relieved when realize it was only just a dream. I am cold to the bone.
I can’t stand the cold anymore. I move closer to Miles’ warm body. I’m still angry at him but not as much as I am freezing. After all, he suggested that we share heat. I hope that he won’t mind. I’d prefer if he didn’t wake up to catch me snuggling with him. I’m willing to risk it though. His heat seeps into my skin and I press my face onto his broad back.
I inhale his woodsy scent deep into my lungs as his body warms me slowly. My shivering subsides and I sigh in relief. I hate that I need to latch on to him for his warmth, but this cabin is as cold as an ice box. I can only imagine how much colder it would have been outside. He is breathing deep and even. I am certain that he is asleep. I move even closer to him and tuck my torso against his so that my chest hugs his back and my thighs fit into his curve.
As soon as I’m warm enough, I’ll move away.