FAZER LOGINThe tension in his face is easing just a little. “I know,” he said, his voice low. But then it shifted again, back to something firm and protective. He reached up, lightly brushing his fingers against Lucas’s cheek before letting his hand rest there.“Just, be careful,” Alex said, his gaze locking onto him. “This isn’t something I fully understand yet. And until I do…” His tone hardened slightly. “Don’t trust anyone.” Lucas frowned faintly. “Anyone?” “Yes, anyone,” Alex repeated without hesitation. “People we know, people we don’t, just be alert. If something feels off, even a little, you tell me immediately.” There was no fear in his voice.Just certainty, like a little quiet warning. Whatever this Mac issue was, it could lead to a dangerous situation though he prayed not. Lucas nodded his agreement and hugged him tight. When he pulled away, he said, “Don’t worry much about it, it might just be a prank too, hmm.” “Baby, please be careful, okay.” Lucas smiled, “I
“Okay, give me till this evening, hmm.” Lucas walked towards the closet as he responded, “Whatever you say.” “Please, Lucas, don't do this.” He pulled him into his arms. “It hurts when you act like this. Please give me time. I will tell you everything, okay.” Lucas gazed at him, “Come on, what else do you want me to say? Do I have a choice? I will wait.” Lucas responded grudgingly “Baby I promise, everything will be sorted, hmm.” Lucas nodded, and Alex smiled lightly, leaning in and pecking his cheek. “You know I love you, right?” “Hmm,” Lucas nodded lightly. Alex brushed his lips lightly. “Let me shower.” Under the shower, the water hit his skin, but it did nothing to ease the tension coiling inside him. His mind kept replaying Lucas’s words.“If I’m your Lucas…” Guilt settled deeper. By the time Alex came out, Lucas was ready, waiting but not for him. Just ready to leave for work. He was sitting on the couch in the sitting room, tapping on his phone.
Alex lowered his voice, “Come on, just tell me. Did you tell…” “No,” Lucas responded, cutting him off. “It’s a secret I've carried all my life. I let you in because it's you. So why will I share such a secret? The hospital was involved because it's necessary.” Lucas paused, “Alex what's going on?” Lucas asked, searching his eyes. Alex ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Has anyone been contacting you? Anything strange? Calls, messages, anything at all?” Lucas’s confusion deepened, slowly mixing with hurt and fear. “No,” he said, quieter this time. “Why all these questions?” Alex didn’t answer immediately.His eyes scanned Lucas’s face, like he was trying to read something hidden beneath the surface. It wasn’t soft anymore. It was protective, guarded, and intense. And it didn’t feel good. Lucas pulled back slightly, creating a small space between them. “Alex,” he said, more firmly now. “What’s going on?” “Nothing,” Alex replied quickly. Lucas let
The way he stared at it, one might think that the phone had whispered something only he could hear. Lucas shifted beside him, about to speak but Alex was already moving. “I need to make a call,” he said quickly, with his tone controlled.Lucas frowned slightly but nodded. “Okay.” Alex stepped out of the bedroom butt naked, running a hand through his hair as soon as the door clicked shut behind him. The calm mask dropped instantly. His jaw tightened as he dialed a number on his phone. The line barely rang once.“Good morning, boss,” Dan’s voice came through, alert as always. “Tell me you’ve got something on Mac,” Alex said, low and direct. Dan paused, instantly, and Alex knew it. That kind of pause is not a good sign. “We’ve been digging,” Dan replied. “We've run the number through every channel we’ve got. Official records, backdoor systems, even a few, less legal routes.” Alex’s grip on the phone tightened. “And?” “It’s a registered number,” Dan said. “Mac
They stayed for a few minutes enjoying each other's warmth before Alex grabbed the duvet and covered their nude. A few minutes later they were fast asleep. As morning light dripped in through the little partings from the widow curtains, Lucas woke first. For a while, he didn’t move. He just lay there, watching Alex sleep beside him. Really watching him. The steady rise and fall of his chest and the relaxed lines of his face. The way his arm was still loosely draped over him even in sleep, like he wasn’t ready to let go. Lucas’s gaze softened. He studied him as if he were trying to understand something impossible. He wondered how someone like him could look at him and not turn away but stay. A flicker of doubt crept in, quiet but persistent. Was last night real?His fingers twitched slightly against the sheets, like he was afraid that if he moved too much, the moment would break. Alex might wake up and find a distance where warmth had been. That instant, Alex shifted.A
The sudden kiss caught Alex off guard, but he didn’t try to take control back. He let Lucas continue. He responded instantly, his hands sliding up Lucas’s back, holding him closer as the kiss deepened. There was a shift, something more certain in Lucas. He was less hesitant, more driven by desires than fear. Their breaths tangled, uneven, and warm against each other’s skin. Lucas pulled back just slightly, his forehead resting against Alex’s. His eyes were searching, no longer unsure, but intense, like he was trying to say everything he couldn’t put into words. “Thank you,” he whispered.The words hit deeper than anything else. Alex’s expression softened, something protective flickering in his eyes. His hand came up, brushing gently along Lucas’s cheek, slower this time but grounded. “I’ve got you, baby,” he murmured. That promise lingered between them. The pace shifted, not rushed, not consuming, but deeper. Alex guided Lucas down again, but this time there was no urgenc
By dawn, Lucas woke before his alarm. His heart was already racing, the weight of excitement pressing against his ribs. For a moment he lay still, staring at the ceiling, then it hit him again—he had a job. Not just any job, but as an assistant chef at Benson’s. His lips curved into a smile bef
The note slipped from Derby’s trembling hand and fluttered to the floor as a dagger dropped in defeat. Emily darted forward, scooped it up, and without hesitation, read it aloud in a clear, ringing voice: “Enjoy the spotlight, but there won’t be a wedding. —Lucas.” A gasp rippled through the
His father’s expression hardened, the warmth draining from his eyes as he shot to his feet. “Derby is the future of this family. That marriage secures alliances you don’t even understand.” “I don’t care about your alliances, Dad,” Lucas shot back. “I want my own life.” His father laughed soft
Immediately, Alex made his way to the new property, grinning ear to ear as he wrapped up all the necessary details. Everything was falling into place. Key in hand, he made his way to his car, but as he reached it, something made him pause. His gaze drifted to the left, where he caught sight of the







