Shane suddenly stood up from the couch as though he were about to leave the house.
“Where are you going?” Steve asked, his eyebrows raised.
“I’ve been trying to reach the person checking on Thomas, but no one is answering. It’s not like him to ignore my calls. Something’s wrong, I just know it,” Shane said, his voice tight with worry. He reached for a jacket from Steve’s closet and slipped it on.
Steve frowned. “Really? If that’s the case, something serious might be going on.” Without hesitation, he stood up and pulled a shirt from his own closet.
Shane blinked in surprise. “Wait, what are you doing?” he asked, watching as Steve started to button up the shirt.
Steve, noticing Shane’s shock, shrugged. “I’m coming with you. What, you expect me to just sit here while everything falls apart outside? While our men are out there, and you’re running around trying to fix things alone?”
Shane shook his head, baffled. “When’s the last time you even left this house? You’re not well enough to be running around out there. And we’re still keeping your identity hidden, remember?” His tone was firm but concerned.
“I don’t care. I’m going with you. There’s nothing you can say to change my mind,” Steve declared, grabbing a pair of boots and putting them on.
“Steve, please don’t. If you go out in this weather, you’re going to get sick. I can’t protect you out there, and I don’t want to risk something happening to you.” Shane’s voice was calm, but the urgency behind his words was clear. “You remember what happened when I was kidnapped. You saw what they did to me. The outside world’s dangerous.”
“Exactly why I need to be out there! I can’t just stand by and let everyone else handle things without me,” Steve snapped. “I need to learn how to protect myself and everyone else. Don’t try to stop me, Shane.”
Shane sighed heavily, realizing how stubborn Steve could be. “Doctor Eugene is coming today. You need to stay here and get your prescription. I can handle everything outside.”
“I’ll call the doctor and let him know I’m busy. He can wait for me,” Steve replied, already thinking of excuses.
Shane saw there was no way to change Steve’s mind. “Fine, you can come. But there’s one condition.”
Steve, eager to be on the move, nodded quickly. “Anything, just tell me.”
“You have to listen to me out there. No impulsive decisions. And if I tell you to leave, you leave. Got it?” Shane looked him squarely in the eyes, making sure his words sank in.
“Sure, whatever you say. I’ll listen,” Steve said, though his confidence still lingered.
Shane eyed Steve’s clothes and frowned. “But you can’t leave the house dressed like that.”
Steve looked down at himself in confusion. “What do you mean? What should I wear?”
“You need a disguise. You can’t be recognized as the chairman. If your father finds out who you are, we’re all in deep trouble.” Shane’s voice dropped lower, knowing the weight of his words.
Steve paused, remembering the last time something like this happened. He and Shane had snuck out of the house years ago, only to be caught by Steve’s mother and harshly punished by his father. Since then, Shane always went out alone to handle things.
Steve groaned. “Alright, fine. But hurry up.”
Shane disappeared into a room for a few minutes and returned with a black security guard uniform. “Here, put this on.”
Steve blinked, staring at the outfit. “You want me to dress like a security guard?” He tossed the clothes back at Shane’s face.
“Yes, Steve! This is the only way to keep your identity hidden. It’s just for a few hours. Don’t make this harder than it has to be,” Shane said firmly, throwing the clothes back.
Steve sighed, picking up the clothes again, but still grumbled, “No one knows what I look like, anyway… Why do I even need this?”
Shane raised an eyebrow. “Just put it on.”
After twenty minutes of arguing and Shane’s constant persuasion, Steve finally gave in and dressed in the black uniform. He brushed his hair back, put on a hat, and covered his face with a mask.
Once fully disguised, Steve stepped back out. No one would’ve recognized him like this.
“You look perfect. Let’s go,” Shane said with a nod.
As they walked through the building, Steve felt a strange excitement bubbling up. He hadn’t been outside in so long. Workers glanced at them as they passed, recognizing Shane but not the mysterious “new security guard.” Most assumed it was just a new hire.
Stepping outside, Steve paused, taking in the fresh air and open space. His heart lifted. After years of confinement, it felt like stepping into a whole new world.
Shane touched his shoulder, snapping Steve out of his thoughts. “Get in the car.”
Without a word, Steve climbed in, and Shane started the engine.
***************
Meanwhile, George and Raymond had just finished smuggling Alpha Darwin into their hideout. Walking back, George turned to Raymond, breaking the silence. “I hear you’re heading out of town with the boss soon. When’s that happening?”
Raymond, suspicious of George’s sudden interest, answered cautiously. “In two days.”
“Good. Be careful on that trip. I heard the route’s dangerous,” George said, glancing away.
Raymond studied George’s face, sensing something off. Why the sudden concern? George was never the type to care about anyone’s safety.
“Yeah, we know it’s risky. We’ll be careful,” Raymond replied, keeping his voice neutral.
The two reached their boss’s house. The door was open, so they entered.
Their boss sat on a luxurious throne, her back to them. “How did the operation go?” she asked, her voice cold and elegant.
“It went well, ma’am,” George said quickly.
“And the Alpha? What’s his condition?”
“He’s still unconscious. We’ve called for a doctor. He should be here soon,” Raymond answered quietly.
“Good. I need him awake soon. Very soon,” she said, her voice soft but dangerous.
“We’ll pass that along to the doctor,” George assured her.
She turned slightly. “Raymond, the trip’s postponed for now. I’ll inform you when there’s new information.”
Raymond nodded. “Understood, ma’am.”
George, hiding his disappointment, kept his face calm. Something about this delay made him uneasy, but he didn’t let it show.
“You can both leave now,” their boss dismissed them.
The two men quickly exited, leaving the tension behind.