334: 7.24 Get Back At Moshe

7.24 Get Back At Moshe

3Whilst the two lovebirds were engaged in a battle of dominance, a quiet storm was currently brewing on the opposite side of the city. 

Smokes puffed out of Zion's mouth, curling into the air before dissipating beyond the twinkling lights of tall buildings outside the window. He listened quietly to the person on the other end of the call before ordering, "Lay low for a while. Now that the news of my disappearance has spread in the underworld, everyone's eyes will be focused on you, my right hand man. Consider my status unknown from now on."

"But Boss…" Hector, the Deputy Leader of Cobalt Fang Clan with nickname 'Mad Dog', said tentatively. "Are you safe? What are you planning to do now?"

Zion flicked the tip of the cigarette to the ashtray, puffing out another ring of smokes from his lips. He didn't answer Hector's questions but asked instead, "Now that I am not there, you should know what to do, right? We have been ambushed in our own territory."

"Yes." Hector's voice turned grave. "Either our people have been bought over or… there are rats in the first place. Rest assured, Boss. I will pluck out every rotten branch down to its root before your return."

Zion hummed, satisfied. "I expect the best results from you. The thing I have asked you before… report to me as soon as possible." After that, he hung up on the phone. Without turning around, he addressed the person who had been sneaking around behind him. "What do you want?"

Cedric flinched in shock, almost dropping the glass of milk in his hand. "Um, s-sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your call. I was just…um, I can't sleep so I was just fetching a glass of milk." The man in front of him didn't even bother to turn around. Cedric tutted inwardly. He had always been so cold and Cedric didn't even know his name except for 'Mr.Ice', as the illegal doctor called him. 

Cedric was right on mark. As soon as Regius met with the doctor, they were inseparable and Cedric almost got the front row seat on his best friend making out in the kitchen — which he preferred not to know for the rest of his life. With an icy glare from Mr. Ice, they finally left the house presumably to the nearest motel and worse, leaving this 'sick patient' to his watch! What should Cedric do when the patient didn't even deem him worth a glance?!

Hesitantly, he shuffled on his feet before deciding to take a few steps forward. His heart started to beat faster, partly because of what he had heard and partly for this was the first time he had seen Mr. Ice up close. He was really handsome… Cedric had never seen such a cold, domineering beauty before. But at the same time, a voice inside his mind was warning him that the man would be his downfall someday. He ignored it in lieu of the clamour in his heart telling him to get closer.

He cleared his throat and put the glass of milk he had intended to make for himself in front of Zion. "It's not good to smoke when you're still recovering. If you can't sleep, drink this milk. It will make you feel better."

Zion's eyes narrowed toward him and for a split second, Cedric's breath hitched on his throat. The man's gaze was a palpable thing, like a block of ice that slithered across his skin, making his toes curled up. 

Cedric had, by his own opinion, met a lot of people with his job as a bartender. He was confident that he could read another person's emotions through their eyes but only this man… he was utterly indecipherable. This was the first time Cedric had ever felt so self conscious in front of a stranger, he didn't even know where to put his hands. Heat crawled up Cedric's cheekbones and he hastily averted his gaze away. "I—I will go back…"

"What's your name?" Zion suddenly asked.

That one question almost knocked the breath out of his lungs. His feet were nailed in place, eyes widening as he took in the hidden meaning underneath Zion's words. "I…" Cedric swallowed, his breath coming out shallow. The night air was chilly but Cedric felt sweat rolling down his back. He turned to meet Mr. Ice's scrutinizing eyes, whispering. "Cedric. How… How about you?"

"Not important." As if he was done, Zion broke eye contact and rummaged through his pocket for another cigarette, another hand flicking open the lighter. 

Cedric had no idea what possessed him when he surged forward to snatch Zion's cigarette away, leaving his long fingers dangling in midair. When Cedric realized what he had done, everything was too late and he could only charge forward with a face as red as a tomato. "I—I've told you, it's not advisable to smoke in your current condition—ah!" Cedric's wrist was suddenly yanked forward and he lost his balance, sprawling atop of Zion's body. Flustered beyond reason, he struggled to sit up. "I'm sorry—"

His words were once again cut off when he looked up to find Zion's face right in front of him, so close that he could count each of his lashes. His eyes were even more mesmerizing up close, so clear yet bottomless at the same time, hiding a whole universe that was taunting Cedric to come closer and explore. 

"Am I wrong that this is what you want?" Zion asked, his face slowly inching closer.

"I—I…" Cedric's pupils were blown wide, thunderstruck. His heart was beating so fast that his chest quivered along with it, breathless with the sudden want that surged up out of nowhere. No! He wasn't this kind of man! Cedric didn't save his first kiss and first time just… just to give them away for the first gorgeous man that swept him off his feet! He didn't even know his name for God's sake! He placed his palms on Zion's shoulders, pushing. "No, your injuries…"

Giving him no time to react, Zion closed the distance between them and caught Cedric's lips in a rough, almost bruising kiss. And just like that, the whole world faded away and Cedric forgot what he was protesting about.

***

"Did you sleep with my best friend?" Regius asked first thing in the morning when he returned only to find Zion in the living room, smoking. He was redoing the bandage around his stomach that had torn open somewhere along the night when he was too lost in carnal pleasure.

Zion merely gave him a glance and refocused on tying the knot. 

Regius huffed and sat himself on the couch. "I didn't expect him to move so fast. Or is it you? Are you the one who pounced on him?"

Zion still didn't answer.

Regius lost his patience. "I am asking you a question, Mr. Zion." This time, Zion paused and lifted his eyelids to look at Regius but different from Cedric, Regius was immune toward his warning gaze. A satisfied smirk formed on his lips. "Am I right? I was only guessing. When you have involved yourself with someone from the underworld for more than a year, you picked up one or two things even if you didn't want it. I have heard from Cruz, the news of your disappearance has spread wide and far. You're truly popular… Mr. Ice." Cruz was none other than the illegal doctor who had fucked Regius all night long.

"If the news gets out," Zion finally spoke for the first time. "...I will make you regret ever being born in this world."

The threatening remark sent goosebumps all over Regius' arms. He lifted both hands in surrender, knowing that the other wasn't at all kidding. "Hey, calm down. I am practically your savior! You're so ungrateful. If I didn't pick you up from the street, you wouldn't even be alive right now." Of course the last sentence was spoken with a low grumble. As bold as Regius was, he didn't dare to mess with this big boss, okay?! He suddenly changed the topic. "Did you even know my best friend's name before you slept with him?"

"Cedar."

Regius' left eye twitched. "Cedric," he corrected with a sigh. Somehow he had the feeling that Cedric would cry if he were to hear about this. "His name is Cedric, please remember that. In exchange, I will give you important information."

Zion merely leveled him with an icy stare.

Not that Regius would be intimidated. He crossed his arms over his chest and harrumphed. "I heard a little birdie saying that you have been searching for a man. Tall, strawberry blonde hair, silver eyes, bruises on his face, extremely attractive if I may say." Regius smirked when he successfully drew Zion's attention. Leaning forward, he winked conspiratorially. "Am I right?"

For the first time ever, real emotions flashed through Zion's eyes. Fury, humiliation, tenacity. Uh-oh, he was truly hellbent on finding this person and teaching him a lesson. Regius pitied the man who had strangely become the target of Zion's ire. And moreover, that man was very much his type too… 

What a pity that Regius wanted something more than a mere pretty face.

"Do we have a deal, Mr. Ice Madman?" Regius licked his lips, thrill coursing through his veins. Now he finally had a way to get back at Moshe for ditching him just like that.

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A/N: Fyi Zion and Hector are talking with burner phones so it's no use to place listening device on their phones. In case you're wondering~

Anyway, who wants to strangle Regius? (Somehow I feel like I'm sullying LYZ's character in the previous world *laughing-crying*)

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