Chapter 39
“You’re late,” Justin drawled.
Elias adjusted his cufflinks as he slid into the seat across from him, refusing to give ground. His voice cooled. “What’s this about?”
Justin leaned back, draping one arm over the chair like a king on a cheap throne. “It’s about your father. He hasn’t stopped.”
Elias’s eyes narrowed. “Be clearer.”
Justin’s smirk sharpened, but his tone was measured, almost casual. “Victor Crane’s still coming after my men. Relentlessly. Two of them dead last week. Another one yesterday. Shot down before they could even make it home.”
The words landed like gunfire in Elias’s chest. He sat still, but inside, his heart hammered against his ribs. He had suspected Victor wasn’t finished. he was too quiet lately. Elias should have suspected that his father was planning something.
Elias leaned forward, voice low and taut. “I didn’t know.”
Justin’s laugh was short, bitter. “Of course you didn’t. Daddy doesn’t share. Not even with his precious heir.” He tilted his head. “But I thought you should know....since you were the one who promised to protect me and my men from your father if i helped you.”
“You have my word,” Elias said, tone like steel. “You and your men will stay under my protection. I will sort this situation out myself just you, and your men should be cautious. Keep sharp. Trust me i always keep to my words.”
For a long moment, Justin studied him, eyes sharp as blades. Then his shoulders loosened slightly, though the smirk never fully faded.
The waiter dropped two menus on the table with a clumsy clatter. Neither of them touched them.
Justin reached for his glass, swirled the wine, and then set it back down untouched. His gaze slid back to Elias, glinting with amusement. “Speaking of… I couldn’t help noticing your little spat earlier.”
Elias’s chest tightened.
Justin’s smirk grew. “That bartender boy—what’s his name again? Jace. You looked… invested.”
Elias’s voice dropped like a blade. “That’s none of your concern.”
Justin raised his brows, feigning innocence. “Come on, Elias. I’m curious. Who is he to you? Because from where I sat, it looked like he could get under your skin. That’s rare.”
The words grated against Elias’s composure. He forced his tone steady, sharp. “Jace has nothing to do with you. Stay out of it.”
Justin chuckled low, leaning forward, his elbows on the table. “You sound so protective of him.” His eyes narrowed, the humour fading. “That’s exactly why I don’t like it. That boy isn’t good news. He doesn’t smell right to me. Men like him? They bring trouble. And when I don’t trust someone…” He paused, his grin cruel. “…I investigate.”
Elias’s blood ran hot, fury pounding in his temples. The idea of Justin’s men circling Jace like vultures, dragging him into this world...it was intolerable.
“No,” Elias said, the word cutting clean through the noise of the restaurant. His eyes locked with Justin’s, cold fire burning behind them. “You’ll stay away from him.”
Justin arched a brow. “Or what?”
Elias leaned in, his voice low, deadly calm. “Or you’ll see just how much like my father I can be.” His jaw tightened. “Jace is off-limits. If you value this fragile truce between us, you won’t so much as breathe in his direction.”
The air between them thickened, heavy with unspoken threats. For a long moment, Justin didn’t move. He stared at Elias as though trying to decide whether to laugh or pull a knife.
Elias stood abruptly, the chair legs screeching against the tile. “We’re done here.”
Justin leaned back, now smirking like he had won something. “See you around, Crane. Watch your back. And maybe…” his smirk sharpened, “…watch your heart.”
Elias didn’t reply. He turned and strode out of the restaurant, leaving the smell of grease and Justin’s laughter behind.
\~~~~
Elias’s voice still echoed in Jace’s ears as he stormed out of the restaurant, his chest heaving. His fingers curled into fists, knuckles whitening with every step he took. How dare he? The accusation, the sharp edge of Elias’s jealousy, it burned hotter than anything Jace had ever endured. The worst part was, Elias had made him feel small.
Behind him, Aiden caught up quickly.
“Jace...hey, wait.” His hand reached out, brushing against Jace’s arm. “Slow down.”
Jace jerked his arm free. “Don’t. Just....don’t right now.” His voice was tight, breaking at the edges. “He...he practically accused me of sleeping with you. Like I’m...like I’m nothing but some whore.”
The words cracked out of him, raw,furious. Aiden could see the way Jace’s shoulders trembled under the pressure of holding himself together.
“Jace,” Aiden said gently, “you know Elias was just being…jealous. He didn’t mean—”
“Don’t defend him aiden!” Jace spun around, his eyes wild. His chest rose and fell in shallow bursts. “ He also disrespected you. Didn’t you hear him? You didn’t see the way he looked at us, belittled us.”
The intensity in his voice made Aiden pause. For a moment, neither spoke. The sounds of the city filled the silence horns blaring, laughter spilling out from another nearby restaurant, the hum of a neon sign buzzing above them.
Finally, Jace exhaled, sharp and shaky. His gaze softened only slightly, flicking away from Aiden’s face. “I just…I need to cool off. Clear my head.”
“Alright,” Aiden said carefully, like he was handling glass. “How about a drink? There’s a bar I know. It’s quiet. Not too crowded.”
Jace hesitated. His mind was still tangled in Elias’s harsh words, but the thought of numbing the ache with alcohol sounded almost necessary. He nodded once. “Fine. Let’s go.”
\~~~
The bar Aiden chose was tucked away in a narrow street, dimly lit, with dark wooden walls and the faint smell of aged whiskey. The low hum of music floated through the space was soft, unintrusive.
They slid into a corner booth, the leather cracked but comfortable. Aiden waved to the bartender like he had been here countless times, ordering them both a strong mix without even asking.
When the first glass was set in front of Jace, he downed it in two gulps. The burn seared his throat, but the warmth spreading through his chest was exactly what he craved.
“Easy,” Aiden said with a faint smile, lifting his own drink more slowly. “We’re not in a race.”
“Maybe I want to just get drunk,” Jace muttered.
Aiden tilted his head. “And what would that solve?”
“Everything.” Jace leaned back, running a hand through his messy hair. “Or maybe nothing.....I don’t know.” He let out a humorless laugh, his anger slowly unraveling into exhaustion.
They ordered more drinks, and little by little, the stiffness began to melt. Jace found himself laughing—genuinely laughing—at one of Aiden’s ridiculous stories. The sound of his own laughter startled him; he hadn’t realized how much tension he’d been carrying until it slipped free.
“You’ve got a good laugh,” Aiden said softly, almost too soft for Jace to catch over the music.
Jace rolled his eyes, though his cheeks flushed faintly. “Don’t start flattering me. I’m already in a mess.”
“I’m not flattering you,” Aiden said, swirling his drink lazily. His eyes lingered on Jace, warm but searching. “I’m just telling the truth.”
Jace’s breath hitched, and for a moment, he looked away. The weight of that gaze was too much. Why did it feel so easy with Aiden?
Drink after drink blurred the lines between comfort and something sharper, heavier. Their shoulders touched now when they leaned in, when Jace laughed too hard, when Aiden whispered something close to his ear. The air grew heavier, charged with something unspoken but undeniable.
At one point, Jace’s hand brushed against Aiden’s on the table. He didn’t pull away. Neither did Aiden.
The laughter faded, replaced by silence that stretched taut, vibrating with tension. Jace’s heart hammered against his ribs as he glanced up, meeting Aiden’s gaze.
“Aiden…” Jace’s voice was rough, uncertain.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t—” Jace swallowed hard, his throat dry despite the alcohol. “I don’t want to think tonight. I just…want to feel something that isn’t anger.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and electric.
Aiden leaned closer, his breath warm against Jace’s cheek. “Then let me help you forget.”
And then it happened, Aiden closed the distance. The kiss was rough, desperate, fueled by alcohol and raw emotion. Jace responded instantly, his hand gripping the back of Aiden’s neck, pulling him closer, deepening it.
The taste of whiskey mingled with heat, their lips colliding again and again, messier, hungrier. Jace’s body pressed against Aiden’s, and Aiden’s hand slid lower, fingers digging into his hip.
They broke apart only to breathe.
“Let’s get out of here,” Aiden murmured, his voice low and unsteady.
Jace didn’t hesitate. He let Aiden pull him from the booth, both of them stumbling slightly as the alcohol made their movements loose, reckless.
The night blurred as they hurried back to Aiden’s apartment, the city spinning around them. They barely made it through the door before Jace was shoved gently against it, Aiden’s mouth on his again, hotter, more urgent.
Jace’s hands gripped Aiden’s shirt, yanking him closer. Aiden’s fingers fumbled with the hem of Jace’s jacket, sliding it off his shoulders.
Jace gasped when his back hit the wall, Aiden’s body pressing flush against his. Aiden’s lips trailed lower, every kiss sending electrifying waves through Jace's body.