Chapter 50

***

Upon returning home, Dane began his usual routine. He changed the cat's litter box and water, then gave it a treat. Leaving Darling behind, who was grooming itself clumsily as usual, Dane headed to the bathroom.

After finishing his shower and spending some leisurely time with his cat, Dane emptied a can of beer and got up from the sofa to have another one. With the cat in one arm, he headed to the refrigerator, took out a new beer can, and was just about to pull the tab when his mobile phone suddenly rang. He hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to answer it. Looking at the time, he saw it was already close to midnight. A phone call at this hour didn't give him a good feeling.

Even as he was deliberating and walking toward it, the ringing continued. After picking up the phone from the table and checking the number, he unconsciously frowned. What does this guy want suddenly?

"What is it? At this hour."

Dane naturally put down the cat as he answered the phone, and a familiar voice came from the other end.

"Hello, Dane. How have you been? Are you working by any chance?"

The owner of the bright voice was Joshua Bailey. Having once served in the same unit, he had coincidentally saved Dane's life. Besides that, they had gotten along well enough to hang out a few times, but it wasn't a relationship where everything was tolerated. Above all, Joshua was married and had three children. Dane had never imagined getting married and having children, neither before nor in the future. From the time Joshua had his first child, he suddenly became diligent and stopped going out at night, which was unbelievable to Dane, who had thought Joshua was the same kind of person as himself. To think that the once promiscuous Joshua Bailey already had three children.

Moreover, surprisingly, he hadn't strayed even once.

"I'm off work. What's up suddenly?"

As always, when Dane asked directly about the matter, Joshua replied in a voice tinged with laughter.

"Are you busy these days? Your voice sounds very tired."

Well, of course, with an annoying guy hovering right in front of me.

Suddenly reminded of Greyson, Dane answered, feeling the back of his neck ache from stress.

"It's always the same. What's the matter?"

To the question asked again while rubbing his neck, Joshua responded with a "hmm," stalling.

"Is there anyone around you?"

"I'm alone. Tell me, quickly."

Irritation gradually crept into Dane's voice. His mind was already complicated, and he had no patience to tolerate this kind of beating around the bush. After confirming that Dane was alone, Joshua finally revealed his business.

"Would you like to do a part-time job? I'll pay you generously."

"No thanks."

Before Dane could hang up in annoyance, Joshua quickly added.

"I can pay whatever you ask. For instance... how about Darling's health checkup? Didn't you say last time that its kidney function wasn't good?"

When the name of his cat was mentioned, Dane immediately hesitated. As if sensing his reaction, Joshua continued after a suitable pause.

"At a top-tier cat specialty veterinary hospital, full course. Oh, and I'll cover everything if any treatment is needed. Including nutritional injections."

The cat with vision and hearing problems required a lot of care in many ways. Moreover, now that it was old, he frequently had to visit the hospital. Firefighters have quite good income, so money wasn't a major concern. That was the reason Dane had chosen this profession in the first place. Money and insurance.

Although the various costs for Darling were considerable, they weren't burdensome enough for Dane to worry about. Therefore, what tempted his ears was the word "comprehensive examination" at that veterinary hospital Joshua mentioned. The hospital he heard about was not only expensive but also usually fully booked with a waiting list that easily took a year. But it was different for celebrities. The reason Joshua confidently made this offer was because he had someone to rely on.

Namely, his partner, Chase Miller.

Dane was quickly swayed by the unbelievable offer, but suspicion soon raised its head. Every job comes with a price, and the better the bait, the more expensive the cost, naturally.

But despite this, Dane hesitated. The temptation of the animal hospital was strong enough to make him consider breaking his iron rule of never getting involved in other people's business.

Joshua didn't say anything until he reached a conclusion. After a long silence, Dane finally opened his mouth in a somewhat yielding voice to the patiently waiting Joshua.

"So, what is it?"

Joshua suggested with a slight smile.

"It's nothing much, I just have someone I want to teach a lesson to."

"How?"

As Joshua had expected, Dane didn't ask "why." Since the only being Dane cared about was the cat he was raising, he wouldn't be curious about the reason. If the welfare of his cat hadn't been offered as compensation, he would have refused without even considering it. Joshua thought this and opened his mouth.

"We'll take care of that part. You just need to help kidnap that bastard."

"Kidnap."

To Dane, who slowly recited the word as if savoring it, Joshua continued his explanation with a "yes."

"He's not an ordinary guy, so I don't think I can do it alone, and you won't tell anyone about it either."

Most people would have been very flustered by his calm voice, as if he were saying "Let's go fishing today." But Dane's reaction was just a "hmm," a strange sound he made. Joshua knew Dane was that kind of man, which was why he thought of bringing him into this.

"Even if there's a problem, I'll make sure you're not harmed. Don't worry about your cat either. I'll get you an expensive lawyer and make sure you're released without any charges in less than a day."

If someone else around him had said such things, he would have cursed them to stop talking nonsense. But Joshua wasn't a man who spoke idly, and above all, he had a partner who could make it possible. A top actor with money to burn, and the father of his children.

"So, who is it?"

Dane asked as if annoyed. In a country where money can save even dying people, merely helping with a kidnapping a little wouldn't even be considered a crime. As if he had expected this, Joshua answered with a faint smile.

"Chase's brother."

Who?

Chase was Joshua's partner, a man and an actor who commanded an enormous fee. If it was his brother... how many siblings did Chase Miller have? As Dane searched his memory, Joshua added.

"Greyson Miller."

Dane hesitated for a moment. He belatedly realized that Chase and Greyson shared the same surname, Miller.

"...Greyson Miller?"

"Yes."

Even after checking again, the same name came back. Wait, Miller is a common name. He couldn't be certain that Greyson Miller was definitely Chase Miller's brother.

But if it's Greyson Miller, the brother of Chase who is an extreme Alpha, there would only be one in the world.

At the inevitable conclusion, Dane groaned "ugh," but Joshua, who apparently hadn't heard the sound, continued.

"I'll make sure you're not harmed. We won't drag it out either. I'll take care of sending him back, so don't worry..."

Joshua's voice continued, but less than half of it reached Dane's ears. After a while with no response, Joshua finally asked curiously.

"Dane? Are you listening?"

"...Yes, no."

After giving an ambiguous answer, Dane soon frowned.

"Are you serious?”