Page 46 of Doubts of the Egoist (Egoist #3)

A few hours earlier

Yugo carefully lowered his burden onto the bedspread.

The soft mattress bounced under Mio’s weight, sending ripples across the slate-gray silk.

The halo of pale flaxen hair splayed over the pillow, but in those glistening azure eyes, there was no holy serenity, only molten glass of dark, raw sin.

A slender hand shot up and grabbed the lapel of Yugo’s jacket, forcing him to collapse onto the edge of the bed.

A blue gel ice pack slipped off Mio’s chest, revealing a wet spot on his shirt below his heart as he propped himself up on an elbow. “I hate this room.”

Yugo dragged his gaze around the bedroom. The sandy flagstone wall behind the bed gleamed with built-in round golden LED lights. On one side, flat stones crawled into warm, honey beige wood paneling. The other side of the wall ended with a large, bulletproof corner window.

The fire raging in the hearth opposite the king-size bed filled the room with warmth, soft crackles, and the dry smell of wood.

Antique Italian tapestries that once graced Milana’s bedroom framed the reading area and cloaked the sliding door to the walk-in closet.

Silvery silk curtains descended to the floor, draping two large bay windows, their windowsills covered in fluffy silver fox pelts.

More pelts were scattered across the floor, complementing the dark gray, plush carpet.

The room looked cozy and clean. “What’s wrong with it? ”

“It’s not yours!” Mio spat, words bitter and angry. “Why can’t I stay with you?”

Yugo tilted his head, studying the anxious expression on Mio’s face.

The bloody purple circles under his reddened eyes accentuated his aristocratic pallor.

Bright red lips parted slightly as Mio breathed through his mouth—seducing or gasping for air, Yugo couldn’t tell.

Out of habit, he pressed his wrist to Mio’s slightly warm forehead. “You know why. Let go.”

Mio huffed, released the lapel of Yugo’s jacket, and spread his arms wide, providing his body for observation.

The white shirt stretched over his chest, doing nothing to conceal his pink nipples, the outline of his navel, and the dark area on his ribs.

Mio looked wanton, seductive, and judging by the challenging look in his bright eyes, he knew it.

With great care, Yugo unbuttoned Mio’s shirt and scowled at the sight of a purple fist-sized hematoma on the left side of his ribcage.

He tsked, palpating the swollen area. It burned and throbbed under his fingers, informing him that blood was still pooling under the skin.

According to Mio, he’d been shot two days ago, but the injury looked fresh, as if it had just been inflicted.

Why did he lie? Yugo itched to demand the truth, but if the brat hadn’t confessed in the first place, he certainly wasn’t going to spill the beans now. To avoid accusing him without proof, Yugo decided to wait and gather solid evidence, so Mio couldn’t wriggle his way out of it.

“Rest. I’ll bring you a fresh ice pack. Yours has melted,” Yugo said, getting to his feet. He needed assistance to check Mio’s version of events, but more importantly, he wanted to see Kuon.

As if reading his mind, Mio jerked up and his sharp fingers stabbed into Yugo’s palm, leaving white half-circles where his nails sank into his skin. “No need. I’m fine, I promise.”

“You don’t look fine. There’s no sign of clotting. When was your last infusion?” Yugo peeled Mio’s fingers away.

“Ye-yesterday. My blood work was fine to have infusions every third day.” To prove his point, he poked at the blackened, swollen area with his finger.

His lips twisted, and he glanced up as if worried that Yugo had noticed the slip in his facial expression.

Even after meeting Yugo’s suspicious gaze, he kept bluffing.

“See? It’s not too bad. It doesn’t even hurt. ”

Yugo’s jaw locked. “I’ll get the doc. It needs draining.”

“No, don’t leave me,” Mio begged or demanded—Yugo couldn’t say, as a storm of emotions twisted his voice into a low, hollow, threatening whine.

“You need professional care. Either that or we go to the hospital.”

“I need you more,” Mio whispered, pale as death. His eyes glazed over as they searched Yugo’s face. “You’re my best medicine. Stay, and I’ll heal in no time.”

“It’s a nice try, Mio, but I can’t stay here all night. You need rest, and I have urgent matters to attend to.”

Mio jerked to his knees. He doubled over with a hiss, glaring up, a hand pressed to his side. A few flaxen strands fell over his eyes, and he furiously blew them aside. “Don’t lie.”

The fingers of his free hand curled around Yugo’s thumb in a childish gesture. His lips twitched as his expression froze somewhere between rage and panic. His chin furrowed, eyes glistened, suggesting he was about to cry.

Unable to shake off his grip, Yugo chuckled, realizing Mio had never truly matured, and all his attempts to look cool were superficial. He perched on the edge of the mattress.

“I know you want to go to…” Mio bared his teeth, his words stopped short.

His azure eyes frosted over with wounded pride as he withdrew his hand.

His features hardened, forming an unreadable mask.

All childishness disappeared from his gaze, turning Mio into a fine young man.

“Fine, go, but if you do, there is no reason for me to stay here.”

Yugo gritted his teeth so hard he was sure his enamel would crack. He hated being blackmailed, but he knew all too well that Mio was stubborn enough to do what he promised, even if he chained him to the bed.

“Damn it, when are you going to grow up?” Annoyed, Yugo fished through his pockets and pulled out his cell phone, wincing when the screen showed a network of cracks and didn’t respond to his touch.

The number of calls and messages exceeded two hundred, but all went unanswered.

Kuon had stopped calling four days ago after Yugo missed his fifteenth call.

Glaring at Mio, Yugo opened his mouth to call for assistance when the door cracked open. Greg poked his head in. “Boss? A word? It’s urgent.”

“More urgent than that?” Yugo nodded at his nephew.

Greg’s black eyes narrowed as they swept over the pale torso, assessing the injury. His square grayish chin jerked to the side. “Guess not.”

“Then talk later. Grab Mio’s meds and some ice, then call Doc. Tell him to bring the ultrasound machine and everything he might need to drain a hematoma.”

Greg nodded and disappeared behind the door.

“Happy?” Yugo raised an eyebrow.

A fleeting, triumphant smile curled the corners of Mio’s puffy, bitten lips. His mood seemed to improve, judging by his relaxed shoulders and soft murmur. “I’ll be even happier if you take me to your room. I miss it.”

“Nice try…” Yugo huffed and unbuttoned Mio’s jeans to pull them down, along with his socks.

Even though his nephew had insisted he had no other injuries, Yugo had to check.

His palm slid down his leg to his knee and twisted it out.

The pearly skin glowed with health and showed no signs of damage.

When his gaze wandered up again, Mio’s teal boxers were too tight around his groin.

A pink sole flashed up and pressed against Yugo’s chest, toes caught a shirt button, trying to undo it.

Yugo slapped the foot away and got up. “I see you’re indeed feeling well.

Good. Take care of that before Doc arrives. ”

“No, don’t go, I’ll be good.”

With a sigh, Yugo sat back. “Last warning. Behave, or I’ll tie you to the bed and leave anyway.”

Mio’s eyes lit up with mischief. He opened his mouth to say something crude but shut it in an instant. Then he nodded and leaned back.

Yugo rubbed his brow. Concentrating on Mio’s whims was nearly impossible now that he was home.

Every cell in his body tried to feel Kuon’s presence.

It would be so easy to fulfill his needs.

Get up, open the door, and cross the insignificant distance separating him from his bedroom, but he sat on the edge of the bed, tethered to Mio by a sense of obligation.

With a neurotic hand, he pulled out a cigarette and toyed with it.

“You can smoke. It never bothered me, you know? I wouldn’t mind a few puffs myself.” Mio held out his hand, fingers scissoring the air.

“I’m not going to smoke here, and neither are you.” Yugo slapped his hand away.

“Shall we move then? Your room sounds perfect,” Mio cooed.

“No.”

“Why not?” The beautiful face twisted into a predatory snarl.

“I don’t want you to get weird ideas. You’re only here for one night. Tomorrow, you’ll go back to Tobias or to the hospital.”

Mio’s white teeth caught his plump bottom lip to suppress trembling. His slender hand slapped the gray silk as he demanded, “Why? Why can’t I stay with you? Why do I have to go back to him ?”

“Why not? I’m pleased with your progress, even impressed. I don’t want you to stop now. Tobias still has a lot to teach you.”

“Tobias… Why does it have to be him? Don’t you have anything to teach me?

” Mio sat up and curled his feet under his butt in a submissive pose.

He coughed into his fist, chest spasming with each breath, as his face contorted into a painful grimace, but as soon as the seizure passed, he looked up and spoke in a soft, ingratiating voice, “Teach me, and I will inherit the S-Syndicate. Isn’t that your goal?

Let me stay with you, and you’ll see how quickly I rise.

I’ll make you proud, Yugo. Let me learn from you and Greg, and next year I will be your consigliere. ”

“That’s a nice offer, but I already have Greg.”

“Not for long. He’s about to get married and have a baby. Family matters will occupy his mind, drawing his attention away from the organization, while I will always have your best interests in my heart and mind. You know that. You’ll never have anyone as devoted to you as I am.”