Page 111 of Two For the Show
I don’t knowwhat I expected, but being dismissed so quickly was not it. Maybe it was naive of me, but I assumed that the governor would immediately deny any involvement and do whatever it took to make things right.
Shame on me for thinking the government would protect its citizens.
All that the meeting accomplished was to tell me that he has more knowledge about the situation than he wants to admit.
I’m clutching Dario’s hand so tightly I’m sure his knuckles ache as we walk out of the Capitol building. He doesn’t even flinch. Unsurprisingly, several representatives of the media are still present.
“Dr. Shields! What did the governor say?” a woman with perfectly styled blonde hair asks, shoving a microphone in my face.
I’m tired. So tired. I don’t have it in me to deal with the media again.
I think my pack knows this, because Matteo steps forward. “After a short discussion with the governor,where it was confirmed that Dr. Richard Smith was being considered for the position of Designation Director, the governor excused himself to conduct an internal investigation. No resolution has been reached at this time.”
The reporter’s mouth falls open as she briefly loses her composure. “Are you confirming that Dr. Richard Smith was going to be given the position of Designation Director in exchange for Dr. Alex Shields?”
“I cannot confirm that. I can only speak to the fact that Dr. Richard Smith was being considered for the position, and is a pack mate of Tripp Evans, Governor Evans’ son.” Matteo’s voice is firm and brooks no argument. “That is the only statement we have at this time.”
Quinton places a hand between my shoulder blades and guides me down the multitude of steps, where I wobble on my heels like a baby deer from the adrenaline dump of the afternoon.
“What are we supposed to do now?” I ask everyone and no one. “Wait until he comes back and tries to deny the statement and discredit me?”
Jude’s phone rings, and he winces. “Honestly?” he says as he declines the call. “We should probably call our parents because we have been all over the internet and television this week, and they are, without a doubt, going to tear into us for keeping so much from them. Or at least my mama no doubt is.” His phone rings again. “That’s her, again. Can we maybe go somewhere so I can give her a call and introduce you all?”
We find a coffee shop not far down the road and snag a table outside under a heater while Matteo and Dario grab everyone’s coffees. Jude runs his fingers through his hair, which was perfectly styled until now. I prefer the messy look on him, if I’m being honest.
“Why are you so nervous?” I ask, placing a hand on his forearm.
“Because my mama is from New Zealand. We’re Maori. Well, I was born here, but still, you know? And my sister has an American pack, and now that I do, too, there’s no hope she’ll go home to her friends and the rest of our family.” I can feel my bond with him twinge with sadness. “I feel guilty that I am one more thing keeping her here when I know she wants to go home, where she can be surrounded by others who share her culture.”
“Have you ever talked to her about it?” I ask softly. “She’d probably tell you she doesn’t care as long as you’re happy.”
He shakes his head, accepting his coffee from Matteo as he and Dario come back and settle around the table. “I haven’t, but I know that’s what she’ll say. But she shouldn’t have to. She grew up there. She should be able to go back if she wants.”
“She’s a grown woman. Nothing is stopping her from visiting or moving back,” I remind him.
Before I can say anything else, he props his phone up and starts a video call. It rings once before an older woman with a tattoo on her chin and lips and dark hair answers the phone, her face filling the screen.
“Jude Charles Oliver,”she seethes.“Tell me why I had to find out you have a pack and an Omega from your kaihana who saw it on the internet!”
He rubs his face, a cute pink flush brightening the apples of his cheeks. He mouths the word ‘cousin’ to me, translating the Maori word without me having to ask. “Sorry, Mama. Things have been busy.”
“Clearly! But that is no excuse. How could you be too busy to tell me that you have anOmega?It’s all I ever wanted for you. A pack of your own. Here I was thinking you were too old, that you weregoing to be alone forever, and that I would never be able to die because I couldn’t bear to leave you on your own.”The affectionate dramatics have me biting my tongue to smother a laugh.
Jude’s mother sniffles a little and finally notices I’m on the edge of the screen.“Oh, hello. You’re the Omega. Alex?”
Nerves flutter through me. I never met Rich’s family, which in retrospect was a bad sign, so I’m worried she won’t like me. “Yes, hi. I’m Alex.”
“Pretty, aren’t you? I saw your face all over the news. As soon as I saw the video of the circus and you with my Jude, though, I knew you had never been taken. My tennis club and I talked all about it. You’re a doctor, then? Beautiful and smart.”
I can’t stop the smile that creeps onto my face. She’s a little intense, but sweet, and I can tell how much she cares for Jude. Without him even bringing it up, I know she doesn’t care one bit that he found an American pack.
All she cares about is his happiness.
“I am. I started working for the circus as their doctor because that whole troupe gets hurt a lot. Jude would never keep his tight schedule if they had to keep delaying for someone to go to the hospital.”
She chuckles and looks at her son with the kind of unconditional, motherly love that you read books about.“I was not happy when he left home for that circus. It was no place for a child, but he has made something wonderful of it, hasn’t he?”
“Mama, you have always said you wanted me to give it up,” he complains.
