Page 16 of Give Me You
I hold up a hand and cut him off, my attention turning back to Jax. "You've got thirty seconds to explain why your best friend dragged you in here. I'm guessing the marks on your face were because of him, and Viktor tends to be annoyingly docile."
Jax's breathing gets faster, panic starting to set in. He knows he's fucked. He knows there's no talking his way out of this. But he tries anyway, the words tumbling out of his mouth in a rush. "Someone asked me how to synthesize the heat drug and dissolve it in a liquid or a cream. For a faster method of reaction. I thought it was just, you know, a special request. Someone who wanted something custom. I didn't think it was a big deal."
Rage floods through me. "Now, who the fuck would ask you that kind of bullshit? It works just fine as a pill." Almosttoofine.
Jax starts to get up, probably thinking he can make a run for it. But Viktor slams him back down on the ground, his hand pressing hard on Jax's shoulder. The Alpha yelps, his body crumpling under the force.
"I'm all for a little violence," I say, my voice dangerously low. "But please, tell me what's your stake in it, Viktor."
Viktor's jaw clenches, his eyes burning with betrayal and anger as he meets my gaze. "We've been friends for twelve years and I trust him with my life. Well,trusted. He's the reason our client got drugged, and I can't…" His voice breaks, the emotion too much for him to keep contained. "I can't let that slide. We have rules for a reason."
I let out a horrifying growl, the sound rumbling from deep in my chest. Everyone in the warehouse freezes, the atmosphere shifting from tense to downright dangerous. I take a step closer to Jax, looming over him. "What the fuck did you do?"
Jax scrambles back, trying to put distance between us. "I just played around with the formula a little so that it would work ina cream, you know, for people who can't take pills or whatever. I thought it would expand our market, give us more options."
The stupidity of it makes me want to snap his neck right here. "That heightens the potency of the fucking drug, you asshole. And who did you give it to?"
Jax's eyes go wide, realization dawning on him that he's in deeper shit than he thought. He scrambles back to his ass, putting his hands out like that's going to protect him. I kick him in the side, hard enough to hear ribs crack, the Alpha howling in pain as he curls into himself
"Answer the fucking question," I snarl.
"River!" Jax gasps out, clutching his side. "I gave it to River!"
Liam steps up from his position by the wall, his expression just as murderous as I currently feel. That usually blank expression is replaced with a snarl, my brother showing off the true reason he became my enforcer rather than just someone behind the scenes. "You mean you gave our drugs to River? The guy we banned from here because he wasn't trustworthy enough? That's one of the only rules, you fucker. Not to share them with members who have been kicked out."
"It was just to make it a little more fun," Jax whimpers. "He said he had a special client, someone who needed something stronger. I thought I was helping."
"Yeah, and then it could be deadly," I say, my voice dropping a few octaves as I push every ounce of anger into my voice. "We haven't done any tests, haven't been able to put our name behind it. Nothing. And we have no idea who or what River will use that shit for."
I stomp on Jax's side, right where I kicked him before. He howls again, the sound echoing through the warehouse. "I get it," he gasps out between sobs. "I fucked up."
I crouch down, getting right in his face, letting out a low-bellied growl that reverberates through the warehouse. "Fuckedup doesn't begin to cover it. You got an Omega drugged against their will. We have rules, Jax. Rules for a reason. And your greed or misplaced loyalty or whatever the fuck is going on led you to this point."
I stand up and look over at Dante and Ronan. They're already moving, reading my intention before I voice it. "Take out the trash, please."
They each grab one of Jax's arms, hauling him to his feet. The bastard of an Alpha is all tears and snot, begging for a second chance as he tries to explain his position. Money breaks most men in this business. And I can usually forgive them, but Jax broke the most important rule we have, the one that keeps us from being monsters. Consent. Everything we do is based on consent. People know what they're taking and what they're getting into. And Jax threw that out the window for a quick buck.
Viktor is about to say something, his mouth opening as he watches his former best friend get dragged away. I turn to look at him, my expression softening slightly. "I appreciate you bringing him in. Take a breather, alright?"
Viktor nods, his shoulders sagging. The fight has gone out of him, replaced by exhaustion and grief. Years of friendship, gone in an instant because Jax couldn't follow the fucking rules.
I gesture for Liam to follow me as I head toward the exit. The cool morning air hits us as we step outside, a stark contrast to the stuffy warehouse. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the rage still burning in my chest.
"I'm surprised you didn't stomp Jax out right there," Liam teases, his eyes searching my face for more than I’m obviously giving off.
"I would much rather tear River apart," I say, pulling out my phone. "And I need you to check on Emilio."
Liam raises a brow, his expression shifting to something between amusement and curiosity. "When did you start caring?"
"Don't start with me, please," I say, scrolling through my contacts. "Based on what Jax said, there’s another way to apply the heat drug, and until we get answers, I need to know that he's okay."
Liam is quiet for a moment before he drags a hand through his hair. "You think whoever did it might do it again?"
"I don't know what to think," I admit. "All I know is that whoever fucked with the drugs will have to answer to me."
Liam snorts, a grin tugging at his lips. "Have fun, then." He throws me a goofy smile before heading toward his car, a strained laugh coming from him at the bit of happiness in his step. He’s smitten with Emilio. It’s so fucking obvious I’m not sure how I didn’t catch it before.
Except, I know Liam is going to bring up Emilio’s child and I can’t see that going over well. Emilio has enough stubbornness for all three of us and once that Omega makes up his mind, very few people are able to change it.
