Icing on the cake - Chapter 1: Part 2

Despite his delicate face, Cheriot seemed to enjoy alcohol as much as Alexei. Having shown great interest in the black tea with whisky, he insisted that Yuri make him a cup to taste that peculiar flavor. Alexei, whose mood had improved with the alcohol, encouraged him. Within an hour, half a bottle of bourbon whisky was already showing its bottom.

Cheriot Goodnight’s case could be called neither difficult nor easy. The organization he had entangled himself with was a biker gang operating throughout the province of British Columbia, a large group that had crossed over from the United States. Although a large-scale investigation had reduced their numbers, they were still profiting from drug distribution.

Asking the police for help would be, as previously mentioned, the cleanest solution. But due to a weak point—which wasn’t entirely one—that they had used to snare Cheriot, he said he preferred mediation. Cheriot claimed the gang only wanted money, and Yuri and Alexei didn’t think very differently.

However, since criminals’ intentions usually exceed all expectations, they weren’t optimistic. Ordinary people don’t understand how voracious the scum who have abandoned morality can be. The details would require further investigation.

“How far are you willing to go in the negotiation?”

Alexei took a chocolate from the table and ate it before asking. Cheriot dropped four sugar cubes into his freshly prepared cup of tea and stirred it with a spoon.

“How much do you think they’ll ask for?”

“I don’t know. There hasn’t been any concrete demand yet. Tell me, what exactly did the person you were involved with say?”

Cheriot wrinkled the bridge of his nose. With a reproachful expression, he replied to Alexei.

“Samuel? Sam just told me it was dangerous and that I should seek help. After that, I haven’t had any contact with him.”

“Do you remember the number?”

“Yes, I memorized it.”

Alexei whistled.

“Sounds like the love of the century. Memorizing a phone number nowadays…”

“I usually give my best with people I see.”

As he said this, Cheriot ran his index finger across his forehead.

“Although if I’d known he was cheating on his partner with me, I would have left him long ago.”

“If someone is determined to deceive you, there’s no way you’d know. But didn’t many people approach you with suspicious intentions? You’re a superstar, yet you met people without checking their backgrounds… You’re naive.”

With alcohol in his system and his defenses lowered, Alexei was kinder to Cheriot than before. In reality, Alexei tended to be soft with ordinary people, and even more so with innocent types like Cheriot, who seemed unaware of the ways of the world. Perhaps it was because he reminded him of a lover he had once raised.

Yuri simply listened to their conversation in silence. After all, it was Alexei who ran the solutions agency. He himself was just a collaborator who helped when labor was scarce. Accepting or rejecting a case was ultimately Alexei’s decision… He was just helping a friend. The reward wasn’t important.

“I didn’t want to know people that way. After all, they weren’t serious relationships but brief encounters, so backgrounds didn’t matter.”

He certainly didn’t seem like the type to settle down with someone for long. This was evident when he would suddenly approach a stranger on the street and say “Up close you’re even prettier, handsome” while flirting with them.

Alexei didn’t comment on Cheriot’s naive response. He took a sip of his whisky-laced tea, sank into thought for a moment, then set down the cup and spoke.

“The case…”

He felt a gaze on his cheek. Lifting his eyes from the reflection of the room’s ceiling in his cooling tea, he met Alexei’s stare.

“It was Heather’s recommendation, and you say there are mitigating circumstances, so I’m fine with accepting it. Yuri, could you help me? Even though I’m excellent, it’s hard to face a biker gang alone.”

The answer was already decided.

“Yes.”

At the brief reply, Cheriot asked again, his voice lively.

“Have you decided to protect me?”

“It’s not for you, it’s for Alexei.”

Yuri cut him off before he could say anything more ridiculous, then laid out the plan already in his mind.

“For the next couple of days, it’d be best to investigate internally through our contacts. Meanwhile, hire a bodyguard. Your home seems compromised, so stay at a hotel and avoid going out as much as possible. Until this is resolved, the safest thing would be for you to leave for another city—somewhere that isn’t Vancouver. After all, you’re on a break this season, so it doesn’t matter if you’re away for a while, right?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Cheriot and Alexei looked at him simultaneously. Yuri narrowed his eyes slightly, glancing between them. Then Cheriot, his green pupils shining, asked:

“How did you know I’m in the off-season? I never mentioned it.”

“That’s right, Yuri,”

Alexei added with a mocking smile. He only remembered hearing it by chance on the radio, but their interpretations were exaggerating. Instead of responding and giving them more ammunition, Yuri decided it was time to end the meeting.

“On the way back, I’ll call a taxi so you can sleep at a hotel tonight.”

“But what about the bodyguard? Wouldn’t it be dangerous to go back to the city?”

Such strict surveillance is usually imposed when there’s intent to assassinate, and Cheriot’s actions didn’t seem to warrant that high a price. But since they hadn’t investigated yet, it was unwise to let their guard down. Yuri thought for a moment and told Alexei:

“You take him on the way back. It’s the same route, isn’t it?”

“Well, that’s not difficult,”

Alexei shrugged. Cheriot, who had been watching the situation unfold, pushed against the floor with his long legs, leaning his chair back. He frowned with the expression of a sulky child.

“I’ve never hired a bodyguard for something like this before.”

“Call a security company. Aren’t your connections full of them?”

“That’s true, but for this matter, the fewer people who know, the better. Many around me would pass on information if the price was right.”

Yuri looked puzzled.

“Then?”

“I’d like one of you two to protect me. Until everything is over. You said the investigation will take a couple of days, and if negotiation is possible, you’d only have to stay with me for a short while. It wouldn’t be for long.”

“No.”

Yuri rejected it immediately, but Alexei was different.

“He’s right. He came all the way here to avoid a scandal. What if something leaks by bringing in other people?”

It seemed Alexei had already firmly decided to help Cheriot. Knowing how stubborn he was and how difficult it would be to change his mind, Yuri needed to find another alternative.

“Then I’ll call Timac.”

“Are you serious? Timac?”

Timac was another of their friends, a guy who had come with them when they left Saratov. His real name was Taylor McDonald, and unlike what you’d expect from an Alpha, he was quite timid and had no talent for fighting—a shame, given his physique.

When Yuri stopped talking, unable to think of anyone else, Alexei slowly reached out and patted him on the shoulder. As Yuri frowned and stared at his childhood friend, the latter gave him an apologetic smile.

“But if I’m by his side… I don’t think Valery would like the idea. Besides, it seems that guy over there likes you. Could you put up with it for a bit?”

It was better for Yuri to spend the night out, since Alexei had someone waiting for him at home. He understood this rationally, but as he disliked the idea intensely, he hesitated to respond. Hearing this, Cheriot sealed the deal.

“A hundred thousand dollars.”

Cheriot, who had slammed his chair legs back onto the floor with a dry thud, leaned his torso forward. His long shadow, cast by the room’s light, fell across the table and reached Yuri.

“As an initial payment, I’ll give each of you a hundred thousand dollars. The final reward will be negotiated separately. U.S. dollars, not Canadian. In cash, if you prefer.”

It was an excessive sum for an advance. The man stated that figure—which Yuri could never amass no matter how hard he tried—with such innocence that it made Yuri’s face stiffen with discomfort. Yet at the same time, it stripped him of all grounds for refusal.

In purely practical terms, it was a deal with more benefits than losses. Yuri ran a hand across his forehead with a sigh and forced down his distaste. Nothing is more foolish than being ruled by emotion. It was time to act rationally.

“Do whatever you want.”

The reluctant answer left his lips. Cheriot, as if he’d been waiting, leaned in even farther and extended his hand to Yuri. His long, pale hand was as large as the rest of him, calloused despite his delicate face. But it bore no carved scars like Yuri’s, showing only the marks of diligent training.

“I’m counting on you, Yuri.”

Reluctantly, Yuri took the hand offered by the intruder who had fallen from the sky. Following the rational whisper that, as his client, he should treat him with some courtesy, he grasped that large hand. A vigorous force gripped him firmly in return, as if it had been waiting. Unlike Yuri’s cold hand, Cheriot’s was as warm as the color of his hair.

***

Yekaterina Kozlova was a devout believer of the Orthodox Church. Her family had believed in God for generations, and even living in an age of war and death, they never lost their faith. The Kozlova family was poor but of honorable lineage. They liked to help people, and Katia—that is, Yekaterina—following that family tradition, became a nurse.

That’s why no one expected Yekaterina to fall in love with a man named Vasili Kiselyov. The Kiselyov family had been dedicated to slaughter for generations, and since Vasili knew nothing else, he made his living skinning animals and removing their entrails. Though it’s said there are no superior or inferior jobs, that of a butcher was not a respected profession.

When rumors began that the beautiful, kind nurse was chasing the gruff butcher, at first everyone said Katia must be in her cycle and had therefore made a wrong decision. As there has always been attraction between young Alphas and Omegas during their cycle, those who secretly admired Katia consoled themselves thinking it was a passing fever.

But Katia did not leave Vasili’s side after months, nor half a year, nor even years. At some point she began bringing Vasili to church on her arm. The rough, faithless man decided to try believing in God for the woman he loved.

And Vasili Kiselyov’s faith continued even after the woman he loved more than his own life died. He told his son Yuri that God is always in the human heart, and therefore, though we sin, Jesus the Savior will forgive and restore whoever repents.

…Nonsense.

Yuri, who had stepped outside for a smoke, gazed at the silent night streets. He loved his father, but hated the naïveté of the faithful. The faith they spoke of seemed to him only a convenient excuse. Saying one can sin, repent, and be forgiven struck him as terribly selfish. Isn’t it just a belief to ease deeply rooted guilt?

Sin leaves an indelible mark the moment it’s committed. It’s something that happened, a time that can’t be turned back. If someone turns another’s life into hell and then repents, what happens to the victim’s life? If the dead can’t be saved but murderers can, Yuri didn’t want to believe in such a God. Ironically, among criminals there were many believers. Yuri was so disgusted by such people that sometimes he felt he could die just looking at them.

And so, at some point, Yuri abandoned his faith.

Yuri Kiselyov is a sinner. He has been since he was born in Saratov. Katia and Vasili, an ordinary couple, fled a crumbling country and came to the United States. To live in a new land, they needed identity and money.

A man named Igor Volkov took advantage of these refugees: in exchange for giving them the means to survive, he imposed huge debts that chained them. Saratov was a city full of people stupid enough to fall into the trap. Yuri, born in a mafioso den that committed every kind of crime to make money, of course grew up a mafioso. He had no choice. After being forced to join the organization using his parents’ unpayable debt as leverage, Yuri did many things to survive. Things that don’t deserve forgiveness.

“Yuri, are you ready?”

As the cigarette ember was about to reach the filter and touch his index finger, Alexei approached from behind and spoke. Yuri exhaled a slow plume of gray smoke and then, with a sharp flick of his finger, snuffed out the ember. The crimson point scattered in the air and vanished.

“Was there anything to prepare?”

“I mean, mentally preparing yourself to be stuck with Goodnight.”

Alexei apologized with a joke. Although his great friend usually didn’t care about others’ opinions, he sometimes showed consideration for the few people he valued. Since his criteria were quite arbitrary, this didn’t happen often, but today it seemed his conscience was bothering him.

“Actually, no. Just locking him in a hotel and bringing him what he needs will be enough. It shouldn’t take more than ten days to resolve.”

It was true that Cheriot Goodnight’s personality annoyed him greatly, but the pay was excellent. Even though he’d taken charge of his protection, Cheriot wasn’t in any condition to go out, so Yuri’s work would be limited to watching him from outside while he rested. They wouldn’t spend much time together.

“In an ideal world, yes… but plans always go awry.”

“If I misinterpret that, it’ll seem like you want it that way, Alyosha.”

“Impossible.”

Alexei frowned as if to deny it completely, but when he met Yuri’s gaze, he couldn’t help breaking into a laugh.

“To be honest, today is the first time I’ve seen you so agitated. You don’t usually pay attention to such nonsense.”

He seemed greatly amused to see him so exasperated by Cheriot’s behavior. Yuri stared at his smiling friend, gave a mocking laugh, and put his hand in his pocket. He took out a portable ashtray, deposited the cigarette butt, and responded indifferently:

“It’s just that until now, there hadn’t been anyone who spoke to me like that.”

Looking back, it seemed absurd. He had always been an intimidating figure that few dared approach. Even when Omegas in their cycle clung to him, they didn’t dare compliment him lightly. Everyone was afraid to even look him in the eyes.

Is that why those green eyes shocked me? Almost no one had looked directly at my face before.

Since arriving in Vancouver, some Omegas had asked him out, but they too were embarrassed to meet his gaze.

“But it’s a fact that you’re handsome, isn’t it?”

While Yuri mulled over Cheriot’s eccentricities, Alexei offered a compliment. Yuri frowned and stared at him. Though they’d been together since they could run, this was the first time he’d mentioned his appearance. Yuri hadn’t either. He didn’t know if it was due to their hostile environment or typical Russian bluntness, but compliments weren’t part of their dynamic.

He has changed a lot since we came to this place.

Suddenly, Yuri realized that someone he thought he knew perfectly had changed without him noticing. It felt strange, but not unpleasant. Alexei, after becoming the partner of the person he’d loved for so long, had become more expressive. His friend, who always prioritized actions over words, seemed to have learned affection.

Faced with this revelation, Yuri hesitated for a moment. He debated whether to say “thank you” or “you too,” but ultimately chose another response.

“I don’t want to hear that kind of comment from an Alpha.”

“You’re right. If it were a cute Omega, it would be different.”

As if it weren’t important, Alexei shrugged in agreement. Yuri observed his expression and took out another cigarette. Suddenly, his stomach ached with a strange feeling. Was it because he’d just realized how much his lifelong friend had changed? He felt left behind.

Yuri, who had lowered his head to look at the ground, silently inhaled the cigarette smoke. He felt the thick smoke filling his lungs, clouding his veins, and wondered if he deserved to remain by his friend’s side.

Cheriot Goodnight said he wanted to hire them because Alexei was a “good” person. Heather probably considered them good because they helped without expecting anything in return. But that couldn’t be the true measure of goodness. What mattered were the crimes they had committed. Unlike Alexei, who despite being in a den of criminals never crossed certain lines, he…

“I’m bored. When are you planning to go out?”

Was he too absorbed in his thoughts? Confronted by ghosts from the past, Yuri didn’t notice Cheriot approaching from behind. Maybe he’d also let his guard down because Alexei was nearby. As the price for his distraction, he couldn’t prevent Cheriot from suddenly hugging him, wrapping strong arms around his shoulders.

Despite his delicate appearance, the strength with which he embraced him was so overwhelming it stole Yuri’s breath. Surprised by the sudden contact and pressure, Yuri’s face stiffened. He raised his arm to strike, but when he sensed Cheriot’s pheromones, he barely managed to stop his fist.

“овно!”

But he couldn’t stop the curse from escaping.

“Wow, what did you just say? Say it again.”

He felt Cheriot’s breath in his ear. Unlike his usual cheerful tone, the voice that resonated near his ear was unsettlingly deep. Alexei, watching from the side, let out a mocking laugh.

“In my life, this is the first time I’ve seen someone beg to hear an insult repeated. That was a curse, sir client.”

“Even Yuri’s insults sound pleasant.”

“And what do you think about stepping aside before I actually hit you?”

“If that were the case, Yuri would have already punched me.”

Cheriot blurted out another absurd remark as he watched Yuri restrain himself from throwing a punch. More than perplexed, Yuri felt his irritation boiling over. He turned his head to repeat the insult, but when he realized Cheriot’s lips were brushing his cheek, he grimaced. They were almost touching.

“Let go of me now. If you touch me like that again, know that I will hit you.”

Although Yuri’s rule was never to lay hands on a civilian, at that moment he was so furious he almost forgot it. Faced with Yuri’s hostile tone, Cheriot loosened his grip as if to release him, but then leaned in again and asked:

“Then, is it okay if I warn you before I touch you?”

“Are you crazy?”

Yuri repeated it in English so Cheriot would understand perfectly.

“It’s just that I like your appearance so much that maybe I have gone a little crazy.”

“As long as he likes the face, he’ll sleep with anyone. Even an animal would have more self-control than you.”

“Not necessarily. For s3x to be good, I also have to like the person.”

For a moment, Yuri was at a loss for words. He was so exasperated he was short of breath, but he sensed that if he kept arguing, he would only get tangled in Cheriot’s absurd logic. Swallowing hard, Yuri placed his hands on Cheriot’s arms and pushed him away forcefully. As Cheriot allowed himself to be moved, he whispered in Yuri’s ear:

“You mind when I touch you, but it’s fine when you touch me. Could it be that you don’t dislike Alpha contact as much as you claim?”

“Shut up.”

“Then I’ll change my strategy. I’ll make you touch me.”

Instead of replying that it would never happen even if he were dead, Yuri broke free completely. As he pushed Cheriot back, he decided it was better to leave before the man could do anything else crazy.

“Alyosha, stop laughing and let’s do what we have to do. I’ll take this guy to the hotel; you go to his house and bring his things. Decide between the two of you what he needs.”

Alexei, who had been watching the scuffle between Yuri and Cheriot as if he were watching the neighbor’s house burn, nodded his head. While he walked toward the car parked in the alley, Cheriot was going over a list of necessary things and giving small instructions so that Alexei could get into the condominium. Meanwhile, Yuri started the car and sank into doubt about where to drop off this big problem.

First, he needed to determine the level of danger Cheriot was facing. Judging solely by today’s events, the situation was ambiguous—especially since Cheriot had come openly to a crowded place. Criminals typically avoid public attention, so showing up like that suggested someone was willing to risk jail.

But almost no one commits such a stupid act over a simple romantic entanglement. Besides, being so famous, it would be much more effective to use that secret for extortion. After all, those people are capable of any filth for money.

After reflecting, Yuri opted for a crowded location. Since Cheriot—starting with his build—easily drew attention, it was better to place him where crowds could provide cover, rather than choosing a secluded spot where he would stand out. Although plans could change depending on the situation, for today he wanted to leave him at a hotel and be rid of him for a while.

“I’m here, Yuri.”

At that moment, Cheriot opened the passenger door and got into the car. Perhaps because of his height and build, much larger than Yuri’s, his red mane almost brushed the car’s ceiling.

“Do you usually go to any particular hotel?”

Yuri started the car and headed downtown, getting straight to the point. Cheriot, who had pushed the passenger seat all the way back without fastening his seatbelt, looked over with smiling eyes.

“What whim has come over you in these few minutes?”

“What nonsense are you saying now?”

“You’ve fallen in love with me, haven’t you?”

The hand holding the steering wheel tensed, but Yuri remembered not to give Cheriot more ammunition.

“A large hotel with many guests would be better, where there are plenty of witnesses. That way they can’t stab you in the lobby in broad daylight.”

“Do you prefer soft mattresses or firm ones? I personally prefer firm ones. Sometimes, if I don’t control my strength well, the person underneath can’t arch their back properly.”

Yuri, who had been staring ahead, opted for another method. He turned up the radio, which had been playing softly, and decided to head for a well-known hotel near Thierry that he had passed several times before.

“Yuri, the radio is too loud—I can’t hear your voice. Oh, and I can use the informal ‘you’ with you now, right? If we’re going to be together for so long, it’ll be awkward to keep being so formal.”

Cheriot’s voice cut through the music filling the car. Since he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, an annoying beeping joined the noise. Yuri, enduring the sound pounding through his eardrums, slammed on the brakes as the light turned red. Unfortunately, Cheriot didn’t even flinch, remaining firmly pressed against his seat.

“I see Yuri drives a bit rough.”

Instead of answering, Yuri unbuckled his own seatbelt, turned toward Cheriot, and leaned in until their torsos almost touched. He stretched out his arm, pulled the strap, and forcefully clicked the buckle into place, tightening the belt.

The beeping finally stopped. When Yuri looked up after securing the buckle, he found Cheriot’s green eyes staring at him in surprise. Satisfied to see that constantly moving mouth finally closed, Yuri unconsciously curled one corner of his lips. Cheriot’s gaze dropped to his mouth.

“Shut up.”

Since the client himself had said he didn’t mind being insulted, Yuri sincerely whispered for him to be quiet. As if the message had finally registered, Cheriot remained silent just as the light changed.

Yuri returned to his seat, buckled up, and resumed driving. Thanks to Cheriot finally staying quiet, he could turn down the radio.

By the time they reached the hotel, it was already pitch black outside. Since Alexei would bring Cheriot’s wallet and phone, Yuri rented the room with cash for now. He told Cheriot to wait in the lobby with the knit cap and mask, just like when they first met. After the global pandemic, people wearing masks had become common, so luckily Cheriot didn’t look too suspicious.

“Did you already check in?”

Just as he finished registering, he got a call from Alexei.

“I did it under my name. Room 1201. And you?”

“I came in with the key Cheriot gave me. Since he’s a superstar, he lives in a penthouse. No suspicious characters or signs of intrusion so far. Just in case, I’ll keep checking.”

“Good. Let me know when you arrive.”

“Got it. And is the client behaving?”

Yuri looked toward the lobby. He’d asked Cheriot to stay seated while he checked in, but contrary to expectations, he couldn’t see the distinctive white hat anywhere.

“Damn.”

“Looks like no.”

“Sorry, I have to go.”

“Go quickly.”

After hanging up, Yuri strode across the hotel lobby. He scanned each person sitting on the lounge sofas one by one, but Cheriot was nowhere to be seen. He wasn’t a child—how could a grown man disappear the instant he looked away? Cursing under his breath, Yuri searched another area. For better or worse, Cheriot soon appeared.

The tall man in the white knit cap was sitting at the bar attached to the lobby, his back turned. But he wasn’t alone. Beside him, a slender man leaned in so close their arms almost touched.

Unbelievable.

Yuri stopped dead and smoothed his hair. Even from a distance, he could clearly see the person next to Cheriot was an Omega. He couldn’t believe he’d picked up an Omega in such a short time. While Yuri swallowed a bitter laugh, the Omega was trying hard to show interest in Cheriot.

A small white hand, loaded with curiosity and desire, touched Cheriot’s firm arm. He allowed the contact naturally while accepting the cocktail the Omega offered. Yuri couldn’t stand by while his client recklessly drank something offered by a stranger, so to fulfill his duty, he opened his mouth… then closed it.

He couldn’t say his name.

Whether “Cheriot” or “Goodnight,” both names were too distinctive. Yuri had put the cap and mask on him to hide his identity as much as possible. He couldn’t expose him over a name.

Meanwhile, the oblivious Goodnight was about to drink the cocktail. He’d pulled his mask down to his chin and was smiling at the Omega, as if something brought him great joy. Soon the glass touched his lips, which held a light smile. The sweet-looking liquid tilted, swaying as if about to spill. Yuri, holding back his reluctance, called out.

“Cherry!”

The brief, firm call—as if summoning a dog—echoed through the hotel bar. The Omega clinging to Cheriot flinched and looked toward Yuri. The other patrons also turned to stare. And the owner of that repulsive nickname, Cheriot, turned to look back. His wide green eyes swept the surroundings in surprise before settling on Yuri.

Soon, a radiant smile spread across Cheriot’s face. Yuri frowned at that overly cheerful expression.

He was quiet the whole way here. I thought he’d finally keep his distance, but seeing his face gives me a bad feeling.

“Did you find me, darling?”

And Yuri’s unpleasant premonition came true.

“…What?”

At that absurd word, Yuri’s brow furrowed sharply. Did he just call me darling? Someone he met a few hours ago, and an Alpha at that? Though he thought even Cheriot wouldn’t cross that line, remembering how he’d given him nicknames at their first meeting made it seem possible.

“Darling, don’t make such a fierce face. This handsome gentleman is also from the States, so I was chatting with him, happy to meet a compatriot.”

His unwanted prediction proved correct. Cheriot adjusted his mask, stood up, and approached with a light step that didn’t match his bulky frame. Pressing completely against Yuri, he took his wrist with a coaxing air.

The heat from his body spread across Yuri’s skin. Has anyone touched me like this recently? Probably not since I came to Canada. That’s why this intimate contact felt so strange it gave him chills.

He wanted to push him away immediately, but reason stopped him. He’d already committed the terrible feat of using a nickname to go unnoticed; he couldn’t make an unnecessary scene. It was better to endure an uncomfortable moment than fail his mission.

But having to endure it didn’t mean he had to play along with this nonsense.

“I’m sure I told you to stay in the lobby.”

Yuri looked away and whispered in a low voice. His tone was so deep it almost sounded like a threat.

“I was behaving well and listening to you. But you left me alone too long. My legs fell asleep from sitting, so I took a little walk.”

The time Yuri took to check in and return was about fifteen minutes. At the expression “leaving me alone,” Yuri’s face grew serious.

“If you can’t wait even ten minutes, you have less patience than a child.”

“That’s right. So you should take care of me, since I’m a child.”

With that, Cheriot lowered his shoulders and whispered close to Yuri’s ear:

“If you don’t want to leave me with that guy, pay for his cocktail. I haven’t received my wallet from Alexei yet.”

A sharp retort rose to his throat, but to get out of there, Yuri decided to play along. Erasing the disgust from his face, he walked to the bar with Cheriot clinging to him.

Yuri glanced at the confused Omega, took forty dollars from his wallet, and dropped them with a sharp thud next to the newly served cocktail.

“My companion has been rude. I’ll pay for the cocktail.”

“Ah, well then, take it yourself. How about sitting with us?”

It was impossible for him to drink something offered by a complete stranger. Yuri offered a cold curve of his lips that barely qualified as a smile and declined with firm courtesy.

“I have business to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”

Without leaving room for reply, Yuri turned and grabbed Cheriot by the arm as he waved goodbye to the Omega. Pulling him forcefully, Cheriot followed while spouting nonsense like, “Oh, darling, isn’t that too rough?”

Perhaps because what happened in those few minutes was so far from Yuri’s normal life, his already pale face was ashen as they left the bar and headed for the elevator. He’d rather stand guard or struggle all day in freezing cold than endure this.

Finally the elevator reached the ground floor and Yuri, pulling Cheriot along, entered immediately. With an impatient gesture, he pressed the button for the 12th floor, but it didn’t light up. As he frowned, wondering if it was broken, something heavy settled on his shoulder.

Turning his head sharply, he saw Cheriot’s nose and white cheek. They were so close their lips nearly brushed that cheek. This man had the gift of approaching from behind without any restraint, completely ignoring personal space.

“What are you doing?”

“Yuri, you have the hotel key, right? You have to swipe the card there to go up.”

The whispered voice “give it to me” tickled his ear so much Yuri shivered. Shoving him with his shoulder, Yuri took the room key from his chest and dropped it onto Cheriot’s chest with a sharp thud.

He did it because he had no intention of handing it over kindly, but Cheriot slowly lowered his gaze, and seeing Yuri’s hand on his chest, curved the corners of his lips. With smiling, radiant eyes, he pretended shyness and murmured in a low voice:

“If you wanted to touch my chest, you could’ve just said so. Once we’re upstairs and I wash up, especially…”

If Yuri had learned anything in these hours, it was that Cheriot would spout nonsense no matter what she did, and that she had to nip it in the bud. Before hearing any more foolishness, Yuri cut him off.

“Room 1201. Go up by yourself. I’ll pick up your things.”

“But since I asked Alexei for a lot of stuff, it’ll take a while. You’re my bodyguard—you’re supposed to stay with me.”

With that, Cheriot deliberately stretched his arm past Yuri. He deftly swiped the magnetic key against the reader and pressed the button for the 12th floor, which lit up immediately. Yuri watched in silence. Though it was a trivial action, a strange discomfort brushed against him.

How to describe it? Every hotel Yuri had known until now had been old places where you didn’t even need to swipe a card. Saratov was a barren, remote territory no tourist would visit, and there was only one hotel in town. He had been there, though not by choice—he’d only agreed to please an Omega he met to handle his heat.

He had never taken anyone to his home. He only let his close friend Alexei stay over often. When he was with Omegas, he didn’t care about the place. They met in motels on the outskirts and then parted, or satisfied their desire in club rooms. With that life, he had no reason to go to fancy hotels.

After leaving Saratov, crossing the border, and arriving here… he hadn’t even been with Omegas. The last time he’d stayed in a place like this was over three years ago. During that time, he had suppressed his rut with inhibitors. When even the money for medicine felt like a waste, he often drank cheap vodka and locked himself away to endure.

And so it would remain.

The Omegas he had been with were not of good quality. He had never gotten involved with ordinary people. In his situation, where he could be shot dead at any moment, he didn’t want to drag a normal person into his life and hurt them. The only ones who wanted him were Omegas who sold their bodies to buy drugs, or those who mingled with lowlifes and lived for pleasure.

They all shared the trait of roaming the underworld, so they weren’t afraid of someone like him. Only those who had already lost much could do it. Like Yuri Kiselyov.

But here it was different. In this large, ordinary, comfortable city, the people he knew were too normal, and they shouldn’t mix with him. From the start… they would run the moment they saw his naked body.

“Yuri.”

Lost in thought, he hadn’t noticed they’d reached the 12th floor. Hearing his name, he blinked in surprise. Cheriot looked at him with concern.

“Are you very tired? You weren’t answering when I called.”

Seeing that pretty face tilted at eye level felt strange. Those vivid green eyes, as if they knew nothing, and that worried gaze belonged to the kind of people Yuri had deliberately kept at arm’s length.

“…Let’s go.”

Swallowing the discomfort of being somewhere he shouldn’t, with someone he shouldn’t be with, Yuri stepped out first. Out of habit, he quickly scanned both sides of the hallway—empty. Thanks to choosing the room closest to the elevator, 1201 was right next door. After checking and signaling, Yuri approached first and swiped the key. Even after hearing the lock click open, he waited a few seconds before turning the handle. He opened the door carefully and checked the bathroom and closet first. No one was there.

That is… although he thought it unnecessary to go this far, habits were inevitable. They came from living too long in a world where letting your guard down could get you killed.

“Wow, this time you really look like a bodyguard.”

“Wasn’t that why you hired me?”

“Yuri’s different from the bodyguards I’ve had. Come to think of it, are you also a fixer like Alexei? I guess you’d be colleagues.”

Cheriot was only now asking a question he should have asked long ago. He didn’t even know what the people he’d hired did for a living.

…But there was no way he could know.

“And now? If you wanted to check our background before hiring us, you shouldn’t have come looking for us in the first place.”

“It’s just that Heather almost never recommends someone so confidently, so it inspired trust.”

Ah, right. He’d said he wanted to be introduced to a good person. A good person, not just someone reliable and discreet.

Since hearing those words, he felt the thorn lodged in his heart sink deeper. He didn’t know exactly what “good person” Cheriot imagined, but it certainly wasn’t a description that fit him. Not even his lifelong friend knew everything Yuri Kiselyov had done to survive.

“And how did you meet Heather?”

“I met her after I was transferred to Vancouver. One of Heather’s friends is a sports reporter who became my friend, and that’s how I met Heather too. They’re all good people, so when we got together for drinks, we grew close.”

It seemed almost routine for Cheriot to meet people through recommendations and expand relationships that might expose his vulnerabilities. To Yuri, accustomed to closed, guarded relationships, this approach sounded strange.

With nothing more to say, Yuri fell silent. Small talk had never been his forte. Even with lifelong friends he tended to be quiet, and in daily life he barely spoke.

“Don’t you have any curiosity about me?”

Impossible. What he wanted was for Cheriot to be quiet, not to satisfy any curiosity. Lacking the energy to continue talking, Yuri decided to ignore him, but then remembered what had happened at the bar. It would be better to issue a clear warning now.

“Don’t drink what strangers offer you. You don’t know what it might contain.”

“But I’ve never had problems until now.”

“Then you’ve been lucky.”

“If something happens, you’ll protect me.”

“If you wander off on your own like you did earlier, it’ll be difficult.”

Cheriot wrinkled his nose and stuck out his lip in a reproachful gesture. When a bulky Alpha made that expression, it should be repulsive, but surprisingly, on him it was tolerable. His delicate features kept it from feeling discordant with his build. Before Cheriot could spout more nonsense, Yuri added another warning.

“And about before…”

Since he couldn’t bring himself to say the word “darling,” he spoke indirectly.

“Stop using that disgusting nickname.”

“You mean ‘darling’?”

Just hearing the word turned his stomach. Yuri frowned and nodded.

“Yes. And drop that weird tone too.”

“Since you called me ‘Cherry,’ you should put up with a little reciprocation.”

“It was because ‘Cheriot Goodnight’ is too distinctive. If you’d been recognized, it would have drawn attention. I had no choice. From now on, I’ll use an alias.”

“Hmm…”

Cheriot let out a discontented groan and, moving from the entryway to the bed, removed and discarded his hat and mask. Even with his face barely visible, it was impressive that an Omega had flirted with him so quickly.

“If you call me by an alias, I might not react quickly. I’m terrible at acting—those kinds of arrangements don’t suit me.”

“You seemed good at suddenly pretending we’re a couple. And using informal address too.”

“Ah, that was half-serious.”

At this point, Yuri wondered how superficial Cheriot’s definition of “serious” might be.

“For being serious, you seem to flirt with anyone. That Omega earlier—you complimented him without hesitation.”

“That was serious too. He was tall enough to fit in my arms and wore a perfume that complemented his pheromones nicely.”

Ha.

Having been surrounded by Alphas who changed partners daily, Yuri was familiar with such situations. But normally, for those types, the main goal was simply to relieve sexual desire, not to prolong conversations with flowery words. They’d offer a drink, and if there was mutual interest, they’d proceed.

But Cheriot flung flirtations with every breath, to the point where Yuri wondered if he ever grew tired. Since relatively few Alphas dated other Alphas, he’d thought perhaps his physique was genuinely to Cheriot’s taste, but now it seemed his criteria for liking someone were exceptionally broad.

He knew that type. People who fall in love easily, date someone, then cool off just as quickly. A mentality he could never understand, even if he died and came back to life.

“Some ‘serious’ that is.”

“Yeah, I’ve been told that before.”

Though it was a rude comment, Cheriot laughed lightly and let it pass. As he stretched, he yawned and tossed his coat over the hat he’d thrown on the bed. When he removed his jacket, a short-sleeved black t-shirt revealed his build: a broad, firm chest, robust shoulders, and the clear definition of muscles throughout his torso.

“But don’t worry. It’s true I flirt because I like you, but I’m not the type who clings and demands a relationship.”

Yuri, who had been unconsciously watching him, looked up. When their eyes met, Cheriot curved the corners of his eyes and explained in a calm tone:

“I have no intention of dating anyone. If there’s a connection, a relationship where we see each other periodically is ideal.”

The words were incomprehensible. Seeing someone multiple times periodically implied forming a relationship, and if there was intimacy involved, feelings would inevitably develop.

The “serious” that Cheriot spoke of was fundamentally different from Yuri’s understanding. In Yuri’s world, sincerely caring for someone was a commitment. It meant not prioritizing one’s own desires and seeking ways to make the other person happy—a feeling of satisfaction simply from seeing someone you genuinely care about smile.

The love Yuri had witnessed was like that. The love shown by Vasili, who loved only one woman in his life, Yekaterina, and Yekaterina herself, who clung tenaciously to a dangerous world for her husband, took that form.

“I’m going to undress now. Do you want to watch?”

Cheriot asked jokingly, while Yuri brooded over these statements he couldn’t identify with. Though phrased as a question, Cheriot had already started removing his shirt. In contrast to his beautiful face, well-defined abs came into view. The moment he saw them, Yuri turned away with inexplicable discomfort. The abdomen he’d glimpsed was smooth and completely unmarked.

Because of the scars he’d carried since childhood, Yuri typically avoided undressing in front of the Omegas he was intimate with unless absolutely necessary.

Perhaps that was why it felt so strange. That flawless white skin, without a single scar, felt as foreign and unsettling as a statue.

“I’m leaving.”

“Hey, you should stay with me!”

“I’ll be in the hallway. Call me when you’re done showering.”

After speaking, Yuri opened the door and left. Standing before the closed door, he squeezed his eyes shut, finally enjoying the arriving tranquility. Exhaustion washed over him. He noticed the rigid dryness of his eyelids, and his stomach, empty all day, felt numb and burning.

As the pain beneath his ribs intensified, Yuri slowly raised his hand and pressed against the affected area. Pushing hard against his firm abdomen, he stopped when he felt the irregular texture beneath his fingers. Through the thin shirt, he could trace the white scars that ran from the edge of his ribs to his navel.

His body bore many more scars than these—enough to be repulsive.

After silently caressing the marks, he lowered his hand and walked to the end of the hallway. Leaning against the wall in the shaded corner, he felt the urge to smoke. But in this clean, polished city, smoking indoors was unthinkable.

Just as he had three years ago, when he realized that behaviors familiar to him were considered barbaric in common society, Yuri felt himself to be fundamentally different from others.

For him, words like “handsome” or affectionate terms like “darling” were sacred—things he couldn’t utter lightly unless directed toward someone he truly loved.