#Chapter 243 – Negotiations

“Thief!” Walsh snarls, pounding his fist again on the plastic barrier. “You can’t take this from me – everything I’ve built, everything I’ve worked for –“

Victor tugs Ian’s hand and the boy snaps his worried eyes back up to his father, who looks down at him calmly.

“Enough of this for you,” Victor says softly, looking steadily into Ian’s eyes and letting him know with his tranquility that he’s still in full control. “Why don’t you go with the Beta and wait in the entrance hall? Maybe they’ll give you some jail food to eat, so you can see what it’s like.”

Ian nervously nods, looking again between his father and grandfather as a Beta comes forward to take his hand. He goes with the Beta readily, though, and Victor turns his attention back to Walsh after Ian leaves the room and the lock clicks again.

“Quite a display you’re putting on for your grandchild,” Victor sighs, crossing his arms. “One would think that you’d like him to respect you, but to each his own, I suppose.”

“How dare you –“

“Enough,” Victor snaps again, glaring at the man behind the wall. “It’s done, Walsh, and there’s nothing you can do to change it. What we need to decide now is how long you stay in this cell. Because believe me when I say that I have the funds to ensure that you spend the rest of your life in here. But, there are reasons why I might reconsider such a sentence.”

Walsh leans back for a moment, crossing his arms as he senses the opportunity to regain some power. “You need something from me.”

“No,” Victor counters, giving a sharp shake of his head. “I need nothing from you. But there are people in my life to whom you are significant.”

Walsh takes a minute, blinking, and then begins to scowl. “Evelyn.”

Victor nods slowly, confirming his suspicion. “I won’t keep her father locked up for years if she does not wish it. If you can agree to –“

Walsh slams on the glass again, rage on his face. “You would leave the question of my freedom to a woman?”

Victor does not flinch. “To my Luna. Yes, I would.”

“A Luna is

your underestimation of your Luna,” Victor interrupts, his words harsh, “that resulted in your losing your

snarls but says nothing, raising his hand to the spot on his head where his wife hit him with her favorite Tiffany lamp, rendering

do not agree to live peacefully and release a statement that I am the unequivocal

to Victor’s.

green button again. Almost instantly the wall goes white, blocking out sound as well as sight. Victor screws his mouth to the side, considering his options. He glances at the two cells next to Walsh’s, where Joyce and

sharply as the Beta opens the door. “Tell them that their packs are mine, that they have no recourse. Ask them to consider the terms on which they would consent

and Victor strides from the room. Willard and Joyce don’t matter to him – both had severely overplayed their hands, taking on the

doors that separate the cells from the front office, Ian is

nodding to

exclaims, happy.

an eye at the head man in charge.

says anxiously, giving a hesitant

them, letting them

Victor says, putting a hand out for Ian, who hops down from the chair

towards

the bright sunshine. “Nah, we’re going to give grandpa a little time to think

swinging their joined hand as the Betas waiting by the car open the doors for them. Then, after

the far side of the car and be lifted into the front seat by the

Ian says passively, consenting to be buckled in by the Beta while Victor climbs into the driver’s seat. “Let’s go find them. I like

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