Chapter 1 #2
“If you have reason to believe a student isn’t following the rules, you have the right to violate that privacy.” My voice grows louder. “It’s about money. You don’t want to spend the money to make sure these students are safe.”
“That's enough, Mr. Kennedy,” he barks and my spine stiffens. “I will not allow you to stand here and undermine my authority. I suggest you do your job and get back to class where your students are waiting on you to teach. If not, there will be consequences for not doing your job.”
“And where were the consequences for Chad’s father huh?
” I step forward, fist clenched and I’m three seconds away from clocking this asshole because I’ve gone to him more than once with my concerns for Chad and his answers have always been the same.
It’s out of my hands. Well fuck him because I’m about to throw some damn hands.
“Wasn’t it his job to protect his child?
Not fucking beat him to the point that he felt the need to take drugs to make the pain go away? ”
He narrows his eyes, fury clear in his expression, but I turn around and storm out before he has the chance to say another word.
The rest of the day goes by agonizingly slow. My mind isn’t completely on my job because all I can think about is Chad and what his last moments on this earth were like. Was he afraid? Did he pass out before he knew what was going on?
The questions go round and round inside my head, driving me crazy.
Finally, when the end of the day comes, I’m eager to get home, crawl into my nest, and sleep the weekend away.
This job is taking more out of me than it should. I’m starting to wonder if it’s even worth it anymore.
By the time all the students are gone, and I’m finishing up what needs to be done, it’s a half hour later.
Sighing heavily, I grab my things and make my way to my car.
“I hear there’s mafia ties to this,” someone nearby says as I slip my key into the door of my car. My body stiffens in response, and my attention turns to the conversation.
“Mafia?” another person says. “Nah. I don’t think it’s that big.”
“I was down at Biggies, overheard Rickie and his guys talking. They said it wasn’t local. That they’re pissed about this leaking onto their turf but their hands are tied.”
“Whatever it is, it’s only going to get worse before someone does something about it. And something tells me, whatever that's going to be, it's not going to be good for anyone involved. You don’t fuck with the Serpents, mafia or not.”
Serpents? As in the gang that runs this town?
Mafia and gangs don’t normally cross paths unless one can offer something useful to the other.
The sounds of car doors opening and shutting, followed by a car starting up and taking off tells me I’m alone now.
Finally, I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding and quickly get into my car and out of the hot summer air.
Starting it up, I turn the air-conditioner on and wait for my car to cool down.
What the hell just happened? I have no idea who was just speaking, but they seemed to know something that could lead to some answers.
Anyone else would go to the cops, give them a tip to look into this. But I know better than that.
Cops won’t do shit. If they did, they would have done something about this already. Wouldn’t they?
I told myself I was done until my time came to take over. That I was going to stay out of that life until I had no other choice. It was the only way I’d be able to live my life the way I wanted to.
Now, I don’t think I can do that. I can’t ignore the things I know, the things that are happening.
If I have the power to help, in any way, I have to.
And if that means using my last name, and my connections, then so be it.
I can’t sit around and let another student die when I could have done something about it.
“It was nice while it lasted.” I sigh heavily, closing my eyes, knowing that I won’t be going home to sleep the weekend away.
I have work to do, and people to pay a visit.
It’s what we do. There really isn’t any escaping this life. Not when you’re born into it. And sure as hell not when you're the son of a mafia king.
Out of my suit, I’ve changed into something that won’t cause me to stand out.
Now, I’m in dark jeans and a black hoodie. My once slicked back hair is now messy.
Needing a moment to get my head on straight about what my plan is once I get inside, I close my eyes and I puff on a cigarette.
It’s a nasty habit, one I thought I kicked, but always seem to find my way back to when I’m stressed.
“Those things kill, you know?” A deep male voice sounds close to me, making my eyes shoot open.
“Yeah.” I blink as I watch a tall man with dark hair and a leather jacket light up one of his own. “But there’s a lot of things in life that can kill you faster.”
He takes a drag, raising a brow before blowing out a stream of smoke. “Yeah.” He nods slowly. “Sure is.”
No idea who this man is, don’t want to take the time to find out. Taking one last puff, I throw the butt onto the ground and stomp it out before nodding goodbye and heading inside.
Clubs like this, aren't my thing. It’s loud, reeks of alcohol and weed, and are far too crowded.
I’m less music, more… extracurricular activities of sorts.
But I left that behind when I moved here.
Can’t say I don’t miss it. But that requires trust, and I don’t trust anyone. Haven’t for a long while.
It’s so damn crowded in here, that I can hardly move. Forcing my way through the crowd, I make my way to the bar for a much needed drink.
The bartender gives me a look. “What can I get you?”
“A beer please. Don’t matter the kind.”
He raises a brow but does it anyway. I’m not here to get drunk, but I could use something to take the edge off. I’ve gotten used to my simple little life.
Leaning against the bar, I look around, taking everything in.
I have no idea what Rickie looks like, but I doubt he’s going to be hanging out here. No. He’s most likely in the back, or a VIP area of sorts.
“Look who we have here.” The guy from outside chuckles in my ear. My body stiffens, everything going on high alert. “A sexy little thing like you shouldn’t be in a place like this all alone.”
I can smell the smoke on his breath, but it’s mixed with a hint of peppermint my cock seems to like.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath to get ahold of myself. Time’s like this, I wish I was on suppressants.
It’s been one of the biggest decisions I’ve struggled with.
I’m proud to be an omega. I love it. Every part of it. That's why I hate the idea of taking anything that can affect how my body works. It’s biology, it’s how it’s meant to be.
I hate drugs of any kind, and refuse to put them in my body. But not taking them leaves me at risk of being put into vulnerable situations.
Without them, my omega instincts control me more than I want them to. They’ve gotten me into trouble in the past.
With power, comes powerful men. Men who want what they want, when they want it and they don’t care how they get it.
Something I’ve had the unfortunate chance to experience first hand.
It’s the main reason why I’ve distanced myself from the life I grew up in and moved away.
“I’m not little.” I grunt. I’m six feet, and I have some muscle to me. Nothing crazy but I can hold my own.
“No, you are not, are you?” He purrs and I grit my teeth.
I should have just stayed home. So much for blending in.
“Let’s have a dance.”
“No thank you,” I say, taking a step away from him. I don’t have time to waste and I sure as hell don’t want to dance with anyone here.
He grabs my arm roughly, yanking me hard enough to stumble backwards.
My guard goes up and I’m about to put this alpha in his place when he does the one thing I dread.
“It wasn’t a choice.” He growls menacingly in my ear. “Dance with me, Beckham. Now.”
Ice fills my veins as dread takes over me. How the fuck does he know my name?
His alpha bark seeps into my bones, forcing me to obey his command.
Tears sting the back of my eyes as I kick myself for allowing this to happen, for putting myself in this situation.
I wasn’t thinking clearly. All I was thinking about was getting answers.
Like a damn fucking robot, my body moves without much thought as he pulls me into the sea of bodies.
“You have a lot of nerve to show up here,” he says, turning around to face me. We’re the same height, so we’re eye to eye.
“Who are you?” I shout over the sounds around us.
He gives me a vicious little smile. “You don’t get to ask questions in my house.”
His house? Fuck, so this is Rickie? Guess I don’t have to worry about finding a way to get close without getting caught. The universe had other plans for me.
His hands go to my waist, gripping hard enough to make me wince as he yanks my hips forward. Bile rises in my throat and I have to swallow it down when I feel the press of his erection against my flaccid cock. Any traces of attraction I might have had to this man beforehand are now long gone.
“Now let me ask a question.” He leans in and my heart starts to race faster.
I don’t want to feel fear, I’m stronger than this, but it’s hard when I've literally thrown myself into the belly of the lion without even knowing it.
“What are you doing in my club?” I go to open my mouth but he continues to speak.
“Think wisely, Beckham. Lie to me, and you will regret it.”
Fuck!
How can I be so fucking stupid by coming here? This is another reason why I’ve stepped away from my family life. I’m too damn eager to save the fucking world, I never stop to think.
And this might be one of the times it gets me killed.
I either lie, and piss him off, or risk telling the truth.
From what it sounds like, Rickie didn’t like that kids were overdosing. Maybe if I tell him I want to help stop that from happening again, he’d be less likely to kill me?
Turning my head, so he can hear me better, I say, “I’m a professor at the local college. Students have been overdosing and I want to help put an end to that.”