Chapter 173: Friendly enemy

“So you've grown dumb, hmm. What makes you think I trust you enough to give you the right address?”

“I messed up, I'm sorry. Please don't hurt him” Alex pleaded.

Unfortunately, James was mad and wasn't interested in his apology.

“I'm going to bed, to sleep with your sweet Lucas now. Since you've decided to sleep alone without…”

“No please, don't…”

Alex cut him off before he could finish, but he didn't wait for Alex to land either and ended the call.

Alex growled in frustration and left the police behind. His boys followed behind with worry etched on their faces.

“Mr Alex, you need to…” the police started but he cut him off.

“Don’t you dare…it was all your fault. Everyone of you. From now on, you're not needed, I just want my Lucas alive and unhurt. Do you guys understand that?”

“Mr Alex, we need to work together to…”

“No, officer, I will work alone from now on, thank you.” He said angrily, entered his car, and left the warehouse.

Night stretched endlessly.

Alex lay on his bed, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling as if it held answers. His phone rested beside him, screen lighting up every few minutes. Each time, his heart leapt, only to crash when it wasn’t the call he was waiting for.

He waited and waited but received no message or update.

He turned, sat up, lay back down, restless, agitated, trapped in his own thoughts. Lucas…

By the time dawn crept in, pale light spilling through the curtains, exhaustion finally dragged him under.

But the little sleep brought no peace.

In the dream, he was the one tied up. Wrists bound, body restrained, and helpless.

His breathing turned erratic as he struggled against invisible ropes, panic clawing at his throat. “Lucas…?”

He looked up and there he was.

Standing in front of him. But something was wrong. Lucas’s eyes were cold, distant, and almost mocking.

“Pay up,” Lucas said, his voice echoing strangely. “Or I’ll tell the world what you did.”

Alex’s chest tightened painfully. “What… What are you talking about? Lucas…”

“You know,” Lucas cut in, tilting his head. “Don’t you?”

Fear slammed into him, raw and suffocating. “I’m sorry…” Alex choked out, his voice breaking. “Please… I’m sorry… don’t do this… please…untie me.”

He was begging in desperation but Lucas only watched him, unmoved. His expression was unreadable as he chuckled, “Too late, honey” he said softly.

Alex jerked awake.

“Shit…!” His chest heaved as he gasped for air, sweat clinging to his skin.

Then, his phone vibrated violently against the bedside table. For a split second, he froze. Then grabbed it.

It was an unknown number.

“James?” he muttered under his breath, already answering. “Hello?”

A familiar chuckle slipped through the speaker. “I can’t believe this, Alex… don’t tell me you were sleeping.”

Alex sat upright, running a hand through his damp hair. “No, I wasn’t…”

“The hell you weren’t,” James cut in, amusement laced with cruelty. “We couldn’t sleep here because your pretty boy was pleading all night like some girl missing her husband.”

Alex’s grip tightened instantly. “Please… let me talk to him.”

“No.” The response was sharp. “You listen.”

A pause before he started.

“You’re making it, fifteen million. That’s for messing up last night.”

Silence fell heavily on Alex’s end.

His jaw clenched, but he said nothing.

James continued, almost lazily, “And you’re not dropping the ransom yourself this time.”

Alex frowned. “What?”

“Oh, you didn’t know?” James mocked lightly. “The police are watching you. Waiting for you to make a move so they can follow.”

Alex’s eyes darkened. Of course they were. I shouldn’t have called them in. Alex thought.

“Listen carefully,” James went on. “Let Thomas arrange another cash drop. He takes a cab to Freedom Park. Leaves the money inside the cab… and walks away.”

A beat.

“Once I confirm the money, Lucas walks.”

Alex swallowed hard. “I understand.”

A brief silence and Alex pleaded.

“Please… can I talk to him?” he asked again, voice lower now, almost strained.

A pause.

Then James chuckled. “Sure. Let’s see if he wants to talk to you.”

There was a shuffle.

“Lucas,” James called out. “Your Alex wants to talk.”

A second passed. Then Lucas’s voice came through. It was cold and detached.

“What for?” he said flatly. “He’s not my Alex anymore. I have nothing to say to him.”

The words hit like a blade.

Alex froze. Every breath in his lungs felt heavy and painful.

On the other end, even James sounded amused. “Wow… did you break your pretty boy?”

Alex forced himself to speak, though his chest ached. “We… had some issues,” he admitted quietly. “I messed up.” His voice softened, desperation creeping in.

“But that doesn’t matter right now. Please, don’t hurt him. You’ll get your money. Just give me time.”

A pause.

Then James hummed, satisfied. “Good.”

The line crackled slightly.

“Arrange the money. I’ll call you soon.”

Then the call ended.

Alex slowly lowered the phone, his hand trembling.

Lucas’s words echoed louder than anything else. He’s not my Alex anymore.

His eyes shut briefly, pain flashing across his face.

“Baby, I’ll fix this,” he whispered into the empty room. “No matter what it took.”

Meanwhile, before the chaos of the night, they suspected Alex might want to play big boss with his men. So they moved Lucas from the warehouse to their hiding place opposite the warehouse.

So after the tension had settled into something calmer. James and his accomplices were boiling with anger. He gazed at Lucas and he started pleading for mercy.

James crouched in front of Lucas. “Relax, it wasn't your fault. I won't hurt you if you cooperate and do as you're told.”

Lucas nodded.

James cut through the ropes around his wrists. “Eat,” he said, pushing a plate toward him. “And don’t try anything stupid.”

Lucas flexed his sore hands, wincing slightly before reaching for the food. He didn’t argue and didn’t resist.

“I’ll cooperate,” he said calmly, though his eyes remained sharp. “I don’t want problems.”

James studied him for a second, then smirked. “Good, makes things easier.”

But by morning, the ropes were back but a bit looser this time.

Lucas sat where they had left him, wrists bound behind the chair again, his gaze distant, but not unfocused.

He had been thinking, not about escape, or fear but about the masked man.

Lucas’s brows furrowed slightly as he replayed every brief encounter in his head. The way he moved… the way he stood at a distance… the silence.

It seemed too deliberate as if he was being careful.

Why hide his face… when the others didn’t? He thought.

James and the other accomplice, Tobi, never bothered to conceal themselves. They spoke freely, moved freely, but the masked one?

He was different and too silent as if he was hiding his voice. And somehow, he seemed familiar.

Lucas exhaled slowly as his thoughts continued.

Do I know him?

Then James entered the room where Tobi sat opposite Lucas.

“Watch him,” James said, grabbing his jacket as he headed out. “I’ll be back soon.”