Chapter 362
Alex looked at Victor. “Do you agree to my being co-leader?”
Victor nodded. I sensed his pride was severely bruised, but he was trying not to show it. I sent him a loving smile and comforting thoughts.
“Very well, Councilors,” Alex told Councilors Getty and Chen. “I accept the role of co-leader of The United Association of Alphas effective immediately.”
“Good,” Councilor Chen said. “Please get to work on stabilizing the present situation.”
“If you can,” a smirking Councilor Getty said. I wished I could wipe that smirk from his face. He was another greedy, power-hungry Alpha that Amy and I always despised.
“Keep us informed of your progress or setbacks, and let us know if we can be helpful,” Councilor Chen added. “Good luck.”
“You’ll need it,” Councilor Getty laughed boisterously before ending the video call.
Victor stood and ran a hand through his hair. He was suppressing his frustration and anger well. “I’m sorry to have ruined your retirement, Alex. I know you were looking forward to traveling the world.”
“I’ve traveled enough for the time being,” Alex assured him. “Now, let's use this time to show the council that you are the right man for the job.”
“Do you still believe that?” Victor asked. “I made a mess of things while you were gone. Things went downhill quickly.”
“I shouldn’t have left Denhurst when I knew a faction was sabotaging you at The Association,” Alex said. “And John Cameron is a cunning opponent, and his power has grown considerably. It will take both of us to neutralize him for good.”
“I believe you are right,” Victor agreed. “Where do we start? There is no time to waste.”
“Let’s get those new laws rewritten to soothe the Alphas.” Alex rose from his chair and clapped Victor on his back. “Then we need better communication with the public.”
“We could try hiring a press secretary and have them hold daily press conferences,” Victor suggested.
“I like it.” Alex sat again and steepled his fingers. “This press secretary must be someone who both Alphas and non-Alphas trust.”
“They must have experience with the press and be knowledgeable of the situation,” Victor said.
“And they should be charming and personable,” Alex added.
“You are describing Shane Ross,” I said. “He also has an innate sense of fairness, and the faction will not be able to control him.”
“I’ll call him this evening to offer him the position,” Victor said.
“I like your new laws against lies and disinformation,” Alex said. “But let's tweak them a bit to make them seem less scary to the people. We could rename it something like the fairness doctrine.”
“You could reward news outlets who consistently tell the truth,” I suggested. “Maybe give an award with prize money for the most honest reporting.”
“Our new press secretary should take on the lies each day and prove them to be false,” Victor said.
“These are all excellent ideas,” Alex agreed. He stood and went to the patio doors. “What a marvelous view. I understand why you like it here.”
“But we should get back to Denhurst,” Victor said. “We should be near The Association in case we are needed. John Cameron may do something desperate when he learns we are working together.”
“I’ll call the helicopter pilot and have him return for us,” Alex said. “Someone can pick up the rental car and return it.”
“I’ll go pack,” I said. It was exciting to be riding back to Denhurst in a helicopter. It took some of the sting out of leaving the beach house.
We were ready to go when the helicopter returned a half hour later. After the sleek aircraft lifted off from the beach in a vortex of sand, I enjoyed the feeling of floating through the air as the landscape below me sped past.
It was much faster than driving. I enjoyed the ride so much that I was surprised when Alex’s estate appeared below us. The mansion seemed to grow larger as the pilot sat the chopper down on the grass near the garage.
Victor and I grabbed our suitcases and headed for the front door with Alex.
Benson was waiting for us and had servants take our luggage upstairs while we went to the living room with iced teas to relax and make plans.
After we settled in, Victor called Shane Ross to offer him the position of Association Press Secretary.
“You’ll be independent from my office,” Victor promised. “I want the public to have the truth even about me.”
“Then I accept,” Shane said. “Thank you for asking me. It’s a fabulous honor. When do you want me to start?”
“Tomorrow,” Victor replied.
“I’ll meet with you in your office first thing in the morning,” Shane agreed. “Having a press secretary is a terrific idea, Victor.”
“The first thing you can announce is that I now have a co-leader,” Victor said. “Alex Wilson agreed to work with me. Together, we will forge a government that will work for everyone.”
“That’s great, Victor,” Shane said. “People will be put at ease to hear about Alex and your renewed enthusiasm for your job.”
Victor did sound more confident and happy. It gave me hope for our future again.
I slept well that night. We decided to remain at the mansion indefinitely. It would be easier for Alex and Victor to have constant access to each other while they worked to restore the public’s confidence in their government.
The plan began working after just a few days. Shane had a way of breaking through the gossip and lies, and over ninety percent of the population tuned into his press conferences daily.
The less reputable news outlets faded into the background, and the faction went silent.
Two weeks after we returned from the beach, Alex and Cassidy treated Victor and me to dinner at Moonglow. We enjoyed a delicious meal and had a lovely time dancing until midnight.
The next day, I decided it was safe to leave the mansion alone for the afternoon. Amy needed some things from Gisele’s, and I agreed to go shopping with her.
I had to admit, I was a little nervous about being seen in public, but everything had been so quiet for over a week that Anna and I thought it was safe.
It had been months since I’d been to Lycan Square. It seemed much less sinister these days. Memories of the evil that once lived in Archer Manor were fading. The street no longer felt menacing.
I parked a few houses down from the old Archer Manor and began walking toward the shelter when I smelled smoke.
It wasn’t car exhaust. It smelled like a wood fire with more pungent aromas mixed in.
I stopped and looked around for the source of the odor and gasped.
Across the street and two houses west of Amy’s shelter, a narrow brick mansion had smoke billowing from its roof. It was on fire!
I pulled my phone from my pocket and took a few steps closer to the burning home to ensure I had the correct address before calling for help.
That’s when I first heard pitiful coughing and a child’s frightened voice.
“Help us!” the little girl called. “Please, help us! We can’t get out of the house.”
The child’s panicked cries for help and her coughing tore at my heart. Where was she?
I scanned the windows and spotted small hands waving frantically from a second-story window.
The smoke coming from the roof was now dark gray and black, and it was growing thicker. The fire was moving quickly. I had to help the little girl. She wouldn’t last much longer inside the house.
A scream from behind me made me jump.
“Oh no! The children. Someone help me save the children!” a woman screamed.
“How many children are in there?” I asked the distraught older woman.
She was too old to be the little girl’s mother. Maybe she was the kid’s grandmother or nanny.
“Two,” the woman told me. “Piper is seven, and Lane is just six months old.” She pulled at her hair in anguish. “I was only gone for a few minutes. We’ve got to help them.”
I ran to the door and tried to open it, but it was locked.
“Where is the key?” I yelled to the woman.
“Here.” She ran to me, holding a door key in her shaking fingers. “I don’t know if I’m brave enough to go in there.”
I took the key and thrust it into the lock. “I’ll go inside and get the children. Call for help. Hurry!”
The door opened easily. The smoke smell was more pungent inside the house, but the air looked clear enough to breathe.
I oriented myself as to which direction the children were in the house before taking a deep breath and running inside the burning home.
