Page 125 of Their Knotty Pack
"Because…I don't think we'll have the funds to purchase another building. I used most of my trust fund on this one and hiring more lawyers, and Hannah's donation is keeping us afloat right now…" I trail off and shrug, feeling like a failure. "We can't stay in your building indefinitely."
Matteo De Luccascoffsat me. "Nonsense. You're a non-profit, right?" At my dumbstruck nod, he continues. "I am able to donate to whatever causes I deem worthy,amico mio.Consider Neotek, and by extension, Pack De Lucca, your…benefactor in this endeavor."
"I…I don't know what to say," I shake my head, feeling like I'm going to wake up from a dream to find out none of this is true.
"You do not need to say anything. Just keep helping omegas. Tell me, how many lawyers do you have on staff?"
"I…um, five? Including myself." What the hell is happening?
"Pack Hansen, or whoever orchestrated this attack," Titus growls, cracking his knuckles, "is trying to beat down your operation. Make it so you can't function anymore. Force omegas to come to them and bankrupt themselves trying to get basic legal help. You're going to come back from this even stronger than before." He glances at Matteo. "How many more were you thinking, Matt? Triple?"
My jaw drops. What…triple the amount of lawyers?
"Yes, that will be a good start." Matteo nods. "The condition of my funding is for you to hire on at least ten more lawyers in the coming weeks, putting you at fifteen, which is triple your current amount. Background check everyone through Lone Star. We want omegas coming from all over the state of California."
He gives me a grin, grasping my shoulder. "You've started a good thing here, Brody. With any luck, you'll be able to open more branches, and maybe in the near future, no omegas in the country will have to go bankrupt trying to leave an abusive pack again."
Hunter finally lets Bethany down, and she is looking a little better. "This isn't what I meant when I asked if you want to donate to the cause." She looks up at Matteo, hands on her hips.
Mattie lets out a rumbling laugh. "Sorrelina, you know I never do anything halfway."
She sighs, rolling her eyes, but a smile tilts at her lips. "I know. Thank you guys, for coming so quick, and for…" she trails off waving at Matteo, still holding his phone, "all that."
Titus holds out his fist, and she bumps it with hers. "You guys are gonna kick their sorry asses, right?"
"Right!"She smiles brightly, and Hunter stares at her, a small smile on his face. I wonder when he's going to admit he's already in love with her?
Shortly after hanging up with his assistant to get the furnishing for his empty floor sorted out, Matteo handing Bethany a black credit card, telling her to use it for the firm, Matteo and Titus leave, and Bethany and I have to give our statements to the uniformed officers. One of them, a beta by the looks of it, eyes the area with such indifference. The other officers at least look concerned or upset.
The beta officer, whose name tag reads "Carlson", taps his pen against his notepad impatiently, like he has other places to be.
"Hunter?" I ask quietly, trying not to draw attention to myself.
"Yeah?" His eyes stay trained on Bethany as she gives detailed descriptions of every item that was destroyed.
"What's that guy's deal?" I motion with my eyes, and his brows furrow.
"Carlson? He transferred in a few years ago. I don't really know him personally, but he does solid work. Why?"
"Just…" I huff a breath, suddenly concerned that I'm making things up. But then, as soon as Carlson feels Hunter's eyes on him, his demeanor changes, and he instantly becomes more engaged with Kane, the one he's currently taking a statement from. "I can't explain it, but there's something off about him."
Hunter is silent for a moment, watching. "I'll keep an eye on it. Hopefully Pack Hansen won't see your partnering with Pack De Lucca as some kind of declaration war and keep their heads down."
"War?" I raise my brows.
"I mean…you're taking their clientele, right? Not that you shouldn't. But…let's just say I hope they'll be scared off by the name 'De Lucca'."
I swallow, grimacing. Yeah, hopefully in saving the most important thing I've ever done, I haven't painted an even bigger target on our backs.
Chapter 48
Miles
"Can you drive any faster?" I nearly whine, anxious to get home to Bethany. We were given permission to leave at lunch due to our pack emergency. I felt bad for having to leave early our last day of school, but it couldn't be helped.
Brody and Bethany are sitting at home, all by themselves, and my alpha is probably devastated. He's put blood, sweat, and tears into that place, and Pack Hansen just comes and fucks it all up?
Not fucking cool.
