CHAPTER 3 ~ BEAU'S POV

The words echo in the large room, and the sheer audacity of Rhett's demand creates a heavy silence across the mahogany table. I rapidly calculate the absolute danger of his ultimatum, yet my body is far more concerned with the sharp, agonizing cramp that suddenly twists through my lower abdomen. I carefully press my left forearm against my stomach while pretending to rest my arm on the armrest, and I take a very slow, measured breath through my nose to prevent my pain from showing on my face. Moving into the private estate of the Northside Triad is an absolute disaster for my closely guarded secret. Living in such close proximity to three extremely dominant Alphas will inevitably destroy the remaining efficacy of my suppressants, and the biological consequences of that failure will be absolutely catastrophic for my position. I have spent years meticulously crafting an independent life where I personally cook my own meals, manage my own medical care, and control my own environment to prevent anyone from discovering my reality. Surrendering that daily control is terrifying.

Daniel violently pushes his chair back from the table before I can even formulate a proper verbal response, and the wooden legs scrape loudly against the thick carpet. He stands up to his full height and glares directly at Rhett, and his protective instincts completely override his usual professional demeanor. Daniel and I have known each other since we were teenagers, and he knows exactly how much I value my privacy and my strict daily routines.

"You are absolutely out of your mind if you think the Southside Syndicate will allow our Boss to become a hostage in your territory," Daniel states aggressively, and he stops chewing his peppermint gum to clench his jaw. "We came here in good faith to negotiate a mutual territory merger, and you are trying to trap him under the pretense of collateral. That is not a partnership, and we will never agree to those terms under any circumstances."

Seth immediately pushes himself away from the large window, and he walks toward Daniel with heavy, deliberate footsteps that clearly communicate his desire for physical violence. His hazel eyes darken with raw aggression, and he cracks his knuckles while staring at my lead enforcer. Seth is a man who relies heavily on primal instincts, and he does not tolerate any disrespect toward his pack leaders.

"You need to watch your tone when you speak to my Boss," Seth warns in a low, vibrating growl that fills the entire room and rattles against the wooden furniture. "You are standing inside our secured floor, and we have twenty armed men waiting directly outside those double doors. If you raise your voice again, I will personally throw you out of this hotel through the glass window, and I will not regret the action at all."

"Stand down, Daniel," I command firmly, and I force myself to sit perfectly straight despite the painful heat radiating through my lower back. I reach over and place my hand directly on Daniel's forearm to stop him from reaching for his concealed weapon. "We are not going to start a physical altercation inside this conference room, because we are going to handle this situation logically. Sit back down and remain quiet."

Daniel looks down at me with utter disbelief, and he shakes his head slightly before reluctantly lowering himself back into the leather chair. "Beau, you cannot possibly consider this demand. You have a massive estate to run, and you have hundreds of men who need your daily guidance. You cannot manage our territory while locked inside their compound. Furthermore, Dr. Evans specifically told you to stay in a stress-free environment this week because of your health, and he instructed you to rest in your own bed."

Dean leans forward and rests his chin on his folded hands, and he watches the exchange between Daniel and me with deep fascination. He adjusts his wire-rimmed glasses, and a highly observant gleam appears in his sharp green eyes.

"Your personal doctor has placed you on medical rest, Beau? That is very interesting information, especially since you just claimed you spent your morning entertaining an Omega. Those two activities do not usually align for a healthy Alpha. Most Alphas who engage in heavy physical activity do not require mandated bed rest from a medical professional."

I feel intense anger toward Daniel for mentioning my medical appointments, and I quickly reach my right hand into my suit pocket to feel the small plastic outline of my pill bottle. I only have four suppressants left in that container, and I know those few pills will barely last me through the next twenty-four hours if I am trapped with these men. I pull my hand out of my pocket and reach for my water glass again, and I take another long drink to soothe the sudden dryness in my throat. I place the glass down carefully, ensuring no water spills onto the documents, and I look directly at Rhett.

"My health is completely fine, and my doctor is simply overcautious regarding my diet and my sleep schedule," I lie smoothly, and I fold my hands neatly on top of the leather folder. "However, my enforcer is entirely correct about the logistics of my leadership. I cannot effectively command the Southside Syndicate if I am completely isolated from my men, my communication channels, and my daily administrative duties. I need access to my personal computers and my secure files."

Rhett watches the way my chest rises and falls, and he lightly taps his index finger against the wooden table. "You will have full access to a secured phone line, and you can conduct all of your necessary syndicate business from our guest wing. We will provide you with a secure laptop, and our private chef will accommodate your specific dietary needs. We are not taking you as a prisoner, Beau. We are taking you as a guarantee that you will not betray our men while they are dying on your docks to protect your borders."

I acknowledge the severe reality of the situation, and I calculate the exact odds of our survival without this merger. Vincent Rossi has already purchased military-grade weapons, and his cartel outnumbers my loyal men by a severe margin. If I walk out of this room today to protect my biological secret, my entire family will be killed by the end of the week, and my pride is simply not worth the lives of my people. I feel another wave of artificial pine body wash evaporate from my skin, and the terrifying fear of my impending heat battles against my duty as a leader.

"I will agree to your terms," I say quietly but firmly, and I deliberately ignore the loud gasp that escapes Daniel's mouth. I open the leather folder, pick up the silver pen resting next to the documents, and sign my legal name on the three separate signature lines without allowing my hand to shake.

I close the folder and push it across the table toward Dean, and then I turn my head to look at my closest friend. "Daniel, you are going to take the SUV and return to the southern estate immediately. You will assume temporary operational control of the street patrols, and you will coordinate directly with the fifty men Rhett is sending to the docks tonight. You will also instruct the staff to lock down my private residence."

"Beau, please do not do this," Daniel pleads softly, and he leans down to speak directly into my ear so the Triad cannot hear his desperation. "You do not have enough of your medication with you, and you will not survive a week in their house. Let me call Dr. Evans right now, and we can figure out another plan before you get inside their vehicles."

"That is a direct order from your Boss, Daniel," I whisper back, and I infuse my voice with as much Alpha authority as I can currently muster to ensure he obeys me. "Go home, secure our borders, and do exactly what I have instructed you to do. Do not contact the doctor unless it is an absolute emergency regarding the street war."

Daniel stares at me for a long moment, and his brown eyes are filled with deep concern and extreme frustration. He eventually straightens his posture, nods his head once, and turns around to walk toward the double doors. He does not look back as he exits the conference room, and the heavy oak doors click shut behind him, leaving me completely alone with the three most dangerous men in the city.

I slowly stand up from my chair, and my abdominal muscles protest the movement violently, forcing me to grip the edge of the table for a brief second to steady my balance. My skin feels incredibly hot against the fabric of my tailored shirt, and I silently pray that my remaining suppressants will afford me enough time to find a secure room in their house.

Rhett stands up as well, and he casually buttons his suit jacket while observing my obvious physical weakness with intense scrutiny.

"You look very pale for a man who just secured a massive empire, Beau, so we are going to take you home right now and find out exactly what you are hiding under those expensive clothes."