Chapter 267: Suddenly, Part Of Me Is Hauntin’ Me

[FROLO]

"Alek," the omega breathed, and Alek couldn’t have been more glad to hear that voice. He’d missed it so much, gods, he was starved for it, and the worst part of this was why he was calling. Hell, where he was calling from.

"Little rose," Alek greeted, his voice enthusiastic. It wasn’t odd, thankfully, because he was always happy whenever he called Katya.

The Bratva members stared at him, some looking at him like he’d lost his mind, while others silently made signs of snapping someone’s neck. It was like they were reminding him he was on borrowed time.

Kenzo, on the other hand, held a piece of paper and handed it to someone, who gave it to Alek.

On it was the simple statement, "Ask him where he is."

Alek froze for a moment. He was not even thinking straight. He needed to figure things out, but he didn’t even have the time to think right. If he said no, he would be doomed, and Katya would be hurt.

"Alek?" Katya said again on the other end, and Alek seemed to snap out of his trance because he let out a soft breath.

"I... I missed hearing your voice, little rose," Alek said smoothly, and the restaurant was filled with people staring at him as if this was not what he was supposed to ask about.

"I miss you too," Katya said softly, before adding, "Are you alright?"

The omega’s voice made Alek feel even worse for why he was calling. Perhaps in another life they would be good at communicating or rather Alek would be a good communicator because Katya always reached out.

Always.

"I could come pick you up for late lunch once my work is done, if you’re not busy," Alek said, and he hoped the universe was on his side today. Oh, how he hoped he’d get a no because if Katya agreed, he was fucked.

The lower district was fifty minutes away from the central business district where Katya was at the moment, and with Frolo traffic, it would be hell. He wouldn’t even have a proper excuse for whatever was coming.

"I’m having lunch with your boyfriend, Mr. Senator. You can stop some other time. Anyway, we have to go before lunch hour is over and the barbarian starts asking where his chairman is," Andre said.

Alek had never been that glad to hear the man’s voice.

Gods, it was like an answered prayer he was sitting through, and he was happy for it. Because now he didn’t have to worry about the safety of Katya.

"Okay, you guys take care," Alek said, ready to hang up.

"You too, Alek. I love you," Katya said before hanging up.

Back to his reality, the restaurant burst into laughter at the confession at the end, while Alek just stood there all stiff and unsure of what to do.

These people were trailing Katya. He knew it now.

He had just gotten the confirmation, and it wasn’t doing his nervous system any justice. What the fuck had he roped himself into?

"Give it back," the receptionist said, and Alek meekly handed the phone back, mumbling a thank you like he wasn’t the highest power in the room.

Well, maybe to the public, because right here and now, he was just their errand boy.

Defeatedly, Alek made his way back to the table where Kenzo was seated. Expectedly, he tripped on a foot again. This time, he had seen the foot coming, but he figured it would be pointless to play games with these people.

Maybe if he let them do whatever they wanted with him, they would let Katya be. It was a long and humiliating road to the chaos ahead.

"You failed, Aleksandr," Kenzo said when Alek finally got to the table, looking like he’d been swimming in dust and blood drops. He was a mess, and his lips were still bleeding, but what else could he do now anyway?

"I’m sorry," Alek said in earnest, like that was supposed to save him from the fate that was headed his way. It was insane in every way, but then again, he had walked willingly.

"You know what will happen to you now, don’t you?" Kenzo asked, amusedly as he stretched.

Alek stared in defeat.

He wasn’t sure anymore.

He had never failed before, and he didn’t know how this was supposed to work, in all honesty. Maybe he would see for himself today, no?

"Uhh..." Alek trailed off.

"Go on, eat," Kenzo said, and Alek hesitated for the first time.

This could be poison.

He couldn’t die before he apologized to Katya for the way their relationship had been lately. He couldn’t go like that without telling Katya that he loved him. Maybe this was the price he had to pay.

If it meant Katya stayed safe, he’d take it.

Gods, he was screwed.

"It’s not poisoned, if that is what you’re thinking," Kenzo said, and Alek did believe him.

So Kenzo grabbed a spoon from the table and scooped Alek’s soup and drank it while looking Alek in the eyes.

It was almost intimate how Kenzo held Alek’s gaze while he drank the soup, even licking his lips as if the senator were just something else.

And Alek’s mind didn’t do him any good. Because for a moment, he wondered if he was about to be abused.

It wasn’t something he could put past the syndicate.

Kenzo picked up on that, too, given the way Alek suddenly hugged himself.

"You’re hot, Senator," Kenzo teased, and Alek just stared.

"But you’re not my type," Kenzo added, like that was the only thing he could use to reassure the man.

"Eat up. We have other business after this," Kenzo said before everyone around them got in a queue at the reception and got their share of food.

Only when Alek saw everyone eating did he eat.

It didn’t make him feel any easier, but what was he to say to that? He couldn’t deny that he was hungry, but even if he wasn’t hungry, he couldn’t say no to the Bratva.

So, they shared a meal in silence, though the people around them were chatting happily, laughing, teasing each other. It almost felt like this was a normal restaurant.

Until the food was done.

Until the tables were cleared and everyone turned their attention to Alek.

"It’s time for your punishment, Senator," Kenzo said, and before Alek could ask what this was about, he was dragged from the seat and pinned against the wall by three men.

The alpha was held on both sides, so he was standing in an awkward position, and boy, was it uncomfortable.

"Don’t worry, they won’t hit your pretty face, or anywhere anyone will see. We care about your face, Senator, and we can’t be the reason you don’t get your fangirls and omegas swooning again, alright?" Kenzo laughed before he looked at his men.

"Go on."

And Alek...

It was safe to say he received a beating that would last him weeks if he hadn’t been an alpha.

Again, he was thankful he was an alpha because by the time they were done beating him, the alpha was curled up on the ground in a pool of his own blood.

Someone had given him flesh wounds, and while it wasn’t serious, Alek didn’t trust himself to get up and leave. So, he stayed there, with an aching body, while the men laughed and walked away, leaving Alek and Kenzo in the room alone.

Even the receptionist had left.

"Wake up, Senator. I don’t want to have to kill you if you’re dying," Kenzo said casually, like he hadn’t just made the man suffer in all twelve ways to hell. What the heck?

"I’m sorry, I won’t do it again," Alek forced himself to sit up, but his body was hurting.

Each time he tried, he ended up curled on the floor.

Kenzo almost didn’t seem as bothered by the senator’s response.

He had taken quite the beating anyway.

"There is a Moskowsky event coming up next Wednesday. We already found you a way in, Senator. All you have to do is show up there and mingle. We will customize your suit.

"That suit coat... must remain within Moskowsky holdings. Do you understand?" Kenzo said, and Alek nodded, unsure of what he was even agreeing to.

His ears were buzzing.

"Good. I’ll remind you again later. If you fail this time, you will never see your omega again," Kenzo warned before leaving.