From a business standpoint, it made no sense at all. Even if someone wanted to rig fights and make their supernatural fighter extra strong, the enhancement would just kill them later, destroying their cash cow. So, it couldn't be for business purposes, which meant it probably wasn't a rival coming for us either, since they would be affected by this, too.
Maybe it was a human? Someone trying to systematically wipe out supernaturals? But then, why had it been found with Donnie, a turned werewolf? If genocide was the goal, Donnie definitely wouldn’t be where I'd start. He was hardly a significant target.
"You okay, Nov?" The concern in Calix's voice was genuine and unmistakable, cutting through my spiraling thoughts.
I raised my head, folding my arms to make myself stop moving. To look calm. "Yeah, why?"
He had settled onto the stool I'd vacated, crossing his legs at the ankles and folding his arms in a gesture that reminded me of our father, Falcon. The resemblance was striking and somehow comforting. "Because you were sitting on your bike in a complete daze when I first saw you, then you freaked out over this whole mad scientist situation."
I gestured toward the machine that had analyzed the samples, exasperated by his casual attitude. "What do you mean? This ishuge, Calix! There's about to be complete chaos in my city, and I should have known about it. I should have been on top of this from the beginning."
Calix's eyes narrowed, and his head cocked to the side in that particularly annoying way he had—telling me I was stupid without saying the words. It was infuriating.
"Nova," he said, rising from the stool with deliberate slowness, "this," he flicked his fingers dismissively at the computer, "this can be handled. Youwillhandle it. It's what we do. It's what we've always done for generations."
He took a few cautious steps toward me like he was approaching a wild animal that might bolt or attack at a moment's notice. "You know we have your back, and you have the full power of the Syndicate at your disposal. All you need to do is make one phone call, and you'll have an entire army at your command."
He moved closer, his expression softening into something that looked almost sad. "But whatever's going on in here," he gently tapped my forehead, "and here," he tapped my sternum, rightover my heart, "is messing with you, Nov. I can see it written all over your face. What's really going on?"
Fuck. He was absolutely right, and I hated that he could read me so easily. I rubbed my face with both hands, trying to get a grip on myself and my scattered emotions. "I'm just..." I started, then stopped. How could I possibly explain everything that was tearing me apart inside?
I was heartbroken over someone I should let go of but couldn't seem to release. I was perplexed by some turned wolf I shouldn't see again but knew I would. I was trusting a turned vampire I had just met based on nothing more than this inexplicable feeling in my gut. I shouldn't be focused on any of that romantic drama when I had real, serious problems to deal with.
But I couldn't say any of that to him. If I did, that would mean I needed help figuring it out, and the one thing I was not going to do was ask my brother for relationship advice. Other than Aniyah, my other siblings weren't the best source of info in that department.
I also didn't want to admit how completely my personal life was interfering with my professional responsibilities, so instead, I avoided his perceptive gaze and settled on a half-truth. "Tired,” I puffed out. “I'm just tired."
His frown deepened, and I could see he wasn't buying my explanation for a second. "I know when something's bothering you, Nova. I've known you your entire life."
I blinked, and a set of strong arms pulled me into a hug. It felt like being embraced by steel. Despite the hardness of his vampire physique, the coolness of his skin was oddly comforting, a balm to my overheated emotions.
He whispered against my hair, "If you don't want to tell me what's really going on, that's fine. I get it. I understand the need for privacy. Just know," he gripped my shoulders and pulled away slightly so those eyes that perfectly matched mine could stare down at me with a glimpse of genuine brotherly love, "we're here for you. All of us. Whatever you need, whenever you need it. That's what makes us stronger than anyone else who might come against us. That's what makes us Syndicate. Makes us unstoppable."
Knowing with absolute certainty that he was right, I nodded. I’d always had my siblings' backs without question, never thought less of them when they called on me for help or support. In fact, I had enjoyed those moments when I could help them, when they needed me. Those times confirmed my place in this family, in this world, proving that I mattered and belonged.
Drawing on that strength, that unshakeable foundation of family loyalty, I took a deep breath and squeezed his arm before I let go.
His eyes settled back into their normal expression, and a lazy smirk formed on his lips as he crossed his arms. "You know that doesn't give you license to boss me around, so don't even try it. Also, I'll just hand off most of the work you send me to Rack anyway because I'm a busy fucking man with better things to do."
I lifted a brow at him, knowing he only half-meant what he was saying. Typical Calix. Always trying to maintain his image as someone who didn't care too much about anything.
Throwing my hand around to indicate the elaborate lab surrounding us, I said, "Sure. Right. That's why you came running to this little replica."
He laughed loud and hard, his face turned up toward the ceiling in genuine amusement before he said, "Well, I want to do the fun stuff. The boring administrative crap can go to someone else."
Shaking my head, I mumbled, "Gods, I feel bad for Rack. He has the worst job of them all, dealing with your lazy ass."
"Don't worry about him." Calix waved off my concern as he glanced down at his watch. "He's perfectly fine where he is." He smiled in a way that immediately made me suspicious. "Speaking of seconds, yours just rolled up outside."
My heart began to pound, and without warning, thoughts of him and Lucy came flooding back. The memory of him smiling down at her as she clung to him was so vivid and painful that my claws popped out involuntarily, my wolf responding to the uncontrollable surge of jealousy and possessiveness.
"Oooohhhh." Calix rubbed his hands together with obvious glee, a savage glint sparkling in his eyes. Of course, my personal drama would be the most entertaining thing he'd seen all day. "Trouble in paradise? Need me to knock him into tomorrow? Bleed him until he collapses from blood loss?"
When I sliced a deadly glare at him, his voice went up a hopeful octave. "Maybe just punch him in his stupid demon face? Just once? For funsies?"
"What’s your deal with him?" I asked, genuinely curious about his obvious animosity. "You've never liked Zeth, not even when we were younger and he was just another Syndicate kid hanging around."
Calix glared down at his watch as if the timepiece had personally wronged him, and I barely caught his angry muttered words, "I hate a weak will."
