Chapter 241: Captured

Sally gently brushed Lucas’ hair away from his forehead. "You've lost weight. These bruises on your wrist."

Her eyes filled with tears.  "My poor boy."

Lucas reached out and squeezed her hand. "I'm alright and I'm home now."

Alex sat beside him, never letting go of his hand. "I told you."

"No one's taking you away again."

Lucas leaned his head against Alex's shoulder. "There is something I need to ask."

Alex looked down. "Anything."

Lucas hesitated. "Please..."

"Don't tell my family about the kidnapping. I don't want them worrying."

The room became quiet.

Alex exchanged a glance with Sally. Neither of them spoke immediately. Lucas noticed.

His heart sank. "You already told them."

Alex sighed. Yes baby, they already knew."

Lucas closed his eyes.

"Oh no..."

“Your sister called as soon as she heard." Sally explained gently.

"She cried through half the conversation, but she was okay now."

Lucas smiled sadly. "That sounds like her."

"And your father," Alex added carefully.

Lucas slowly looked up. "What about him?"

Alex rubbed the back of his neck.

"He wasn't crying, he was complaining."

Lucas already knew what was coming.

"He was angry asking what you're doing at my parking lot. If you were planning on sneaking around with me? If you’ve forgotten that you're married now. He said lots of things that weren't necessary."

Sally sighed. "He was very angry. He kept demanding to know who was responsible. But after all his rants, he blamed himself for not protecting you."

Lucas lowered his head. "He always does that. Blame everyone for what went wrong, then have regrets later."

Alex intertwined their fingers.

"You can talk to him when you're ready."

Lucas nodded, "But not tonight."

"No." Alex kissed his forehead.

"Tonight..." He smiled gently. “You just need to rest."

“What of Zenith, have the security men found him?” Lucas asked worriedly.

“Not to worry, we will find him, and he will pay for touching you.”

“I was very scared, he said he was taking me out of town and we will live as one. He was sounding like a mad man.”

Alex clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking.

“That was his last straw. He will never lay a hand on you again. I will make sure he rots in jail.”

Lucas closed his eyes again. For the first time in days, he finally felt safe.

Completely unaware that, across the city, plans were in motion for  him. Zenith was already on his way toward another carefully laid trap.

The quiet inside the Benson family home was broken by the shrill ring of Alex's phone.

He glanced at the screen. Dan was calling. Alex answered immediately.

"Speak, Dan."

Dan's voice came in low and urgent. "Boss, he just arrived."

Alex was already on his feet.

"Is it him for sure?"

"Positive, sir. We've confirmed his face from the lobby camera."

Alex's expression hardened.

"Good."

He grabbed his car keys.

"Let him enter the apartment. Don’t move too early."

There was a brief paused.

"If he senses anything, he'll run. So you guys should handle him carefully."

"Understood, boss."

"I'm on my way."

The call ended.

Alex looked at Lucas. "I have to go. I will be back soon."

Lucas instinctively caught his wrist.

"Be careful, okay."

Alex smiled softly and squeezed his hand.

"Okay, I will be back soon. If you feel like sleeping, you go back to the room, okay."

Then he kissed Lucas's forehead.

“Dont be scared of anything, because this time, he's not getting away."

Close to Baddie’s apartment…

Zenith stepped out of the elevator carrying an easy smile. The hallway was quiet. Exactly as he'd expected.

He adjusted his jacket, then knocked twice.

A moment later, the door opened.

Baddie stood there wearing a welcoming smile.

"Hey, Zee." His voice was as cheerful as ever, though his heart was pounding.

Zenith grinned.

"You said you miss me, hmm?"

“You know I do,” he lifted his fingers and caressed his chin with a fake smile.

Zenith slipped a hand into his jacket pocket. Then he produced a small bottle of strawberry syrup. He held it up with a mischievous smile.

"I prefer strawberry to honey."

Baddie laughed lightly. "Oh mine, Zee, you're certainly original."

He stepped aside and gestured toward the apartment. "Come on in, Zee. Whatever gives you your happy ending." He managed a light laughter but his heart was full of anger.

Zenith crossed the threshold without hesitation. Then Baddie quietly closed the door behind him.

"Give me just a minute," Baddie said casually. "Make yourself comfortable."

He walked deeper into the apartment exactly as planned.

Zenith looked around. Everything seemed normal. The lights, the furniture, the silence, but almost, too quiet.

A faint crease formed between his brows. Before he could turn…

"Now!"

The shout echoed through the apartment.  Doors to the two room burst open.

Plainclothes security officers surged from concealed positions in the hallway, the kitchen section and restroom.

"Don't move! Hands where we can see them!"

Zenith's eyes widened.

"What the heck is…?" He spun toward the front door, but two officers were already blocking it. More rushed in behind him.

“Baddie, you did this? How could you betray me.”

“No, the question is how could you kidnapped pretty boy. How could you stoop so low. You disgust me Zenith.”

“So it was you, You tipped them. So the happy ending promotion is all a lie.”

“You bet bitch. I don't give out my ass or my cum for free.”

“Gaddamn it, how could I fall for this shit”

Instinct took over as Zenith shoved a nearby chair into their path and lunged sideways, trying to create an opening.

An officer grabbed his arm.

Zenith twisted free and drove his shoulder into another, forcing the man back a step.

For a brief second, it looked as though he might break through.

Then three more officers closed the gap.

"You're surrounded! Quit wasting our time."

One officer reached for his wrists.

Zenith fought fiercely, throwing sharp elbows and trying to wrench himself loose.

The apartment erupted into chaos.

Furniture scraped across the floor.

A lamp crashed to the ground.

Baddie ducked behind the kitchen counter, eyes wide.

"Oh dear goodness, my sweet furniture and my lamp is broken. Alex you're going to replace them," he muttered under his breath.

Another officer caught Zenith from behind. Together they forced his arms down.

"Enough!"

Metal handcuffs clicked around his wrists behind his back.

Zenith froze. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he glared at everyone in the room. The confident smile he'd worn moments earlier was gone. In its place was a cold, furious stare.

Just then, the apartment door opened again.

Alex stepped inside. His eyes locked with Zenith's.

Neither of them spoke. The room fell silent. For a long moment, they simply stared at one another.

Finally, Alex broke the silence. "It's over Zenith."

Zenith's lips curled into a faint, unsettling smile. "You really think so big guy?"

His voice was calm despite the handcuffs.

Alex met his gaze without flinching.

"You kidnapped the man I love. You terrorized him and said all sorts of nonsense.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“No problem but what I want to know is why Lucas. Why do you chose to hurt him when he had never offended you in any way?”

Zenith bursted with laughter.