The weeks went by like a dream. Logan and Gabe tried to keep things professional when they were at the gym, but they couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other for very long. They fucked in the closet, on top of Gabe’s desk, even bent over a weight bench after everyone else had gone home.

Gabe began to teasingly complain that he was tired all the time, probably because Logan had thrown off his sleep schedule. Last night, Logan had offered to spend the night on the couch instead, but Gabe had pulled him into the bedroom with a grin.

Despite the nights he spent with Gabe, Logan always made sure to be home for dinner with Holt. He’d felt a little guilty at first, but Holt had reassured him that he liked the time alone. Logan suspected he was spending the time with Jimmy, but he didn’t try to interfere. His little brother was almost a legal adult, after all, and he could make his own decisions. Logan still didn’t like Holt’s choice in men, but it was his choice to make.

He hadn’t seen or heard from Russell, which was fine by him. Maybe the Alpha had given up his stupid plot, especially now that his son was dating Holt. Part of him was a little suspicious, but the more time passed, the more he allowed himself to relax.

Maybe, just maybe, his life was finally turning around.

“What time is Holt coming?” Gabe asked, interrupting his thoughts.

“After classes are over. So 3, 3:30-ish?” Logan had decided it was time for the two of them to finally meet, and Holt had been agreeable. The Alpha hated to admit it, but he was a little nervous.

“Are he and Jimmy still seeing each other?” Gabe’s tone was light, but Logan could tell by the slight frown that the Omega didn’t approve either.

Logan shrugged. “Yeah. Young love, I guess. Jimmy wouldn’t be my choice for my brother either, but Holt seems happy. And I called the school last week, his grades are good and he’s not skipping any classes.”

“You called the school?” Gabe smiled. “You’re going to be a good dad someday, Logan.”

Logan grinned back. “Hey, I’m an Alpha. We’re overprotective. You might have noticed.” He glanced out the window. “Oh, here he comes now.” Holt walked through the parking lot, squinting in the bright late afternoon light.

Gabe followed Logan’s gaze. “Aw, he looks so much like you,” the Omega said, his eyes softening. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

Holt opened the door and nodded to Logan, then held out a hand to Gabe. “I’m Holt Kelly,” he said, with a little tension in his voice that Logan knew was nerves.

“Gabe Thomas,” the other Omega replied warmly, shaking his hand. “I’m glad we finally get to meet, Holt. Your brother’s told me a lot about you.”

Holt nodded shyly, looking around. “Pretty cool place,” he said. “Can I use your bathroom?”

“Yeah, you can use the private one next to my office. It’s the second door on the left,” Gabe said, gesturing. He smiled at Logan as Holt ambled off.

The Alpha shook his head. “He’s a little shy at first, but once he opens up you’ll never get him to shut up.”

The Omega chuckled. “Sounds like how I used to be as a kid. Maybe it’s an Omega thing.” He glanced over at his computer. “Let me finish up this one registration form and then we can get out of here. I could go for a snack.”

“Yeah sure,” Logan replied, but he frowned as Holt emerged from the bathroom. His little brother was carrying a bright orange pill bottle. It was larger than usual, meant for several month’s supply of pills.

“Hey, Gabe?” Holt said. “I’m sorry man, I was looking for some more paper towels in the bathroom cabinet and I knocked this over. A few of these pills fell out, I didn’t know if you wanted me to put them back in the bottle or not?” He opened his other hand to show them a few oval white pills.

Logan’s heart rate spiked. Those pills. Were they? No. They couldn’t be.

Gabe looked puzzled. “Those aren’t mine. I guess someone must have left them here.” He took the bottle from Holt and squinted at the label. “Oxycodone. Weird. I have no idea who left them in there.”

“The bottle has your name on it, Gabe” Holt pointed out.

Logan froze. “Are you serious?”

Gabe blinked, turning the label to read the rest of the info. “What? Is this some sort of prank?”

“Gabe, I need to know now,” Logan said. “Are those yours?”

“I told you, no,” the Omega said, looking startled. “I don’t know how they got there. Holt, did you-“

“Oh, you are seriously not blaming my brother for this shit. Omega Wellness, my ass,” Logan spat. He knew he was being irrational, but the sight of those little white pills in his brother’s hand made him feel physically sick. “Holt, we’re leaving. Now.”

“Wait a minute,” Gabe said, the color draining from his face. “You don’t think that I…”

It all clicked into place for Logan. He felt so stupid for missing it for this long. “You’ve been tired all the time lately,” Logan spat. “And you’ve been nauseous. You said so yourself. I get it now. And if you want to ruin your life, that’s fine. I won’t even go to the police. But you stay the hell away from me and my brother.”

Holt yelped as Logan grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed him toward the door.

“Wait,” Gabe said. “I don’t understand, Logan. Can’t we talk about this?”

“I have nothing to say to you,” Logan snapped. He opened the door and moved Holt ahead of him.

The door didn’t shut fast enough behind him to stop him from seeing the tears that spilled from Gabe’s eyes.

* * *

Holt looked pale as they climbed into the car. “I’m sorry you had to see that, but I’m glad you found those pills,” Logan said. He patted Holt’s shoulder. “I know it wasn’t you, ok? Of all the stupid things to say. Did he honestly think I would believe my own kid brother put drugs in his bathroom?”

Well, junkies did stupid shit all the time. A vivid memory rushed back to him: playing with one of those empty orange pill bottles as a kid while mommy and daddy went to take a long nap. They took a lot of naps, sometimes more than once a day. It was only when he got older that he realized they had been fucked up on pain pills pretty much constantly.

He was gripping the steering wheel so hard it was making his hands hurt, and he flexed his fingers. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize what was going on. Gabe’s been showing some signs of using, but I didn’t put two and two together. He’s been saying he’s tired these last few weeks. He even told me he threw up yesterday. I told him to go to a doctor, but he kind of shrugged it off. No wonder he was reluctant.” Logan shook his head, still in disbelief.

Holt sat curled around his backpack in the passenger seat, still looking numb. “Hey, it’s ok,” Logan said, worried at the pained expression on Holt’s face. “You did the right thing, bringing those out. I guarantee he won’t bother us again.”

His brother nodded slightly, but he wouldn’t meet Logan’s gaze. The Alpha’s heart ached. Logan was having a hard time of this realization, but Holt was much more sensitive. He hated Gabe even more for exposing his little brother to this shit.

“Tell you what,” Logan said. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. Let’s you and me go fishing for the day, huh? Just like we used to do with Grandpa? We’ll go get on one of those tourist charter boats and have a good day on the water, get away from this town and everyone in it for a little while. What do you say?”

Holt smiled weakly. “That sounds nice, Logan. Let’s do it.”