CHAPTER 2 ~ BEAU'S POV

The silence inside the large conference room becomes completely oppressive after Seth speaks his accusation, and my lead enforcer Daniel immediately shifts his weight defensively beside me. I feel the sudden urge to step backward toward the wooden doors, but I force my leather shoes to remain firmly planted on the thick carpet. I cannot show any weakness in front of these three men because doing so would completely ruin my reputation and my syndicate.

"I spent my entire morning thoroughly entertaining a very beautiful Omega before I drove to this hotel," I say smoothly, and I deliberately let a confident smirk form on my lips. "Her natural scent was incredibly strong, and she was very reluctant to let me leave her bed. I apologize if her lingering pheromones are currently offending your senses, Seth."

Seth narrows his hazel eyes at me, and he takes another slow step forward to stand uncomfortably close to my personal space. He breathes in deeply through his nose again, and his broad chest expands against his dark t-shirt. He does not look entirely convinced by my explanation, yet he finally steps back and crosses his heavy, tattooed arms over his chest.

"We do not care about your morning activities," Rhett states in a low and commanding voice. He sits at the head of the mahogany table, and he gestures toward the empty leather chair directly across from him. "Take a seat, Beau. We have a very large amount of business to discuss today, and we do not have time to waste on trivial matters."

I nod my head once in agreement, and I walk toward the heavy chair. I pull it out and sit down slowly, making sure my posture remains perfectly straight. Daniel takes the seat immediately to my left, and he places the leather folder onto the polished wood surface. I look across the table and observe the three men who control the Northside Triad. Rhett sits perfectly still, and his slate-blue eyes track my every single movement. Seth remains standing near the large window, and he continues to stare at me with intense scrutiny. Dean sits to the right of Rhett, and he calmly adjusts his wire-rimmed glasses while opening a silver laptop.

The combined Alpha pheromones in the room are incredibly dense, and they carry the distinct scents of rich cedar, burnt tobacco, and sharp petrichor. The smell is extremely prominent to my senses, and the suppressants in my bloodstream are struggling to fight off the heavy dominance radiating from the three men. My core temperature begins to rise again, and a fresh wave of sweat forms at the base of my neck.

I reach for the crystal pitcher resting in the center of the table, and I pour a generous amount of ice water into a glass. I take a long drink, letting the freezing liquid cool my dry throat, and I place the glass down carefully so it does not make a loud noise against the wood.

"Let us begin," Dean says while typing a few keys on his laptop. "We reviewed your initial proposal regarding the territory merger, and we agree that combining our resources is the most logical way to eliminate Vincent Rossi and his East End Cartel. Your shipping routes along the southern docks are highly valuable, and our excessive manpower can easily secure those borders from further attacks."

"I am glad we agree on the basic logistics," I reply evenly, and I open my folder to reveal the printed contracts. "My men are currently struggling to hold the eastern border because Vincent has doubled his armed patrols over the last week. If the Triad sends fifty armed enforcers to the southern docks by tomorrow night, we can successfully ambush Vincent's next weapon shipment and cut off his supply lines entirely."

Rhett leans forward and rests his elbows on the table, and he folds his large hands together. "We are absolutely willing to send fifty of our best enforcers to protect your borders, Beau. We are also willing to share our underground weapon reserves with your syndicate so your men are properly equipped to fight the cartel. However, we are not going to provide those resources without securing a massive guarantee."

"The guarantee is the increased profit from the secured shipping routes," I argue calmly, though my lower abdomen suddenly tightens with a sharp, familiar cramp. I secretly grip the fabric of my trousers under the table, and I force my facial expression to remain entirely relaxed. "Once Vincent is completely removed from the city, the Southside Syndicate and the Northside Triad will split the dock revenues equally. You will make millions of dollars in the first quarter alone, and that money will easily cover the cost of your manpower."

Dean stops typing on his laptop, and he looks at me with a highly observant gaze. "Money is not a concern for us right now, Beau. We already control the wealthiest districts in the north, and our financial accounts are completely secure. We are dealing with a man who is actively trying to kill all of us, so we need absolute loyalty and trust. We do not fully trust you yet."

"Trust is built through mutual cooperation," I counter quickly, and I shift my weight in the leather chair because the physical ache in my body is spreading toward my lower back. "I am sitting at this table without my entire security detail, and I am offering you direct access to my most profitable businesses. That is a very clear display of my trust."

"It is a display of desperation," Seth interrupts loudly from his place by the window. He walks back to the table and hits his hands down onto the wood, leaning his face very close to mine. "You are losing this war, Beau. Vincent is going to slaughter your men by the end of the month, and you know it. You came here because you need us to save your life."

I glare directly into Seth's hazel eyes, and I refuse to lean away from him even though his aggressive posturing makes my hidden instincts violently urge me to submit. I forcefully push my Alpha aura outward to combat his dominance, and I keep my voice extremely cold.

"I am perfectly capable of fighting my own battles, Seth. I am offering a partnership because it is the smartest tactical move for both of our families. If you do not want my shipping routes, I will take my contracts and walk out of this room right now."

I begin to close the leather folder, and I prepare to stand up, but Rhett raises his hand to stop me.

"Sit down, Beau," Rhett commands, and the sheer authority in his deep voice actually causes my knees to weaken slightly before I even try to lift my weight. I swallow hard and keep my seat, and I strongly dislike the way my body naturally reacts to his verbal dominance.

"We want the partnership," Rhett continues smoothly, and he closely watches the way I carefully control my breathing. "We will sign the contracts today, and we will dispatch our men to your docks immediately. We will destroy the East End Cartel together, and we will split the profits exactly as you proposed."

"Then what is the exact problem?" I ask him, and I wipe a bead of sweat from my temple because the room is becoming unbearably hot.

Dean adjusts his glasses again, and he points a silver pen directly at me. "The problem is that you are hiding something from us. You are sweating profusely in a climate-controlled room, your heart rate is visibly elevated against your collar, and despite your story about a morning encounter, your scent is changing every single minute. We cannot enter a life-or-death alliance with a man who is keeping dangerous secrets."

My heart rate increases rapidly as a strong sense of panic develops in my chest, and I desperately try to think of another logical excuse, but Rhett speaks before I can form a single word.

"We require physical collateral to guarantee your absolute transparency and loyalty during this war," Rhett states firmly, and he leans back in his chair while observing my flushed face. "You will sign the contracts today, and then you will send your enforcer back to your territory alone. You are coming home with us, Beau."

I stare at him in complete disbelief, and my stomach cramps with a sudden, sharp spike of anxiety. "What are you talking about?"

"The terms are completely non-negotiable," Rhett says in a dark, possessive tone that sends an unexpected thrill straight to my burning core. "You are moving into our private estate until Vincent Rossi is dead, and you are never leaving our sight."