"Ah, he slipped away. What a pity… I should have held on to him a little tighter…"
Not that it would have changed anything. As much as Ivan wanted to mark Daniel and keep him by his side, now was not the right time. If he wanted Daniel to remain safe beside him, he first had to make sure it was truly safe to stand at his side.
And that meant securing complete control of the Den.
On paper, Ivan was an Enigma-a being at the very top of the hierarchy, someone without equals. In reality, he had always been nothing more than a weapon the Den wielded for its own purposes.
A noose had hung around his neck for as long as he could remember. At first, it had been his mother. Then it became Daniel. After Daniel had 'died,' Ivan had considered ending everything and dragging the Den down with him. But the leash around his throat had tightened, stopping him.
Joshua had eventually become that leash. As long as Joshua lived, Ivan told himself he was honoring Daniel's memory. That was how he endured.
And now, the leash had returned to where it truly belonged-in Daniel's hands.
"Well, I don't mind becoming a dog if it's for your sake. After all, a bunny like you needs more than protection to survive in this harsh world."
Ivan rose from the bed and inhaled deeply. Daniel had done a thorough job clearing away the pheromones, but no matter how strong the cleanser, it hadn't erased everything.
The faint traces that remained filled Ivan's senses, and his body relaxed instinctively. For a moment, he nearly drifted off while standing.
His phone rang.
[Joshua Park]
Ivan exhaled and answered, his voice calm, almost languid.
"What can I help you with?"
Even through the phone, Joshua's anger was palpable.
"You piece of shit-! Ugh, now's not the time. Is my brother with you? You better not be dragging him into something dangerous."
As expected, Joshua's world revolved entirely around his brother. Ivan could understand that.
"Unfortunately, my bunny slipped out and headed back alone. Should I go after him?"
"Don't you dare. If you have even a shred of decency, you'll come here first. We got news about your old man's movements."
The amusement drained from Ivan's face. He straightened immediately.
He headed toward the shower, then paused. Washing off would mean losing the last traces of Daniel's scent.
"Oi. I know you're still there, so listen carefully," Joshua continued. "Don't let anyone find out about my brother's existence. Call me when you arrive. I'll keep watch until then."
Ivan ended the call and tossed the phone onto the counter before stepping into the shower.
As much as he wanted to keep that lingering scent on his skin, it wasn't safe for Daniel. Reluctantly, he let the water wash it away.
He ordered fresh clothes and, like Daniel, decided to take the old ones with him. Unlike Daniel, however, Ivan had very different intentions for them.
"I bet Joshua would throw a fit if he knew why I'm keeping these."
Unfortunately for Joshua, Ivan wasn't afraid of him.
__________
It took Daniel far too long to return to the Happy Smile Business Building. Public transportation had been delayed due to some "emergency," which usually meant gang fights in the area.
Four hours later, he finally stepped inside his building.
The half-maintained interior greeted him with its usual gloom. He rubbed his forehead in irritation.
"Ugh… maybe I should finally get some sleep. Too much has happened already. I'm exhausted."
He collapsed onto his bed, ready to close his eyes, when frantic knocking shattered the quiet.
"Huh? Who's knocking this early? It's too soon for a client… Is it the landlord?"
Daniel checked the date and winced. It was nearly the end of the month-and he hadn't paid his rent.
Not because he lacked the money. He had it set aside. He'd simply postponed the payment again and again due to his busy schedule. This wasn't even the first time.
Thankfully, the elderly beta who owned the building was usually patient-until rent day arrived.
"Ugh. I should deal with this now before it gets worse."
He opened the door, already apologizing.
"I'm sorry I forgot to pay. I'll transfer it right now-just give me a-"
He froze.
The man standing outside was far too composed to be his landlord.
Mr. Yang looked at him with a worried expression, a bag clutched in his hands. Daniel quickly stepped aside.
"Lock the door," Mr. Yang said quietly. "Make sure no one's listening. I brought the money. The remaining 500k. Safe and sound."
Daniel felt a pang of guilt. He hadn't truly completed the task he'd been hired for.
"Actually… There's something I need to tell you about your request. Please, have a seat."
Mr. Yang sat on the sofa, facing Daniel with an earnest look that made Daniel's chest tighten. For a fleeting moment, he considered keeping the truth hidden.
But his conscience won.
"About your son, I apologize, but-"
"It's fine," Mr. Yang interrupted. "He came home. A bit bruised, but safe. He confessed the 'kidnapping' was staged-something he and his friends planned to get extra money. He said life was too stressful. Joining a gang felt easier."
Daniel's words died in his throat. He offered a small smile.
"I see. I'm glad things worked out."
It seemed the case had resolved itself without his involvement. Accepting the money felt less burdensome now.
"Oh, it's more than that," Mr. Yang continued. "Those kids? They're from influential families. This mistake gives me leverage. It'll make future business easier. I mean-" He cleared his throat. "It's good no one was hurt."
Daniel smiled politely, pretending not to notice the slip. It might have been deliberate-a test of trust.
"Then you should spend time with your family," Daniel advised. "Perhaps travel abroad for a while."
With leverage came danger. Mr. Yang would be a target.
Mr. Yang nodded. "A vacation does sound delightful. I deserve one after all this. Perhaps you should consider one too. You might need it even more than I do."
His smile lingered a second too long.
Daniel's stomach tightened.
'Does he… know something?'
__________
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