My Father Sold Me to a bunch of Crazy Alphas
Chapter 70: Uncharacteristic fling ( Luther’s POV )

Chapter 70: Uncharacteristic fling ( Luther’s POV )

"How are you feeling, pup?"

"The morphine is working well."

Emiliano sat next to my bed for the entire week I’ve been in the hospital.

Tom, Claus and Killian went in and out, but he never left. It was eerily comforting to have him by my side.

It might be the fact that we spent the last months together, playing house that gave him this softness in my eyes.

Or his plan of manipulating me into loving him was finally getting results.

The room smelled overly clean-

Bleach.

Sanitary alcohol.

Fresh air.

But while passing out on the chair next to me from exhaustion, holding my hand for its dear life, Emiliano had a trace of his pheromones on the loose.

The mix of vanilla and black pepper was not a home-y smell in the slightest, but for me-

It was peaceful. Reassuring.

It could be from his pure pheromones injected into my blood. It could be Stockholm Syndrome.

Nonetheless, here I was, gently stroking his hair. I enjoyed the feeling of his silky long hair between my fingers almost as much as I enjoyed him waking up confused about the braids in his hair.

"Are you hungry? You lost a lot of weight."

He gently caressed my face. The swelling from the detective’s punches faded almost completely.

I flinched. It was still painful.

Emiliano sighed sadly, moving his hand from my face back to my hand, averting his gaze.

"I’m fine. Are you not into bony guys?"

He chuckled. The first time since I got hospitalized.

My chest tightened. He was truly pretty.

"It’s fine. I’ll fatten you right back when we get home."

His smile faded into a heartbroken expression. His whole behavior was uncharacteristic and I got used to it way too fast. It was a dangerous game and I was losing it deliberately.

"I’m sorry I wasn’t there, pup."

Oh.

Is he feeling guilty? The guy who has a display of Omega dermatology-taxidermy in his basement like it’s the Louvre?

But what else could cause his honey-color eyes to drown in such guilt?

His whole body was defeated, slumped over my hand. I’ve never thought Emiliano could look so — weak.

"I left you. I let them put their hands on you. I-"

His voice cracked.

He looked pathetic and I couldn’t help the urge to comfort him. A victim consoling his kidnapper?

What has the world come to?

"It’s fine. You’ve done worse."

"Yeah... but I am your husband. I shouldn’t- I have to protect you."

"My God, you’re so deep in your marital delusion that it’s making you psychotic. We’re not married. You’re my kidnapper! Stop acting so lovingly. You have no responsibility for me-"

"I want to have."

"What?"

He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. He gulped. The lord of the underworld was left nothing but a borderline sobbing mess.

Fake or not, the effect was imminent for my heart.

F-ck. I like Emiliano.

"It’s fine.", I said out of breath. "That you were not home. It’s fine. It doesn’t matter."

"I will never let you go again."

"That sounds like a threat."

I chuckled involuntarily. He smirked at my remark.

"I think it sounded pretty romantic."

"What are you? A Killing Stalking fan?"

"Want me to call you mommy too?"

He’s such an idiot.

No.

He is not.

He is dangerous.

He is an egocentric narcissist with a god complex and an apocalyptic plan-

And he needs my help with it. So he is just toying with me.

What am I supposed to do to stop being a toy? My father Geppetto is dead and I am the main suspect in his death.

How am I supposed to become a real boy now?

"How long until the police arrive again?"

"It’s lunch break. So at least an hour."

I nodded.

The police came every day for the entirety of my hospitalization. No matter how much they insisted, Emiliano didn’t leave me alone with them.

He kept squeezing my hand tightly and stared at the officers down with a killer gaze. Poor men trembled in their uniforms.

I would have too if the lord of the scums and illegalities would look at me that threatening.

They kept asking about my alibi and my father’s enemies.

If it were not for Emiliano’s home security system, they would have thrown me in jail already just to wash their hands of the case.

After all, all the news channels were feeding into the police about this national case like vampires with a millennial thirst.

"Are you hungry?"

"You’ve already asked me that."

"Oh."

He rubbed his eyes, troubled. His dark circles deepened as the week went by. He lost weight too.

Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve seen him eat or move since he got here.

Did he develop separation anxiety?

Like a dog?

Cute.

"Go home. Sleep, eat, shower."

"Do I smell?"

"No, but-"

"I refresh every time I go to the bathroom. I shouldn’t smell."

"You don’t-"

"Or maybe you don’t like the smell of my body wash. But it’s the same we use at home. It makes no sense!"

"You smell good!"

My voice echoed loudly through the room, interrupting Emiliano’s irrational ranting.

If this was truly just an act, get this man on a stage and give him an Oscar!

"Oh."

He seemed relieved, leaving his shoulder relaxed from the tension. He even left out a soft exhale, rearranging his hair mindlessly.

"Go home, Emiliano. You’re tired."

"No."

"So what’s your plan? Pushing yourself until you collapse? What if I escape while you’re out like a light?"

"You’re too soft-hearted. You would take care of me. I got a scar to prove that."

He smiled softly while holding his rib.

I turned my head away. Half because I was too embarrassed of what I was about to say, half because if I looked him in the eyes I was scared I would catch a glimpse of pride.

A crack in his acting mask.

I was scared to face the truth.

"Get some sleep."

I moved a bit to make space for him next to me. Moved the sheets to the side.

Didn’t sneak even a peek. I didn’t have the courage.

I just felt the weight of his body slightly shaking the bed. I knew he would be uncomfortable since the space was insufficient for two grown men.

I planned to leave it to him entirely after he fell asleep.

But Emiliano never lets me have things my way, does he?

He wrapped his arms around my waist and placed his head on my chest. I expected a snarky remark about the loudness of my heartbeat, but he just nuzzled his head more deeply, holding me tightly.

In the silence of the hospital room, all I could hear was the softness of Emiliano’s breath and the speed of our heartbeats.

And so-

For the first time since my father died, I felt freedom.

Emiliano’s cage felt like home.

What was I doing with my life? How did everything turn out like this?

I was the youngest Minister, I was pushing laws that actually helped the lower class of our civilians. I was doing good.

And now I am an orphan. A murder suspect. In a dubious situationship with my kidnapper.

God, was I always this pathetic?

Why was I holding on so tightly to this man when all he did was hurt me and use me? Why did I cling to him like I needed him to breathe?

When did I grow into such a crybaby?

As if feeling the tears rolling down my cheek, Emiliano squeezed me tightly.

This is gonna end in a disaster for both of us.

I was lost in thought when Tom walked in.

He looked exactly as in our college days- beautiful, put together and smiling.

Except he was not smiling now.

His face was expressionless, but his gaze was nailed to the sleeping Emiliano who was breathing softly on my chest.

"He should let you rest."

"I invited him. He has been sleeping on a little stool next to my bed for a week."

"I see."

His voice was cold. Tom always used to be bubbly and nice-

He changed into such an emotionless person overnight or was he mad at me?

"What are you doing here, Tom?"

Finally an emotion. A sad smile appeared on his face as he shook his head.

"Rephrase that, Lu. Let me help you: Tom, I’ve missed you so much! I’m so happy to see you! Marry me and don’t ever let me go!"

He smiled gently. I chuckled too. Emiliano frowned as my chest trembled under the pressure of my laughter.

"Maybe two statements out of there are true."

"Can I choose which?"

With his teasing smirk and unshameful smile, he really looked the way he used to. My first love.

"Knock yourself out."

"Good. Get ready for your white dress! They even have a little church thing in the hospital."

"Now?"

"Carpe diem, my love."

"Sorry. Maybe tomorrow. I just put the baby to sleep."

He scrunched his nose disapprovingly, then he sighed in defeat.

"I’ll hold you accountable to that."

"Of course. What could I expect from the big bad lawyer?"

He smiled.

Moving quietly, he took the chair and moved it to the side opposite Emiliano. He held my hand and whispered softly:

"Are you proud of me?"

"What do you mean?"

"When we were dating, before-"

He took a pause. I knew what he was referring to.

When we had our first kiss, he caught a whiff of my pheromones, causing him to nearly die.

I’ve never forget him-

Convulsing on the floor, bloody foam at the mouth and his eyes completely white.

I remember vividly how the professor had to drag me off him while I clung desperately.

Screaming.

Yelling.

Begging for him to wake up.

"Before it all went to hell, you told me you needed a lawyer boyfriend to get you out of trouble when you became a Minister."

"Tom, don’t tell me you-"

"I know. I know. Obsessed much? But what can I do? I am your Eminem to your Mariah Carrie."

I smiled, but the impact of his confession took me by surprise. I never thought—

After the incident, my father had me beaten up for days.

For a week or so in the humid basement of our house. He told me how much Tom despised me for being the genetic monstrosity I am.

"You’re an illegal! Just imagine what will happen if people find out that I, the Prime Minister, had an illegal flower hidden? They would destroy me. Your mother. They will kill you! And for what? For a piece of dic-"

But Tom was standing in front of me now, telling me he molded his life after one stupid joke I threw drunk at a random party.

"I missed you so much, Lu."

"I thought you hated me."

My voice cracked between the sobs.

It sounded weak and frantic, but it was beyond my control.

My father-

He did so much evil. He earned the way to die the way he did.

He deserved to be nothing but a mouse and bug feeding corpse.

Tom wiped tenderly a tear. We both introspected the impact of our history in a moment of silence.

"What’s going to happen now, Tom?"

"You have a solid alibi so there is not much they can do against you. No traces of debit cards or even phone calls. They will probably pin it on your missing mother and pretend to search for her until the intensity of the news about the case dies down."

"Oh. Did-"

I bit my lip hesitating for a second.

"Did my mother leave any note for me?"

"No. I’m sorry, Lu. After the auction, everyone became hectic so nobody saw anyone or knew anything."

"What auction?"

"You don’t know?"

"Know what? What are you talking about? What did my parents sell?"

"Luther..."

"What did they sell?"

Tom took a moment, then left his head shaking low, avoiding my gaze.

"You, Lu. They sold you."

"And I won the auction.", Emiliano mumbled, nuzzling into my chest proudly.