HEART BOUND

WHEN THE MASK SLIPPED

(Season 1)

CHAPTER 20

"VILLA | MICHAEL'S COMPOUND | NIGHT"

Rain was dripping off the black iron gates.

A man stumbled forward, barely able to keep his feet. His clothes were torn, his face pale.

*Davis.*

The security team raised their weapons immediately.

"Stop! Who are you?"

Davis lifted his head with effort. "I... I need to see Michael. Now. It’s urgent."

One of the guards squinted in the porch light. His blood ran cold.

"Wait. That’s... that’s Davis."

"He’s supposed to be—"

"He’s alive. Open the gate! Call the doctor!"

Within minutes Davis was inside, wrapped in a blanket, a doctor checking him over.

The whole compound was on alert.

When the doctor finally left, *Michael* walked in.

He stopped in the doorway.

Davis.

His brother. The man he grew up with. The man he sent 50 men to find when he disappeared.

Everyone told him Davis was gone.

Now he was here. Hurt.

Michael’s jaw tightened. "Davis!! Who did this to you?"

Davis tried to sit up. "Mi... chael..."

His voice was barely a whisper. Davis was still very weak to talk but Michael was too furious to notice. He just wanted to know the person who dared touch his brother.... He want to kill them all

One of Michael’s men stepped forward carefully.

"Boss. He needs rest. He can barely talk."

Michael dragged a hand down his face and exhaled. He was shaking with rage, but Davis looked like he’d break if he pushed him.

"Alright," Michael said, voice low. He sat on the edge of the bed.

"Rest, brother. Just rest. I swear on everything, whoever did this to you... they won’t get away with it."

Davis managed a small, tired smile. He trusted Michael more than anyone in this world.

Michael stood and walked out. The door closed behind him with a quiet click.

Outside, his fists were clenched so hard his knuckles were white.

"Boss," another man approached, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.

"What."

"Boss... our warehouse in Mexico. It was attacked. Burned to the ground."

The air went still.

the anger in Michael's eyes intensified..... He angrily brought out his gun and shoot the man's two legs.

"It was burned down and you're just f*****g telling you useless i***t!!" he yelled at the man who was whipping in pains.

"Please spear me.... Spear me please boss...." the man cried in pains and fears. The look on Michael's was not humanly at all, it was pure demonic.

"You beg for mercy you son of a b***h!!.... Tell me who the f**k is bind this?" Michael said pouring his glasses of wine on the man's open wounds little by little. The man screamed in pure agony...

"Ahhhhh!!" the other men tremble in fears as they watch the scene.

"Answer me now that I'm being nice!!" Michael yelled

The man swallowed. "KALEN. He left a note. Said you should come find him."

Michael didn’t yell, not any more. He didn’t break anything.

He just turned and walked out, every step filled with fury.

"Kalen Vex," he said under his breath.

"You have no idea who you just started a war with."

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

"VEX MANSION "

Liora was heading to the kitchen for water when she stopped.

Voices. From the living room.

"Kai... Lucas?"

She stepped out and froze.

Kai was standing by the door, back to her. Lucas was a few feet away, looking exhausted but okay.

And for a second... they looked like they were too close. Like something had just happened.

Her heart dropped.

When did Kai get back? Why was Lucas here and not in his room?

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

FEW HOURS EARLIER

The car ride back was supposed to be quiet.

Then tires screeched.

Glass shattered.

Shouting.

Lucas grabbed Caius and shoved him down. "Ambush! Get out!"

"Caius, go! I’ll cover you!" Lucas yelled over the noise.

"The hell I will! We’re outnumbered!"

Lucas gave him a hard look. "Someone has to tell the boss. GO. NOW."

"Are you sure about this?" Lucas groan in frustration and push caius away. They don't have much time, caius really needs to go.....

Caius cursed under his breath but ran. "If you die I’m killing you myself!"

After making sure Caius was safely out, Lucas didn’t smile. He just turned and faced them.

30 men. Armed. Lucas was known to be fearless. He never back down from any challenge and he was very loyal in every situation.

"You have some nerve coming out all alone" one of the men said mockingly. Lucas stared at the men in front of him.... They were all hefty men and well built, they were at least thirty of them. But their numbers didn't really scare Lucas in fact he was calculating how to kill them.

"I don't need back up to deal with you" Lucas answered. And a roar of laughter was heard.... They were amazed by Lucas confidence.

"I love your hallucinations....." before the man could finish his words, like lightening Lucas was already behind the man. The other men were shocked at the inhuman speed Lucas used... They were startled and scared. They started shooting at Lucas all at once

He didn’t back down.

"You want to fight, okay. Let's get this over with" Lucas said.

The fight was chaos. Fast. Loud. Lucas moved like he’d done this a hundred times, taking them down one by one.

But they kept coming. And he was getting tired.

---

Caius didn’t get far. He hid, called for backup,After caius was chased away by Lucas..... He really couldn't bring himself to completely leave him behind. He called for back up for Lucas and coincidentally he got a call from Zach

"They’re attacking us! Lucas is still there!"

"Stay put. Help is coming," Zach said.

Minutes later, headlights cut through the dark.

*Kai* got out first. No words. Just that stormy look he gets when he’s furious.

*Zach* followed.

Kai didn’t hesitate. He moved in and ended it.

When it was over, Lucas was on one knee, breathing hard. Alive.

He looked up at Kai and actually smiled, tired but real.

He’d always wanted this. To fight beside him.

Zach clapped Lucas on the shoulder. "Kai, take him home. Now."

The ride back was silent.

Kai drove. Lucas stared out the window.

Neither of them spoke.

When they got to the mansion, Kai slammed the car door and walked fast toward the house.

Lucas stopped him because he didn't like the silent treatment Kai was giving him.

Lucas followed. "Are you angry at me?"

Kai stopped. Turned. "Angry? Lucas, you could’ve died tonight."

His voice cracked a little. "What were you thinking, staying behind like that?"

Lucas didn’t answer. He couldn’t.

Kai stepped closer. His voice dropped. "What if something had happened to you..."

"But nothing happened" Lucas said in a low voice, "look, I'm healing"

And then he kissed him.

Not soft. Not careful. Desperate. Like he’d been holding it in for years.

Lucas froze for half a second, then smiled against his lips.

He was about to answer it when—

"Kai... Lucas?"

They pulled apart instantly.

Liora stood in the hallway, hand over her mouth.

Shock. Confusion.

She had no idea.

The secret was out.

---

The room was dead silent for 3 seconds.

Kai’s jaw ticked. Lucas looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him.

Liora just stood there, processing.

"How long?" Liora whispered.

Neither of them answered.

TBC