Lake expelled a silent sound of relief as he returned to the dressers to do as he was told.
He had been expecting the conversation to go down a more dangerous path.
If Caspian had asked him to take it off, it would have been really awkward between them.
But the Omega was really tolerant, and most importantly, very kind.
"Do you think my shoes would fit you?" He said, his blonde hair bent over a shoe rack.
"I think I could get away with wearing my own shoes," Lake said quietly, holding the scarf he had found.
Caspian straight up, looking thoughtful. Lake was a couple of inches taller than him so there was a high chance his shoes would be too snug on the other Omega.
Lake silently slipped out of the room, getting dressed in the room given to him. He made sure to tuck the watch back into a safe place inside his bag.
If he wasn’t shot tonight, he would try to sneak the items back into the mansion.
He definitely had been in shock when he took them because why did he think trying to pawn them in would be a good idea? He would just be hastening his own demise.
Lake stared at his healing mating mark as he dressed up - just like the stolen items, no one needed to know about it as well.
He tied the scarf Caspian gave him around his neck, the fabric gentler on his skin.
His running shoes looked very out of place from the rest of his outfit but he was already over it the moment he put them on.
Now that he was dressed, there was nothing left to do but wait for the inevitable.
By the time the knock on his door came, Lake was already catatonic, even Caspian bright presence couldn’t ease him.
It wasn’t the pretty Omega though, it was a house staff showing up to lead him outside the mansion.
Caspian would be in a different car with his mate and Lake couldn’t be happier, he didn’t want to deal with all that.
The car he got in was driven by a single person, he looked strangely familiar which was concerning.
Because he couldn’t be further apart from the Knight Mafia house, it wasn’t like he could just bump into the other Mafia King’s men on his home street.
"Fancy scarf you got there," The Beta said, his dark eyes unsettlingly sharp.
Lake had to reach for it instinctively, scared that it had slipped even though it was tied around his neck like a noose.
"Caspian was kind enough to offer me some clothes to wear," He said quietly, his guard up at the odd question.
"Right," He replied, popping mints in his mouth, the cool scent filling the car.
Lake could tell that the odd man hadn’t been talking about that but he didn’t supply any further information.
As soon as the car was parked, Lake was already hopping out, eager to put some distance between himself and the familiar Beta he still couldn’t place.
Caspian was already hurrying over to him, attracting the attention of everyone in the parking lot.
Lake could easily see how someone as ethereal as him could tame a Mafia King who once used women like they were disposable.
"Asher has already gone in to meet Davian," The Omega brought him up to speed, his lips glistening a light red.
Lake felt like a valet in his outfit, awkwardly tucking his hair behind his ear while wondering if he should have just tied it up.
"Let’s go join them."
Lake would rather not, it was one thing to tell Caspian his experience and another to face his Mafia King and do the same.
A uniformed waiter was quick to lead the way when they stepped into the classy restaurant.
Lake tried to picture how dinner would go, he wondered if Master Davian would want to have the conversation right in front of everyone.
They were brought to the door of a private dining room and it had Lake believing that having the conversation with company present was how things were going to go.
He didn’t expect the door to be opened from within, Mafia King Asher stepping out.
His hazel-gold eyes burned cold as he briefly flicked his gaze over Lake, towering over him.
Caspian clung to the dangerous Mafia King with a grimaced smile directed at him.
"We’ll be right in the next room over. Have a pleasant dinner."
Lake felt the world crack and crumble around him when Caspian walked off with Mafia King Asher.
He couldn’t even feel betrayed because really, what had he expected?
The Mafia Kings couldn’t stand each other, there was no way Alpha Asher would have dinner with his Mafia King for a nobody like him.
Lake sighed and straightened his shoulders, if he was lucky, they wouldn’t need to have dinner.
He would just go in, answer the Master’s questions, and leave the moment he was allowed.
Lake knocked timidly, not sure what to expect. The door opening couldn’t be further off.
Master Davian was even taller than Mafia King Asher, and Lake was by no means short.
But he still had to crane his neck back to hold eye contact; he clenched his hands into fists to hide their trembling.
"Come in," Mafia King Davian invited, his voice ice-cold.
Lake timidly did as he was told, standing off to the side awkwardly, unsure what to do.
Davian sat and then gestured to the only other chair in the room. "Sit."
Lake did as he was told, keeping a straight face when he knocked his knee on the table leg.
He reached up to fiddle with his scarf, wondering if he was supposed to exchange pleasantries because just sitting there felt rude.
"Order something. We’re having dinner."
Lake paused in surprise for a moment before reaching for the menu.
He had never tried to hold a conversation with Master Davian before - no staff had - so he had been expecting them to plunge right into the conversation.