Free Darkness Bound by J. T. Geissinger Page A

countered.
    “Forgive me, Sire, but she most certainly does,” Morgan demurred with a shake of her head that sent her glossy dark hair swinging around her shoulders.
    “Which is?” Alejandro drawled. Staring down Morgan’s shirt, he moistened his lips.
    “Influence.”
    Hawk understood her immediately. He also knew by the expression on Alejandro’s face that he’d rather piss himself in public than take a suggestion from a woman, no matter how brilliant that suggestion might be.
    Hawk had to play it carefully. Knowing Alejandro as he did, he felt confident of his hand.
    “I think we should just stick to the Alpha’s plan.” He tried to convey a casual tone of both slight disapproval and amusement, as if he thought her a ridiculous creature who should stay in her place.
    Oddly, his dismissal made Morgan smile.
    “Let her speak,” snapped Alejandro, right on cue.
    Nothing if not predictable. Though his lips wanted to curl as Morgan’s had, Hawk kept his expression disapproving, his unblinking gaze trained on her face.
    Morgan said, “If this woman is powerful enough to turn public opinion one way, she’s powerful enough to turn it the other. If, instead of using the pictures simply to discredit her and ruin her career, we used them as motivation for her to write another article—”
    “Ah,” said Alejandro, the light of understanding dawning in his eyes. “I see.”
    He seemed intrigued, but it wasn’t enough. He needed a little help.
    “Morgan, I’m sure the Alpha already thought of that,” Hawk scoffed. “We don’t need to spend any more time on this; we’ve already got what we need from her. Leaking those pictures will guarantee she won’t be in a position to write any more high-profile opinion pieces—”
    “Of course I thought of it,” Alejandro interrupted, right on schedule. He sent Hawk a condescending stare. “But I may have been too hasty in disregarding this possible course of action.”
    So that his eyes didn’t roll in his head like a pair of tossed marbles, Hawk stared straight back at Alejandro, concentrating his energy on keeping his expression perfectly neutral.
    Alejandro turned his attention back to Morgan. He brushed an invisible piece of lint from one of his pristine linen sleeves and said with supreme indifference, “Naturally, I had a few ideas regarding how we might proceed in this area, but you may continue and share yours.”
    Her voice, dripping with what could be interpreted either as sarcasm or abject groveling, depending on where you stood, Morgan said, “ Thank you, Sire.” She dipped another curtsy, just as ironic as the first.
    Alejandro beamed, Xander scowled, and Hawk had the startling thought that Morgan might be the smartest person in the room.
    Had she foreseen this entire scenario? Alejandro’s reactions, and his own? Were the two of them playing right into her hands?
    She adopted a brisk, businesslike tone. “What I propose is this. Let’s make this woman aware of our intention to expose the evidence of her, ah . . .” she floundered, but recovered quickly, “ exploits , and offer her a chance to avoid public humiliation. If she writes another article denouncing the first, we can destroy the photos. If she refuses, we simply proceed as planned. But if she agrees, we have the opportunity of a lifetime. A highly respected reporter who reconsidered her position and now fully supports Shifters will, if nothing else, grow doubts in the minds of those who agreed with her in the first place. We could even insist she call for a repeal of the anti-Shifter laws, speak in front of the UN. If it doesn’t work we’ve lost nothing either way.”
    Judging by Alejandro’s frown, he was seriously considering the merits of her argument. Hawk gave him another little shove in the right direction just to be sure.
    He sighed and shook his head, looking at the Alpha with fraternal scorn as if to say, This broad is a real piece of work, right?
    Alejandro’s lips