Page 37 of A Cobbled Conspiracy
Blake listened with the intent of someone used to analyzing complex scenarios, while Dominic’s expression grew darker with each detail.
“Bureaucratic warfare,” Blake said grimly when I finished. “They can’t tear down the buildings legally, so they’re making it impossible for the owners to operate.”
“It’s textbook organized crime tactics,” Dominic added quietly. “Create problems through official channels, then offer to make them go away.”
“There’s another complication we need to discuss. Your situation with Vertex,” I said. “Sarah asked if you'd attend the meeting, but she was unsure if it’d be a conflict of interest.”
I caught a quick glance that passed between Blake and Dominic—the kind of silent communication that suggested they’d already discussed this privately.
“You’re still technically suspended pending the investigation,” Blake said carefully. “Now that the charges are dismissed…”
“It’s complicated,” Dominic said, which wasn’t really an answer. “They can’t easily terminate me for charges that were proven false, but the relationship is… strained.”
I felt a flutter of unease in my stomach. Something about their careful word choices felt rehearsed, like they were having a conversation around the edges of something they couldn’t—or wouldn’t—say directly.
What’s with the evasiveness?
“Would it create problems if you attend the town hall meeting tomorrow night?” I asked, irked. I kept my expression neutral, though my jaw tightened from the effort.
Another glance passed between Blake and Dominic before Dominic answered. “I think I can attend as a community member, as your mate. I just need to be careful about what I say publicly.”
The response felt oddly formal, and I caught Jake watching the exchange with the same puzzled expression I was probably wearing. There was definitely something they weren’t telling us about Dominic’s relationship with Vertex, but I couldn’t figure out what or why they’d need to keep it secret from us.
Dominic had already told me everything, right?
“The mayor is smart to organize quickly,” Blake said.
“Sarah mentioned protests,” Penny said. “Peaceful demonstrations, media attention. It might make it harder for them to operate in the shadows.”
“That could work,” Blake mused. “Public pressure on city officials can go a long way in getting things moving—squeakywheel, yada yada… I’ll give Katherine a call. She could advise on legal strategies.”
The energy in the room shifted as Blake pulled out his phone and dialed. "Katherine? I've got you on speaker—we need your expertise."
My eyes drifted to Dominic. He tilted his head slightly, steel-gray eyes locked onto mine as he patted the cushion beside him on the couch.
Whatever that look had been between the two alphas sat like a third person at the table, present but unnamed.
I pushed the unease aside and moved to take my place beside my alpha, sinking into the cushions. The plush fabric gave way beneath our combined weight. His arm curved around me, pulling me closer until his palm found the dip of my hip. Rough fingertips slipped beneath the hem where my shirt had ridden up, tracing lazy circles against bare skin.
The tension coiled in my shoulders loosened, my breathing deepened, and any sense of disquiet I felt faded to background noise.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ispread the leather samples across my workbench in careful rows, comparing each piece against the enlarged photographs Victor had provided. The midday light streaming through the windows of Cobblers’ Corner caught the subtle variations in color and texture.
I’d met with Victor and Sebastian earlier this morning at their boutique, where I’d shown them my preliminary sketches and discussed the technical details of recreating Thomas Wong’s oxfords. Victor had been pleased with my initial designs, especially my analysis of the intricate silver buckle work, but now came the real test—translating those sketches into actual materials and construction plans.
I’d already ordered the appropriate silver alloy, but the metalwork wouldn’t begin until I’d finalized every detail of the leather construction.
Victor’s deadline loomed in the back of my mind—ambitious for work of this complexity, but not impossible if I stayed focused. The Centennial Celebration wouldn’t wait, and Victor had been clear about the importance of having the shoes ready for theboutique’s opening event. At least the commission gave me something concrete to focus on while everything else in our lives felt uncertain.
The secret growing inside me made everything feel more significant, connecting me and this shop—my family’s legacy—to the future I was building with Dominic. The pregnancy was still early enough that I could hide the symptoms, but the knowledge sat warm and terrifying in my chest.
Soon, I’d have to tell Dominic.
I found my hand drifting to my stomach without conscious thought, fingers resting against the flat plane where our child was growing. The gesture felt both protective and surreal—in a few months, I’d be showing. A few more after that, and we’ll be welcoming a son or daughter into the world. The weight of that responsibility made my chest tight with emotion, with the magnitude of what Dominic and I had created together.
Through the display window, I could see Marcus positioned across the street, his dark suit and alert posture making him stand out among the lunch-time pedestrians. Dominic and Blake had insisted on continued security, and while I was grateful for the protection, having a constant guard reminded me that our troubles were far from over.