Jack Barlow Novels & Stories

“He's a colleague of mine. We go way back.” “Oooo,” I said lightly, offering a polite smile. The man extended his hand. I shook it. “Nice to meet you,” Jabari said warmly. “Nice to meet you too,” I replied. Now that I was standing closer, I could get a better look at him. Jabari looked noticeably older than Adrian. Not old exactly, but mature in a way that suggested years of experience. He wore a dark cap pulled low over his forehead and carried himself with the confidence of someone accustomed to leadership positions.

Xavier: When she first mentioned the name, something in me went still. “Lorenzo D’Amaris,” Valerie said with a small, almost relieved smile, setting the file on the desk. “He’s interested in investing in the new firm. It’s all legitimate, I checked everything twice. He seems professional. I am still checking things out, but the idea of someone wanting to invest is making me happy.” I forced my expression to stay neutral even as my instincts sharpened. “D’Amaris?” I repeated, slowly. “Where’s he from?”

Baraka said, looking directly at the former assassin. Jabari blinked, his obsidian skin sharpening slightly at the edges. "Me? Baraka, I’m a blunt instrument. Nyosi trained me to level buildings, not play cat burglar. If you want a smash-and-grab, you should be the one leading the charge. You stopped a rotary cannon with your bare hands."

David caught that detail immediately. Interesting. “Hello, Mr. Grey,” John said, turning toward him. “I’m John Brown, CEO of Northstar Media.” Jabco shook his hand firmly, his movements controlled and unreadable. If David was showing respect to this man, Jabco wasn’t careless enough to act otherwise. “Hello, Mr. Brown,” Jabco replied. His eyes stayed on John for only a moment before drifting back to Riyana. His expression darkened slightly. She sat there calmly, as if they were complete strangers, as if there wasn’t years of history between them.

“So what’s your question?” I stared at his good-looking face. I just noticed now that his eyes were pitch black and every time he blinks, the color suddenly changes into golden brown. His face gets closer to me, but not close enough that we would kiss. Just enough for us to see each other clearly and closely. Jacob is already twice my age, his son is years older than me. And yet he remained that silent power within him. “I really don’t have any question. I just wanted to say something since it seemed like we’re just gonna spend the whole time in this room with silence.”

This is worse than anything else. “Okay, so we’re waiting for Mr. Hargrove and his assistant. Let’s begin by introducing ourselves. I’m Christopher Skylar of Skylar Research, but you can call me Chris. This is Allan Jarvis, my righthand and behind me are Ken and Steven our assistants.” Chris Skylar said. He made his announcement sound as if he put an effort into not making it into a proclamation. I could hear the struggle he had with his tone and I’m unsure how sincere he is about treating us as equals.

He plays the footage from the camera flash he got from the lab. We carefully watch everything in the video. Alpha Tate’s wolf wasn’t comfortable seeing it again, he’s growling and radiating anger energy from his body, but we had to watch it. It’s the only way to know who these scientists are. “There.” He points at the screen. Oliver pauses the video, taking it back a little and stops at the face of one of the doctors. “Isn’t that Justin’s father?” Oliver asks, staring at the screen intensely. He does look exactly like Justin though.

“Get your things ready, you are going back to the states.” “Uh? Back to the states? But dad I just got back home and I already finished my program at school…” Eleanor protested. “There is no change of plans. The decision has been made.” Uncle Bob said, and chewed slowly without sparing her a glance. “Uncle Bob…I missed home…Can’t I just stay a bit more?” she turned towards Howard and mouthed to him, “Plead with me…”

“Thanks.” Brent grins back at me and I make my way around the island to the kitchen sink. “He’s the other unmated alpha, right?” I ask casually as I set my empty coffee mug in the sink. “He is,” Jared nods as he leans idly against the counter beside the coffee pot, his eyes going to Brock seated at the island across from him. I follow his gaze to see Brock frowning, looking down at his phone. Guess he’s no longer interested in this conversation.

I was waiting for a cab for a few minutes; however, someone stood next to me. It was the professor who gave me classes a moment ago. I ignored him, I didn't want to talk to him, for now I thought about eliminating that subject from my schedule while I still had time, however that man spoke to me. "Jared Ackerman, you didn't turn in the exam, that will hurt it in class, you must win the midterm to improve your grades." It didn't make me feel comfortable listening to him, I just tried to set the record straight when he started talking to me. I'm sorry, I'm not going back to your class.