Heir In The Shadows

EPISODE 29

Dax sat in his sleek, dimly lit office, the city lights spilling through the tall windows. His phone buzzed in his hand, and he answered with a curt, “Go.” The voice on the other end — his informant — began spilling the details.

“Sir… I dug up everything I could about that… Ghost guy.”

Dax leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “Speak.”

“He’s a street fighter. Very skilled, one of the best in the underground circuits. Luciano first noticed him in the ring, and… since then, he’s been keeping a very close watch on him. Ghost had a boyfriend named Damon, but after Damon cheated on him with his best friend Eli, Ghost ended it. Ever since, Luciano has been spending a lot of time with him. Always around him, making sure he’s… well, you know… by his side.”

Dax’s jaw tightened, and his fingers drummed against the polished mahogany desk. A cold fury settled in him. “So… this Ghost guy… he’s the obstacle.”

“Yes, sir. It seems Luciano is… emotionally invested in him,” the informant continued cautiously. “He’s not just spending time; he’s… protective. You could say he’s in love.”

Dax’s lips curled into a predatory smile, but his eyes were sharp, calculating. “No. This cannot stand. No unknown, street-fighting nobody is going to steal him from me. I was Luciano's first — his everything. His first love, his first time, his first everything… and I know him better than anyone ever will. That Ghost doesn’t even come close. I can’t let him.”

He rose from his chair, the city lights casting shadows across his face, sharp and determined. “Move fast. I don’t care what it takes. That… Ghost guy is going to learn very quickly that no one, and I mean no one, touches what’s mine. Luciano’s heart will be mine again, and if that means making Ghost regret ever existing… so be it.”

The informant’s voice cracked slightly over the line. “Understood, sir.”

Dax hung up, his mind already racing with plans. Every move would be precise, every step calculated. Ghost had no idea what was coming, and Dax intended to make sure he never got a chance to take Luciano away.

He sank back into his chair, eyes closing briefly, remembering the first time he held Luciano, the first kiss, the first touch. “He’s mine,” Dax whispered, more to himself than anyone else. “And I will never let anyone, especially not some unknown fighter, take him from me.”

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The following morning, Dax wasted no time. He summoned his closest lieutenants into his office, the room buzzing with a tense energy. “Listen carefully,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “We’ve identified the guy — the street fighter Luciano is… infatuated with. Ghost. From what I’ve gathered, he’s dangerous in his own way, skilled in fighting, and clearly has Luciano wrapped around his finger. That ends now.”

One of his lieutenants, a wiry man named Vero, leaned forward. “Sir, how do you want us to proceed? Surveillance? Sabotage?”

Dax’s eyes glinted with cold calculation. “Both. I want to know everything: his routines, his hangouts, who he trusts. Find out his weak points, his strengths, everything. Luciano will notice, of course, but we’ll make it subtle. I want Ghost distracted, off-balance. Emotionally… mentally… physically. And no one touches Luciano while I’m making my move.”

Another lieutenant, skeptical, spoke up. “Sir, Luciano’s not exactly… weak. If he suspects interference, he’ll act.”

Dax’s lips curled into a dangerous smile. “Let him. I know Luciano. I’ve known him since the beginning. He’s mine, and Ghost? He’s just a stepping stone. Keep your eyes open, your ears sharper. And remember — Ghost doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. That will be his mistake.”

Meanwhile, far from the plotting of Dax, Luciano was at his office, his thoughts occasionally drifting to Jax. He couldn’t stop smiling at the memory of last night — how Jax had held him close, how they had fallen asleep in each other’s arms. He wasn’t naïve; he knew the world they lived in was dangerous. But right now, with Jax, he felt something he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years: peace.

Back in the shadows, Dax’s men began tailing Ghost’s movements, documenting his every step, noting the times he left Luciano’s side, observing patterns in his life. Every detail would eventually feed back to Dax, who watched with growing satisfaction. Ghost had no idea what was coming, and Dax relished the thought of being the one to regain control over Luciano’s heart.

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Later that evening, Jax leaned against the balcony railing of Luciano’s mansion, the city lights reflecting in his sharp, calculating eyes. He had been enjoying a quiet dinner with Luciano, the air between them still tender and charged, but something tugged at the edge of his instincts.

His mind, trained for danger, didn’t miss the subtle anomalies: a shadow that lingered too long near the perimeter of the estate, a luxury SUV that seemed to appear wherever they went, drivers who occasionally slowed just a beat too long when Luciano left the office.

Jax frowned, a low hum of caution rising in his chest. He reached for his phone, sending Draco and Vince subtle messages, encrypted of course, to check the surrounding areas. He didn’t want to alarm Luciano — not yet — but he needed eyes on everything.

Luciano, seated beside him, noticed the tension in Jax’s posture. “Something wrong?” he asked softly, his hand brushing against Jax’s.

Jax’s lips curved in a faint, knowing smile. “Just… instincts,” he said quietly. “Nothing for you to worry about. Enjoy the evening.”

But even as he spoke, his mind raced, analyzing every possibility. Someone was watching — not carelessly, but deliberately. Someone who knew both their moves, someone who had a stake in Luciano. And Ghost… he wasn’t just a bystander.

Luciano’s gaze lingered on Jax, sensing the intensity in his eyes. “You always notice everything, huh?” he murmured, half in awe, half teasing.

Jax turned to him, his expression softening, though the edge never fully left. “It’s my job to notice,” he said. “And my job is to make sure nothing threatens you.”

Luciano’s heart skipped a beat at the protective tone, but deep down, he wondered what — or who — could have triggered it. He didn’t have to wait long for the unease to settle over the night; shadows moved more deliberately in the distance, and Jax’s eyes never left them, scanning, calculating.

For the first time, Luciano realized just how dangerous their world could be — and just how much he relied on Jax, not just for comfort, but for safety.

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Jax stood on the balcony, the cool night air brushing against his face, his mind wandering even as he stared at the city lights below. His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. Draco’s name flashed on the screen.

“Boss,” Draco’s voice was steady but urgent. “I traced who’s been trailing you and Luciano. it's Dax Crust.”

Jax narrowed his eyes. “Who? I don’t know anyone called Dax Crust. Give me everything you’ve got.”

Draco wasted no time. “He is the son of the owner of Crust Enterprise Boss and now his father has retired leaving the company under his care

Jax’s brow furrowed. Then it clicked. He had done business with Dax’s father, David Crust, some time ago. “Ah… I see. I know the family name. But… why is Dax monitoring me and Luciano?”

There was a pause on the other end before Draco spoke carefully. “Boss… Dax is Luciano’s ex. He left two years ago, and now he’s back.”

Jax’s jaw tightened. His thoughts raced back to the day he had surprised Luciano at his company, hearing that name slip from Luciano’s lips. It all made sense now.

Draco’s voice was hesitant. “Boss… should I dig further? Find out why he left Luciano back then?”

“No,” Jax said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I want to hear it from Luciano himself… when he’s ready to open up about his past. Until then, I don’t want anyone digging into it.”

Draco exhaled slowly. “Understood. But… should I keep an eye out in case Dax or his men try anything foolish?”

Jax’s voice softened, but his resolve was ironclad. “Yes. Monitor them closely. I won’t let anything happen or go wrong between Luciano and I. Understood?”

“Crystal clear, Boss,” Draco replied, ending the call.

Jax turned from the balcony and walked back into the room. Luciano emerged from the bathroom, ready for bed, his hair still damp, a soft towel draped over his shoulders.

“Is something wrong?” Luciano asked, concern lacing his voice.

Jax shook his head, forcing calm into his tone. “Nothing… come to bed.”

As Luciano moved closer, Jax’s thoughts betrayed him. He trusted Luciano completely, but a thread of fear lingered—fear that one day, Luciano might leave. The memory of the name he’d overheard at Luciano’s company replayed vividly. Dax was back. And it meant one thing: someone was trying to reclaim Luciano, someone who might have once had his place.

Jax’s hand instinctively wrapped around Luciano, pulling him close. “No one will take you from me,” he thought fiercely, pressing his face into Luciano’s neck, inhaling his scent, letting the warmth of his lover anchor him.

Luciano, sensing Jax’s tension, snuggled closer. “I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered, his voice soft but unwavering.

Jax held him tighter, feeling the steady beat of Luciano’s heart against his chest. For that night, there were no shadows of the past—only the here and now, wrapped in each other’s arms. And as sleep claimed them, Jax’s final thought lingered: as long as I have him, I will never let go.

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