He wanted to do business together.
He’s nothing but a liar, a thief, and a spineless prick.
But none of that is news to me.
“He’s selling S2L?” I ask him. “Are you sure?” The drug is ours. Ours alone. It was only a matter of time before everyone else wanted it, but instead of getting the details, Romano stole it. The stupid fuck.
“I’m positive,” Jase answers me and I imagine Romano’s ugly snarl of a smile as I punch his teeth in. I can practically feel the way the tight skin of my knuckles would split as his teeth broke under them. “I got a sample from their streets, took it back and it’s definitely our mix. A heavier version than what we got off Malcolm.”
“Do you think Romano knows why the pharmacy pulled it and the side effects?” I ask Jase as I push my office door open.
We acquired a banned drug, manipulated it, and just started selling S2L, street name Sweet Lullaby. It was designed to help with anxiety and insomnia. It can aid in weaning off an addiction to harder drugs. But S2L is the most addictive because of the way it calms you, assures you and your entire being that everything is just as it should be and lull you into a deep sleep. Thus, the name, Sweet Lullaby. The undesired side effects were too great to risk… for them. Not for us.
“I think they know exactly what it is,” he says with a touch of anger, “seeing as how they fucked with the formula.” The door practically slams shut from the weight of his push. He doesn’t look me in the eyes until he’s seated in the chair opposite mine. It’s only when he says the next sentence that I finally fall into mine. “They made it more potent. It’s practically lethal with the way it numbs the senses, slowing the heart and forcing the body into a deep sleep.”
My thumb brushes against my jawline as I consider what Romano is up to. “He stole our drug; he’s selling a version that’s deadly on his territory…” I think out loud, not bothering to hide my string of thoughts from Jase.
Jase is the one who got a hold of the drug from an asshole who owed us a debt but had secrets within the industry. Malcolm was useful enough that we let him live. For a little while.
“He’s selling on his territory. Sweet Lullaby but the lethal version is going by ST, Sweet Tragedy. He must not have enough, or else we wouldn’t see the increase in demand.”
“The thing about demand is that those who are addicted are still living.”
“Unless it’s being used on someone else.”
“So, he’s selling it as a weapon? Not as a drug?” I have to admit the thought occurred to us as well, but until we have a preventative drug that renders the deadly version useless, I wouldn’t dare to even hint at the possibility.
His fingers tap, tap, tap with a nervousness on the armrest. “The thing that doesn’t fit though… What doesn’t add up… is that there isn’t a rise in the death toll. There’s no sudden spike in murders or people dying in their sleep.”
“They’re either buying and not using, or they’re selling it elsewhere. Maybe overseas?”
“I think the Romanos aren’t keeping up with the production of S2L, they have a small demand, but word got out that we’re the suppliers. So, Romano decided to up the ante, make the potent version which got someone’s attention. Someone who wants control of the market. Whoever it is, he’s buying every drop he can of the potent version, and every bit of ours so he can make the change himself, concentrating it and making an untraceable weapon.”
“How could Romano be so fucking stupid?” The words are pushed through my clenched teeth. We sold the drug as a relaxer, a way to ease pain and keep people from ODing on the deadlier shit. It’s the perfect way to make an addiction last. And Romano’s greed had to fuck it up.
I’m silent as I consider Jase’s theory.
“Whoever’s gathering it is on his side, not ours. Someone who wants his territory, maybe?” he suggests, and I can only nod in response. Whoever it is isn’t doing a good job of hiding their whereabouts and intentions. Unless of course, they wanted it to be known. My thumb brushes along my chin again as I consider every asshole I know who could want Romano’s place. Maybe they wanted us to know.
“I want Mick’s crew on the south side, tracking the information of every buyer and to find a connection. I want to know who’s fucking with it and if they’re selling anywhere else.”
“It’s expensive shit, this potent version. And whoever is buying in bulk has to be waiting to resell.”