Arabella’s POV
Sooner than expected the meeting time had come and I found my way into Alpha Luciano’s office. That was the only place he would keep something so sensitive not in his room.
I had been in the latter enough to know what he kept there. Initially, I had been scared but when I remembered my purpose, my hands were steady.
The office was opened as though the occupants had just stepped out. I looked about and listened for anyone passing by. There was no one. I entered the room. It was beneath some papers on the desk. I opened the file and perused the papers in it. I closed the file.
When I left the office, I held the file in my hands.
The file I held seemed to burn a hole through my hand as I walked towards the meeting place for the second time. Today I would get all my answers and solutions.
I walked into the dilapidated building.
“I have the file. I won’t hand it over until I speak to my father.”
Words cannot express how stupid I felt talking to what looked like an empty dust covered room. What felt like an eternity later, I heard some movement and I turned. My mouth dropped open in shock as I saw Tina step out of the shadows.
Mean vapid airhead Tina was my father’s spy? It felt like I had stepped into an alternate universe.
Tina walked forward, her blond hair covered by the dark cloak she wore.
“No need to act so shocked. You didn’t think you were the only one with a brain who wanted out of the harem, did you?”
“But why would you partner with my father of all people? Isn’t he like your biggest enemy? Wasn’t that the reason you were always picking on me?”
Tina shrugged. “My parents told me I was going to be Luna. That once I could bear him a child my future would be secure. Alpha Luciano was young, handsome, daring, and dominant. An ideal mate. What young she-wolf would say no to that? When I failed, they cut off contact with me. I have no intention of staying here and sharing a man with over a dozen other women. Alpha or not. Alpha Luciano’s vendetta against your father is not my business.”
“And as for being mean to you,” She smirked. “It was just too much fun. You made it entertaining.”
I tried not to feel stupid. Of course, everyone had an agenda. Why would anyone be content with fighting for the scraps of one man’s attention? Especially someone as cunning and vicious as Tina.
I guess I was not expecting anyone from the harem to betray Luciano, they had shared a bed for years for Christ’s sake. But knowing this pack, sharing a bed was no grounds for loyalty. Wasn’t I here without telling Alpha Luciano about it? Alpha Luciano himself couldn’t give two fucks about us.
“So you help my dad spy on Alpha Luciano and then what? He helps you escape? How are you so sure I won’t tell on you?” I wasn’t going to but how would she know that?
Tina gave a cruel laugh. “Alpha Luciano will eviscerate you once he finds out you stole from him. You are already in too deep to back out. Now, enough of the chit-chat. Do you want to speak with your father or not?”
Did I? “Call him up.”
“Fucking Bianchis.”
But she brought the phone out of the folds of her cloak. We waited in silence as the call connected.
In almost no time, we heard his voice.
“Has she given you the file?”
“No. She wants to talk to you first. You Bianchis are a suspicious lot.”
“Watch your tongue, wench. Give her the phone.”
“Yes sir.” Tina said sarcastically, rolling her eyes before handing the phone over to me.
For the first time since that day that seemed like years ago in his office where he’d forced me to go through with an alliance I had been against, I spoke to my father again directly.
“Dad?” My voice broke on the syllable.
“Arabella.” His voice was warm. Warmer than I could ever recall. “My dear. It is so good to hear from you.”
“Same here. I thought… I thought after the council… you would abandon me.” I wiped a tear that had dropped from my eyes unbidden. From the corner of my eye, I saw Tina roll her eyes so hard it could have gone to the back of her skull. She moved away slightly as if to dissociate herself from this drama.
“Never my dear. I knew that bastard was blackmailing or threatening you. He is manipulative and dangerous which is why I need that file to stop it. Were you able to get it?”
“Yeah. I got it.”
“And nobody saw you?” He asked sharply.
“No. No one saw me.”
“Good. You are a true Bianchi. I am proud of you.”
I am proud of you. Words my father had never told me before.
“Now hand the file over to Tina so she can get it to me. I’ll send my men to bring the both of you home before the weekend once Alpha Luciano goes for the weekly drug meet-up.” My father said eagerly and if I closed my eyes I could envision it.
My home, my bed, my maids, my life. I opened my eyes.
“Dad,” My voice was soft yet stronger than it had ever been. “When is my birthday?”
He faltered, confused. “What does that have to do with what we are talking about?”
“Just answer the question, Dad, please.”
My father’s voice hardened. “Leave the trivialities for later Arabella. This is not the time to be sentimental. We have your escape to plan. Give Tina the file.”
“Did you kill Luciano’s parents? Did you break the treaty?”
I felt Tina startle to attention now following the conversation but it didn’t matter now. Nothing did. Now I would know for sure.
“Arabella! Enough of this. He has fed you lies and brainwashed you against me. You would question me, your own father!”
“You are a despicable person. You know I actually thought that everyone here was lying and that my father would never do something as petty as destroying a treaty our people needed to feed his ego. But after talking to you today, I realised I was a fool.”
“Not once did you answer any of the questions I asked you directly. I know you, Father. I know your tells. You can’t tell a straight lie. You always deflect the question. Which means you did kill them. You killed his parents right in front of a child. What sort of person are you? What sort of person am I for being the child of such a terrible person?”
“And now? You want to use me to get back at Luciano. You don’t even know my birthday, it’s freaking Halloween. You just wanted to emotionally manipulate me to help you!”
Tears ran down my cheeks. It was a painful thing to be disillusioned by the reality of your parents. To realize they were extremely flawed people. If the people you looked up to for guidance were so flawed then what were the chances you could be a good person?
“I see that you are lost now.” His voice was harder now. Familiar. The way he spoke to me normally, all the niceties dropped. “There is no saving you from him. Tina, collect the file.” I dropped the phone moving out of the way as Tina suddenly swung at me. I tried to parry but she was too quick.
She began to charge at me when suddenly there was a charge in the air. I looked towards the left of Tina. She followed my gaze to meet that of an approaching Luciano. Tina squeaked. She tried to move away from him but he caught her as easily as he would catch prey.
“Alpha Luciano please I can explain…”
“Disappointing Tina. I expected more from you.” Locking gazes with me so I could see what was in store for me, he snapped her neck.
I watched Tina’s eyes widen with shock then flat with death. A minute she was alive, the next she was gone. I didn’t like her. I don’t think anyone could have but my heart went out to her. No one deserved to die like that. Alone, unfulfilled in a crappy dimly lit room.
“Arabella.” Alpha Luciano let her body fall to the ground carelessly as he walked towards me. Unconsciously, I backed away. I didn’t know this face of Alpha Luciano and it scared me because I felt I had seen the worst things he had done. That he could do. Obviously, I was wrong. So wrong.
“You shouldn’t have done this.” His hand reached out and he caressed my cheek. I shivered at his cool touch, moving away from him.
“Luciano, look I–” Suddenly air was gone from my lungs.
Alpha Luciano’s hand closed around my neck and I couldn’t breathe. Choking, I let go of the file to try and pry his hand away from my neck.
“I wanted to kill you in front of your father but I won’t suffer your existence anymore. You die now. Today.”
Black spots appeared in my eyes and I knew this was it for me. I remembered that day on the highway when I had chosen to save his life knowing that he could still betray me. That he would make me cry and regret saving his life. I thought I could live with the regret.
I was wrong. I wouldn’t live with regret. I would die before that happened. My struggles weakened as strength left me.
“Alpha!”
“What is it, Mikah?” He sounded disinterested in whatever Mikah had to tell him.
“It’s the file.”
“Yes? It is a fake, what does it matter?”
So he’d planned this all along? I was so stupid sometimes, I should have realized it when the study had been unguarded.
My consciousness faded gradually.
“The papers in here are all blank. She didn’t betray you.”
I was so stupid sometimes. That was the last thought I had before passing out.