Chapter 142 Precaution
James muttered, “I tried my best.”
“I hope you are aware of the consequences if you're caught. Alex might send you to jail but his old man will send you to your grave. So do your job well, because your life depends on it. Are we clear on that, James?”
“Damn it, who…”
“I said, are we clear?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good.” The line went dead.
Feeling devastated, James cursed under his breath. “Who the fuck is this Mac Hunter?”
Angrily, he walked on to the road and boarded a taxi to his hotel.
Meanwhile, Mac’s car was now cruising smoothly through the dimly lit road. The engine hummed softly as if nothing had just happened.
Inside the car, Mac sat in silence, but a smirk lingered on his lips. Then his phone buzzed, disrupting the silence.
He didn’t hesitate. He picked it up, placing it on the speaker as his eyes remained fixed on the road ahead.
“Talk.”
A voice came through, calm but edged with curiosity. “He’s back at his hotel. All good here.”
Then a brief pause before the voice asked, “What about your side?”
For a second, there was only the faint sound of tires rolling over asphalt. Then a low chuckle, dark and amused.
“I’d say,” Mac replied, voice laced with quiet satisfaction, “I made quite an impression tonight.”
The voice on the other end scoffed lightly. “That's good?”
“Oh, babe, you have no idea.” Another soft laugh. “Fear looks different from certain people.”
The caller went silent for a moment, as if picturing it before he asked, “Do you think it’ll be enosked. “Or do we push further?”
The driver tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing as if replaying a memory.
“It won’t take long,” he said calmly. “Pressure breaks even the strongest ones. So eventually, he will succumb.”
A pause, then, more quietly he said, “He won’t hold on forever.”
The caller exhaled slowly. “You sound confident.”
“I am.”
Another beat of silence stretched between them. The caller said, "What if you’re underestimating Alex?”
Mac chortled, softer but colder. “I don't think so, you should have seen his face a while ago. There are things people don’t forget,” he murmured. “No matter how much they pretend to move on.”
The voice on the other end gave a faint, knowing hum. “So this is going to work.”
A slight smile tugged at Mac’s lips. “Oh yeah. I will watch him for three more days and then attack.”
The line went quiet again, tension lingering in the unspoken.
Then the voice said, “Just don’t overdo it,” It came lightly as a warning. “We still need to be very careful, he is vastly connected.”
Mac’s fingers tapped once against the steering wheel. “Don’t worry, babe,” he said smoothly. “I know exactly how far to go.”
Another pause, then, almost as an afterthought, “…for now. Sleep tight.”
The call ended.
Silence returned to the car, but this time, it felt heavier and more dangerous. Mac’s faint smile didn’t fade, it deepened.
Back at Alex’s, Lucas turned slightly, glancing at him. “Alex…”
No response and something felt off. He wasn't seeing his usual controlled Alex but something worse.
Lucas took a step closer. “Alex, talk to me.”
Still nothing. Alex’s breathing had changed, subtle, but noticeable. A little uneven. A little too controlled, like he was forcing it.
Lucas frowned. “You’re starting to freak me out.”
Alex let out a short, dry laugh. But there was no humor in it.
“He dared to watch us,” Alex said quietly.
Lucas blinked. “We already know that but…”
“No,” Alex cut in, his voice sharper now. “Not just tonight.”
Silence dropped between them.
Lucas’s chest tightened. “What do you mean?”
Alex finally looked up and there was something raw in his eyes. It was unstable.
“He knew exactly where to look. Exactly when to move. James runs when he needs to… the car shows up at the perfect time…” His jaw clenched. “That’s not a coincidence.”
Lucas’s voice lowered. “You think this has been going on longer?”
Alex didn’t answer immediately.
His grip tightened around his phone as he said, “I think I've been blind.”
“Are you hiding something,” Lucas said, voice tightening. “This isn’t just about some random psycho messing with us. This is personal.”
“No, baby, I'm not.”
The tension lingered, but neither of them talked, instead, they drifted back into something quieter.
Lucas lay down first, pulling the duvet slightly over himself, staring at the ceiling for a moment before turning to his side.
Alex joined him shortly after wrapping an arm loosely around him. His chin brushed lightly against his shoulder.
“You should sleep, you're safe in here,” Alex murmured.
Lucas nodded faintly, “Hmm.”
For a while, they stayed like that,
close, silent, trying to relax. Eventually, Lucas’s breathing slowed, even and steady.
But Alex? He didn’t sleep. His eyes remained open in the dim light, staring into nothing as his thoughts ran wild.
“Break up with him. Or next time, I won’t just watch.”
Alex’s arm tightened slightly around Lucas before he carefully eased away, making sure not to wake him.
He slipped out of bed quietly and walked out of the bedroom. Then
closed the door behind him before pulling out his phone.
Without hesitation, he dialed. The line rang twice before it connected.
“Hello, Mr Alex?” A woman’s voice came through, slightly groggy but professional.
“Janet, sorry to disturb your rest but this is urgent.”
That woke her up. “Mr. Alex? Is everything okay?”
“I need a property,” he said immediately, his tone low and direct. “Two-bedroom apartment. For sale.”
A brief pause. Then he continued, “I have a few criteria.
“It has to be upstairs,” Alex cut in. “Highly secured. CCTV, inside and outside. No blind spots and furnished.”
Janet’s tone shifted, more alert now. “Alright, that narrows it down. I actually have one that fits that description.”
“Good,” Alex said without hesitation. “Prepare the papers, I'm taking it tomorrow.”
“So soon?” she asked, surprised.
“Yes, Janet.”
There was something in his voice that made her not question further.
“Okay, whose name should I put it under?”
Alex’s grip on the phone tightened slightly. His gaze drifted unconsciously toward the bedroom door.
“Lucas Westman,” he said quietly. “Put everything in his name.”
Janet paused. “You’re buying it for someone?”
“Yes.”
Another short silence. Then Janet responded, “I’ll start the documentation first thing in the morning,” she replied.
“No,” Alex said firmly. “Start now. I want everything ready as soon as possible.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll send any details you need.”
“Alright, Mr. Alex.”
The call ended.
Alex lowered the phone slowly, His eyes moved back to the bedroom door. This wasn’t just a precaution, but protection. Since someone was watching close enough to know what they were doing. Then this house was no longer safe and so his.
Alex ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening.
“Not on my watch,” he muttered under his breath.
Then walked back into the room, carefully and quietly. Like nothing had changed.
But everything had changed because as he lay beside Lucas, his thoughts kept spiraling on his next move.