CHAPTER 4 ~ BEAU'S POV

I force myself to nod once in silent agreement before walking toward the double doors. Seth immediately moves to walk directly behind me, and Dean steps to my right side while Rhett leads the way out of the conference room. We walk down the quiet, carpeted hallway in complete silence, and the absence of my lead enforcer makes my chest feel incredibly hollow. We enter the private elevator, and the metal doors slide shut to trap the four of us inside the small, confined space. The descent to the ground floor takes entirely too long, and I focus my attention on the digital display above the doors because looking at the three Alphas is currently too difficult for my fraying nerves.

We walk through the busy lobby of the hotel, and nobody attempts to approach us because the Triad heavily projects their aggressive dominance into the surrounding air.

We step out into the bright afternoon sunlight, and three heavily armored black SUVs are waiting directly by the curb. Rhett opens the back door of the middle vehicle, and he gestures for me to get inside first. I climb into the spacious back seat and slide all the way over to the far window, and I silently hope the tinted glass will provide a small measure of privacy.

Seth immediately climbs in and sits directly beside me, and his broad, muscular thigh presses firmly against my own leg. Rhett sits in the front passenger seat while Dean takes the driver's side, and the heavy doors slam shut to seal us inside the climate-controlled cabin.

Dean starts the powerful engine, and he merges the large vehicle smoothly into the heavy city traffic. The interior of the SUV is incredibly clean and smells faintly of expensive leather, but the natural pheromones of the three men quickly overpower the chemical scent.

The rich cedar from Rhett, the burnt tobacco from Seth, and the sharp petrichor from Dean mix together to create a suffocating and dense layer of Alpha dominance in the air. My core temperature continues to rise steadily, and a sudden, violent shiver travels down my spine despite the warmth of the car.

I cross my arms tightly over my chest and turn my face toward the window, attempting to regulate my breathing while the city buildings pass by the glass.

Seth shifts his weight on the leather seat, and he turns his head to study my profile. "You are shivering, Beau, and your skin is practically radiating heat against my leg. We can easily turn the air conditioning down if you are actually sick, but you already told us that your doctor merely suggested bed rest."

"The temperature inside the vehicle is perfectly fine, and I do not require any adjustments to the climate controls," I reply evenly, and I refuse to look away from the window because I know my face is currently flushed with an unnatural color. "I simply experienced a sudden chill from the transition between the warm hotel and the outdoor air, and the sensation will pass shortly."

"Your biological responses are extremely contradictory today," Dean comments from the driver's seat, and he briefly looks at me through the rearview mirror while steering the wheel.

"You claim you spent the morning engaging in heavy physical activity, yet you are currently displaying the classic symptoms of severe physical exhaustion and hormonal distress.

Furthermore, the artificial pine body wash you are using is beginning to fade rapidly, and the underlying scent beneath the soap is becoming very distracting to our senses."

I swallow hard, and I carefully unclench my jaw to respond. "My personal grooming habits are not your concern, Dean. I prefer the scent of pine, and I always use heavily scented soaps to ensure I maintain a professional presentation during important business meetings."

Rhett turns around in the front passenger seat, and his slate-blue eyes lock directly onto my flushed face. "We are going to be living in the same house for the foreseeable future, so everything regarding your physical well-being is absolutely my concern. If you are harboring a contagious illness or a debilitating condition that will compromise your ability to lead your men, you need to disclose that information right now before we arrive at the estate."

"I am not hiding any contagious illnesses, and I am perfectly capable of leading my syndicate," I state firmly, and I force myself to meet Rhett's intense gaze. "My men are actively preparing to defend the southern docks, and I fully intend to manage those operations from your guest wing exactly as we agreed upon in the conference room. You have my full cooperation for the territory merger, so you do not need to interrogate me during this car ride."

Rhett stares at me for a very long moment, and he eventually nods his head before turning back to face the windshield. "We will see how cooperative you remain once you are fully settled into your new environment."

The rest of the drive passes in tense silence, and I spend the entire hour desperately fighting the agonizing cramps that continue to spasm through my lower abdomen. The heavy suppressants are clearly failing to suppress my natural biology, and I know I only have a very small window of time left before my body completely surrenders to the heat. Dean eventually steers the SUV off the main highway, and we travel down a long, secluded road surrounded by thick forest trees. We approach a massive set of reinforced iron gates, and two armed guards immediately open the barrier to allow our vehicles onto the private property.

We drive up a winding paved driveway, and the massive Northside Triad estate finally comes into view. The main house is constructed of dark stone and features large glass windows, and dozens of armed enforcers patrol the expansive grounds. I realize instantly that I will never be able to leave this property without their explicit permission, and the psychological weight of my captivity settles heavily into my chest.

Dean parks the SUV near the front entrance, and Seth opens the door to step outside. I slide across the leather seat and follow him onto the concrete driveway, and my leg muscles protest the movement with a sharp ache. Rhett walks up the wide stone steps and opens the heavy wooden front door, and he gestures for me to enter the house. I walk inside and observe the lavish, modern interior, noting the expensive artwork and the pristine hardwood floors.

"Seth and Dean need to coordinate the weapon shipments for your docks immediately," Rhett says in a calm but authoritative voice. "I will personally escort you to your living quarters so you can rest and prepare for the evening strategy meeting."

I nod my head because I desperately need to be alone to take my remaining pills, and I follow Rhett down a long, quiet hallway located on the first floor. We walk past several large rooms until we reach a secluded wing at the very end of the corridor. Rhett stops in front of a solid oak door, opens it, and steps aside so I can enter the space.

The guest suite is incredibly spacious and features a large king-sized bed, a private sitting area, and an attached marble bathroom. I walk toward the center of the room and look around, feeling a small sense of relief that the space is entirely isolated from the rest of the house.

Rhett stands in the doorway, and he places his large hand against the wooden frame. He looks at me with an incredibly dark and possessive expression, and his slate-blue eyes travel slowly down my entire body before returning to my face.

"The private chef will bring your dinner in two hours, and you will remain inside this room until we come to collect you for the meeting," Rhett commands in a low, vibrating voice that sends a sudden, intense thrill straight to my burning core. "You are in my territory now, Beau, and you will obey my rules without question. Do you understand me?"

"I understand the arrangement," I reply softly, and I desperately grip the edge of the nearest armchair to keep my trembling legs from collapsing entirely.

Rhett nods slowly, steps back into the hallway, and firmly pulls the heavy oak door shut. I hear the distinct click of a lock turning from the outside, and the realization that I am physically trapped finally ruins my remaining composure. My knees completely buckle beneath my weight, and I crash hard onto the carpeted floor as a violent, agonizing cramp rips through my lower stomach. I gasp loudly for air, and a profound sense of panic spreads rapidly through my entire body because the unmistakable, slippery wetness of my slick suddenly dampens my tailored trousers. The experimental suppressants have officially failed, and my heat has fully arrived.

I try to push myself up from the floor, but Rhett's deep voice suddenly rumbles through the heavy wood of the locked door, thick with dark and immediate realization.

"You are producing slick, Beau, and I can smell your heat from the hallway, so you are going to unlock this door right now before I break it completely off the hinges."