Page 60 of The Sterling Acquisition
Dante had been prepared for this conversation eventually, but he hoped to have more time to craft his responses. Now he was improvising damage control while Leo broke down in his living room.
His mind shifted into the particular clarity that came with high-stakes improvisation—the same state that had gotten him through the Elysian extraction and a dozen other impossible situations. When plans collapsed, training remained.
“You locked an unclaimed, virgin Omega in a small room for over a year,” Dante said, letting clinical detachment color his voice. “His hormone levels are destabilized. His pre-heats and heats are unpredictable and dysregulated.”
“That doesn’t explain—”
“It explains everything.” Dante moved to his kitchen, partly to put distance between them and partly to demonstrate casual unconcern. “Extended celibacy in a virgin male, combined with irregular heat cycles and constant stress? His body doesn’t know how to process normal Alpha pheromones anymore.”
Leo followed him, his movements jerky with agitation. “And what about his collar?”
Dante had been hoping the bruise would fade before Leo noticed, but his luck was running out. His mind cycled through possible explanations, discarding three before settling on the fourth—the one most likely to play on Leo’s preconceptions.
“Self-defense,” Dante replied without missing a beat. “He’s attacked me three times during our sessions. The last time I had to restrain him, and he bit me hard enough to draw blood. I returned the favor to make a point about consequences.”
“Self-defense.” Leo’s laugh was bitter, unhinged. “Because that explains why he keeps touching his neck like he’s protecting something precious.”
“Embarrassment. Biting someone during a psychological evaluation isn’t dignified behavior.” Dante poured himself coffee with steady hands, projecting calm professionalism. “I’m not a sexologist, Leo, but I’m sure you can draw your own conclusions about why a twenty-six-year-old virgin locked in a room alone might start producing certain... scents.”
The crude implication hit its target. Leo’s face flushed with humiliation and something that might have been disgust.
“He’s been...” Leo couldn’t finish the sentence.
“Masturbating, probably. Frequently.” Dante delivered the words with clinical detachment. “It’s normal behavior for someone in his situation. Prolonged arousal with no outlet tends to create predictable responses.”
“But he smells like you specifically.”
“I’m the only Alpha who’s been in that room besides you. His system is imprinting on available pheromonal input.” Dante sipped his coffee, watching Leo process this explanation. “It’s basic biology, not evidence of inappropriate conduct.”
Leo was quiet for a moment, clearly wanting to believe the explanation but still struggling with his suspicions.
“Then why is he suddenly so cooperative? So willing to engage in domestic activities?” Leo’s voice carried desperate hope mixed with lingering doubt. “That’s not just a biological response.”
“That’s psychological conditioning working as intended.” Dante set down his coffee and fixed Leo with a steady gaze. “You asked for my expertise in behavioral modification. I’ve been providing it. The fact that it’s showing results should be cause for celebration, not suspicion.”
“But you said the timeline was problematic. That we needed more time.”
“I said the timeline was aggressive. I never said it wouldn’t work.” Dante could see Leo wavering, wanting to accept the reassurances. “Your asset is responding to consistent psychological pressure as the models predicted. The domestic compliance, the reduced hostility, the sexual confusion—it’s all part of the conditioning process.”
Sexual confusion. Let Leo think Orion’s responses were just a side effect of psychological manipulation rather than genuine attraction to someone who knew what they were doing.
“Dr. Morrison wants to accelerate Project Tether,” Leo said, the words tumbling out like a confession. “I called him last night. Told him there might be interference with the conditioning process.”
Dante felt ice settle in his stomach. “What kind of acceleration?”
“Immediate implementation. He’s coming this morning to begin the preparation protocols.” Leo’s voice cracked again. “I was drunk, I was angry, I thought... I thought you might be compromising the process.”
Dante felt the walls closing in around their carefully planned extraction. Morrison was coming today to begin Orion’s chemical lobotomy, which meant they had two hours instead of the forty-eight they’d been counting on.
A lesser operative might have panicked. Dante simply shifted further into the operational focus state that saved his life dozens of times. His mind crystallized into precise clarity as years of training took over. Time slowed, options presenting themselves in orderly sequence for rapid evaluation.
“That’s unfortunate timing,” Dante said. “The psychological conditioning isn’t complete. Rushing the chemical intervention could interfere with the behavioral modifications we’ve achieved.”
“I know, I know. That’s why I’m here.” Leo looked like he was about to break down. “Look, I... I owe you an apology. I’ve been suspicious, paranoid even. Thinking you were trying to undermine me when you’ve been nothing but helpful.” He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it disheveled. “I was wrong about your motives.”
Dante waited, sensing there was more coming.
“Morrison’s going to need assistance with the procedure,” Leo continued, his voice gaining strength as he found his purpose. “Someone with Gensyn’s psychological training to help keep Orion calm during the bonding process. Will you... Could you assist? I know it’s asking a lot, but having someone with your expertise there would make all the difference.”
