Chapter 1:WHEN ALEX MET JAY
The night air in Bangkok was unusually biting, but the cold against Jay’s skin was nothing compared to the ice flooding his veins. He was trapped. His back pressed hard against the rough, damp brick wall of a narrow alleyway directly behind a roaring, neon-lit bar.
Three bullies surrounded him, their cruel laughter echoing off the concrete. The leader stepped forward, fist bunching the fabric of Jay’s thin, worn-out t-shirt, lifting him slightly off his toes.
"No parents to cry to, huh?" the bully sneered, his breath reeking of cheap alcohol. "Just give us the money and maybe we won't break your pretty face."
Jay’s heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. His voice trembled violently, but his eyes remained wide, tracking the bully's knuckles. "I don't have anything... please..
"Before the bully could swing, the heavy metal back door of the bar swung open with a loud, echoing groan.A tall, imposing figure stepped out into the alley, instantly bathed in the bleeding crimson glow of the bar's overhead neon sign.
It was Alex. He paused, adjusting his gold-rimmed spectacles with a slow, deliberate movement. His long, dark hair was tied back perfectly, save for a few loose strands that framed his cold, devastatingly handsome face.
He wore a tailored black silk shirt, the top buttons undone, revealing a glimpse of collarbone that contrasted sharply with his dangerous aura.The bullies froze instantly. The mocking laughter died in their throats as the very air in the alleyway seemed to turn heavy, suffocatingly tense."You're making too much noise," Alex said. His voice was low, smooth, and laced with an underlying danger that made the hairs on the back of Jay's neck stand up. "I'm trying to have a meeting.""S-Sorry, boss!" the lead bully stammered, instantly releasing Jay's shirt. His face drained of color. "We were just... we were just leaving!"Without looking back, the three men scrambled over one another, fleeing into the darkness of the main street like frightened rats.Jay let out a ragged breath, his knees shaking so badly he had to lean against the brick for support. "Thank you..." he whispered, swallowing the lump of fear in his throat. "I'll... I'll go now."He tried to take a step forward, but Alex moved with predatory speed. In a fraction of a second, the mafia boss stepped directly into Jay's space, his massive frame towering over the smaller boy, blocking out the rest of the world."Go?" Alex murmured, looking down at him. "I don't do favors for free, sweetheart. Those men would have killed you."Jay swallowed hard, trapped between the brick wall and a man far more terrifying than the thugs who had just fled."Your life was over tonight," Alex continued, his dark eyes locking onto Jay's. "I bought it back. That means it belongs to me now."
