Alpha's Discarded Luna (Talia) novel Chapter 66

Chapter 64

Talia’s POV

I hold his gaze, letting the silence stretch between us like a wire pulled taut. “If I were afraid of you destroying evidence, I wouldn’t have been stupid enough to show you. The phone is irrelevant. I have backups. Cloud storage. Copies hidden in

places you’ll never find.”

Aires studies me for a long moment, something shifting

behind those cold eyes. Then, unexpectedly, he laughs–a

low, genuine sound that catches me completely off guard.

“You’re cleverer than I ever gave you credit for.”

“I have to be.” My voice remains flat, unreachable. “Dealing

with you and Ms. Volkov requires constant vigilance. One

moment of carelessness and I’m in serious trouble. You’ve

taught me that well.”

Something flickers in his expression. Interest, maybe. Or

the surprise of discovering that the wife he’d written off as

mundane might have hidden depths.

“Talia.” His voice drops slightly, taking on a tone I don’t

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recognize. “If this is your way of getting my attention, I’ll admit–it’s working.”

The narcissism is breathtaking. He actually believes I’m playing games, performing some elaborate courtship ritual to win him back. The thought is so absurd I almost laugh.

I don’t bother responding. Let him marinate in his own ego. It’s not my problem anymore.

His expression shifts back to business. “Whether you pursue

this legally isn’t entirely your decision.”

I freeze. Understanding dawns cold and unwelcome. “You’re threatening my friend again.”

“I’m offering compensation.” His tone is measured,

reasonable–the voice of a man who believes money solves

everything. “A settlement. Your friend will be well taken care of. Handsomely compensated for her trouble.”

Compensation. As if Electra’s fear, her bruises, the days she

spent terrified and alone can be priced and packaged like

merchandise.

But I know Electra. She’s already drowning in guilt for 2/8

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confronting Imema, for giving them ammunition, for

dragging me deeper into this mess. She’ll accept any offer

that makes things easier for me, that removes the target

from my back.

She always puts me first. Always.

***

I find her in the hospital cafeteria, a legal document spread across the table. Settlement agreement. Already signed. Her

signature scrawled at the bottom like she was signing for a

package.

“Electra.” My voice cracks on her name.

She looks up, grinning despite the purple bruise swelling her cheek, despite the cut at her lip, despite everything. “Talia!

Look at this–a downtown apartment, free and clear, in my

name. Do you have any idea what this place will be worth

in five years? I could work my entire life and never afford

something like this on my own.”

“Electra, I’m so sorry-”

“Oh, stop.” She waves a hand, then winces at the movement. 3/8

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“Listen to me. You’re divorcing Aires. You need a place to stay, somewhere he can’t touch. This apartment is in my name–he can’t take it back, can’t use it as leverage. Even if he tries to make things difficult later, this is yours. Ours.

Whatever we need it to be.”

I stare at her, this woman who took a beating and turned it into shelter for me. Who smiled through the pain and signed away her right to justice because it might help me.

She leans in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “That performance Imema put on today? Fake. Completely manufactured. She’s not mentally ill–she’s manipulative. She had Nick kidnap me on purpose, I’d bet my life on it. If Nick goes to jail, she gets more sympathy, more excuses to cling

to Aires. More reasons for him to hover protectively. Don’t let

her win that easily.”

I want to argue, to point out that justice matters, that she

deserves more than a bribe. But she’s not wrong about the

calculus. Nick in prison becomes a weapon for Imema. Nick

free and chastened becomes a liability we can watch.

After confirming with the doctors that her injuries are minor;

bruises, nothing broken, nothing permanent, we leave

together. 4/8

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At the hospital entrance, a familiar figure waits in the

evening light.

Richard.

Electra recognizes him immediately. “Isn’t that Richard?

What’s he doing here?”

He approaches, expression careful, guarded. “Luna! Can we

talk? Please.”

Once, I trusted him completely. He was the only one of Aires’s circle who seemed decent, who treated me like a person

instead of a punching bag. Then I learned he lied about

Electra’s whereabouts, and chose sides when it mattered.

“Mr. Maddock, I’m busy.” I take Electra’s arm, moving to pass

him.

He steps into my path, blocking me with gentle

determination. “One minute. That’s all I’m asking.”

I stop, meeting his eyes. “You have your loyalties. I

understand that. I’m not angry, and I’m not accusing you of anything. But I have things to do. Goodbye.”

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Mmtmhe distance is deliberate, a wall I’m building between

1. us.

“Talia, please-”

I walk away. Electra follows, glancing back with obvious

curiosity burning in her eyes.

When we’re out of earshot, she whispers, “Did he come here

specifically for you? When did you two get so close?”

I explain as we walk; how Richard offered to help after Aires

took her, how I trusted him completely, how he lied about not

knowing where she was.

She’s quiet for a long moment, processing. Then: “Talia, I

think you’re misunderstanding.”

“What?”

“Think about it logically. Even if you confronted Aires directly, he’d just deny everything. What could you actually do? Nothing. And Richard might not have known where I was. Or

maybe he did know, but couldn’t do anything to help, so he stayed quiet rather than give you false hope and make

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things worse.”

I open my mouth to argue, but she continues, relentless.

“Aires let me go after one apology. That’s not like him. That’s not how he operates. Richard might have talked to him, convinced him to be reasonable, to de–escalate. If not for Richard, Aires might have kept me locked up indefinitely, using me as leverage against you forever.”

The pieces shift in my mind, rearranging themselves into a different picture.

“Talia, talk to him. Really talk, not this cold–shoulder thing you’re doing. Don’t let your hatred for Aires poison every single person connected to him.”

She’s right. My anger at Aires has bled everywhere, coloring

everyone associated with him. Richard might have been

trying to help in ways I couldn’t see, working behind the

scenes while maintaining plausible deniability.

I nod slowly, the weight of potential injustice settling on my shoulders. “Okay. I’ll find him. Talk properly. Clear the air.”

Electra grins, already moving on to the next thing. “Great! 7/8

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Now let’s go see the apartment—”

My phone rings. Unknown number.

“Mrs. Perseus?” A woman’s voice, professional, slightly

strained. “This is Mrs. Chen, Aeson’s teacher at Starlight

Academy. There’s been an incident… a–a physical altercation

with another student. We need you to come to the school

immediately.”

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