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I waved the offer away. “Don’t worry about it.”
He didn’t argue; just settled back in his chair, watching me with dark eyes. “Thanks. Weird that we go to the same gym, huh?”
“Order for Nate!” called the barista.
I sighed and shot him a wry look. “That’s probably me. Back in a second.”
Returning with the drinks and pastry, I set everything down and popped the lid off my coffee, breathing in the rich scent.
“Would’ve thought you’d go to one of those upscale gyms near Ladue,” I ventured, taking a cautious sip to gauge the temperature.
Emiel shrugged. “It’s on the way to work. Cheaper than anything close to home, too.”
That, I could well imagine. I filed away the fact that he apparently wasn’t rolling in money as being mildly interesting.
“Mia says you and the others run a center for at-risk teenagers?” I offered, still trying to navigate this unexpected conversation.
“Yeah. In East St. Louis. Trying to keep kids out of the gangs.” He took a sip of his macchiato, then set it down and wiped foamy milk off his upper lip. “You and Mia must’ve talked, right? She needs to steer clear of the gangs, too. You both do.”
An unpleasant little jolt of adrenaline pinged through me at the reminder of what we’d decided to do.
“She wants to fight this battle,” I began slowly. “And I don’t think she’s wrong. We’re taking the story to the press.”
Emiel didn’t look happy about that answer... but to be fair, he wasn’t exactly a happy looking dude at the best of times.
“Think that’s gonna stop them from going after you?” he asked.
My expression turned sour. “I’m hoping the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Missouri will stop them from coming after us. Or anyone else, for that matter.”
He tore off a corner of the bear claw, fiddling with it rather than eating it. “You ain’t stupid. And I know you care about Mia. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have showed up on our doorstep when she was in heat.”
“I’d like to think so,” I said. “On both counts.”
“So, I know you know how long that legal shit is likely to drag on for, if the feds even decide it’s worth pursuing in the first place.”
I winced, unable to hide it.
“I do, yes,” I admitted. “Which is why we’re going to the press as well. If the story’s out in the public sphere, and something else bad happens, it’ll be pretty obvious who’s behind it.”
Emiel quirked an eyebrow. “An’ you’re willing to risk your employees on that assumption? You’re willing to risk Mia?”
The bitter coffee churned in my stomach.
It took me a few moments to marshal the right words. “The staff are in the loop regarding what’s going on. We’ll be relying on them to keep an eye on things and make sure there are no more ‘accidents.’” I hesitated, the next part resting heavy on my tongue. “And as for Mia, I’m afraid I’m not in a position to make these kinds of decisions for her. Not that I ever really was. She might be an omega, but that doesn’t mean she can’t make her own choices about her safety.”
A flicker of frustration swept across the alpha’s stony face, although I wasn’t sure if it was because he disagreed with what I’d said, or because he agreed with it.
He downed the rest of his drink and wrapped the remnants of the bear claw in a napkin.
“Well,” he said. “Guess I can’t exactly stop either of you. Gimme your phone for a minute. I’ll put my number in yourcontacts. You should have it. Y’know, in case you need it for something.”
Blankly, I unlocked my phone and handed it over. He efficiently entered himself as a new contact and handed it back.
“Text me, so I’ve got yours, too,” he said, and I did. He nodded and rose, scooping his half-eaten pastry into one massive hand. I couldn’t help staring at the scarred and swollen knuckles—proof that those fists had pounded plenty of punching bags—or possibly faces—during his life.
I rose as well, putting the lid back on my coffee and picking up my bag.
“Maybe I’ll see you at the gym again,” Emiel said, and headed for the door without a backward glance—a broad-shouldered figure in a well-cut navy suit.