MATED TO FATHER, FAT Chapter 74: LEVERAGE

Chapter 74: LEVERAGE

COLE

I flipped through the pages of Victor’s file for the third time that hour, sitting in the east corner office with glass walls that let me see anyone approaching.

This had become my space weeks ago when I decided to actually take pack business seriously instead of just coasting on my combat skills and hoping no one noticed I didn’t belong here.

But right now all I could think about were two things.

Victor and Lila.

My mind kept replaying yesterday, kept circling back to how Lila had dropped to her knees in her bedroom and taken my cock in her mouth like she was starving for it. How her tongue had worked me over while her eyes stayed locked on mine. How she had swallowed every drop of my cum when I finished.

That was the first time she had ever done that.

In all our time together, whatever the hell we were calling what we had, Lila had always been the one receiving pleasure. I would go down on her for hours if she asked, would fuck her however she wanted, would service her needs without expecting anything back.

But she had never reciprocated.

Not until yesterday when she needed something from me badly enough to offer her mouth as payment.

If I could find dirt on Victor that she could use as leverage, she would owe me. Would do more to me. Maybe I could finally get her to let me cum inside her instead of always pulling out at the last second like my seed was something dirty she refused to let near her womb.

Oh that would be nice, having to spill my seeds inside of her.

Then the rational part of my brain kicked in. She is Rowan’s fiancée.

I pushed the thought away with the justification I always used. She is my fated mate and that means she belongs to me more than she ever belonged to Rowan.

The mate bond trumped engagement ceremonies every time.

I flipped more pages in the file finding nothing but technical combat assessments and mission reports. Victor’s fighting style, his weapons preferences, his tactical approach to warfare. All useful information for preventing another attack but nothing scandalous enough to use as blackmail material.

Nothing Lila could weaponize.

Movement caught my eye through the glass wall and I looked up to see Nia approaching with elegance in her stride.

I couldn’t react quickly enough because she was already at the door, already pulling it open and stepping inside before I could hide what I was reading or compose my expression into something less guilty.

She shut the door behind her. "I have been looking for you everywhere."

"Yes well, I am busy as you can see." I gestured at the scattered files. "I did not go see Lila like you insinuated yesterday."

Nia came closer to the desk where I sat and her expression softened in a way that made guilt twist in my chest. "I am sorry, truly. I was just scared that you had gone to see her because back when you were sleeping with her you would disappear all day and come back smelling like alcohol."

I scowled at her. "I did not go to see Lila, I would never do that,"

The lie flowed distastefully but necessary because telling Nia the truth about yesterday would destroy whatever fragile thing existed between us.

"I just needed time away from this pack," I added, which was at least partially honest.

She placed her hands on the desk and leaned forward slightly. "Time away from me?"

I exhaled and forced myself to meet her eyes. "Of course not."

Another lie piled on top of the others.

She looked down at the documents spread across my desk and picked up one of the files. "You are really taking this whole Victor case seriously."

I glanced at her. "Shouldn’t I? He is a threat to everyone in this pack. Especially Amaris."

"Amaris is trying so hard to please people who don’t give a fuck about her," Nia blurted, still scanning the page in her hands.

"You do know she and Ryker are fucking right?" I asked, watching her reaction.

Nia scowled at me. "They are not. Did Ryker tell you that?"

"No," I admitted. "But I know there is definitely something going on between them."

She opened her mouth to respond then paused, her eyes catching on something in the document. "I didn’t know Victor had a kid."

I looked up sharply. "No he doesn’t."

Nia handed me the paper and pointed at a specific paragraph. "Look, it’s written right here. Long before Freya he had a child with one of the pack maids. A young boy who ended up joining the sentinels but was dismissed after being linked to Victor’s coup attempt."

I stood up so fast my chair rolled backward and hit the wall.

This was it.

This was exactly what Lila needed.

"You are a genius," I breathed, taking the document from her hands and reading it again to make sure I was not imagining things.

Nia looked confused. "I don’t know how helpful that will be to us. It says he didn’t—"

Before she could finish I pulled her in and crashed my mouth against hers.

The kiss was hungry and grateful and entirely selfish because she had no idea what she had just given me. She had just handed me the key to getting back into Lila’s bed, to making my mate need me, to finally having leverage of my own.

My tongue pushed into Nia’s mouth while my hands fisted in her hair and she made a small surprised sound before kissing me back with equal intensity. Her taste flooded my senses, different from Lila’s but still good, still satisfying in ways that made the guilt recede temporarily.

I pulled away abruptly. "I have to go."

Nia grabbed my shirt before I could step back and yanked me toward her. She was still leaning against the desk and the position put us eye to eye.

"Don’t you think I deserve more than a kiss Cole?" Her voice had gone low and I knew what that always implied when it did. "It’s been more than a week."

I looked at her and tried to think of an excuse that would not hurt her feelings. "I am just busy—"

Her hands went to my tucked-in shirt and started pulling it free from my trousers. "We can be quick." She leaned closer. "Besides, that kiss got me so wet. I want to fuck you right here so badly,"