Page 115 of Feeling the Heat: Part Two
“The settlement would make it difficult for you to pursue any legal recourse for Holden Dobbs’s assault, though frankly that case would be much easier for him and his legal counsel to get dismissed for lack of evidence. It wouldn’t stop you from pressing charges against your brother-in-law, since you’ve already provided your recording of the altercation with him to the police. Depending on how you’d like to proceed with the case against Pulse, I can advise you on your best options for that, but my confidence in this city’s criminal justice system isn’t high so I wouldn’t expect much, if anything, to come from a case against Bryce.”
The roiling in my stomach intensifies. I gave my statement to the cops, but they made it clear that because my pack got involved physically with the altercation, it muddied the lines of what happened to me. As much as I’d like to have Bryce sent to jail for his vile behavior, I doubt that will happen. I assumed the best I could expect is a restraining order against him and hope that Megan gets the same.
Fuck, Megan. Did she message me during the heat? Is it terrible that I haven’t given my sister a thought since I left the police station? I just…I couldn’t even bear the thought of looking at her after what she did.
I pause the message.
“Is Megan safe?” I ask, heart hammering.
Ambrose nods. “Yes, she’s okay. She called to let you know she was with your family. The message is still on your phone ifyou want to listen, and I texted your brother to confirm that she’s there.”
I definitely don’t want to listen. Not yet, at least. Her betrayal is a wound that’ll be with me for a long time, even if she wasn’t in her right mind and was in danger herself. I can’t bring myself to forgive her, or even give her mental space right now. If that makes me a terrible sister, then I accept that.
I press play to continue Sandra’s message.
“You have a few days to think it over. If you’d like to counter, I’m confident we could get it up to at least a million, given how much they’re squirming and eager to sweep this under the rug.” Sandra’s soft sigh fills a lull in the message. “I understand and respect whatever you decide. We can still take this to court. There’s no guarantee we’ll win, even if your case is solid, and no way of knowing the amount of damages a judge might order Pulse to pay you if you do win. It would be a long, hard-fought process. Again, take a bit of time to think it over and get back to me when you can.”
She doesn’t outright say, “But this case could be a landmark one for omega rights, please don’t settle,” even though I can tell from her tone that’s implied.
Stunned silence fills the room as the voicemail ends. A moment later, all three of my mates are up out of their chairs and surrounding me with their bodies, purrs rumbling in River and Ambrose’s chests.
It makes me love them all the more because they understand that I don’t need anything right now other than their support. They don’t launch into a pros and cons list for my options. They just hold me.
“I’m okay,” I say as my heart rate slows and my initial surge of stress wanes. They give me a few more caresses and hugs before releasing me.
“What do you think?” I ask, directing the question primarily to Jackson since he’s involved with the case.
“500k is bullshit. Sandra’s right that you could easily get more.”
I swallow hard, trying not to reach into my bonds with them to get a sense of what they’d prefer I do. “That’s so much money. We could pay your parents back.” I let out a weak laugh. “And get a hot tub.”
“It was a gift, not a loan,” Jackson says with a frown. “Don’t let that sway you one way or another.”
A million dollars is a staggering amount to think of getting. It would help our pack build a comfortable life together. It’d be much-needed security.
Taking the money is the rational choice. The smart choice. If I settle, it can be over with and I don’t have to face even more public scrutiny.
But my stomach sours at the idea of staying silent.
I told myself I’d be brave. That I’d stop hiding. Is one million dollars worth the price of knowing I let the people oppressing omegas win? Is it worth letting alphas like Holden and Bryce go unchecked? Is it worth my integrity?
“Whatever you decide to do, we’ll support you one-hundred percent,” Ambrose says, squeezing my arm as he feels my roiling emotions.
I look at River and find cold anger there in his gaze. His hands ball into fists. “You deserve justice. Those fuckers need to pay for what they did to you. If you think the money satisfies that, then take it. If not, you know we’ll protect you from whatever is thrown your way.”
Jackson nods. “Yeah, we’ve got your back. Always. Like Sandra said, you don’t need to decide right away. We can take some time to talk it through.”
Their support makes determination rise within me. “I don’t need time to think. I’m not taking the deal.”
I’ve spent a lifetime settling, and it got me nowhere.
I’m done with that.
The times I’ve been brave were what brought me here, with a dream pack and a lifetime of happiness with them on the horizon no matter the outcome of the case. With my pack by my side, I know I can face whatever comes of this.
EPILOGUE
8 months later
