Chapter 145

"Just keep driving; we're still out on the street, they can't possibly hurt us, right?" Nicholas spoke while looking back at the black car.

"I hate this, it's all your fault," Ezra muttered.

Nicholas sighed, "Keep your blame aside and drive, Doc," He stated.

Ezra didn't say a word, he kept his eyes focused on the road and kept driving.

"We're getting closer to Sebastian's home," Ezra informed.

Nicholas nodded, "And it looks like they're backing off," He replied.

Ezra sighed in relief but didn't slow down the car. It might just be a trap to get them to relax so they could corner them.

Nicholas suddenly received another message on his phone, he wasted no time reading it when he saw it was from the same barcode man.

"I just got a text from them," he said to Ezra.

Ezra frowned, "What does it say,"

Nicholas rubbed his face before reading it out loud, "Say hi to Sebastian Orion. We'll meet again, Nicholas." He stared at Ezra's side profile, waiting for him to reply.

Ezra was speechless, "He doesn't seem like he wants to hurt you, Nick," He stated seriously.

Nicholas furrowed his brows, "What do you mean? He's a dangerous man, Doc; what do think he wants with me, a coffee date?" He questioned.

Ezra smiled, "Then he must have a bad choice in choosing his dates; who would date you?" He smirked.

"Ha-ha-ha...not funny," Nicholas replied dryly and relaxed back on the chair.

They soon reached Sebastian's house and got out of the car, hurrying into his house.

Sebastian was busy speaking to Andre in his living room when he saw Ezra and Nicholas walking inside.

"What now, Doc? Why are you here with your patient...uninvited," Sebastian asked from the sofa, hiabfcae showing how bored he was already by their presence.

Ezra ignored him and sat on the sofa couch close to him, "Make yourself at home, Nick," He said to Nicholas, who had yet to sit.

Nicholas eyed Ezra before he sat beside Sebastian.

"Andre, ask Jasper and Jeremiah to make sure they return with him, or they know what is at stake," Sebastian ordered dismissively.

Andre bowed his head, "Yes, boss," He replied and turned away from them, walking out to inform the concerned people about the order.

"What's happening? Who's taking who?" Ezra questioned, pointing at Andre who was walking out of the house.

"The barcode man, no one has found him. I can't play those games anymore. My men will have to accompany one of his men to my house, preferably, Baron," Sebastian informed.

"Baron?" Ezra asked in surprise.

"You know, that's like the second in command, right," He leaned in Sebastian's direction and asked him in a low tone.

"I don't care if he's their boss, Ezra. He's Messing with me, with us. He needs to stop," Sebastian replied.

Nicholas frowned, "Ezra, can't you tell him why we're here? You're more concerned about who he is kidnapping," He glared at Ezra.

"Yeah...about that. I think we might just be mistaking this barcode's man agenda," Ezra started.

Sebastian frowned, "What do you mean?" He asked.

"Yeah...what do you mean?" Nicholas narrowed his eyes at Ezra.

"Just this morning, he sent Nicholas a text, don't be shy, show him," Ezra pointed to Nicholas' phone.

Nicholas gave Sebastian his phone, waiting for him to read it, "So what do you mean that we might be mistaken for his agenda?" Sebastian returned Nicholas' phone to him.

"Maybe he's just a shy guy who has a crush on Nicholas and is angry because he's finding it hard to reach him. And he's targeting you because, just maybe, he feels that you're close to his crush and might be jealous, so that's why he's threatening you. In my opinion, I say we just give him what he wants, and he's left us alone. What do you say?" Ezra explained seriously.

"Bastard," Nicholas cursed from his position.

Sebastian sighed in disappointment, he stood and faced Ezra, "We'll know what he wants when they bring Baron over," He walked away from them.

"Hey, where is Zeno?" Nicholas questioned before Sebastian could disappear upstairs.

"Out with Ken," Sebastian replied and moved on.

"Oh," Nicholas murmured.

Ezra scoffed, "What is 'Oh?' The earlier you get over Zeno, the earlier you find yourself a better partner," Ezra commented.

Nicholas turned toward him, "You're so concerned about my heartbreak. Do you want to be that partner for me?" He asked in a calm voice.

Ezra removed his eyes, Nicholas, "I'd rather electricity my dick than date you, Nicholas. You know it," He spoke.

"Do I now?" Nicholas questioned.

Ezra ignored him and took out his phone, standing from the chair and walking out of the house.

****

Jasper and Jeremiah were sitting in the car, patiently waiting for someone to walk out of the barcode boxing gym.

The car was quiet as both of them didn't have anything in common except the mission.

Jasper drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, leaning his head on the seat.

"Can you not? I'm trying to concentrate?" Jeremiah spoke from the passenger's seat.

Jasper didn't turn or speak, but he did stop the drumming.

Jeremiah sighed, "We've been here close to an hour; maybe we should just come in," He suggested.

Jasper remained unmoving, "Common sense would tell you that we'll be outnumbered, but, be my guest," He said.

Jeremiah stared at Jasper and suddenly smiled.

Jasper immediately snapped his head to Jeremiah. He had seen his smile from his peripheral vision and became alarmed.

Jeremiah had never smiled at him, "What was that for?" Jasper frowned.

Jeremiah shrugged, "Nothing, just feeling bad for you so I thought a smile would help you feel good," He answered.

Jasper was more confused. "What do you mean?"

"Zeno won't date you," Jeremiah stated.

Jasper sighed, "Can you not? We're in the middle of a mission. We can argue about this later," He looked away from Jeremiah.

Jeremiah shook his head, "No, no, for real. This is not me trying to look for trouble. I'm just stating facts; he won't even date me, too," He informed.

Jasper looked back at Jeremiah, "Just tell me what you mean already," He urged.

"He's dating the boss," Jeremiah announced.

"What?!" Jasper exclaimed.

"Shh!" Jeremiah placed his finger in his mouth with his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Be quiet, Jasper. Do you Want to invite them over?" Jeremiah asked.

Jasper looked out the window and back at Jeremiah, "Did you mean what you said?" He asked quietly.

Jeremiah nodded, "A hundred percent. Ida and Cody told me and Andre confirmed it. Would they be lying?"

Jasper pushed his fingers through his hair. "Damn..." He muttered.

"Yeah, Damn... so, friends?" Jeremiah stretched his hand to Jasper.

Jasper eyed him suspiciously.

"Come on, we don't have to keep fighting over someone who's already out of our league. That's what women do, and we're not women, so friends?" Jeremiah poked Jasper's arm.

Jasper reluctantly shook Jeremiah's hand, "Friend's," He replied.

"Look, maybe we should have become friends sooner, it seems like they were waiting for us to unite," Jeremiah pointed to the gym.

Jasper saw two guys walking out of it. "The boss had said, anyone you see coming out from the gym, right?" He asked.

Jeremiah nodded, "Yeah, but what if they were just some random people who came to practice?" He questioned.

Jasper shrugged, "Then no one will know we kidnapped them, we'll just let them go. We can identify them by the barcode tattoo on their neck or wrists," He informed.

Jeremiah slowly nodded. "Okay, but look, they're driving away," He alerted.

Jasper calmly nodded, "Mm, we have a car too. Fasten up," He said and immediately sped off.

He gave the car a good distance behind it, driving at a steady speed. He was just waiting for the car to leave the territory before he chased it.

He didn't have time to waste; he needed to be done with this mission, go home, and get some rest.

"Where are they going?" Jeremiah asked worriedly.

"Don't know, don't care," Jasper replied.

"Do you think they're aware that we're following them?" Jeremiah glanced at Jasper.

"What do you think?" Jasper raised his brow.

"Yes?" Jeremiah frowned.

"Awesome, now quit asking annoying questions and take out your gun. Once I get close enough, shott the tires," He ordered.

Jeremiah rolled his eyes, "Yes, boss," He replied and readied his gun to shoot.

Jasper sped up the car, smiling when the car in front of them looked up speed.

"In three, two, one; roll down the damn window, Jerry; how do you what to shoot them," Jasper groaned in anger; he couldn't believe Jeremiah was waiting for him to wind down the window for him too.

"Shoot! Sorry about that," Jeremiah winded down the window and placed his arm on the window.

"Fuck!" Jasper exclaimed and swerved the car.

Someone was shooting from the car in front.

"You see what you caused? You could have shot them the first time," Jasper complained.

Jeremiah lowered his head and smiled at Jasper. "Come on, have some fun." He winked at him.

Jasper breathed out in anger.

"Alright, play times over. Step on it, Jasper," Jeremiah raised his face and looked out of the window, his gun aiming at the car.

Jasper obeyed, he was speeding while still trying to avoid getting shot by the person in the front car.

"Three, two, one..." Jeremiah shot the two rear tires of the car in front of them, causing it to lose balance and slide right into the tree beside the road.

Jaoser hit the brakes immediately and got out of the car, Jeremiah following behind.

They hurried over to their target and saw them still trying to get the airbag out of their face.

Jasper and Jeremiah stood on each side of the car, pointing a sedation gun at them. The moment the guys inside the car saw them, they reached for their guns, but Jasper and Jeremiah instantly fired at them, knocking them off.

"Wheew! That was fun," Jeremiah laughed.

Jalser smirked, "Get your man out of the car," He said and pulled the driver's door open, dragging the man out and toward his car.

He could easily carry the guy but he didn't want to waste his energy on some rival.

Jeremiah saw what Jasper did and decided to copy him. He dragged the other guy out and toward their car.

"How long till they wake up?" Jeremiah asked as they drove away from the accident scene.

"An hour," Jasper provided.

"Awesome, enough time to nap," Jeremiah said and relaxed against the chair, closing his eyes.

***

Zeno placed Ken in the car and fastened his seat belt, "Careful not to spew your drink," He said to Ken.

Ken nodded, seeping his drink.

Zeno smiled at him and went to enter the car; this was their third stop for the day. Ken had demanded that he spend his whole day with him as compensation for disappearing from him.

The little boy hadn't left Zeno's since last night he had barged in on his father and Zeno.

Zeno understood the boy's feelings, so he willingly agreed to his requests.

He was about to drive the car away when he remembered that he had forgotten the takeout he got for Ken in the restaurant.

"Aw, little guy, mind going in with me one last time?" He asked apologetically.

"Why?" Ken asked in pure curiosity, no anger or impatience, just curious to know why they needed to go back in there.

"I forgot the food we ordered for your father," Zeno calmly informed.

Ken widened his eyes, "Okay, let's go then, don't want daddy to be sad again," He replied.

Zeno chuckled and came out of the car again, he opened Ken's door and carefully carried him out.