It was all part of the game. Keep Mike on his toes. Just a little unbalanced. Just a little unsure of himself. Allowing him too much confidence would without a doubt lead to problems. Like thinking he can do to someone else what was done to him. Finding his own form of control and wandering too far from Liam.

There was a word in there that certainly had his attention. Placate. Was this boyfriend demanding the pills, or was he involuntary in this? Curiosity burned white-hot inside him, but he couldn't appear too interested. That would give Mike too much control in the situation.

"So he was already hooked?" Liam asked, as if more concerned about clarity of information than the actual events.