Chapter 17 Liam
Liam
At the station, the handcuffs come off as we're thrown into a smaller room.
The metal scrapes against my wrists when the officer unlocks them, leaving red marks on my skin.
The interrogation room is exactly what one would expect from a small city police station.
Gray walls, fluorescent lighting that buzzes overhead, and a table bolted to the floor with chairs on either side.
There's a mirror on one wall, obviously two-way glass, and a camera mounted in the corner.
Standard setup for making people uncomfortable enough to confess.
In such a small city, we know most of the officers and have a generally good rapport with them, actually.
The drugs we sell aren't illegal per se, existing in that gray area where they're technically regulated substances but not criminalized.
Many officers look the other way because we aren't selling on the streets, aren't contributing to the kind of crime that actually matters to them.
We keep things clean, professional, and contained to clubs and private clients.
Except when assholes like River and Jax start playing around and fuck everything up.
About to ask about the nature of the murder charge, I open my mouth when the door opens again. Zaden walks in, that same smug expression from earlier plastered on his face, my entire body tensing.
"What the fuck is he doing here?" The words come out harsher than I intend, but I don't care. "He's not an officer, so he shouldn't be in the interrogation room."
One of the officers, a guy named Martinez whom I've dealt with before, shifts uncomfortably.
"We know it's highly controversial, but he's been working with us for a few weeks and brought in this tip.
We thought you might find it easier to explain what the fuck happened in front of someone you trust rather than just us. "
Akira laughs, the sound full of bitterness. "I don't trust that piece of shit as far as I can throw him. Maybe you guys got something twisted, but Zaden has made it painfully obvious how little he likes us. Not to mention that he despises his brother and wants his club."
Zaden's expression darkens, the muscles in his jaw tightening. "That's not his club. It was our parents', and it should have gone to me, the Alpha."
The entitlement in his voice makes my skin crawl. Like being an Alpha automatically makes him more deserving, more capable. Never mind that Emilio has been running that club successfully for years, that he's built it into something even better than what his parents created.
Akira just shrugs, unbothered by Zaden's posturing. But I need to understand what we're dealing with here. "Let's back up a little bit. River is dead?"
Martinez nods, pulling out a folder and opening it on the table.
Crime scene photos spill out, and even from my angle, I can see River's body.
He looks worse than how Akira described leaving him, beaten beyond recognition.
"I love that you're playing stupid, but that won't make it easier on you.
He was found dead in his home this evening, and the only reports of anyone around that area were you two and possibly someone else who works with you. "
A frown pulls at my face. I wasn't anywhere near River's house.
Akira gave me a rundown this afternoon on what happened, told me that River handed drugs over to someone named Chad, supposedly.
But River was very much alive when Akira left.
Barely, but still alive. Beat to shit and probably needing medical attention, but breathing.
The other officer, a woman named Lania, leans forward. "We don't have much to go on, but what did you do? Rough him up a little bit and then go back over there when you thought no one was watching?"
"I've been at the club for most of the day, you assholes," I say, my voice tight with frustration. "And Akira…"
The sentence trails off as Zaden bursts out laughing, a cruel, mocking sound that sets my teeth on edge. "There are eyewitness reports."
"How the fuck would you even know?" I challenge, leaning forward in my chair. "You barely leave your posh little apartment unless it's to fuck with Emilio and as far as I know, you were at the fucking club this evening too."
Zaden's smile widens, and just like that, I know we're being set up. This whole thing reeks of his manipulation. The timing is too convenient, the accusation too perfect. He gets us out of the way right when Emilio needs support the most, right when the club is most vulnerable.
There's some commotion outside the interrogation room, raised voices, and the sound of footsteps.
Then the door flies open so hard it bounces off the wall.
A very flustered but sexy looking Emilio stands there, red-faced and breathing hard.
His bright pink suit is slightly rumpled, and there's something wild in his eyes that I've never seen before.
"I need to hear the charges," he demands, his voice carrying the kind of authority that makes everyone in the room pause.
Zaden recovers first, his laugh resuming. "Oh, this is rich! My pregnant little brother, who likes to get shitfaced on the Stark's drugs, to the rescue!"
Otto stands behind Emilio, his expression twisted up in anger. The officer who tried to stop them from barging in hovers just behind, sighing like he knows there's no point in trying to remove them now.
Emilio growls at Zaden. Actually growls, the sound rumbling from deep in his chest. Everyone in the room looks surprised, including me. Omegas don't usually growl unless they're protecting something, unless their instincts have completely taken over.
"I was drugged, you asshole," Emilio snarls, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Which I'm sure you would know more about, but I can't prove it yet. What I do know is it feels very odd that all of a sudden you have these Alphas on a murder charge."
Martinez reaches out, probably trying to calm Emilio down or escort him out.
But before his hand can make contact, Akira lets out a growl that makes the entire room go still.
The sound rumbles through the space, a clear warning not to touch what's his.
My brother's eyes have gone dark, his Alpha instincts flaring to life.
Lania steps between Martinez and Emilio, her hand up in a placating gesture. "They've been arrested for murder, Emilio. River was found dead an hour ago and…"
"They were with me," Emilio interrupts, his lips curling up into an adorable snarl. "And if all you have is a few tips and nothing else, you can't just arrest them."
Martinez tries again to reach for Emilio, probably to guide him out of the room.
But Emilio shakes the hand off his arm and just glares at the officer with such intensity that the man actually takes a step back.
Otto slowly pulls Emilio behind him, positioning himself as a buffer between his charge and the police.
"Are you formally charging them?" Otto asks, his voice much calmer than everyone else in this room.
"You didn't even read them their rights, and while I know this is highly unorthodox to be in here, having Zaden in here is both a conflict of interest and illegal.
So the least you can give me is an answer. "
Martinez and Lania exchange glances. They know Otto is right. They got overzealous, brought us in on flimsy evidence, and a tip from someone with obvious bias. The whole thing is falling apart, and they know it.
"We had a few witness reports," Martinez admits, his tone defensive. "And we were hoping that something would pop up after questioning them."
Otto nods, his expression unchanging. "Wonderful. Then you'll have no problem letting them go since they aren't actually under arrest?"
Lania grimaces, and Martinez sighs. The defeat is clear on both their faces. "No, they're free to go."
Akira leans back in his chair, a smirk spreading across his face.
The satisfaction radiating off him is palpable.
"Careful, you don't get sued for damaging our image, Mr. Officer.
" He pauses, letting the threat hang in the air.
"And for the record, I was sitting at my favorite booth at Aurum Pulse.
Not that any of you can check because the cameras have been a bit fucky.
Zaden, you wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you? "
Zaden's frown deepens, his smugness evaporating. Akira just connected the dots publicly, made it clear that Zaden had motive and opportunity to tamper with the security footage.
Otto steps forward, his voice cutting through the tension. "Let's end this here. Mr. and Mr. Stark, if you would please follow me. I have a car for you two, and Emilio would like to speak with you."
Looking over at Emilio, I see him vibrating with a mixture of emotions.
Anger, fear, relief, frustration, all swirling together in a chaotic mess.
And then I realize something that makes my breath catch.
The pain and confusion swirling around in my chest aren't just mine.
They're Emilio's emotions. I can feel them as clearly as if they were my own, the bond between us strong enough to transmit what he's feeling even when he's trying to hide it.
Akira and I stand, and I make sure to keep my voice level when I address the officers. "We'll be available for questioning if you have any actual evidence. Not just tips from people with obvious conflicts of interest."
Martinez nods, but Lania speaks up before we can leave. "Emilio, you mentioned they were with you. Correct?"
"Correct," Emilio says firmly, not elaborating.
"That's bullshit!" Zaden shouts, his composure finally cracking completely. "He's lying to protect them!"
Otto waves toward the door, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Gentlemen, after you."
Akira and I walk out of the interrogation room, and Emilio quickly falls in step behind us.
Otto says something to Akira that I don't quite catch, something about lawyers and next steps.
A sleek black car waits outside the station, and I slip into the back seat.
Emilio gets in next, sliding across the seat until he's in the middle.
He doesn't settle though, his body still tense and coiled like a spring.
Then Akira climbs in, closing the door behind him. The moment he's seated, Emilio's body relaxes. His shoulders drop, his breathing evens out, and he sinks back against the seat between us.
The ride is quiet at first. Nobody speaks, the silence heavy but not uncomfortable. Emilio slowly relaxes further between us, his body unwinding bit by bit. The warmth of him pressed against my side is reassuring. He's safe. We're safe. For now, at least.
Back at the house, though, the tension rises again, Emilio standing in the middle of the open layout, his hands fisted at his sides. "What the fuck happened since this morning?" he asks, his voice strained.
Akira heads to the kitchen and then returns with two glasses of whiskey, handing one to me before he launches into the explanation, telling Emilio everything we found out.
About Jax synthesizing the drug into a different form, about selling it to River, about River admitting he gave it to someone named Chad.
"So you killed him?" Emilio asks when Akira finishes, his eyes wide.
"He was breathing," Akira says flatly, taking a sip of his whiskey. "When I left, he was alive. Beat up, sure. But alive. We don’t kill people, Emilio."
Emilio groans, running his hands through his hair. "The cameras at work were busted just before the supposed drop off of drugs in my name. Either way, you mentioned a Chad. We don't work with a Chad."
"Walk me through everything," I say, taking a seat on the edge of the couch, and leaning forward. "Who can vouch for you, Akira?"
Akira's expression darkens. "No one other than our guys, and that won't help. Police aren't going to take the word of people on our payroll."
Emilio frowns, and I can feel the frustration building in him again through our connection. "I don't even know why I came here. This is your problem, but I have to fix it."
"What are you talking about?" Akira asks, setting down his glass.
The words tumble out of Emilio before he can stop them. "I didn't even think about it. I just got in your car, knowing I had to fix it. Not like because I own the club where this happened, but because you're my Alphas."
The room goes silent. The weight of what he just said hangs in the air, impossible to take back. Emilio's eyes go wide, realization dawning on his face. "I have to go. Fuck," Emilio says, already moving toward the door.
Walking after him, I reach out for him but don't touch. "Emilio, wait."
"Don't," he says, his voice breaking slightly. "I just… whatever you need, let me know. I need to go home."
Watching Emilio walk out that door feels like watching him rip something vital out of my chest. He's running, scared of what he admitted, scared of what it means. And I can't stop him because he's not ready to hear what I have to say.
The door closes behind him, and I stand there staring at it. My heart aches, the bond between us pulling tight until it’s uncomfortable. Akira comes up beside me, his expression unreadable. "He just called us his Alphas," Akira says quietly.
"And in the same breath, I feel like he rejected us.”