* * *
Arriving at the airport at 3 am in the morning, Laotian stepped out of his private plane with the Mos family doctor and three nurses waiting to assist his condition. They already received word from Aldrin to quickly look after the Eldest Young Master, as he was injured. Of course, when Hanlu heard the news, he also came to fetch his older brother, adding to the fact that he needed to stop the Alpha from going to see Daniel.
"Before you come rushing to Daniel, you have to get that wound patched up," Hanlu said the moment Laotian was three meters away from him. He looked at his older brother's left shoulder, even though he was now wearing a suit and the night was still dark, he could immediately tell the Laotian was bleeding.
"I'm fine. I need to see Daniel now," Laotian said without a change in his mundane expression. Hanlu sighed, knowing how much his older brother had been wanting to see Daniel, but now it is really not the time. He heard from Aldrin that Laotian has been coming in and out of fever due to his injury getting infected because he wouldn't stop working, he wouldn't sleep, and he wouldn't eat properly. And now he was pushing himself despite surely being in unbearable pain. Hanlu was sure that when he found out that Daniel didn't want to see him, he would definitely fall ill out of depression.
Sighing again, Hanlu held Laotian on his right shoulder before stopping him from walking further. "Daniel doesn't want to see you right now, he just recovered yesterday from his emotional trauma. If he sees you, he'll get depressed again," Hanlu confessed, immediately halting Laotian from continuing to walk. He looked at Hanlu's expression, looking for a sign that would say that his younger brother was joking with him, however, he was not.
"Ian has talked to him… and Daniel said he was not ready to face you and learn the truth you were hiding," Hanlu added. Of course, to confirm his and Laura's suspicion, they had Ian talk to Daniel alone. As usual, Daniel easily opened up to Ian as his fellow Omega and confessed what he felt. Daniel said that his husband might not have been the man he thinks he was. That there's something dark he was hiding and he was afraid to know.
Daniel didn't mention he wouldn't accept Laotian, more like he was disappointed that the Alpha didn't trust him enough when they promised they wouldn't keep secrets from each other.
"Ian didn't tell your secret, but he encouraged Daniel to talk to you about his concern. Daniel agreed but right now he isn't ready. Brother, Daniel was so wrecked when he saw Lan's bruises, if he finds out you were shot and have been on a dangerous mission all along, he would definitely worry and maybe get mad at you," Hanlu said, encouraging Laotian to let the doctors examine his condition.
Hearing Hanlu's words, Laotian was in deep thought. He wanted to see Daniel as soon as possible. He's worried and he's been craving to see him for more than two weeks now. But if what Hanlu said was true, maybe he should let the doctors stop the bleeding.
"Okay," Laotian simply said and when Hanlu heard it, he smiled triumphantly.
"Okay, I'll bring you to the headquarters. Tian Zi also had something he had to say to us both," Hanlu said, opening the door to the car so Laotian would step in before he followed. He signaled the doctor to follow them in another car and treat Laotian at the base. He might have hidden it, but Hanlu was sure Laotian was just barely holding on, the pain and fatigue might have been killing him now.
Actually, Laotian should've been able to take the shot easily, he had been shot before near his stomach but he survived, he was even already working after his treatment. But right now Hanlu understands why his brother wasn't healing at his normal rate. He left for Africa against his will, so he worked his ass off, hoping he would finish his job as soon as possible. He was away from his bonded Omega, so he's always fatigued, he had mood swings as he couldn't sleep and eat properly. It was a normal occurrence when a bonded Alpha or Omega was away from their pair.
One week should've been okay, but as time passes, the Alpha or Omega will experience withdrawal syndrome similar to when a bonded pair tries to sever the bond. One month in the process should've been bearable, but past that will put someone's life at risk. Hanlu experienced it before without knowing. Long ago this was also the reason why Laotian avoided Omegas, he didn't want to accidentally bond with any of them.
Arriving at the Mo Headquarters, Mo Laotian patiently let the doctor treat his wound. Meanwhile, Hanlu was looking at his Older brother now in a clearer view, it was visible that the Alpha had been neglecting himself. He had lost weight and the bags under his eyes were too obvious to ignore. Maybe this was why he was shot carelessly during the enemy's encounter. Normally, Laotian would have killed a few assassins in his best condition without a scratch.
"Do you think Daniel won't get worried sick seeing you in this condition," Hanlu scolded, putting one of his arms on his side. "Luangmin was almost kidnapped and now his husband almost died. I feel bad for Daniel," Hanlu said again, that this time Laotian glared at his younger brother, causing Hanlu to shut his mouth even though he felt good being the one to scold the Alpha.
"Are you prepared to fly to Africa in my stead?" Laotian asked, his eyes still fierce as if he was shooting daggers. Right now, he did not want to be reminded of his mistakes, his mind is already occupied with the fact that Daniel refused to see him. Even now, as he thinks about it, his heart pounded painfully while his mind and body were signaling him to rush towards Daniel this instant. However, he knew he shouldn't, he too was not prepared to reveal himself and possibly make his wife hate him.
He knew from the moment he learned that Lan was kidnapped and that the kidnapper talked to Daniel. He knew he ran out of time, he knew that if he saw Daniel, he didn't have a choice but to explain what was happening and who he really was. He knew this time would come, but he was hoping not in this kind of situation because he was afraid that Daniel would hate him and leave him. If Daniel was afraid to know the truth, then he too, he was afraid to tell the truth because he didn't know how the Omega would react.
"What? I just arrived yesterday, I can't leave Lan now," Hanlu whined as he took a step back.
"Then when are you prepared to leave?" Laotian asked, maintaining his cold tone. He didn't like being told to by Hanlu, especially when he's already feeling bad about it.
"U-uhmm, i-in t-two weeks?" Hanlu said unsure, making Laotian glare at him more. Hanlu gulped, he scratched his nape and avoided his older brother's eyes. He thought Laotian was unsatisfied with two weeks. "O-One week then?" Hanlu said again, feeling uncomfortable with the killer stare pointed at him.
"You leave in two weeks' time," Laotian said, withdrawing his eyes from Hanlu. He was not that heartless, of course, he would still give his younger brother the chance to hunt down the one who did this to his son, nephew, and Daniel.
"R-really? Are you sure?" Hanlu asked, suspicious of his older brother's words. He was not expecting his brother would choose the latter.
"Yes, in exchange you better catch that man," Laotian said dangerously, indicating that man as the kidnapper, that even though he didn't necessarily say he wanted Hanlu to torture the man to death, for Hanlu it sounded like it was, making him smile mischievously. So many things already came to his mind as to how he would make this man pay for what he did. It had been a long time since he had tortured someone. The last time was that spy months ago who ended up dying in treatment.
"You don't have to tell me. I'm in the process of doing it," Hanlu smiled proudly. Although there had been a lot of people that he and Laotian ruined back then, he didn't mind visiting each one of them and interrogating them himself.
"Then I'll be counting on you to do that," Laotian said. With what had happened to Daniel and their situation, he couldn't afford to be distracted at this moment, so he was leaving this task to Hanlu as he tried to find ways to convince Daniel to stay with him. Of course, no one said Daniel was going to leave him, but in any case, this was the worst-case scenario that could happen.
"Eldest Master, I've tightly patched up your bandage but it could still come off if you move vigorously so I suggest resting until you're healed enough to start walking," As Hanlu and Laotian continued to talk, the doctor and nurses were doing their job as well and now that they finished, it was best for them to leave and give them their privacy since it'll be for their own good as well that they didn't know anything at all.
"Hmmm," Nodding at the doctor, Laotian stood up from the bed quickly, putting on the clothes prepared for him to wear. Seeing this, the doctor only sighed, he knew from the very beginning the Alpha won't listen to him. Laotian just nodded, but then he just moved and wore his clothes carelessly.
"Ahh, Doctor Feng just told you not to move and now you just did that," Hanlu yelled, face-palming himself.
Without saying anything, Laotian waved his hand dismissing the Doctor and the nurses while his eyes remained on Hanlu. "Where's Tian Zi?" Laotian asked after the doctors nodded and left with his nurses. Since he heard Tian Zi had something to tell both him and Hanlu, Laotian guessed it had to do with their mysterious enemy. The Young Alpha must have already found the answer. Weeks ago, all evidence led to Diego Bronson, but Tian Zi didn't seem confident with the answer, so he asked for more time and now maybe finally he has it, the real culprit behind all this.
"He's on his way. He said he had an urgent matter to fix beforehand," Hanlu replied, sighing. "Anyway, why don't you rest a little bit? You were just bleeding earlier, I'm sure you feel faint with all that blood loss," Hanlu advised. Thankfully, Laotian didn't need any blood transfusion but he did lose a lot of blood, which would surely make him feel a little nauseous.
Not saying anything again regarding the advice, Laotian headed straight to where his liquor was located, making Hanlu sigh again in frustration. "What else did he say?" Laotian suddenly asked, earning a confused reaction from Hanlu who didn't understand who he meant. Fortunately, before he could ask who, he quickly realized the Alpha was talking about Daniel.
"Oh, Daniel? Nothing else actually. He just wasn't prepared to see you," Hanlu said, earning a gentle nod from Laotian.
"How were he and Luangmin?" Laotian softly asked this time. Since he arrived, he had been meaning to ask the question, but when Hanlu told him about Daniel not wanting to see him at this moment, his mind became preoccupied.
"They're fine. Luangmin didn't suffer any injury. Daniel and the twins were a little critical but they're fine and stable now," Hanlu replied, knowing that the older Alpha might have been so worried that he even risked his life just so he could come back as soon as possible.
Not saying anything again, Laotian brought his glass of scotch to his lips and sipped on it, relieved that his family was able to escape danger again this time. However, for how long will this keep up? He needs to find a way to end this quickly.