CHAPTER 554: +CHAPTER 554+

The security man straightened up despite himself, there was something dangerously familiar about the Alpha in front of him, and the Omega didn’t seem like he was in danger, it was more likely that he had put other people in danger with the bloody knives he held.

He grumbled and took out an old, cracked phone, tossing it over. "Make it quick, I ain’t got all day."

Nikolai caught it with a hand, his other hand around Angelo’s waist, keeping him close.

He never imagined that a day like this would ever come, a day when things had gone to shit and the first person he thought of calling was Asher.

The call connected instantly, "Report," Asher’s grouchy voice came through.

"I’m not dead," Nikolai humored him, a trace of amusement in his dry voice.

"Nikolai? Where the fuck are you?" Asher’s response was instantaneous, a brief pause as he considered the best way to tell the Mafia King that Angelo was gone.

Nikolai glanced around, "Somewhere downtown, a short distance from the location my men gave you." He tagged on, knowing that Asher had definitely been down to his casino with how nosy the other Alpha was.

"You don’t happen to be with Angelo, do you?" Asher asked in a quieter voice.

"Yeah, he’s here," Nikolai admitted, his attention never leaving the assassin by his side. "What’s wrong?"

Asher sighed in relief in one breath, and in another breath, he was back to being riled up. "What’s wrong? The fucking High Council blew up your casino, man, it’s hell back there."

Nikolai’s pupils shrank, "They did what?"

"We’re on our way over. Sit tight, don’t fucking die before we get there." Asher gave out orders in a flurry.

Nikolai didn’t respond, hanging up. He glanced over his shoulder at the burning apartment in the distance. It would have been the perfect move, killing him and taking out his casino at the same time.

Angelo frowned, noting the troubled look in his eyes. He hadn’t been listening in on the phone call, but he could tell that it hadn’t gone over so well. "Is something wrong?"

Nikolai focused on the bloodied face of the worried Omega in front of him, those pale green eyes that looked perfect beneath an overcast sky. He had been caught off-guard twice today, it was a new record.

His casino meant a lot to him, it was the first thing he had built out of the rubble of a body and turf his dad had left him.

But now that it was gone, he didn’t feel as devastated as he should - it was almost freeing. He had killed the monster that sired him and made every one of his waking days a living hell, but he was still shackled to him.

Angelo’s hand reached for him, he still held his knife, but it was turned inwards so that the blade was against his palm, and the harmless handle was pointed at him.

Nikolai closed the distance, closing his eyes briefly when Angelo’s fingers brushed against him, he smelled sweet, like cherries and blood.

"Nikolai?" Angelo’s worried voice came again.

Nikolai’s lips stretched into a faint smile, but he didn’t pull away - Asher was going to be pissed off, but when did he not somehow manage to do that?

"Just a little hitch," He finally responded, his tone light. "The High Council blew up the casino," He didn’t keep anything from Angelo, dialing up another line.

Angelo’s eyes rounded in shock, but Nikolai was already on another call, the Alpha was so close that their foreheads were almost touching.

The realization that Nikolai had done this... all of this for him settled in slow layers over him. His eyes traced over Nikolai’s features, there was something light and breezy about his usual hard features and cold eyes, or maybe he had gotten too used to his face.

He patiently waited for the Alpha to be done with his call, pale green eyes open, trusting. A cool wind blew, and he shivered, reminded of the state of his person.

His feet were cold, and his sweater was sticky and crusty. He instinctively moved closer to Nikolai, what he wouldn’t give for a hot bath right then.

Nikolai noticed his shivers and pulled him closer, hanging up on his call and immediately shrugging out of his trench coat.

Angelo wouldn’t call himself short, but Nikolai’s coat was noticeably too big on his thin frame.

"The destruction of my casino is not your fault," Nikolai murmured, tossing the phone back to the security man who had started sweating as he put pieces of overheard conversation together despite the rain clouds floating in.

"...Luis Caddel was simply a convenient tool," He went on casually as he picked Angelo up again and started for the burning building. "The High Council would have still made a move, regardless."

Angelo rested his head against Nikolai’s shoulder, exhausted. It sank deep into his bones, it was beyond today, it was the weight of all he had been carrying all his life.

"My men are at the apartment," Nikolai went on, "The High Council’s men no doubt thought we had gotten caught up in the fire."

Angelo hummed, too tired to form words, his entire body was sore, and he could feel the aches in his feet. "What will you do?"

"Throw in the towel," Nikolai said a little too happily for someone who was well known to never accept defeat.

"And your casino?" Angelo frowned.

"It most likely will be claimed by the High Council because Asher and Davian will be too busy trying to convince me to change my mind..." Nikolai trailed off.

They were almost at the apartment now, the wind that had picked up was bad for the raging fire, and it was already licking at the nearby buildings. That was when the first drops of rain fell - it was cold, heavy.

It started slow and by the time they got to where the cars were parked, it had picked up quite a bit.

Asher and Davian were pulling in as they arrived, but there was no time to talk due to the rain. Nikolai just got in his car and had one of his men drive, following after the two Mafia Kings in front.

Although they were in a car, Nikolai still held Angelo, the cold fall rain had added to their current state of disarray.

As all the cars gradually dispersed, the rain picked up, dousing the fires, leaving nothing but smouldering rubble and smoke.