CHAPTER 14: IMAGINARY SACK OF POTATOES!

Viktor’s eyes narrowed at Luka’s teasing words, his jaw tight. He didn’t like where this was going... Luka always pushed too far. It wasn’t his first time doing something like that. He was able to tolerate all of his taunts until now because the people he joked about were women. This time, it was a man. Not just a man... A young boy who was his son’s nanny and ten years older than he was.

"Enough with the nonsense," Viktor said, his voice low and sharp. "Change the subject. We’re not talking about the nanny. So you’d better leave my room if you have nothing to say!"

Luka’s smirk faded, but his eyes still glinted with amusement. "Fine, fine. You seem touchy today, huh?" He waved his phone, the screen lighting up his face. "Anyway, I just got a message from my men. They tracked down some leads on those omega kidnappers."

Viktor leaned forward, his interest piqued; the laptop and the taunt about Elias were both forgotten. "Who is it?"

Luka glanced at the couch where Elias lay curled under the duvet, his breathing steady, eyes tightly closed.

"The culprit is your rival from the east side," Luka said, keeping his voice quiet. "He’s snatching omegas for his new club. You must have seen it on the internet. He built a multi-billion-dollar exclusive spot for the elite. He uses the Omegas as servers in the VIP rooms, but it’s worse than that. Some get passed around, treated roughly. They’re breaking them in, selling time with them like merchandise."

Viktor’s fists clenched, his face darkening. "How many?"

Luka shrugged, scrolling his phone. "Dozens so far. He’s got a network... pharmacists tipping him off on omegas buying pills, street crews grabbing them when they’re alone. It’s organised, Vik. And it’s spilling into our territory."

Viktor’s gaze flicked to Elias again, the faint sweet scent in the room making his pulse quicken for reasons he couldn’t name. "We end this as soon as possible," he said, his voice cold. "But not here. Let’s take the rest of this conversation to my office. He’s sleeping."

Luka nodded, his grin returning. "Of course, you wouldn’t want to wake the nanny, right?" He followed Viktor to the door, pausing to look back at Elias. "He looks cute when he’s quiet. Can I poke his cheek?"

Viktor shot him a glare. "Out."

They left, the door clicking shut. Elias’s eyes snapped open, his heart pounding. He sat up slowly, the duvet slipping off his shoulders. The conversation echoed in his mind... the kidnappers, the club, omegas being used like that.

His stomach twisted, tears stinging his eyes. If Luka hadn’t saved him in the alley, that could’ve been him... grabbed, broken, sold like the rest of those omegas.

’What would have happened to Lila if I had been taken away?’

He owed Luka his life, and the thought made his chest ache.

’What about the other omegas? The ones who weren’t lucky?’

He wiped his eyes, trying not to cry.

The room felt too quiet, too heavy. Elias’s head spun from exhaustion and maybe because he tried hard not to cry, with Viktor’s scent still thick in the air, it was harder to think.

He spotted the whiskey bottle on the table, half-full. He’d never drunk before, but maybe it’d help him sleep, numb the fear. He grabbed it, taking a huge gulp. It burned his throat going down as it tasted bitter and sharp, but he took another, then another, ignoring the tears from the taste. His head started to spin, the room tilting.

He stumbled back to the bed, the duvet soft and warm. He curled into it, burying his face in the fabric. It was better than before. Maybe because of the alcohol or maybe... It’s something else. Viktor’s scent was stronger here, wrapping around him like a blanket, comforting in a way that made no sense. He felt sleepy, his body relaxing for the first time that night. His eyes drifted shut as the world went back.

.

.

The next morning, Elias woke with a groan, his head throbbing like someone had hit him with a hammer. He blinked, confused... the room was his own, the familiar small bed, his clothes folded on the chair.

’How the hell did I get here?’

Last thing he remembered was the couch in Viktor’s room, the whiskey, Viktor’s scent. He slid his fingers into his messy hair, trying to think harder, but he only got a headache.

’Did Viktor carry me?’ His face heated at the thought, but there was no sign of anything wrong... his clothes were buttoned, and no strange scents clung to him. He checked the clock: past 10 a.m. Panic surged... he’d overslept.

He jumped up, rushing to the twins’ room. It was... empty. Their school uniforms were gone, and the mess from yesterday had been cleaned up. His stomach dropped...

’Did Gerald help me today? I should probably thank him for that later,’

Suddenly, a knock came at the door, and Luka walked in, grinning, a coffee in hand.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Luka said, leaning against the doorframe. "Are you okay?"

Elias nodded with a calm face.

"The... The kids... where are they?"

Luka chuckled. "Relax. I got them ready and off to school. Figured you needed the rest after last night."

Elias sagged with relief. "Thanks," he said, his voice soft. "I... I owe you. Again."

Luka stepped closer, his grin fading. "About that. Here." He pulled an expensive-looking bottle of pills from his pocket, the label gleaming. "Better than those cheap ones you had. Once every three days should do it."

Elias stared, his hands trembling. Those pills cost more than his old rent... he’d never bought them because of the price. "I can’t take this," he said, pushing it back. "It’s too much."

Luka refused, pressing it into Elias’s hand. "I know it is expensive, Elias. However, you have no other option but to take it, or I’ll tell Vik everything... That night, your scent, all of it."

Elias froze, his heart racing.

"Fine," he mumbled, pocketing the bottle. "Thanks. And... thanks for getting me to my room last night."

Luka’s brows furrowed. "I didn’t do that. You were in Vik’s room when I knocked. I figured he’d kick you out after."

Elias’s face paled. "If it wasn’t you... Who was it?"

"Who knows?" Luka smirked, shrugging. "Maybe Vik carried you himself. Maybe he suddenly got a soft spot, you know."

Elias shook his head, his cheeks red. "No way. Master hates me." But his mind raced...

’Viktor carrying him? How the hell did he carry me? Princess style, like a child, or slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes?’

The imagination thought made his stomach flip, and he pushed it away. "Thanks again for the kids. And the pills."

Luka ruffled Elias’s hair.

*No problem. Your scent was strong this morning... sweet, like vanilla cake so make sure to take one immediately. You’re lucky Vik left early for business, or he’d have caught it. That’s why I grabbed these for you. Plus, you broke your last bottle during that accident, did you?"

Elias nodded, his voice quiet.

"I appreciate it." Luka walked off, and Elias went to his room immediately before sinking into his bed. He was preparing to take a shower so he would take the pill. He hadn’t noticed his sweater was gone... the one from last night.

After walking out of the bathroom, with the towel on his wet and dripping hair, he checked his schedule and saw that there was no class today, which was good. But a message in the class group chat caught his eye: project teams posted.

He scrolled, his heart sinking. Everyone was grouped except him and Jace, the former bully who’d added him to the chat. A private message from Jace popped up:

Jace: Hello, Kane! The professor said we’re stuck together since we’re the last two.

Elias furrowed his brows wondering how it was possible. He’d rather get into a group of scholars and let them do the job. Before he could type a response, another message from him came.

Jace: I can’t wait to work with you, Kane. So, why won’t we decide where we meet? My house or yours?

Elias froze, his fingers hovering over the screen. House? Meet? He couldn’t go to Jace’s... too risky with the twins to watch. A cafe or library would be better, it would be the best place without meeting in public.

But his mind blanked, and he typed back without thinking:

Elias: My house..

Jace’s reply was instant, like he was waiting for that message his whole life.

Jace: Great! Send the address. I’ll be there in an hour. We have to finish the project as soon as possible.

Elias’s eyes widened, panic surging. He wanted to type a library or a cafe, but it was too late. The estate wasn’t his house... It wasn’t even a house. It was a mafia fortress.

How could he explain that to Jace? He stared at the phone, his hands trembling, as the minutes ticked down. He had to fix this...fast since Jace was waiting for the response.