The Footage.

Chapter 6: The Footage

Julian woke up alone in Caesar’s massive bed, the silk sheets tangled around his legs.

His wrist was still sore, a faint reminder of the night before, but it was the memory of their passion that made his heart pound.

The space beside him was cold. Caesar had been gone for a while.

His eyes landed on the nightstand. There, in a small black box, was the flash drive he’d found…and lost…in Caesar’s office.

Next to it, a note in Caesar’s sharp handwriting: You should watch this. To hate me or not.

His breath hitched. Without a second thought, he grabbed it and practically ran to Caesar’s office, his bare feet silent on the cold marble.

He sighed in relief when he saw the laptop open on the desk.

His hands shook so badly he could barely plug the drive in.

The footage was grainy, like an old home movie. And there he was…Patrick. His brother was laughing, his head thrown back in a way Julian had never seen.

He looked… happy. And Caesar was there, his arm slung around Patrick’s shoulders. He looked younger, softer.

The coldness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a warmth Julian didn’t know he possessed. Patrick had done that. Patrick had made him soft.

“Caesar, promise me,” Patrick said, his smile fading into something more serious.

“If anything happens to me, you’ll find my little brother, Julian. You’ll protect him.”

“Babe, nothing is happening to you,” the younger Caesar on the screen replied, brushing a strand of hair from Patrick’s face. “If anyone’s bothering you, just put me on.”

“No, look. Just promise me. You’ll do what I said.”

Caesar sighed, a real, gentle sigh. “Okay. I promise. You know I always keep my word.”

Patrick’s face was deadly serious. “I want to always protect him, Caesar. Even if it means giving up myself. I need him to have a decent life.”

The screen went black.

Julian sat frozen, the air knocked out of his lungs.

His brother’s words echoed in his head. Giving up myself. Did… did Patrick sacrifice himself? For him?

And the texts, the calls from “Patrick”… were they all a lie? A cruel trick?

His phone buzzed on the desk, making him jump.

Unknown Number: You think he is the good guy? Don't you believe me?

His head felt foggy, the walls of the opulent office suddenly feeling like they were closing in. He needed air. He needed to get out of this gilded cage.

Another buzz.

A different unknown number.

Unknown Number: It's me, Patrick. I'm still alive. If you want to see me, just come out and I will find you.

Was it real? His heart screamed yes, but his mind screamed trap. He tried calling the number, his fingers fumbling, but it just rang and rang.

He thought about calling Caesar, but he knew what would happen. Caesar would lock him down, never let him take a single step outside again. He’d be a prisoner forever.

But according to a maid, Caesar was out at a meeting. This was his only chance.

He stumbled back to his room, his mind racing. He threw on jeans and a sweater, grabbing a coat…the inner lining felt strangely thick, but he didn’t have time to think about it. He had to go. Now.

Sneaking through the mansion was a heart-pounding game of cat and mouse. He ducked behind furniture, holding his breath every time a guard passed.

Finally, he reached the main front door. Two huge guards stood blocking it.

He forced himself to walk confidently up to them. “I’m just heading out for a bit.”

The guard on the left shook his head. “Sorry, sir. You’re not allowed to leave.”

“What? Why not?” Julian put on his best surprised and hurt face.

“Orders from the boss.”

“Come on, guys,” he pleaded, his voice softening. “I just… I want to get something special for Caesar. To thank him. Fifteen minutes, I swear. I’ll be right back.”

“Still can’t allow it, sir.”

He was about to give up when an idea sparked. He leaned in conspiratorially.

“Look, you don’t know how much he listens to me. Do me this one favor, and I’ll put in a good word for you both. A big one. He’ll never know I left. I’ll tell him you two went above and beyond to help me. Think about the promotion.”

The guards glanced at each other, a silent conversation passing between them.

“Alright, sir,” one finally grunted. “Fifteen minutes. Not a second more.”

“Thank you! You guys are the best!” Julian flashed them a brilliant, grateful smile before slipping out the door.

The main gate was locked. Without hesitating, he scaled it, dropping down on the other side into freedom. He ran, not caring where he was going, just away.

*****

Evening was setting in, and the air was getting cold.

He was heading for the bus station, his mind set on getting to the next city, finding a cheap motel, and hiding until… until what? Until Patrick found him?

His phone buzzed in his pocket. His heart leaped. Was it him?

He never got to see.

A black SUV screeched to a halt beside him. Before he could even scream, masked men poured out, grabbing him.

“Let me go! Help!” he screamed, struggling wildly against their strong arms.

His phone clattered to the pavement, the screen cracking. The last thing it displayed was a new message.

Caesar - ‘I'm home, pet. Where are you?’

*****

Caesar walked into the mansion, the silence feeling wrong. He’d been thinking about Julian all day, expecting to see him waiting, maybe even smiling.

He sent a text. No reply.

A knot of unease tightened in his stomach. “You,” he snapped at a passing maid. “Get Julian for me.”

She returned a moment later, pale. “He… he isn’t in his room, sir.”

“You’re kidding me.” It wasn’t a question. He stormed to Julian’s room, flinging the door open. Empty.

“Julian! JULIAN!” he roared, his voice echoing through the vast space. He turned back to the main hall, his eyes blazing. “EVERYONE, GATHER NOW! WHERE IS HE? DID HE JUST DISAPPEAR?”

The household staff and guards assembled under his furious gaze. “FIND HIM OR YOU’RE ALL SIX FEET UNDER!”

A guard nervously pulled up the CCTV footage. It showed the two front-door guards letting Julian walk right out. Caesar’s rage turned ice-cold.

“The two guards who were at the front door. Step out. Now.”

They shuffled forward, trembling. “H-He just stepped out, sir, he said…”

SMASH.

Caesar didn’t let him finish. He slammed the heavy crystal glass in his hand directly into the man’s face.

The guard cried out, blood streaming from a gash on his forehead.

Caesar spun and landed a brutal punch on the other guard, sending him sprawling.

“You let him leave? Against my DIRECT ORDERS?” he snarled, his voice trembling with fury. “You fucking idiots! If a single hair on his head is harmed, I will skin you both alive!”

He paced like a caged tiger. No one dared to move or even breathe.

He pulled out his phone, his fingers stabbing at the screen. “I need you. Now.”

Five minutes later, his tech expert was setting up on the desk.

“The tracker you sewed into the inner lining of his coat is still active. I’m pulling up the location now.”

“Hurry,” Caesar growled, his knuckles white.

“Got it. He’s outside the city. An abandoned warehouse district.”

Caesar’s eyes darkened into pools of pure violence. The man who took what was his was already dead; he just didn’t know it yet.

“Get the cars. Get the guns. We’re going to war. Shoot anyone who isn’t him on sight.”

*****

Julian’s world was darkness and the smell of damp concrete.

A rough hood was over his head, and his hands were tied tightly behind his back to a cold metal chair.

Suddenly, the hood was ripped away, bright lights blinding him. He blinked, his eyes watering.

A man stood in front of him, older, with a face that looked like it had been in too many fights. He reeked of cheap whiskey.

“Well, well. A pretty one we got here, boys,” he sneered, and other men in the shadows laughed in agreement.

“Your lover took something very valuable from us. So we’re taking you instead.”

He leaned in close, his breath foul. “We could get a fortune for you at auction. There are plenty of men who pay top dollar for pretty boys like you.”

“If Caesar finds you, he’ll kill you all,” Julian spat, trying to sound braver than he felt.

The man backhanded him across the face. The pain was sharp and stinging.

The man pulled out a phone, dialing a number and putting it on speaker. It rang once, twice.

A voice, cold as death, answered. “Who is this?”

The man grinned, his ugly face twisting. “Hello, Caesar. I’ve got your pet with me. You should actually have the privilege of hearing him scream while I break him to pieces…”