Nate’s low whistle drew me out of my thoughts. Turning, I found what he’d spotted. A black limo cruised up and parked by the curb beside us.
“No way,” I said, shaking my head.
“Ms. Torres,” the driver said through the open passenger window. “Mr. Zane?”
“That’s us,” I said.
He nodded. “JC sent me to bring you all to the meeting.”
A tremor of fear coursed through me, and I stepped back from the limo. Could this be a trap? Another of Lincoln’s tricks?
“Would you two get your asses in here?” Ollie asked, leaning out of the back door, grinning at us. “There’s a full bar here. You’ve got to check it out.”
Putting a hand to my chest, I let out an audible sigh of relief and chuckled slightly.
“I didn’t expect a limo,” I said.
“Yeah,” Nate agreed. “Figured it would be some beat-up white van or something.”
Ollie winked. “JC wanted you guys to travel in style tonight.”
The limo seats were plush leather, and Ollie was right—there was a bar. Several bottles lined the illuminated glass racks on the side. The tiny refrigerator beneath held bottles of water, club soda, tonic water, and orange juice. It was a little over-the-top, but I appreciated the next-level service.
“Want a drink?” Ollie asked me.
“Water is fine,” I said.
He pulled a bottle from the fridge and handed it to me.
“How’s it going?” Nate asked. “Has Lincoln been taken into custody yet?”
Ollie lifted an eyebrow. “Not exactly. As of now, the evidence is still tenuous. He could say his son went off the rails and acted on his own to save his own skin. Once we have your recordings and firsthand testimony, it’ll be more of a slam dunk,” he explained. “He’s been told he must report to this hearing in person. JC sent a couple enforcers to ensure he gets the hint. He should be getting there a little after we do.”
Nate slipped his hand into mine while I sipped my water and stared out the window. Nervous energy coursed through me, and I wondered exactly what might happen when we got to this hearing. I’d been to quite a few court cases in my time at the paper. Would this hearing be like that, or different? Would it be respectful and calm, or would there be more chaos? Soon enough, I’d see for myself.
“I hope you’re fucking happy.”Lincoln Masters sneered as he walked into the room, flanked by three burly men.
He glared across the room at JC, who sat placid and relaxed in his chair.
Lincoln waved to the men following him. “Your goddamned watchdogs were rather persuasive. Do you realize they pulled me out of a merger meeting that was worth nearly thirty million dollars? What is this bullshit?”
If Lincoln noticed the dozen other alphas in the room—and me and Nate—he didn’t give any evidence of it. The only thing he could do was stare angrily at JC, who simply pointed at the lone free chair.
“Sit,” JC said.
Lincoln’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
The calm smile on JC’s face vanished, and he rose from his chair. “I said, sit.” JC winked at him. “Be a good dog, and sit thefuckdown, Lincoln.”
Aghast at the way he was being talked to, Lincoln Masters finally glanced around the room, registering the attendees. From the look on his face, I could see that he was beginning to realize he was in deep shit. Rather than argue, he did as JC said, pulling his chair out and taking a seat.
Once Lincoln was seated, JC turned to the three men who’d escorted him in. “Bring in the son,” JC said.
I watched Lincoln, and though he did his best to remain stone-faced, worry flitted across his features. His gaze darted to the doorway as one of the men exited. When he spotted me sitting off to the side with Nate, the fire returned to his eyes, and he leveled a finger at me.
“What is that bitch doing here? JC, she’s the whole reason my boy is in trouble.” He banged his fist on the table. “Nothing but a gold-digging whore?—”
“Enough!” JC bellowed, and everyone—the alphas in attendance, Lincoln, and me—lowered their heads reflexively at his booming command.
