Chapter 21

Davien's P. O. V

I carried the painting out of my car and placed it in my study, where Kian waited with a bowl of chips keeping him busy.

Setting it against a sofa, I couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you just eat?" It was like one am, barely an hour from when he last ate. For someone with such a small waistline, he shouldn't be able to eat that much.

He ignored my words and walked over to the painting, I reached for my table, slipped my specs on and stood beside him, joining in the little inspection.

Kian's eyes darted across the four sides of the golden frame, his lips curled into a frown at the slightly burnt part. Sharply turning his head he asked, "Couldn't you have done this more carefully?"

I shrugged, "Could you not lecture me at one am?" He scoffed, then rudely pushed the bowl of chips to my stomach, "Hold these for a second." The brat said, ordering me around.

Of course I wasn't going to let a runt tell me what to do, I reached for his shoulder intending to pull him back and check for whatever it was we were looking for myself.

However, I suddenly remembered that I had been doing all the work today, it wouldn't hurt to let the young'n do some for a change. Hence, I withdrew my hand and took a chip out of the bowl.

"So," I asked chewing, "Aren't you going to ask how I knew we needed the frame and not the painting?"

"No. Not really." Kian quickly responded.

"Hey, don't make up your mind so quick!" I inserted loosing my cool, regaining my composure I said, "It might help you find a clue, who knows?"

The runt sighed and drooped his shoulders, "Since you're so insistent, you might as well go on." He ran his fingers across the frame's surface, as though he already knew what he was looking for.

This kid…well if he wasn't this crude it wouldn't be Kian.

"It all started with the auction," I started off, giving my own deduction. Although I couldn't see what face he was making, I couldn't help but feel he rolled his eyes.

Reverting back to focus, I went on, "I noticed that Ceaser no matter what wouldn't spend a lot of money on the painting, which seemed strange. It was as if he truly didn't want the artwork at all…" I was saying, only to be rudely cut off.

"So you put on your thinking cap?" He inserted, turning the painting to the back, inspecting every bit of the frame.

I clicked my tongue, "So I bought the painting instead to see what his reaction would be. There were only two things he could one. The first being he would offer me a higher price for it. Or the second, he would offer me the land in exchange. But he didn't, instead he threatened me into giving it to him. That was the first indicator that he was short of money."

My fingers took a dip into the bowl and took out another chip, crushing it with my teeth I further explained. "Then, I decided to place a test to see what his real agenda was. I ripped the wrapping paper off, and intentionally scratched the painting a bit…"

"You did what?" Kian hurriedly flipped the painting and stared intently at the portrait, until he noticed the scratch across the woman's neck.

"You said we didn't need the painting too right? What was the big deal?"

"Brute." Kian cursed. "Why spend two hundred thousand dollars if you're just going to ruin it. You truly are a brute."

This kid…he was stepping on my patience with each passing second. He acted like I bought that painting with his money.

"Anyway, the bottom line is, when I noticed he didn't react much, I shifted my attention to the frame. At first, I thought he didn't notice the scratch, but when he started acting out, I realized that his focus wasn't the painting. But instead it's frame." I said finally, ending my deduction.

In response, Kian slowly clapped his palms, "Wonderful work, Sherlock."

I tightened my grip on the bowl, "That was how I knew he wanted the frame, now let's hear yours." My tone dropped, as I was no longer in the mood for playing around.

Narrowing my eyes, I asked, "Kian, how did you know Ceaser wanted…" cutting me off he pointed at the painting.

"Take a look. Your brutish methods seemed to come in handy for once." He stepped aside and drew my attention to the portion of the frame I exposed to heat.

I toseed him a questioning stare then directed my attention to it, focusing hard on what he wanted me to see. I narrowed my eyes, wondering what he was talking about. However, it didn't take me too long to notice something that looked like a cluster of markings.

Stepping closer I saw it clearly.

Those were letters!

"How…" Answering my curiosity, Kian nabbed the bowl of chips out of my grasp and frowned at what was left.

Begrudgingly taking a chip he explained, "The bastards used thermochromic ink." he ran his fingers across the letters which I couldn't fully make out.

"What kind of message do you think is being hidden?" I asked, setting the painting on my desk. Kian sat on my chair and carefully crossed one leg over the other. However, while he did, the sleeve of his pyjama pants rode up, revealing a red mark.

A mark that looked new.

"Eyes here." His voice snapped me out of my thoughts, "Right, I'll go get a lighter." I announced, and made for the door, my mind at conflict over what to do.

I could just ask him what happened, but I got the feeling if he somehow didn't avoid the topic, I'd feel angry to know what exactly happened. And even angrier at who did this.

Ralph's rage and mine was growing stronger.

**********

After getting the entire message, Kian penned down an address and a four digit pin. I asked him if he knew anything about the address, but he simply said we'd find out when we get there.

"We? What makes you think I'm letting you tag along? This isn't a field trip, those men are dangerous Kian." I flat out told him, shutting the idea out of his head.

But the kid wasn't listening, he pushed open my bedroom door and went inside. I attempted to follow, but he slammed the door, fortunately I wedged my foot in-between and went inside.

"Kian I'm being serious.."

"As am I." He sharply retorted, getting under the sheets, he reached for the lamp beside the bed, but I caught his wrist.

"We're not finished speaking." I announced, he glared and harshly withdrew his wrist, then turned to the other side, immersing his body up to eye level under the grey sheets.

"If you have nothing more to say to me then the door is that way." Kian spat out.

The nerve of this bastard! He seemed to forget that this was my house, and my bed and my fucking sheets. I reached for the sheet and ripped it off, acting on instinct, I spralwed on the bed and pinned his wrists above his head.

He gritted his teeth, "Get off-"

"I told you I don't like stubborn little pups."

Kian kicked his feet at the sheets, but I didn't let loose on my grip, "listen to what I'm saying, damnit…" Grunts and groans escaped my lips, as I tried to make a full sentence while trying to pin him down completely.

I used my knees to spread his legs apart keeping them from causing me anymore trouble. Realizing he was immobile, Kian stopped resisting and changed tactics.

"You couldn't keep it in your pants long enough?" He asked in a spiteful tone, clearly trying to aggrevate me.

"I don't want to get violent…"

"You're making a hard argument with that." Kian sharply inserted, making me want to rip him to shreds then put him back together again.

"Ceaser's men are dangerous people, you could get hurt." I admitted, letting him know exactly what I was thinking. Ralph wanted our mate no where near any sort of dangerous shit. As for me, he was just a kid, he shouldn't have to face any of this.

"My safety is the least of your concern. You just don't want someone slowing you down. More than that, I'm certain you're desperate to know what's in that address, I bet you're dying to use it for yourself." he scoffed, his expression turned downcast.

"Being the self centered Alpha you are, I wouldn't put it past you not to…" Kian would've continued speaking if I didn't raise my fist and land a solid punch an inch away from his feet.

He turned his head at the dent in the bed made by my fist. "What? You're angry-"

"You're damn right I'm angry." I cut him off. "Everything about you makes me angry, I'm frustrated just listening to a word you say, it's driving me insane, damnit! You drive me insane!"

He parted his lips to say something, but decided against his. I noticed his eyes, they toned down a bit, almost as though he was…sad?

I got off him, and sat at the edge of the bed, this wasn't working…we weren't working.

For the past days, I could even go as far as to say I was getting used to him. But that could be as acquaintances, not enough for a love spark or anything of the sort.

I sighed and looked over my shoulder at him, he hugged his knees to his chest and buried his head in-between his legs. He wasn't going to say a word to me, and honestly neither would I.

As my feet sprung out of bed and propelled me towards the door, I couldn't keep my mind off one string of thought.

Maybe I should just reject him and get this over with?