Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 258

"Where are you?" There's a crazy look in her eyes.

"Hey." His voice drops. "I don't want any trouble. Just calm down-"

Suzie tears him a new one, threatening him with this, cursing him with that. "I know what division you're in." Then she goes on a diatribe about how the allies are coming tomorrow. We need to know this information today. "You better start talking."

I let her work her magic, turning to Michael. "Are you getting all of this?" I ask, barely containing my fits of laughter.

He nods, saving the recording.

It's eventually decided that Dante will let us talk to Mr. Reynolds over the phone in a few hours. He just has to figure out how to make it discreet.

Suzie sits down, fanning herself and indulging in some calming chocolate. She still has a death grip on my phone. "The audacity," she mutters to herself.

A few hours can feel like days when you've got nothing to do but wait.

I mainly stare at the walls, looking at Michael's posters. He's got inspirational workout quotes on one side and Morph fanart prints on the other.

Suzie points at the TV. "Are you gonna play or....?"

"No. Knock yourself out," Michael says.

Michael refusing Morph? Someone call the doctor.

Suzie wastes no time putting on Chicago Med, crying every time Dr. Choi and Nurse April get into a fight. "It's so tragic." She holds her heart. "What a handsome Asian man. And what an... attractive Black..." She looks at Michael. "Person."

He lifts a brow, and she gives him a painfully obvious wink.

I cringe. I don't know how she knows, why she knows, or where this is coming from, but the last thing I need is Michael thinking people are talking about him and Onai. "You wanna go get a drink?" Before Suzie says something else that I'll cringe for, I grab Michael's arm. "Come on."

She doesn't stop us. "Finally." She smirks. "Now I can get on with my life."

Once we're out in the hallway, Michael asks, "What's wrong?"

I gesture towards him.

He cocks his head back. "What?"

I give him a look.

He gives me one back.

I sigh. "Listen."

"Mia-"

"No, don't Mia me." I look into his eyes. "Onai likes you."

He shakes his head, turning back towards the room.

I get in his way. "I'm serious."

"If he likes me so much, why didn't he tell me that?" Michael says it in a joking tone, but his eyes are anything but.

I nod.

"Well." He hesitates. "What kind is he?"

That's not my business to tell. I point towards the backyard. "His shift starts around two. You're welcome to ask him."

Michael seems to think about it for a while, then he nods. "Okay. I will."

I consider calling Onai to give him a head's up, but I think I've finagled in their relationship enough for one lifetime thank you. They're just gonna have to handle it from here.

"But what about you and the brothers?" Michael asks, lowering his voice. "Is that still going good?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?" I ask.

Michael shrugs. "Just with everything going on. Being sure if you can trust them or not."

I frown, seeing them in my mind, and thinking back to the conversation I had with Dante. "I was feeling like that... But then I realized there's no way they wouldn't have my best interest at heart. They just need to learn to tell me things. Even the bad things."

"So no matter what happens, you guys'll be good?" Michael asks.

I nod.

He hesitates. "Even after they find out all the people you've been talking to behind their backs?"

"Please." I try not to burst out laughing. "After all the secrets they've kept from me, they've got no room to talk." I think of Aiden. Carson. And Axel, whose hoodie I'm literally wearing right now. "If push comes to shove, we'll argue for like an hour..." I imagine all the fights we've had that probably could've been avoided. "...before we make up..." I imagine all the hugs, kisses, and 'let's never fight again's we've all had. "What're they gonna do?" I ask. "They need me." And I need them too.