Free curse of the alpha - episode 05 & 06 by Tasha Black Page B

to do?” Grace asked when Ainsley had finished.
    “Probably be killed,” Ainsley said glumly.
    “Are you telling me that you are more intimidated by Clive Warren than by those tough New York rich guys you’ve been dealing with?”
    “Hm, I never thought about it that way. Of course those guys aren’t trying to kill me.”
    “Aren’t they? It seems like a pretty dog eat dog business to me.”
    Ainsley laughed.
    “As long as I’ve known you, you have never once failed at anything that was really important to you. Remember the Girl Scout cookies - and the softball final where you pulled your shoulder? Remember the spelling bee?”
    Oh god, that spelling bee. She had been obsessed with winning even though she couldn’t compete at Regional because of a softball game.
    “You’ve got this, Ainsley. Call me when you figure out how I can help,” Grace said.
    Erik padded into the kitchen and twined Ainsley’s hair around his fingers. Cressida followed a few paces behind.
    “Thank you, Grace.”
    “ Be careful. I’ll talk to you soon.”

CHAPTER 6
    C  live paced back and forth restlessly on the rubber mulch of the playground. It was after 2:00, and there was no one here except Justin and Will and some dumb kid from the coffee shop.
    Will and Justin were actually swinging and giggling like little kids. The old swings squeaked in a very annoying way with every movement. The coffee shop kid was sitting on a bench tapping away on his cell phone, like he was their au pair or something.
    Clive had thought that the town toddler park would be a central place to meet. Since it was closed down to exterminate hornets, nobody would get in their way.
    Of course family after family had tried to come in. These damned stay-at-home losers clearly couldn’t find the time to read the local paper or they would know better.
    Every time someone came to the gate he would be excited. Only to realize they had a stupid toddler with them.
    “Park’s closed,” he said to the most recent arrival.
    The guy had a baby in one of those chest carriers. He looked like a total moron.
    “Oh, Dylan and I are here for the meeting,” the guy said with a big goofy smile.
    Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
    “Alright, come on in.”
    “I’m David Drury.”
    Shit, of course he was. Clive remembered the guy from high school. He was a total drip.
    Clive couldn’t understand why nobody was here. He was the sheriff, for fuck’s sake. He was the best looking guy in town – there should at least have been women here.
    And the guys still respected him from high school football. He’d given up a scholarship and a chance at the pros to come back to this town.
    They must be afraid.
    As soon as Clive came forward tonight, though, the others would have to stand behind him. They wouldn’t really allow Ainsley Connor to lead them. Not when they had Clive Warren willing to serve.
    It was 2:15pm. Time to get started.
    Clive turned to address his supporters.
    “Okay, people, let’s huddle.”
    The coffee kid put away his phone and stood. Justin and Will flung themselves off the swings. David Drury ambled over – he had been looking at the “Lost Cat” posters that lined the back of the fence. When David got close enough the baby locked his gaze with Clive’s. He made a raspberry sound with his tiny lips. Christ. Even the baby was a drip.
    “He likes you!” David said.
    Clive figured the best thing he could do was ignore him.
    “We’re here because we agree that Ainsley Connor is not the right choice for the leader of this pack. Right?”
    They all nodded.
    Clive had envisioned a huge crowd with a bunch of big guys yelling and fist pumping at that.
    “We’re going to strike tonight – we don’t want to give her much time to think. I’ll challenge her. She won’t have a chance.”
    They stared at him. Coffee shop kid nodded.
    Fuck this. He was really going to freak them out.
    “And just in case, I have… this .”
    He pulled a velvet jewelry box out of his