by Nora Phoenix
“Yeah. I never wanted to have a career.”
Palani’s voice softened. “I know, baby. I’m so excited you get to have your dream, build a family.”
His words were wonderful and horrible at the same time. How could it hurt so fucking much to hear him say that? “How are things with you and Enar?” Vieno asked, wiping away a stray tear. “Are you guys together?”
Palani sighed. “I'm not sure. We hooked up, I guess? It’s complicated.”
Complicated. That word didn’t even begin to describe how fucked up everything was. Vieno laughed. “Everything is complicated,” he said, and then his laugh transitioned into a sob. “It’s so fucking complicated…”
“Vieno…”
All it took was his name falling from those lips. Those gorgeous lips, which he’d kissed a thousand times, always knowing it wouldn’t last, and now that his fears had become reality, he would give anything for one more kiss, one more touch, one more…
“I have to go,” he sobbed. “I can’t do this. This hurts too fucking much.”
“It will get better, I promise… Baby, listen to me.”
Vieno let Palani’s words roll over him, trying to soak in the promises, to believe them.
“It. Will. Get. Better. You have to believe that, okay? Lidon is a good man, baby, a good man. He’ll grow to love you, I promise you. I know it hurts, but it will become less.”
Vieno’s eyes were so full of tears he couldn’t see anything anymore. “Does it hurt for you too?”
Palani took a long time to answer. “Like being cut with a thousand knives.”
Enar ushered a patient out the clinic where he rented a sterile room a couple of days a month to do procedures.
“Thank you so much, Dr. Magnusson,” the woman said over her shoulder, supported by her husband as she shuffled to her car. He’d tied her tubes because she kept getting pregnant, and with six kids, both she and her husband were done. Like many from the working class, they were uninsured, so they would've never been able to afford the cost of a “real” clinic. Enar loved he could provide services like this to the underprivileged.
He walked back in. Janet, his assistant, was cleaning up the room and sterilizing everything for the next patient, but he wouldn’t be here for another thirty minutes. Good. Maybe he could get something to eat because his stomach was complaining loudly.
He’d just crammed half a sandwich from the convenience store around the corner into his mouth when his phone rang with the ringtone he’d set for Lidon.
“Yo,” he said with his mouth full. “What’s up?”
“Can you talk?” Lidon asked, his voice tight.
Enar quickly swallowed. “Yeah.” He closed the door of the tiny office he was in. Janet had music on her earbuds anyway when she was cleaning, but he wanted to make sure. “What’s going on?”
“Remember we talked about Excellon? When I called you, you mentioned another birth control that was more effective but hadn’t been approved yet.”
“Yeah, Optimon, but it's being blocked for approval, somehow.”
“Did you know the same company that owns Excellon produces Optimon as well? Lukos?”
“I did. It’s not uncommon for a company to own multiple patents or products aimed at the same market, even competing ones, if that’s what you were worried about.”
“They also own X34, that heat suppressant we found during a raid. You helped the omega husband of the guy I initially arrested.”
“I remember. He’s being tested for the gene, but the results haven’t come in yet. But why are you telling me all this? What’s your point?”
“Isn’t it unusual for a young, privately owned company like Lukos to realize three successful patents in such a short time?”
Enar cocked his head. Huh. He’d never looked at it that way. “It is, actually. But I thought you were looking into bribery from the competitors?”
“I am, but this was brought to my attention, and you know how I feel about anomalies.”
Enar smiled. “I do. Are you gonna look into this further? Because this is far, far outside your scope…”
“There’s a cop,” Lidon said, and the tension in his voice had Enar sit up straight. “He’s the second-in-command at the White-Collar Division, the department that should be looking into this. He’s not. In fact, I have a source who tells me IA has an eye on Ryland.”
“Oh, fuck. If Internal Affairs is conducting an investigation, they must have some proof he’s dirty, right? This is bad news, Lidon. If he finds out you’re going behind his back on this investigation…”
“I know, which is why I can’t dig deeper. Not while he’s still there. It could compromise IA’s case against him.”
“Not to speak of the danger it would put you in. I would say that ranks higher than IA.”
“Do you think I could ask Palani to investigate? It would be a major scoop for him.”
Enar pushed a breath out. “Oh, boy. That’s thin, thin ice you’re stepping on. If Palani so much as gets a whiff of how dirty your boy Ryland is, he’ll nail him to a cross in one of his pieces. And if he does… Lidon, you’d have to tell him. You’d be putting him in real danger.”
“Yeah, I'm aware.” Lidon sounded miserable. “I’ve looked at it from every angle, but I can’t see another way.”
“You could wait with the investigation until Ryland is caught,” Enar suggested.
“I would if I knew for certain he was the only bad apple. Did you read that last article Palani wrote, about the homicide cop who turned out to be taking bribes to let evidence disappear? He stated once again how widespread the problem is. If he’s right, it won’t be just Ryland, but him and a dozen others, and it could take years before they’re all gone. Meanwhile, these meds are being kept from people who need them, and that’s an injustice I can’t ignore.”
“Then tell him. Tell Palani your suspicions about Ryland so he doesn’t go in blind. They’re targeting him already, and this could put a bull’s-eye on his back.”
Lidon was quiet for a second. “You’re quite passionate about his safety,” he said, the question implicit.
“Fuck you,” Enar said, then sighed. “We’re… I have no idea what we are, but I like him, okay? And you do too. Don’t deny it.”
The silence hung comfortably between them for a while.
“I’m worried about Vieno,” Lidon then said.
Enar frowned. “Why? What’s wrong with him?” He did a quick mental calculation. “Is it his heat that’s coming? Couple more days, right?”
“Yeah, but I don’t think that’s it. He seems…lifeless. Passive. He’s not sleeping well, and he barely eats.”
“He needs time to adjust,” Enar said, his voice gentle. “He's experienced big changes, all at lightspeed.” He remembered what Palani had told him, about Vieno being prone to depression. “But keep an eye on him, okay? Maybe being by himself in that gigantic house isn’t the best thing for him.”
“What do you want me to do about that? I can’t spend every day with him. Palani didn’t either, and he was doing fine with him.”
Something about that statement triggered Enar, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. “Don’t forget that he’s also missing Palani,” he said.
“I know. But that will pass, right? Considering I claimed him.”
“I expect so,” Enar said. “Are you…are you jealous of what he has with Palani? Or had, I should say.”
Lidon sighed. “I should be, but I’m not. I’m more confused. The connection between him and me is so strong, and I know he senses it too.”
This was the perfect opening if he ever saw one. “Speaking of that connection,” Enar said. “I have a theory.” He explained his idea that what Lidon was experiencing was a version of the fated mates that had been common amongst his ancestors.
“Fated mates? Fucking hell, man, you didn’t think that was worth mentioning before I claimed him?”
Lidon didn’t sound angry, more stunned.
“The fact that you wanted to alpha claim him triggered my suspicions. I’ve never seen you act the way you do with Vieno. You’re so tender with him, so involved. Patient. It’s special to witness.”
“It sounds sappy as fuck, but it’s exactly how I feel about him, as if he opened a part of me that was there all along but was hidden somehow. Closed off. But fated mates…holy fuck, I didn’t see that one coming.”
“There’s a lot we don’t know about how that stuff worked back then,” Enar said. “But from what I’ve read, it sounds an awful lot like what you and Vieno experience. The way he responded to you, how fast he recovered from the effects on his long-term use of heat suppressants. He was in horrible shape when I first saw him, and to watch his transformation into a healthy omega within forty-eight hours? It was nothing short of amazing.”
“I…I don’t know what to say. I wanna say you’re right, but damn, I need some time to wrap my head around this.”
“That’s fine. Vieno isn’t going anywhere. Just…take good care of him, okay? He may need more time than you to adapt to all the changes. Life’s not been easy for him. And when you decide to go after that fucker, with or without Palani’s help, be careful. For yourself, but also for Vieno. He’s your weak spot now.”
Lidon was quiet for a long time. “Protect the Pack,” he finally said.
“What? What does that mean?” Enar asked, frowning.
“You be careful as well, Enar. Look over your shoulder. Vieno’s not my only weak spot.”
20
For a good ten minutes after he hung up with Lidon, Palani sat there, trying to process everything the cop had told him. If the alpha’s suspicions about the bribes were true, Palani would have the scoop of the century. This was way better than local cops being bribed. This was a story that would catapult Palani onto a national level. Hell, this was Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, all wrapped up into one.
He wasn’t jumping into this just like that, though. Not after what Lidon had also shared, about the cop he suspected was dirty. For Lidon to share that with Palani, the situation had to be pretty damn serious. And Palani did take the stern warning Lidon had given him seriously, even if the alpha had sounded hot as fuck with his bossy, protective demeanor. To protect himself and others, he needed a little more leeway than he usually had, which meant a conversation with his boss.
He scored a fresh donut from the graphics department where Cindy was celebrating her thirtieth birthday and brought it to Franken on a paper plate. The man loved his sugar.
“Mr. Franken,” he said as soon as his boss was off the phone. “Can I disturb you for a few minutes? I brought you a donut.”
Franken’s usually stern mouth curved into a smile. “You have one hell of a favor to ask, huh? Hand it over, Hightower. Then sit your ass down and spill.”
Palani waited until his boss had stuffed the first half of the donut into his mouth, figuring he had the floor for at least ten seconds. “I received an anonymous tip this morning about a possible bribery case on a national level. I would like your permission to pursue this offline.”
Offline meant that he would report only when he had enough information to confidently make his case. That way, Franken had plausible deniability toward his superiors, and if it didn’t go anywhere, Palani wouldn’t lose face.
Franken furiously chewed, then swallowed. “You got more cops in your target? Or another government branch?”
Palani shook his head. “No. Medical industry, but I can’t say more than that at this point.”
Franken stared at him for a second, then wiped his mouth with a white napkin. “How reliable is your source?”
“Very. He has inside information on this, sir. Plus, he’s a friend.”
“What financial scope are we talking about?”
“Millions, if not more.”
He waited with bated breath as Franken devoured the rest of the donut, frown lines indicating he was considering Palani’s request. “How many hours would you need?”
“Twenty before I can report back to you, sir.”
“Hmm. The timing is far from perfect with the elections coming up in a few weeks. I had planned for you to do a few political profiles.”
Palani managed to hide his surprise. He hadn’t been expecting that, as someone as junior as him usually didn't get to cover politics. “Were you hoping I’d uncover dirt, sir?”
Franken smiled. “We both know that if it’s there, you’ll find it. I want you to dig into the CWP and especially their candidate, George York.”
“The Conservative Wolf Party? Why them?”
“They’re coming out of nowhere, and they’re gaining ground fast. That makes me suspicious. You’re good at digging, Hightower. Hell, you’re like a dog who lost its bone and won’t give up until you dig it back up. I need you to look into them and see what’s going on.”
Palani’s heart raced. This was an incredible assignment. No way was he missing out on that one. “I can do both, sir. If you take me off the regular beat for now, I can focus on both these cases. And thank you, sir. I’m honored that you’d consider me for this.”
Franken folded his hands and leaned over his desk. “Twenty hours for your case. After that, I want to assess the scope and credibility. Choose a project name so you can write your hours.”
Palani didn’t have to consider that question long. “Project X, sir.”
“All right. And start working on getting access to York and the CWP.”
“Yes, sir.”
Palani walked back to his desk, elated. He couldn’t believe he not only had gotten permission to investigate Lidon’s tip but had been given a political case as well. Before he realized it, his phone was in his hand and he’d dialed Vieno’s number. It rang for a long time before Vieno picked up.
“Hey,” he said, his voice sleepy.
Palani checked the time. It was right after lunch. “Hi. Did I wake you?”
“Yeah, I was tired. Took a little nap.”
His voice was flat, and Palani’s stomach rolled. “Are you okay, baby? Do I need to call Lidon, ask him to come over?”
“No, don’t. It’s…I don’t want to disturb him at work. He’s working.”
“I’m sure he’ll want to come right over if you’re not okay,” Palani said.
“I’ll be fine. You said it yourself, right? It’s an adjustment.”
Palani hesitated. Was it really that? Or was Vieno slipping into a far more serious depression than he’d had before? He couldn’t take the risk, not after the stories he’d hear from the McCain family. “Can I call Enar for you? Ask him to come see you, evaluate you?”
A small sob made his heart all but stop. “I don’t want Lidon to know.”
“Why not, baby? He’s your husband, your mate. He’ll want to take care of you.”
“I don’t want to disappoint him, not after everything he’s done for me. He deserves better.”
Palani inhaled to steady himself. This was not good. Not good at all. “Listen, Enar has the code to Lidon’s house, okay? I can call him and ask him to stop by and not tell Lidon…for now. I think you should tell him, but I understand it’s hard for you. Why don’t you let Enar evaluate you and wait for his assessment, hmm?”
He crossed his fingers that Vieno would agree. If not, he was in an impossible position. He couldn’t go himself because he’d promised Lidon he would stay away from Vieno until Lidon felt it safe for them to see each other. He couldn’t tell Lidon without Vieno’s permission, and the same held true for Enar. Something had to give.
“What could Enar do?” Vieno asked in a thin voice.
“He’s a doctor, so I’m sure he knows a hell of a lot more than you and me combined. Please, baby, let me call him.”
“O-okay,” Vieno said after thinking about it. “I guess it can’t hurt if he promises not to tell Lidon.”
“I’ll tell him, okay? And please, take good care of yourself.” He hesitated, then spoke the words he’d so rarely spoken
because they hurt too fucking much to acknowledge. “I love you, Vieno. You know that, right? I love you so much. Don’t give up. Promise me.”
Vieno’s sob broke his heart all over again. “I promise. I’m trying…it hurts so much, but I’m trying. And I love you too.”
Something was off with Vieno. When Palani had called him, Enar had promised him he’d check on Vieno before Lidon came home. He had no qualms about going behind his friend’s back, knowing his first loyalty was always with his patients. As a cop, Lidon would understand that. Plus, if he’d checked with his friend, Lidon would have told him to take care of Vieno anyway.
When walked in, found Vieno mopping the master bathroom floor with Adele singing in the background. At first, he’d considered it a good sign that the omega had at least been doing something, but then he’d observed his pale cheeks and the hollow eyes, the life completely missing from him. What was going on? Both Palani and Lidon had noticed it, and now his own medical observations confirmed it. Something was wrong. Vieno should be flourishing in the care of his mate, especially with all the alpha hormones and proteins Lidon shared with him.
He asked Vieno to lie down on the bed so he could examine him. He removed his stethoscope out of his ears and slung it around his neck, then probed Vieno’s neck. The omega had no fever, no other symptoms than a lack of energy, that slow heart rate, and a low blood pressure. The latter two were unusual. What could this be?
“How do you like the house?” he asked, trying to keep the conversation going despite Vieno’s monosyllabic answers so far.
“It’s beautiful. Huge and way too big for us, but amazing.”
“Room to grow a family, huh?” Enar said.
“I hope so.”
He answered Enar's questions and said the right things, but without any spark, any enthusiasm. As if repeated lines someone else had taught him.
“How’s Lidon been treating you?”
“He’s perfect,” Vieno said. “I’m so lucky he wanted to marry me.”
