The Untouchable

Chapter 74

"I want to run this half-marathon," Daniel repeated patiently, spreading tartare on a thin slice of bread.

"Jesus Christ!" Alexander threw his fork and knife back on the plate and looked up at the ceiling tiredly. "Why do I love this stubborn monster?"

"Stubbornness and strength of character, I suppose," Daniel countered, chewing on the tender tartare. "Mm, it's delicious. Try the tartare."

"I don't want to. Danny, you were just lying in bed like a vegetable, and now you want to take on a huge physical load. Where's the logic in that? Besides, it's dangerous to be out in the open now. I don't want to scare you, but something's going on. Not good. My father has increased security for all family members and sent the eldest grandchildren to a closed boarding school in Switzerland. You wait a few months, then you can run when it's over."

Daniel thanked Gyuzel, who had changed the plates, and stared blankly at the roasted lamb loin oozing with meat juice, shot a look at Alexander's plate, thinking that he should have chosen the ribs too. Daniel hadn't contacted Sennoy since installing the program but he must had noticed the security breach and started taking action. He wanted details, to understand what was going on - the vague threat was getting on his nerves.

"Explain yourself, please. Don't beat around the bush, or I'll jump at every rustle."

"Later," Alexander hinted at Gyuzel with his eyes. "Everything is under control, Danny. You're safe..."

"Look, we've already talked, laid the cards on the table. Why are you repeating the same phrases? I've already got them ingrained in my mind. 'You're safe with me, you're safe with me,' Daniel teased angrily.

"Don't be angry, Danny," Alexander was embarrassed. "I say it out of habit. Frequent repetition has ingrained them in my mind too. How do you like the lamb?"

"It's good, but the mint sauce isn't great," Daniel dipped the lamb in the sauce and shook off the excess. The thick jelly flowed reluctantly, viscous, mixing with the brown meat juice and pooling on the plate. Daniel dragged a piece through the puddle, drew the creepy face from Scream, smiled at it, and then smeared it all over.

It was important to run the Moscow half-marathon. Daniel had no doubt that Sennoy would get in touch with him there, but he hoped to speak with him before then. Everything depended on finding a phone or any clean device where Alexander couldn't track their communication. It was fortunate that on that momentous day he had the presence of mind to delete the secret chat and the Telegrm app from his tablet, and that Alexander hadn't found out about his secret helper. What would he do if he realized that Daniel had been seeing his former shot caller lover? It was scary to imagine.

Daniel looked at Alexander, who was devouring the lamb and asparagus with gusto. Sharp white teeth tore into the meat, the red tongue licking off the brown drippings and fat - Alexander preferred to eat lamb ribs with his hands at home without guests. The predator seemed peaceful, tame, but he didn't deceive with his calm appearance.

In the bedroom, Alexander quickly slid up behind him, nuzzled, and purred into his neck. Daniel snorted and pulled away.

"Let me digest the food first," he flopped onto the bed. "And let's talk in the meantime. What's this dangerous mess about?"

"Damn, I was hoping you'd drop it," Alexander shrugged off his jacket onto the ottoman, followed by his shirt. "Nothing too critical, really. I started hunting down the bastards who kidnapped me, and then you. I pitted them against each other, made them fight, but they figured out someone else was pulling the strings. They suspected my father, tried to stage an assassination, but failed. I felt so guilty for putting him at risk. I told him what they did to me, and now I'm determined to bring them down. I didn't mention you at all, and I told Gosha not to either. My father understood; he'd have done the same in my place. Now we're working together to handle this as quietly as possible. There are complications, though. They're part of the system, deeply rooted. We're trying to figure out who's loyal and who's not. Information leaks occasionally, which is frustrating. Someone's leaking from the inside, damn it."