A Deal with the alpha

chapter five

CHAPTER 5

Cadence POV

“Holy s**t! He’s here again!”

I looked up at Sharon’s words, following her gaze to the front door. An alpha in a charcoal suit way too nice for this place stood at the entrance, his dark hair styled to look casually tousled. Something about him felt familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

“What do you mean?”

He was good-looking in that cocky, self-assured way most alphas were. The cut of his suit screamed money, which usually meant he’d be worse than average. The smirk on his lips said he knew people were staring and he liked it.

“He came in last night,” Sharon whispered. “Sat at the corner table for hours. Only ordered coffee. Looked like he was waiting for someone, but seriously, who stands up a guy like that?”

Sharon was an omega too, but unlike me, she was... generous with her affections. She’d found a new alpha almost every week. She went through her first heat in high school and was lucky no one had forced a bond on her. I wasn’t as free-spirited.

I ducked my head when the alpha looked our way, focusing on refilling a glass instead of getting caught staring. Sharon, of course, kept watching him openly, but I couldn’t afford to be distracted not with my brother’s future hanging in the balance.

There was no way I could come up with twenty-two thousand dollars in under two weeks.

When I got home after the meeting, I’d locked myself in my room, telling Mom and Michael I had a migraine. I didn’t even come out for dinner. I couldn’t look Michael in the eye, not without breaking down or yelling at him. Maybe both.

He tried to stop me this morning before I left for work, but I told him I was working on it and walked out. I’d stopped by home to change out of my office clothes before my shift, hoping he’d be asleep when I got back. I knew I couldn’t keep this from him forever, but I needed a plan before he realized how deep we were in.

Pushing the thoughts away, I carried a tray of drinks to a waiting table, forcing a smile. I couldn’t afford to lose tips just because I was drowning in anxiety. I needed every penny and every bit of luck I could get.

After I dropped off the drinks and took their order, I turned to find the alpha sitting at one of my tables. His eyes were locked on me, sending a shiver down my spine. Every instinct I had flared to life. I frowned briefly he shouldn’t have been next on the list for a table but I pushed the confusion aside and gave him a quick smile.

“I’ll be right back to take your order.”

He nodded but didn’t look away.

The familiarity kept nagging at me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t place where I might’ve seen him before. Still, the distraction was almost welcome it kept me from thinking about everything else.

When I returned to his table, his gaze hadn’t moved. The intensity raised goosebumps on my arms. I couldn’t tell if I should feel flattered... or nervous. Alphas could be dangerous. There was something dark in those emerald eyes.

“So, what can I get started for you?”

His gaze drifted down my body, and my instincts bristled. His scent bourbon and coffee with a hint of vanilla wrapped around me, making my mouth water. He made no effort to hide his appreciation, and I braced myself for the usual sleazy comments.

“I didn’t come for the food.”

His voice was rich, smooth like melted chocolate. My n*****s tightened, and the smirk on his lips told me he noticed. I gripped my notepad harder, fighting the instinct to submit to his presence.

“Then how can I help you?”

I already knew what I expected: some crude innuendo or pick-up line. We got them all the time, especially from alphas. Even betas weren’t shy about hitting on me and Sharon here.

But his eyes met mine again, heat simmering in them.

“I’m here to help you.”

Not what I was expecting but not much better. Alphas loved thinking we needed them. I couldn’t count how many times one had told me I belonged barefoot in a kitchen, or worse, serving as a living s*x toy while he “took care” of me.

I looked him over again styled hair, flawless skin, designer suit. He didn’t belong in Frankie’s run-down diner. That alone kept me from giving the rude response I usually had ready.

“You don’t recognize me, do you?” he asked when I hesitated.

I didn’t want to admit it, but no I didn’t. He wasn’t one of the suits from the office, and he definitely wasn’t a regular on my bus route.

There was something about his eyes, though. That green color stuck with me.

He finally smiled. “We’ve never been introduced,” he said, standing up.

He was tall at least a foot taller than me—and his presence was overwhelming. More than just an alpha thing. Something about him hinted at danger beneath the charm.

He held out his hand.

“You met with my father yesterday. I’m Leo Galleon.”

My lungs froze. My eyes widened. I knew my mouth was hanging open, but I couldn’t make myself close it. I hadn’t realized he was the man who’d come into the room yesterday but I’d been too shaken to notice anyone but his father.

Snapping my jaw shut, I hesitated before lightly touching his outstretched hand. I wasn’t sure if I should be touching a man like him at all especially in public. I didn’t want anyone connecting me to the Galleon family, but I also didn’t want to offend him. If he really was trying to help, maybe he’d talked his father into backing off.

Wishful thinking. I almost laughed at myself.

Leo lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles longer than necessary. He inhaled as he did it, scenting me. Warmth rushed from the contact, and my mind immediately went to places it had no business going.

Blushing, I looked away and fought to steady my breathing. He was clearly used to making women react. But I wasn’t here for games.

Clearing my throat, I asked, “You said you could help me?”

He waited a moment, then pulled a business card from his jacket and held it out.

“I have a proposal you might be interested in. Call me when you’re free to discuss it.”

My stomach twisted. I could guess what kind of proposal he meant but my hand still moved, taking the card.

Once it was in my fingers, he finally broke eye contact and walked out the door.

I stared after him as he vanished into the night. He didn’t seem like he was offering something simple like forgiveness for my brother. But he hadn’t been as crude about it as his father, either.

I wanted to throw the card away.

But my hand didn’t move.

The ding from the kitchen window jolted me back. I had no reason to trust Leo but I had no way to get the money on my own. There was no magical solution, no honest job that would let me pay back nearly a year’s salary.

I had a bad feeling about whatever he was offering but unless I figured something else out soon, I might not have a choice.