Page 331 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol 4

“I didn’t break up with you. We weren’t technically ever dating.”

He put his hand on his chest. “That hurts, newb. Just spill it already instead of turning the knife in my heart.”

I smiled, glad he was still using my nickname now that we were just friends. “I need you to stop selling drugs to James.”There. Done.

“And why would I do that?” Felix asked. “James is one of my best customers.”

“I said no questions.”

“And I never actually agreed to that.”

“Please.” I didn’t know what else to say. I kind of just hoped he’d agree with my random request.

“Is he the guy you kissed?”

“What? No.”

Felix shook his head. “He has a girlfriend. You’re better than that. You deserve better than that.”

“It wasn’t him.”

“So why do you care if I sell to him?”

It was more than just Matt’s request. I’d been awkwardly watching all the Untouchables since school started. Staring from a distance. It didn’t take much observation to realize that James was in trouble. He was sinking.Just like me.“Because he’s using way too much of whatever you’re giving him. And combining it with alcohol and God knows what else.”

“Brooklyn, I’m a drug dealer. I have to sell to addicts. If I just stopped selling to my best customers, I’d be out of business.”

James is an addict?“You’re better than that.” I threw his words back at him. “You have tons of money. You live in a fancy apartment on the Upper East Side. You don’t need to be dealing.”

“And how do you think my parents made all that money?”

“Your mom sells art.”

Felix shook his head. “It’s a front. It’s dirty money. And dirty money doesn’t get you the same prestige as old money, newb. Look around.” He lifted up his hands. “The only reason people tolerate me here is because I have access to something they want.”

“I’m only asking you to stop selling to one person.”

“And that one person will tumble into the four most popular kids at our school. And then the whole football team. Soccer team. The cheerleaders. You’re asking me to give up my business.”

“Maybe I am.” I hated what he did. He was hurting people. Didn’t he see that? Maybe it had been bothering me more than I realized.

His eyes softened. “Is that the real reason why you don’t want to date me? Because of what I do? I’d never get you tangled up in this.”

“Standing next to you tangles me up in it, Felix. It’s dangerous.” I thought about Matt’s black eye and the bruises on his torso. Felix’s suppliers had beaten him up. Did Felix know that? Did he ask them to do it?

“Pot doesn’t hurt anyone.”

“But you’re not selling pot to James. Are you?” I saw him slip James something else. And it had to be bad, or James wouldn’t have threatened me.

He opened his mouth. But before he said anything, he closed it again. His Adam’s apple rose and fell as he stared at me. “Okay, newb. I’ll think about it.”

It wasn’t a yes. But it wasn’t a no either. “Thank you.”

“Being your friend comes with a lot of strings, huh?” He smiled at me.

“I’d say it comes with a normal amount of strings,” I said with a laugh.

He started walking backward on the track. “Race you to the finish line? As your friend, I’m not going to let you win this time.”