Shadows and Loyalty.

 Shadows and Loyalty.

The heavy oak door had barely clicked shut behind Filomeno when Kael’s composure crumbled. The icy mask of the billionaire tycoon vanished, replaced by a man consumed by a restless, burning anxiety. He paced the length of his office, his shadows stretching long against the glass walls as the sun began to set over the city.

Caleb, his head of security and the only person Kael trusted with his life, stepped out from the corner. He moved with a silent, feline grace, locking the door and turning off the intercom.

"Tell me the truth, Caleb. I need the unvarnished facts," Kael said, his voice dropping to a gravelly whisper. "Tell me that man hasn't broken him. Tell me Filomeno hasn't laid a hand on him out of spite or greed."

Caleb sighed, crossing his arms over his broad chest. He had been Kael’s shadow for over a decade, and he knew that beneath the tailored suits and the ruthless business reputation, Kael possessed a fierce, protective streak.

"Sami is physically unharmed, Kael. Our surveillance confirms it," Caleb reported solemnly. "Filomeno is a monster, but he’s a calculating one. He knows that a 'damaged' Omega loses market value. He’s kept Sami in a gilded cage, treated him like a porcelain doll just to ensure he could fetch the highest price. He has no idea that you’ve spent months infiltrating his circles just to buy the boy's freedom. To Filomeno, you’re just the highest bidder."

Kael stopped pacing, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of his marble desk.

"It feels like a deal with the devil, Caleb. Using my mother’s influence, signing those papers... I’m buying a human being. Even if my intent is to set him free, the act itself feels stained."

"It’s the only way to get him out legally, Kael," Caleb reminded him firmly. "If you tried to kidnap him or sue for custody, Filomeno would disappear him into the black market before the first court date. This 'contract' is a shield. Once he’s under your roof, he’s safe. He belongs to the Monzón name, and no one—not even his father—will ever touch him again."

Kael looked down at the dossier on his desk. The photo of Sami showed a young man with soft, luminous eyes and a smile that seemed too bright for the world he lived in.

"I got a notification from the field team ten minutes ago," Caleb added, his tone shifting to one of warning. "Filomeno allowed him out tonight. Sami is at L'Étoile with a few friends. It’s his eighteenth birthday, Kael. His scent is reaching its peak. It’s like honey and jasmine—the kind of scent that attracts every predator in a five-mile radius."

Kael’s eyes flashed with a sudden, dangerous intensity.

"He’s unprotected? In a place like that? Filomeno is a fool! An Omega presenting for the first time in a nightclub is an invitation to disaster."

"I have two men in the crowd, but the club is packed," Caleb said. "It’s a risk. If you show up there and he sees you, you’ll ruin the 'surprise' of tomorrow's gala. You need to remain a stranger until the ink is dry on that contract."

"I don't care about the gala, Caleb. And I don't care about being a stranger," Kael snapped, grabbing his charcoal overcoat. "I won't let his first night of 'freedom' turn into a nightmare. Get the car. We’re going to L'Étoile. I'll stay in the VIP shadows, but I need to see him. I need to know he makes it through the night without being hunted."

Caleb nodded, a grim smile touching his lips. He knew there was no arguing with Kael when his Alpha instincts were triggered.

"The car is waiting downstairs. But stay in the dark, Kael. Your turn to be his hero officially starts tomorrow. Let's make sure there’s still a hero left to play the part."

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