Asher silently pushed the button that opened the top of the car, the smooth sounds of the mechanism the only thing to be heard for a few seconds.
"You have more than enough on your plate," Asher said instead of a response.
Jael snorted, "Why do you think I’m back so soon? I need a distraction or I’m going to eat a fucking bullet."
Asher didn’t budge, steadily staying silent as they got to a busier street.
"Besides, Gage asked me to look after you," He added gruffly.
"Caspian isn’t leaving," Asher easily gave in, his walls crumbling as fast as he put them up.
"Yeah I got that after seeing him in the mansion," Jael quipped.
"You’re getting it wrong. I’d prefer if he left but I can’t get him to," Asher admitted, some of his old frustration coming back.
Jael took a moment to speak; because he didn’t want Caspian to leave but he understood why it was necessary.
"And what did he say about your bloodline?" He asked carefully.
Asher gritted his teeth and bore down on the gas pedal, "I couldn’t get him to take it seriously. You’d think that it would be easy to after hearing about my mom..."
Jael shot Asher worried looks, they were nearing an intersection and the Alpha was speeding up a little too much too fast.
"Whoa, easy there. Caspian would be upset if you ruined his car."
And just as he expected, Asher eased right off the gas.
Jael massaged the side of his head with two fingers, knowing that things were about to get painstaking between the two of them.
"So? What did he say?" He probed again.
"He wants to figure something out," Asher complained bitterly.
"You say that like it’s a bad thing," Jael said logically.
Asher speeding up again in response to his words was enough for Jael.
"Alright, park and get out. I’m driving." He said sternly, giving no room for protests.
When they had switched seats and were back on the road again, Jael started up the conversation once more, now that he was confident that Asher wouldn’t try to run them off the road.
"So, how is figuring something out a bad thing?"
Asher pushed a hand through his hair, looking miserable. "Because there’s no fixing me."
"That’s hardly the same thing, chronic illnesses are a thing you know." Jael lectured, making a turn.
"And chronically ill people find a way to manage it just fine."
Asher had a look of betrayal on his face at Jael’s words, he expected Jael of all people to immediately see his point.
He had hoped that with Jael’s help, he would be able to get Caspian to safety but the Beta was starting to sound just like Caspian.
"Right. That’s the end of this conversation." He said curtly.
Jael took one look at Asher’s stiff form and didn’t push, he knew that getting Asher to see his point wouldn’t be easy.
He had every right to feel the way he did, and if he hadn’t become friends with Caspian, he would probably feel the same way.
If they could figure something out, that would be the best outcome.
Jael couldn’t believe that he had gone completely one-eighty on the matter.
He had been so vehemently against them at the start but unlike Asher’s parents who had a terrible relationship, he could be hopeful about theirs.
Even without realizing it, Asher was doing everything right.
It might be that he was trying so hard not to be his dad that he was doing the exact opposite of what the previous Mafia King had done.
Like not drinking to escape his problems, and not locking up his lover when they begged to leave.
He was already off to a great start, and even better, Caspian wanted to try and work things out.
Asher probably just needed some time to come to terms with things.
So he ended the conversation there and moved on to less delicate topics... like work-related topics and how Mafia King Nikolai had surprisingly been very quiet recently.
The tension visibly bled out of Asher’s shoulders at the mention of the Mafia King’s name, although his jaw hardened, gold eyes alight.
"You’re right," Asher agreed with narrowed eyes. "I should drop in on him tomorrow."
That... That wasn’t what Jael had been expecting to hear. "Now, why the hell would you do that?"
"Because I owe him a bullet," Asher said magnanimously.
Jael almost felt like his boss had completely forgotten about the other Mafia King’s existence, and the moment he was reminded, he was immediately picking a scuffle.
Asher was just as bad as Nikolai in being a thorn in each other’s flesh.
But after the last stint they had, he would prefer that they kept up with the silly harmless scraps.
Because an all-out war between both Kings would easily wipe out a good part of Haines.
"Right. I’m coming with you." He immediately invited himself.
Asher and Nikolai seemed like the types to play Russian roulette for fun.
Jael pulled up to the mansion hours later, heading right for his bedroom.
He could only do so much for Asher and Caspian, inevitably, they would have to figure shit out for themselves.
He just wanted them to be happy, because regardless of the outcome, he would still have access to both of them.
Unlike Asher who would have a self-inflicted restraining order.
Asher would have sat in the car if he had the keys but Jael had been quick to get him out of the car, and have the men park it properly.
So he had no other option but to go in; he was hesitant to head to the bedroom though, so he wandered around the mansion instead.
He somehow ended up in the cinema room, his brows deeply furrowed.
He wanted to keep doing things for Caspian but that probably wouldn’t help him much.
All he was doing was filling up the mansion with things that would tear him apart after they separated.
Because the separation was inevitable.
He couldn’t let himself grasp the hope that there was a solution. If he did, they would need to find a way to kill him to keep him away from Caspian.