Bonds

Chapter 71

-Alex’s POV-

The video replayed on a loop, each cycle twisting the knife in my gut a little deeper. Amaya. Her face filled the screen, her hand reaching for the file in my desk. She knew. She knew what she’d done. The evidence was gone, but the memory of seeing the picture, of seeing her tangled with Adrian, my best friend, of all people, was burned into my brain.

Rage, raw and primal, coursed through me. The memory of confronting Adrian, of the brutal fight, barely brought any satisfaction. They both deserved the pain I felt, a pain so deep it threatened to consume me.

My father’s voice, cold and unforgiving, echoed in my head, “Trust no one.” Then, just as abruptly, Ruth’s voice cut through the fog of anger.

“Mr. McCall is here, sir.”

My wolf snarled in protest at the interruption, but this was something I needed to do. There was something about McCall,something! couldn’t quite put my finger on. They said, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.” Maybe there was truth in the old saying

Ivan entered the room, his gaze flitting around before settling on me. I shut down the video with a click, giving him my full attention.

“Ivan,” I greeted, my voice neutral.

He stood a few feet away, broad shoulders filling the doorway, arms crossed defensively. The silence stretched, thick and heavy. Finally, he spoke, his voice gruff.

“You said you’d help me out with my company.”

I leaned back in my chair, mirroring his pose. “I did.” The single word hung in the air, a challenge.

“Care to tell me the specifics of what’s happening?” I asked, my voice light. “Or do you just need my money?”

His eyes narrowed at the way I emphasized the last word and I almost smiled. He recovered quickly, though.

“I took a bad deal,” he admitted, his jaw clenching for a moment before relaxing. “One that’s putting me underwater. I’m trying to claw my way back up, but it’s more than I bargained for. So yes, I do need ‘your‘ money.”

“If you needed an investor,” I said, my voice deceptively calm, “why come to me? Why not someone else? Like Daniel Stone.”

The mention of Stone’s name was like a physical blow, Ivan’s face hardened, his features morphing into a mask of barely contained dislike. “I think you know Stone well enough to understand his help wouldn’t come cheap,” he said through gritted teeth,

well. He was everything I despised – ruthless, calculating, and with a predatory gleam in his eyes that

I pointed out, the words leaving a bitter taste in my

in the

word echoed in the vast emptiness of my chest. Maybe that was something we actually had in common, Ivan and L. Dislike for Daniel Stone, though in my case, it ran far deeper than mere dislike. It was a simmering pot

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Chapter 71

betrayal that still left a raw

overwhelming?” I challenged him, a flicker

my gaze head–on, his own eyes

at his audacity. Almost. Instead, I leaned forward, steepling my fingers in front of me. “Let’s hear it, Ivan. Tell me about this bad deal you took

gone,

of the city,” he began, his voice low. “Prime real estate, perfect for high–end apartments. I saw it as an opportunity to expand my company’s reach, to solidify our position in

despite the tangled mess of our history because of her, Ivan had always been a good businessman. There was a reason his company had thrived

deal, the unexpected cost overruns, and the tightening grip of the financing company that had him teetering on

the city lights wink on one by one as the sun dipped below the horizon. “So,” I finally said, my voice carefully neutral, “what kind of help are you looking

to cover the cost overruns and renegotiate with

but it was nothing for someone like me. Though, my mind calculated the

in return?” I asked, my voice devoid

hesitated, then met my gaze. “A stake in the company. A

A partnership.

repeated, the word hanging heavy in the air. It wasn’t

cleared his throat, his eyes flickering away for a moment before locking back onto mine. “Yeah, a big stake.

shot up. Fifty–one percent meant giving me controlling interest. It was a bold offer, one that reeked

percent?” I scoffed, a hint of disbelief creeping into

he countered, a flicker of defiance returning to his eyes. “We’d be

it created sent a shiver down my spine. “And what happens,” I pressed, leaning forward, “if

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Chapter 71

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for a moment. “Then we both lose,” he said finally. “But I wouldn’t