Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 286

Chapter 286: Ch 286: Who is she?
Shamal possessed the most compelling emotional voice of all the gang members Rika knew. He had a knack for manipulating his emotions to achieve his desired outcome.

There was a solid chance that he was just acting up and showing a side of himself that he knew Rika would not be able to deny.

But that did not mean his words held no truth. Shamal was mixing his emotions up and exaggerating them to trap Rika in her guilt and make her come with him.

Despite her awareness of Shamal’s tactics, Rika could not escape his emotional trap.

“Boss, Big Sis, little lady, we had so many names for you, so please, don’t abandon us this time. At least, meet everyone once before you decide you no longer want to be associated with us.”

The alpha begged one last time in a pathetic voice, and Rika felt she had no choice but to follow him.

“Fine, I will meet everyone one last time. But that will genuinely be the last time I come here. I cannot afford to keep coming here. I recently left my family, so I can’t even protect you people like I used to.”

Rika told the truth about her situation, but Shamal quickly assured her it was alright.

“That’s fine, boss! We never cared about your family and what it could do for us. None of us here had a family before you, so you are our family. Now, shall we head out and meet others?”

Shamal asked in a grinning voice, and his flowery words made Rika feel weirdly glad that she had stuck around.

‘Family, huh? I guess Shamal is not that far off. I did care about the members of this gang I was close to. I also think I injured those people more than I could count while training. Those were some fun times.’

Rika sighed as she followed after Shamal.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Emily, but Rika did not bring her phone out to check what Emily had sent her.

She reached the door where the meeting was being held next, and Shamal made a bowing gesture that meant you first.’

Shamal forced the door open, and everyone in the room looked startled. Rika remained hidden behind him, but she could see the room.

There were 3 alphas, 1 beta, and 2 omegas inside that conference room; only one was new in the circle.

It was easy for Rika to recognize the people she had been closer to before, but they looked to have aged in the past three years.

“Shamal, you are back. And what do we hear about that fight on your turf? You lost to a hostage you were supposed to intimidate? What the heck, man! You have lost your touch.”

The first alpha on the right said these words with a gleeful face. He had a muscular body and an intimidating face.

He was also a coward at heart, and Rika had made him cry like a baby so many times that she could not count the number on one hand.

‘Good old Henry! Looks like he has not changed much in the past three years. He has gotten more buffer than before, but I wonder if he has corrected his habit of crying when he feels overwhelmed.’

Rika wondered as she took in everyone else.

The only person in the room, the omega on the farthest side of the room, spoke up next.

“Tsk, how dare you show your face here after you lost to a hostage? We already have enough problems to deal with without your interference.”

Rika blinked a few times as soon as she heard that voice. It sounded very similar to her voice.

That omega also looked similar to Rika, with the same black hair and blackish-grey eyes. At first glance, the only difference between them was their height.

Rika was not tall, but the omega sitting in the booth was at least of average height.

Shamal noticed where Rika’s attention was pointed and cringed at what Rika must be thinking.

“I know what you are thinking, Miss Rika. But Dawn is not your substitute. She is a capable omega who can get her work done. I promise we did not bring her here because we missed you.”

Rika did not say anything, but she felt sorry for the poor child being used as a likely substitute in her place by these people.

Her silence was enough to make Shamal flinch, and he looked startled.

“Oi Shamal! What the heck are you doing? Are you not going to pay attention to our meeting? If you are not, then go away…. huh! Do you have anything hidden behind your back?”

Henry, the first alpha who spoke up, noticed and questioned Rika’s presence.

The buff alpha had sharp instincts but not that sharp of a mind. It almost made Rika worry for him, but she quickly dismissed it and decided to step out from behind Shamal’s back.

“Three years, and it looks like none of you made any progress! I asked people to keep moving forward before I left, but what did you do? Nothing! I have half a mind to whip you all into shape while I am here.”

Silence filled the hall when Rika stepped out from behind Shamal’s back.

No one could believe their eyes when they looked at Rika. They were all too stunned to speak up.

All but one person in the room looked speechless.

Dawn was the only one who did not know who Rika was, so she decided to ask the all-important question Rika did not want to be asked.

“Who the heck are you, and how did you come here? Shamal, are you not going to do anything about it? We just had a break-in right in front of your eyes? Hello! Is anyone listening?”

Dawn asked worriedly; she was only concerned about Rika being there.

The poor girl was trying to make out heads and tales of what was happening around her, but no one else seemed to be in the mood to tell her anything.