"What are you doing here?"
Dean froze at the familiar voice and slowly turned around, heart racing. It was Lucas, his face lit up with a smile that made Dean's skin prickle with unease. Lucas stepped out of his sleek car, looking as polished and confident as ever.
"Oh, hey, Lucas..." Dean tried to force a polite smile, but his mind immediately echoed Alex's warning: *Stay away from Lucas. And keep Kikki away from him.*
"I was just... just heading home," Dean said quickly, clutching Kikki a little closer to his chest. "I'm really busy right now, so maybe we can talk another day."
As Dean turned to walk away, Lucas reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Just let me look at my baby for a bit, okay?" he said smoothly, his eyes drifting to Kikki, who stared at Lucas with wide, curious eyes.
Dean's heart jumped as he instinctively moved back, pushing Lucas's hand away. "No, Lucas. Alex told me not to let you near Kikki," Dean said, his voice firm. "And I don't understand why you keep calling him 'your baby.' Kikki is Alex's son."
Lucas only laughed, a cold, unsettling sound. "Is that what he told you?" He raised an eyebrow, his expression almost mocking. "Well, I can show you otherwise. Alex's been lying, and it's time you know the truth."
Dean shook his head, stepping back again. "No, Lucas. I'm not interested. I don't need to hear anything from you."
But before Dean could make another move, Lucas glanced at his car, and another man—a tall, intimidating figure, clearly a bodyguard—stepped out, blocking Dean's path. Dean's heart pounded as he felt the tension in the air grow thick. He clutched Kikki tightly, his mind racing.
"Look, I don't want any trouble," Dean said, his voice tight, his gaze darting between Lucas and the bodyguard.
Lucas smiled again, his tone softer yet insistent. "I just want to talk, Dean. Somewhere peaceful, where we won't be interrupted. It won't take long."
Dean looked down at Kikki, feeling torn. He wanted nothing more than to keep Kikki safe and far from Lucas, but with the bodyguard standing in his way, he knew he didn't have much choice. He didn't want to beaten up by that bodyguard.
"Fine," he murmured, barely able to hide his reluctance.
***
Dean sat stiffly in the plush leather seat of the car, his heart hammering. The sleek black vehicle moved smoothly, the quiet hum of the engine doing little to calm his nerves. Kikki squirmed in his lap, innocently oblivious to the tension between the two adults beside him.
As the car picked up speed, Lucas leaned closer, draping his arm over the back of Dean's seat, a move that felt uncomfortably possessive. Dean glanced at Lucas, whose easy smile held a trace of something unsettling.
"Relax, Dean," Lucas said, his voice soft, almost coaxing. "I'm just trying to be friendly."
Dean clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to snap back. The last thing he wanted was to get friendly with Lucas—especially after Alex's warning. But here he was, seated beside him with no escape, feeling like he'd been cornered in an enemy's den. He forced a tight, polite smile, masking his discomfort as best as he could. "So... where exactly are we going?"
Lucas's eyes held a glint of amusement as he met Dean's gaze. "To my place," he replied smoothly, leaning in just a bit closer. "There, we'll have the privacy to talk. No interruptions. Just you, me, and the truth."
Dean's stomach twisted at those words. He didn't like the sound of it, not one bit.