The Mad Alpha's Substitute Bride

(ALICE)

I lean back in my seat, watching the Bernardi couple’s son-in-law gesture with his hands. He’s talking about family bonds and how he plans to make them all rich. The way his lawyer is smirking as if he’s got the deal in the bag makes my smile broaden even more.

I have the contract in my hand and a sheaf of papers that I worked on last night in front of me. The older couple sitting by my side look tense, holding each other’s hands for support.

They’ve closed their restaurant for lunch today. It’s not a huge place, but it’s quite popular. The two of them came here from Italy after Mr. Bernardi’s parents were murdered by the local mafia. They don’t want to hand the restaurant over to the son-in-law, but he and their daughter have made things quite difficult for them, so much so that Mr. Bernardi is being forced to consider retirement, which he cannot afford.

I can see Mrs. Bernardi trembling, her eyes wet. I put my hand on her knee, giving her a cool look and a discreet shake of the head. She swallows and lowers her gaze.

The problem isn’t as simple as the older couple being forced to sign a contract. It’s more than that. I usually only take corporate cases, staying away from the emotionally charged ones, but this case is personal.

When I first moved here, the Bernardis were kind to me. They would often give me a free meal when I was a college student and my pockets were empty. Mrs. Bernardi has babysat Mira a few times, as well.

I wait till their son-in-law, Charlie, runs out of steam. His lawyer, Mason Robert, adjusts the lapels of his suit jacket.

"As you can see, my client has been nothing but fair. I fail to see why Mr. Bernardi feels the need to hire a lawyer. After all, their daughter is their only child. She will rightfully inherit this restaurant at some point. So why not—"

"She could inherit the place once they die," I cut him off pleasantly, gesturing toward the older couple. "And unless your client is planning to hire somebody to take them out, with the two of them in peak health, there will be no inheritance in the foreseeable future. Trying to force Mr. Bernardi to retire makes no sense to me."

"It’s in their best interest," Mason argues. "They’re in their fifties. They can retire, live off the money they have made, and let the young blood carry on the business."

I make a show of putting on my reading glasses before picking up the pile of papers before me and flipping through them. "I’m sure you’re not referring to the retirement fund that your client and his wife stole from Mr. and Mrs. Bernardi."

Charlie bristles. "We didn’t steal it. They willingly signed it over. Nobody forced them."

I look over the top of my glasses at the man, smiling faintly. "I see. So, when you said, and I quote, ’you will never see your grandchildren again if you don’t sign that paper,’ is that not a threat?"

His lawyer opens his mouth, but I lift a finger, silencing him.

"Maybe stealing is the wrong term, but you illegally coerced them to sign over the money that you then used in your failing restaurant chain."

I take off my glasses, letting them dangle from my finger as I look at Charlie’s lawyer. "What are you expecting the Bernardis to live on when your client has already taken their retirement fund?"

Charlie shrugs. "They can work for me if they need the money."

I blink slowly. "So, they will go from being the owners of a successful restaurant to being your employees? In what world does that make sense?"

Mason is about to speak, but Charlie shushes his lawyer. He stands up and leans forward, his eyes glittering. "Listen. Why don’t you keep your yap shut and get walking? We don’t need your help. This is a family matter. There’s nothing a skirt like you can do, anyway."

I study the man across from me in his white T-shirt with a ketchup stain on it and his black pants that are hanging so low that I can tell you the brand name of his underwear. His hair is slicked back with so much grease that it’s shining brighter than the sun. There’s a piece tucked away in the waistband of his pants, which he has been showing me constantly since our meeting started.

He’s a couple years younger than me, and greed is written all over his face.

"A skirt like me, Mr. Robert, can do a lot of damage. Why don’t you sit down and let your lawyer do the talking? Your in-laws don’t want to give you their restaurant, especially considering the amount you’re trying to offer them for it. Your father-in-law does not wish to retire. And if he doesn’t want to, you can’t make him. Sending men to break things in here is not the way to go about it. And after the kind of behavior you and your wife have demonstrated, you can forget about an inheritance."

"I’ll sue him, you bitch!" All riled up now, Charlie actually spits in my face.

A few things happen at once. Mr. Bernardi turns red, and Mrs. Bernardi lets out a shocked cry. Mason curses out loud, grabs Charlie, and forces him to sit down.

I reach out and pick up one of the paper napkins from the table. I wet it with some water from my glass before cleaning my face with it. I take my sweet time, strategizing as I do so.

"You can’t treat her like that!" Mr. Bernardi is raising his voice, and Charlie pushes back his seat and starts advancing around the table.

"Hold your fucking tongue, old man! There’s a lot I can do to you, too. If you don’t want anything happening to that old bird of yours, sign over the fucking restaurant."

"Get your client under control, Mr. Robert," I say mildly, "before I charge him with assault. With the misdemeanors already on his rap sheet, he’s going to go away for a couple of years, at least. Then his wife and kids will have no choice but to move in with his in-laws. And they’ll be seeing their grandchildren as much as they want."

"You little bitch." Charlie lunges at me, and I let him get his hands around my throat.

Bored with this, I let him strangle me for a minute before grabbing him by the hair on the back of his head. Using my shifter strength, I yank him away from me and slam his head onto the table. Dazed, he totters backward before falling into his chair.

"So that will be one count of assault and one attempted murder charge." I straighten my shirt before looking at the pale-faced attorney. "I wonder how many years he’ll do for that?"

Charlie looks confused. I didn’t hit him hard enough on the table to leave a mark, but it was enough to rattle him.

I slide a piece of paper over to Mason. "This is what is going to happen. The Bernardis will change their estate plan such that after their passing, the restaurant will be sold and the proceeds given to charity. They no longer want their daughter to inherit anything. If they change their minds, they will leave their money in a trust for their grandchildren, to be accessed only for their education.

With respect to the grandchildren, who are their biggest concern, they will be filing for grandparent rights. Considering that they raised both their grandchildren when they were born, and the boys have spent months with them on several occasions, I am confident they will be granted visitation privileges. Don’t tempt me to go for custody because no judge will turn me down when they find out that the children’s parents emptied the trust funds the grandparents set up for them, and that they did so using illegal means.

As a bonus for your client, I will be charging him with assault and attempted murder, and that’s just because I don’t like him."

Mason closes his eyes briefly, the vein in his forehead pulsing.

"Yo." Charlie manages to get himself together enough to scowl. "She’s shitting us, isn’t she?"

His lawyer slams the paper down on the table and growls, "No, she’s not, Charlie. And if you don’t want to go to jail, you’d better shut up."

Normally lawyers don’t talk to their clients in this manner, but then, Mason is also Charlie’s brother.

"I need to confer with my client," Mason finally replies to me through gritted teeth.

I gesture toward the empty restaurant. "By all means."

An hour later, Mrs. Bernardi is sobbing into her hands as her husband tries to comfort her.

"He can’t stop you from seeing your grandchildren, Susan," I tell her. "I warned you to expect this outcome. At least now, he can’t touch your assets or this restaurant. I’ve already prepared the paperwork to file for custody of your grandchildren. The investigator I have looking into your daughter and your son-in-law has given me a lot of information that we can use against them."

Susan leans against her husband. "I don’t want to break up my daughter’s marriage."

"I understand that," I comfort her. "But you should think about the children. They deserve a stable home. Emotional abuse is just as bad as physical abuse. Those children are being used as pawns to bleed you and your husband dry."

I kneel by her side and look up at her. "I know you love your daughter, but sometimes blood isn’t thicker than water. She has chosen this lifestyle. Ellie knows what she’s doing. She has chosen to betray you and your husband.

You’ve already heard what she and Charlie intended to do. You two worked hard to build this place. Forcing you to give up your restaurant, to give up your house, so that they can move in and control everything while you and George work for them for minimum wage isn’t fair. It’s not right. It’s not something any child should put their parents through. You know that, and I know that. You are not hurting her. You are trying to protect yourself."

Her eyes are red as I squeeze her hands, my voice gentle. "You have nothing left, Susan. She blackmailed you out of your savings account, the trusts for the boys, your retirement funds. If you give in, what will happen to you and George? She will work him to the bone. She doesn’t love you. Not the way she should. I don’t feel good saying any of this, but you have to be practical. There are two little boys who need you. Do this for them."

George’s hand settles on my shoulder, his voice heavy with grief. "I can’t thank you enough for what you are doing for us, Alice. Susan will understand. Just give her some time."

I get to my feet, giving him a sad smile. "Whenever you’re ready, I will file for custody. And remember, you’re not breaking up your daughter’s home. You are giving her children a chance to have a good life, a life she’s denying them deliberately to hurt you."

When I leave the Bernardis’ restaurant, my heart is heavy, but I know I’ve done everything I can. The rest is up to them. They can either choose to protect their grandchildren and themselves or give in to the cruel and selfish demands of their daughter and her husband.

When I entered the human world, I realized that betrayal lives in every society, be it human or shifter.