Any other time or place, that would have me re-thinking my decisions. But right now, as Ralph watches me with way too much interest, all I can think about doing is raiding my fathers liquor cabinets so I can numb my mind.
But that is the worst idea. Coming home drunk was stupid and dangerous on my part.
“Let the boy go to bed.” Ralph chuckles, playing with the cuffs of his white dress shirt before running a hand through his gelled back black hair. “He had a hard day. Life happens."
My father scratches at his jaw before waving me off. “Go get some sleep. And I swear Beckham, if you come home drunk again, there’s going to be an issue.” He shakes his head. “This weekend, I want you to sit in on a few meetings with me.”
“Okay.” I nod, swallowing hard.
Turning around, I continue on my way down to my room, guilt churning in my stomach.
The main reason why I came back home was to get close to my father, to the people within his business, and find out if they played any part in distributing the drugs that killed those students.
After being back in this house for only a few weeks, my original plans changed. I couldn’t play the long game, not with Ralph breathing down my neck any time I was around. So, I casually brought up some ‘rumors’ I heard back in my old city, hoping it might help.
I guess in a way it did. My father was pissed and lost his shit. He called a meeting and threatened his people that if they knew anything about why the underground would be sullying his name, they better come forward or there would be hell to pay.
No one said a word, I didn’t expect them to. If someone within my father’s ranks were a part of this, they would take that information to their grave.
I was so sure, so convinced that Rickie was barking up the wrong tree. That my father would never deal in dirty drugs. And I’m still convinced that he’s not.
However, I don’t believe that someone who works for him isn’t.
Coincidentally, just a week after that meeting, the death rates went down and after two months, they stopped all together.
It’s like the drug just disappeared.
And because of that, I know there’s a rat within my father’s ranks.
What I should be doing is getting close, digging deeper, becoming so entwined with the family business that I can get the answers I came here for.
With my father’s threat on their shoulders, I believe whoever it was became too afraid of being caught and decided to stop.
With no more students dying, I took the coward’s way out.
Wanting as much space between me and Ralph as I can get, I started putting more time into my work as a professor than my responsibilities to the family. That doesn’t stop my father from trying though.
I keep coming to family meetings and doing the odd job to please him. He loves me, he wants what's best for me. He wants me to be ready to take over the family business when the time comes.
But lately, all I want to do is teach. To escape into a place that feels safe for me. I’ve built a good life at Crown Well. Both the students and staff have come to respect me.
It’s a better job and atmosphere to be in than my last school.
The longer I teach here, the less I think about the mafia.
Still, this life isn’t much better. It consists of work, drinking, smoking, and hot anonymous hookups at the sex club part of The Frenzy.
Is this my life now? Am I going to die alone, an unmated single omega?
The thought is fucking depressing and has me wanting to reach for another drink.
Unfortunately for me, there’s no alcohol in my room so I decide to strip out of my clothes and crash for the night.
Maybe tomorrow will be a better day. But I’m not going to get my hopes up.
CHAPTER 4
TATUM
