Page 20 of Our Deceptive Heat

“I need to take this,” Tyr snarls. “Nobody move. We are sorting this out.”

I glare at him as he paces and murmurs into his phone. He glances back at me and smiles widely.

I hate that smile. It’s the one that tells me that he is going to do something I don’t like.

“Yes, we need someone with marketing skills. Your daughter? I think we met her in passing a few months ago, but she’s actually here with us right now.”

Oh, what the fuck is he doing now?

“Oh, how wonderful. I appreciate that so much, sir. I’ll put you on speaker, and you can tell her yourself. We ran into her at lunch, and she’s been helping us get in touch with Locke.”

Tyr smirks so widely I consider killing him, right up until I hear my father speak, then I focus on the venomous snake like he deserves.

“Auryn?”

“Yes, Father?”

“I want you to go on tour with the band. I want a complete marketing overhaul for the brand. Tyr says you know their music, you know them. You can do it.” Tyr said nothing of the sort. This is just my father’s bullshit excuse to back me into a corner and make me do this job.

“I’m busy, I have other contracts-”

“I’m not asking, Auryn!” My father’s voice snaps over my protests. Two years ago, he decided I was no longer allowed to putter around making cards and pulled me into marketing, an apparently suitable job for a beta.

My cheeks burn under the humiliating command. “Okay. I’ll do it. Can you have Maud email me the information that I need?”

“Yes. Now, remember, you’re representing Alpha Labels. So act professional at all times. Give the band anything they need.” The ‘or else’ is implied but not spoken.

I shudder and drop my eyes to stare at the coffee table.

Tyr just crossed a line. A line I wouldn’t have thought a friend could cross. Except we’re not friends, not anymore, and that’s my fault.

I wince and wrap my arms around myself, feeling lost. Are they my enemies now? Is that what we are?

Tyr finishes the phone call and sits down, leaning back, smiling smugly.

I throw my notepad with deadly aim and hit the smug prick in the face.

Everyone blinks, but I’m finally free of his command. I stand up, ignore the notebook, and stalk towards the door.

“Hey! Where are you going?”

“Anywhere else!” I snarl.

Digs seems mildly concerned and steps in front of the door. “Ryn, he didn’t think, he didn’t mean it like that-”

I lift my chin and glower at the big alpha. “Move.”

Digs studies me, weighing my intent before he finally sighs and steps to the side.

Mako grabs my hand and pulls me into a hug. “I’m sorry about how he did it, but I’m not going to be sorry for getting to spend more time with you.”

I stare up at him. “This is only going to make things harder. There is nothing good going to come from rehashing things. It’s only going to hurt everyone.” I glance at Envy, holding his eyes until he turns away.

Do they know what happened that night?

Mako shakes his head. “No, little fish. This is going to be our second chance.”

My mouth drops open. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. They’re insane.

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