Chapter 97 Bar collision
A few minutes later, Alex was halfway home when his phone vibrated from Dan's call. He answered on the first ring. “Yes, is my baby home?”
“No sir.”
Then he heard the background music thump faintly through the line.
“Damn it, where the heck is he, Dan?”
“He stopped at Rock View Bar. He’s at the center table with the gold polish. He just ordered a high-content cocktail.”
Alex’s grip tightened on the steering wheel as he screeched to the roadside and parked. His jaw flexed. “A high-content cocktail?” he muttered, more to himself than to Dan. “Does he plan to get wasted tonight?”
“It looks like his plan, sir,” Dan replied.
“You did the right thing.” Alex’s voice sharpened with urgency. “I’m on my way. You said the center table?”
“Yes, sir. Right in the middle. You can’t miss him.”
“Alright, Dan. You can head out. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Thanks a lot.”
He ended the call, kicked the engine to life, and drove on. At the next turn, he swung the car around, the tires screeching lightly against the asphalt. The city lights blurred past as he accelerated, his thoughts racing even faster.
“Is Lucas drinking because of my appearance at the dinner? I didn't do anything wrong, I was only passing the right message to Margaret, claiming what is mine. Lucas’s love and body are mine. He is mine alone.”
Alex exhaled sharply, unease crawling under his skin. Why would my claiming him drive him to sit alone in the middle of a bar with something strong enough to burn going down? This wasn’t good. Alex’s thoughts felt concerned.
“Hold on, baby,” he murmured, pressing harder on the accelerator. “I’m coming for you.”
Alex pushed through the doors of Rock View Bar, the bass from the speakers vibrating through his chest. His eyes went straight to the center table. The gold-polished one Dan had described was there but empty.
The chair was slightly pulled back. A half-finished cocktail sat sweating under the lights.
Alex’s instinct heightened, He grabbed the nearest waiter by the sleeve. “The man who was sitting here. Where is he?”
The waiter blinked nervously. “He was here not long ago, sir. I think maybe he stepped away.”
“Stepped away to where?” Alex’s voice was quiet, but lethal.
“I’m not sure, sir. Maybe you should search around or check outside.”
Alex released him and scanned the room again. Lucas wouldn’t just vanish. Not when he was drinking. Not when he was upset.
He began moving fast…past couples, past loud laughter, past curious stares.
“Did you see the guy who was sitting over there alone? Black shirt. Nice physique, might be a little tipsy.” No one gave him a useful answer. His pulse pounded in his ears as he continued to search.
Meanwhile, some minutes earlier, when Lucas first walked into the bar with glassy eyes and tight jaws, Zenith had already been seated at a corner table. He was swirling the amber liquid in his glass waiting for his escort. He saw Lucas enter the bar alone with worry brewing in his steps.
“Well well, look who is here. What has Alex done to you, pretty boy? You've been unhappy these past few days.”
He chortled and stood to approach him but then caught sight of Dan near the counter, clearly watching Lucas.
“Fuck, his watchdog is following him around now. Has it gotten to this?” Zenith smiled to himself and sat back down to see what happened next.
Then Dan made a call and left the bar. Zenith rose from his seat. His eyes followed Dan until he drove off.
He smiled, walked over to Lucas’s table, and slid into the seat opposite him. “Rough night huh?”
Lucas looked up slowly, recognition dawning through the haze. “You?”
Zenith’s smile was smooth. “Did you know Alex has men watching you?”
Lucas frowned. “What?”
“I saw one just now but he has left.” Zenith leaned closer. “You can’t even drink without supervision, hmm.”
“I don’t need supervision,” Lucas muttered, grabbing his glass and gulping more down in one swallow.
Zenith’s eyes flickered with quiet satisfaction. “You look like you could use air,” Zenith said softly. “Let me take you home.”
Lucas shoved his chair back too quickly, swaying. “I said I want to be alone. I'm not going home.” He stumbled toward the restroom hallway. Zenith followed him with a smirk curling his lips.
Back to the present.
Alex had searched the bar without seeing Lucas. He had called his number but it wasn't reachable. Then he remembered he hadn’t searched the restroom.
As he reached the corridor leading to the restrooms. The noise from the main bar faded, replaced with a dim hum and the faint echo of running water.
Then he heard a muffled sound. More like a scuffle and a weak protest.
His blood turned to ice. He shoved the restroom door open. The sound was from a toilet. He hurried there and pulled the door open.
The sight before him detonated something primal. Lucas was pinned against the tiled wall, his head tilted back, eyes unfocused.
Zenith had one hand gripping his jaw, the other pressed against his waist. His mouth was on Lucas’s.
Not a gentle kiss but possessive and predatory. It was total harassment.
For a fraction of a second, Alex froze. Then rage consumed him.
“Get away from him, you imbecile!"
The words came out hot and deadly.
Zenith pulled back slowly, turning his head with infuriating calm. “Damn it,” Zenith mumbled.
Lucas blinked, disoriented. “Al… Alex?” His voice was weak.
Alex crossed the distance in two strides and yanked Zenith back by his clothes, slamming him against the opposite wall. Lucas staggered out.
“How dare you touch him again,” Alex growled, fist bunching tighter in Zenith’s shirt. He threw a punch at his jaw unexpectedly.
Zenith staggered back. “He wanted to be kissed. So I'm…
“Shut the fuck up, you snake.” He threw another punch.
Zenith smirked despite the grip on him. “He didn’t look like he minded. Aren't you enjoying the kiss, pretty boy?”
That did it because Alex’s fist collided with Zenith’s jaw again, and this time it came harder. Zenith staggered back and fell.
“Alex” Lucas whispered faintly, sliding slightly down the wall.
Alex ignored Zenith immediately and rushed to Lucas as his knees buckled.
Alex caught him before he hit the floor. “Hey baby, look at me,” Alex said urgently, brushing damp hair from his forehead. “Did he hurt you?”
Lucas’s eyes struggled to focus. “I… I said I wanted to be alone.” He mumbled.
Zenith wiped blood from his lip and laughed softly. “You should ask him why he was here drinking like this in the first place.”
Alex’s head snapped up, fury blazing again. But Lucas’s weak grip on his shirt stopped him. “Take me home.”
Those words cut through everything. Alex supported Lucas with his arms and walked out.
Zenith called after him, voice smooth and poisonous, “You can’t guard him forever, Alex.”
Alex didn’t respond.
But the look he gave Zenith before the door swung shut promised something far worse than words.