Captive Mate BL-Chapter 621: - - -

Jael didn’t linger long in the empty apartment, leaving through the back door that he had broken in through. His car was still waiting in the driveway.

His car had caught the attention of a person staying in the house over, a middle-aged woman staring at him suspiciously over the picket fence.

She was in a house dress with a shawl over it, a scarf on her hair, and she looked like she was very close to calling the police.

Jael didn’t blame her, he was acting pretty suspiciously. He didn’t go to his car, instead, he crossed the overgrown lawn to approach her, slowing down when she hastily backed up.

"Hey, I came to check up on Gage," He went right to the point, "Have you seen him recently?"

The lady stopped looking at him suspiciously, but she took a few more steps back, wrapping her shawl tighter around her, her demeanor wary.

Jael had taken off his holsters before he set out, open carry was pretty illegal in most cities and towns, and he didn’t need to flash his guns either. But that didn’t do much to help his reputation after he willingly admitted to being associated with a Mafia King.

The lady shook her head tightly, "He left a couple of weeks ago. Don’t bother searching the town, he left completely."

The ’I hope it stays that way’ wasn’t said out loud, but the middle-aged Omega’s thoughts were clear to see on her face.

Jael knew that she wasn’t just trying to get rid of him. Gage was pretty popular in the small town, anyone would recognize him on sight. If the lady said that he wasn’t in Evercliff, then he wasn’t.

"Thank you." He said politely, turning away to leave.

He got in his car and drove off. Gage had been living in Layla’s apartment for years now, this wasn’t the first time he had to drive down to check if the Alpha was still alive.

Asher couldn’t care less, the last time Gage had come into Haines unannounced was the first time they had seen each other since Asher was a teenager. Asher’s show of concern this time was the first of its kind, and it gave Jael some hope.

He drove out of Evercliff for the most likely place Gage could be, hanging out in a couple of towns over in bars, drinking soda, and just sitting in a corner.

Frankly, Jael would have preferred to find out that the Alpha had picked up the habit of drinking again, rather than finding him in some back alley with his brains blown out - picking the lesser evil and all that.

Gage had been a hot mess ever since Layla died, but he managed somehow to keep it together for years after. Things only got worse after he left Haines and quit drinking, the Alpha seemed like he constantly had a foot in the grave.

-+-

Breakfast was had in the kitchen, it was pleasant, the wide windows letting sunlight in. It was a pleasant day too, sun shining down, clouds few and far between in the bright blue sky.

The home gym on the ground floor had a room for dancing, so when the instructor showed up, Davian and Asher trailed after them, but they stopped at the lifting section.

The walls of the dance studio were soundproof, mirrors on the wall, the polished wooden floors glistening. It was very spacious and had poles drilled through the floor in one of the corners, and bars in another.

The brightly lit room right about echoed when they stepped in from how empty it was.

The instructor was pretty young, a professional smile on her face despite the intimidating situation.

She brought a suitcase with her, her blonde hair in a neat ponytail behind her head. Introductions had already been done in the foyer, and before her appearance, Lake had already mentioned her to the others.

Cora immediately looked around for the sound system so she could set things up, glancing back at the three intimidating Omegas she would be coaching for the day.

This was a big job, one she could not fuck up, and when Lake Black, the pregnant mate of Mafia King Davian Black, had asked if he could invite his friends to the dance session, she had been quick to agree.

After all, she was being paid generously, even if he demanded that she teach an entire class, she would accept gracefully. She had been hoping that his friends would soften the blow of having to coach someone so powerful, only to be greeted first thing by the mate of another Mafia King.

And to make things worse, both Mafia Kings were present, and staring her down like they were fitting her for a coffin.

She was relieved that they wouldn’t be joining the class, because she didn’t think her heart could handle it.

"I brought some outfits to make the dance more immersive," She said in a surprisingly level voice, unable to keep eye contact with anyone but Lake.

The Omega with long black hair was unsettling, and Caspian Knight was really too beautiful, the pictures didn’t do him justice. Lake’s kind but nervous eyes was a safe place for her.

Caspian beamed, crowding around her when she put the suitcase down to open it up. "Outfits? That sounds like fun."

Angelo wore his curiosity on his face like he did every other expression, muted and reserved, hanging back.

Lake however, squirmed uncomfortably, reminded that he hadn’t given the other two a heads up about what kind of dance class they were having. He didn’t think that his personal trainer would be this enthusiastic, going as far as to get outfits for the class.

The suitcase open to show a neatly folded pile of colorful clothes that looked harmless in the box, right until Cora started to take them out.

"You don’t have to change into the outfits," She nervously added, lifting up a deep blue pair of harem pants. "It’s completely optional and doesn’t at all affect the session."