Chapter 50
(SASHA)
“What is this, Ivan?” an older alpha asks, closing in on us. “Are you trying to make the Serpents look bad p>
Alessandro Romano was a good friend of my father’s. A smile tugs on his lips as he shifts his attention to me. “Sorry, Sasha. Ivan is a rookie. He isn’t well trained yet p>
“I suspected he was one of yours.” I nod.
“He is. He tends to get drunk and loses control.” Alessandro shrugs. “What can I do though? He comes in handy when I need a few bones broken p>
Ivan coughs, his face flushed red as I release my elbow from his throat and set him on the ground. He is gasping and wheezing, none of that concerning me. I brush off his shoulders and pat him on his cheek. “Do I have to make you apologize too, Ivan p>
He shakes his head, puffing and sweating profusely. “I…I am sorry. I apologize p>
“Don’t ever try that with me again p>
He swallows hard then turns to Alessandro. “I’m sorry, boss.” He bows. “It was just a little misunderstanding p>
“Right,” Alessandro snorts. “He can leave if you want, Sasha. This is your residence and I won’t stand for any of my men who try to disrespect you. Or even your family p>
“He can stay,” I shrug. “So long as he loses the gun p>
“Get it out of here,” Alessandro barks. “Now, Ivan p>
“Yes sir.” He bows snatches the gun from Miles’ hands then storms out the front door.
I nod curtly at Miles and he does the same.
I glance over my shoulder and see Tyler talking to a guest. His practised smile doesn’t waver as he makes small talk. He looks more polished than I thought as he talks to the guest, but I notice that he is uneasy. His eyes keep darting into the crowd and back at the guest. His nervous energy has me on edge.
I haven’t known Tyler long enough, but I can recognize when he’s being genuinely uncomfortable versus simply being introverted. This is different. He looks strained, and much as he’s keeping up with the guest, his smile seems too strained for the show. He looks less like a man at a social gathering and more like a prey sensing a predator.
I clench my jaw, resisting to act on my instincts and trying to buy just a little time to figure out what the hell might be going on with Tyler. My mind is racing. Why is he reacting to Angelo like this? Do they know each other? Why hasn’t he mentioned it if that’s the case, and why does he look so petrified?
For the next few minutes, I watch Tyler and Angelo closely. Tyler keeps to the edges of the room and his discomfort is obvious to my eye. Angelo on the other hand seems to be everywhere at once. His charm is turned up to a full volume. I don’t however miss the suspicious glances he keeps throwing in Tyler’s direction.
The pieces don’t fit, and my frustration mounts. My jaw clenches as I consider the possibilities. What is he hiding? What doesn’t he want me to know? I pride myself on my ability to read people, to understand the undercurrents in any room. But this… this feels different, more like I walked into the middle of a play without knowing the plot.
“Darling,” my mother’s voice distracts me as she places a gentle hand on my back. “You seem distracted, are you alright p>
I startle at her touch and a forced smile plasters across my face. “I’m just taking it all in. This gathering, it’s huge,” I lie. “I’m just thinking about how I’ll handle everything from now on p>
She nods, believing the lie. I’m glad she does because I can’t begin to explain the turmoil going on inside my head. From Tyler asking me to leave and our escapades back at the mansion only to come back to this. How will I make her understand that I’m suddenly in my feelings that I can barely think straight?
She squeezes my hand and I try to not focus on Tyler, but I can’t help it. I watch him as he excuses himself from the conversation and how he seems to flinch at loud noises or sudden movements.
“Tyler seems a bit out of sorts.” She says. “Is anything the matter? Did you two fight?” she follows his line of sight.
I force a chuckle. “he’s just not used to such large gatherings. He must be stressing.” I lie smoothly, the same excuse that Tyler had given me earlier. But my concern grows by the minute.
And just as I suspected, Tyler walks over to Angelo near the stairs. I hate that his actions just confirm my suspicions. Something ugly bubbles up inside of me, and I take a step towards them but Alessandro’s hand grabs my arm.
“Mind if we have a word, Sasha?” he asks softly.
Frustration gnaws at me. All I want now is to go to Tyler and find out what the fuck they’re talking about and why he’s being sneaky about it. Why is Angelo sniffing around my omega? Or does he want to see the bite mark? Why would Tyler sneak around him if it is just about the bite mark? I thought Angelo would make a scene about it. And why the fuck is he leaning close to him like he knows him? Does he have private things to say to him that I do not know of?
“Sasha?” Alessandro watches me uncertainly. “Do you have time to talk p>
“Yes, sure.” I nod and force a smile when in reality, my skin is itching to go to Tyler. “What’s up p>
“There is some developing information about Yuri Ivankov. Rumour has it that he is planning to move into human trafficking. That operation needs to be shut down real fast before things go south he keeps talking about things that I can’t quite decipher with my head miles away. All I know is that he’s giving me his opinions of how he thinks we should handle the matter.
I pretend to be attentive, nodding when it feels necessary. My gut churns as I watch Tyler stare up at Angelo, his eyes glittering and his cheeks flushed. It is then that it dawns on me that they knew each other before the funeral. Before today.
I don’t understand how that is possible, but I feel it in my core. Tyler wouldn’t have bothered to hide shit from me if their relationship was innocent.
I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to their shady interaction. Perhaps that’s what made him react like he did earlier today. There was more to it than just simple discomfort. I notice how he clings to his arms, looking somewhat nervous and uncomfortable.
I want nothing more than to demand answers, to shake the truth out of him if need be. Then again, I know that pushing him too hard might make him close off completely.
He seems on edge and I don’t understand why he feels he can’t confide in me.
He is hiding a lot of things from me, and I have to find out why.