Kidnap

The scent of freshly baked bread and vanilla filled the air as Levi stepped into the bakery. The bell above the door chimed softly, but Axel barely looked up from the counter where he sat, pen in hand, scribbling something on a small postcard. His brows were furrowed in concentration and his lips pressed together as he wrote.

Levi took his time approaching, letting his gaze drift over Axel’s form—his slim fingers gripping the pen, the way his loose apron hugged his waist. Something about the sight stirred something in Levi, but he brushed it off.

Axel finally noticed him and sighed, setting down the pen. “You're back again?” His tone was neutral, laced with a tone of indifference.

Levi smiled broadly, giving him a small shrug. “What can I say? The donuts were good.”

Axel arched his brow. “Your daughter liked them, you mean.”

“That too.” Levi leaned over the counter slightly, catching a glimpse of the postcard Axel had been writing. Before Axel could turn it over, Levi’s sharp eyes caught the last words written in neat cursive.

‘I love you.’

A teasing smile played on Levi’s lips as he tapped the paper. “Finn, huh?’ His green eyes flickered with amusement as he met Axel’s stare. “He your long distance lover?”

Axel stiffened, his jaw tightening slightly. “That's none of your business.”

Levi chuckled, tilting his head. “Why are you so secretive?” He reached over and dusted off the flour residue on Axel’s hair. “If you’re hiding something, it only makes me more interested.”

Axel swatted his hand away and crossed his arms, staring at him flatly. “And if I told you to mind your own damn business?”

Levi exhaled through his mouth, amusement lingering in his eyes. “You’d just make me more curious.”

Axel ignored him, grabbing his pair of tongs and turning away. He had no intention of entertaining Levi. But Levi was nothing if not persistent.

“Tell me something, Axel,” Levi mused, leaning against the counter. “Why do you act so cold towards me? I don’t bite.” His voice dropped slightly, a mischievous smirk curling in the corner of his mouth. “Unless you want me to.”

Axel didn't flinch, didn't react— he just continued arranging the pastries ignoring Levi’s presence.

“I didn’t even tell you what I wanted this time,” Levi added, watching him closely.

Axel let out an exasperated sigh. “Okay. What do you want?”

Levi tilted his head. “What do you like?”

Axel paused, giving him a confused look. “What?”

“I asked what pastries you like.”

“I'm not much of a sweet tooth,” Axel muttered, going back to his task.

Levi hummed. “But you’re a baker?”

Axel shot him a quick glare. “If you’d let me finish—I do like taiyaki.” He glanced up briefly. “Your daughter would probably like them too.”

Levi leaned in a little, mischief in his gaze. “Were they made with love?”

“For a man of your caliber, you sure act like a child,” Axel muttered, shaking his head as he packaged the taiyaki.

Levi didn’t respond right away, just watched Axel as he worked. Something about him—his composure, his bluntness—made him different.

Axel handed him the neatly packed bags of fish-shaped pastries, expecting Levi to leave, but instead, Levi placed an extra bag on the counter and pushed it toward him.

Axel frowned. “What are you doing?”

“They’re for you,” Levi said casually. “I assume no one ever buys pastries for the baker.”

Axel hesitated. “I taste-test everything before selling them.”

Levi stared at him, then at the bag, silently urging him to take it. Axel exhaled, finally accepting the bag with a muttered, “Thanks.”

Levi’s expression softened slightly, but it didn’t last. His gaze flickered to the small pile of postcards stacked near the register. “You haven’t sent those out,” he observed.

Axel stilled.

Levi tapped his fingers against the counter, then asked, “Finn. Are you in love with him?”

Axel didn’t hesitate. “In a way.”

A strange, unwelcome feeling twisted in Levi’s chest, but he covered it with a smirk. “Would you ever consider going out with me?”

“No.”

Levi’s smirk faltered. His jaw tightened slightly. “Because of him?”

Axel met his eyes. “Yes.”

Silence stretched between them. Levi’s green eyes darkened in thought before he forced a small, almost amused chuckle.

"I’ll give you time to think about it," he murmured, turning toward the door. "Maybe this is a bit too sudden."

He shot Axel one last unreadable glance before walking out of the bakery.

His bodyguard, Xavier, who had been standing silently by the door, shook his head at Axel before following his boss.

Levi slid into the back seat of his black sedan seething in anger. How dare the Baker turn him down? The thought sent a mix of anger and irritation coursing through his body.

Recalling Axel’s faint smile made blood rush to his lower body in an instant.

“Goddammit.” Levi groaned, throwing his head back and sighing. Xavier, who drove the sedan, glanced at his boss through the rear view mirror.

“Should I take care of him?”

“What good would that do?” Levi, who’d been fiddling with his watch, glared sharply, Xavier shrugged without bothering to look back at his expression. They drove back in silence but Xavier could feel the intense aura seeping through Levi, he didn't want to be the guy who'd be on the receiving end of his boss's anger.

Levi, gazing out the window with a now relaxed expression, finally spoke as the sedan came to a stop in front of the mansion.

"Find that guy and bring him to me, alive."

Upon hearing the command, Xavier turned around, his face hinting his confusion about whom to bring.

“The Baker?” Xavier asked gruffly. Suddenly, Levi's green eyes gleamed, turning red almost instantly.

“The dude from his post cards, you idiot, Finn!” He growled, immediately neutralising his expression and a tiny figure rushed toward him.

“Daddy! Daddy!”

Lily, his four-year-old daughter, launched herself into his arms, squealing as he lifted her effortlessly.

Levi’s smile came easily for her, the irritation in his eyes melting away. “How’s my little angel?”

She giggled, rummaging through the paper bag. You brought me snacks! It's a fishy!”

Levi laughed, watching as she held up one of the taiyaki proudly.

“Can I keep some for Delia?” she asked, big pleading eyes looking up at him.

Levi ruffled her hair. "Of course, angel."

Xavier, watching from the sidelines, noted how different the boss seemed around his daughter.

It was the only time Levi looked genuinely… happy.

Levi carried the chattering Lily into the house, not before giving Xavier a death glare which Xavier interpreted as a threat to find Finn.

———

“I hope you have good news for me.” Levi said as he wiped the blood off his brass knuckles.

A man sat slumped in a chair, arms bound behind him, his head hanging low. Blood dripped from his busted lip, staining his once-clean shirt. His breath came in short, ragged gasps

Xavier stared at the bloody mess before him, unfazed. “I think you'll be interested to see this boss.”

Levi picked up a revolver that sat on the workbench decorated with assorted torture tools beside him. He spun the cylinder lazily with his thumb before aiming it at the trembling man’s stomach.

“Where do you think I should shoot?” Levi asked Xavier casually, as if discussing dinner plans.

Xavier shrugged. “You call the shots, boss.”

Levi thought for a moment—then pulled the trigger.

The gunshot echoed in the small room. The man let out a strangled groan, his body convulsing as blood seeped through his shirt. He shuddered violently, his breath coming in ragged, painful gasps.

Levi stood, shaking out his sleeves. “Lead the way.”

Xavier nodded but glanced at his boss with mild disapproval. “You should clean up first. You’re covered in blood. What if Lily sees you like this?”

Levi considered it. His fingers absently traced the dark stains on his cuff before he clicked his tongue.

“Fine.” He turned to the barely-conscious man. “Call someone to clean this up.”

Freshly showered and dressed, Levi descended the steps into the dimly lit basement.

Xavier walked ahead, leading him toward the center of the room, where Levi expected to find his latest victim—Finn.

But what he saw instead made him pause.

Levi’s brows furrowed, a flicker of confusion and anger passing through his expression.

His gaze snapped to Xavier. “I told you to bring me Finn,” he said, voice dangerously low. “Why the hell is there a child in my basement?”