"It's your fault," Alexander uttered softly, drawing him closer by the shoulders. "You shouldn't have shut me out and vented your frustrations on the shower; you should have talked to me, let out all the negativity verbally. Remember, Danny, we agreed to discuss and resolve everything together."

"I remember the agreement differently," Daniel grumbled stubbornly, flexing and relaxing his right hand wrapped in an elastic bandage. Perhaps he had damaged a tendon during the outburst. Now, driving seemed like a distant possibility, but he really wanted to be behind the wheel, if only to regain some semblance of control over his life, which was currently spiraling out of control.

"And why am I going to your nephew's school, Sasha?"

"What a change of topic," Alexander remarked, scratching the tip of his nose thoughtfully. "Firstly, you're my boyfriend, so you'll share in my joy for my beloved nephew, who will be performing solo at the concert. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to meet my sisters. Secondly, it's a break from the monotonous routine you're always complaining about."

"I'm just an extra at this family event," Daniel reminded him, shrugging off Alexander's arm from his shoulder. "I'm not sure what to talk about with the kids either."

"But you always find common ground easily with women," Alexander retorted grumpily, returning his hand to its place and planting a kiss on Daniel's temple. "Are you nervous or something?"

"I don't know, I just don't feel at ease. I'd rather stroll around alone. And by alone, I mean without Tengiz sneaking up behind me. He's no ninja, if anything," Daniel looked at Alexander, who was watching him admiringly, and smirked mischievously. He immediately perked up, sensing a catch. "Just so you know, there'll be no sex tonight. I'm so worn out from socializing with your friends and relatives that I won't be in the mood afterwards."

"Huh?" Alexander blinked, looking confused. "That's not fair, Danny."

"It's your own doing," Daniel purred with tenderness mockingly imitating that of Alexander. Then he changed the subject. "I've signed up for the April half marathon and the May marathon, so I won't be able to make it to the family dinner. I'll head straight to the gym. I need to get my workout in."

"Danny, my sisters will be disappointed. I've already promised them we'd go together," Alexander pleaded with a sad pout. "Please, rearrange your schedule for tomorrow."

"You made a promise, but you didn't ask me, so you'll have to handle the consequences on your own. You can tell them I have urgent work and need to excuse myself," Daniel suggested, pressing his forehead against Alexander's, causing his eyebrows to arch even higher - a comical sight that made Daniel chuckle. "You wanted a relationship, Sasha, so you'll have to learn to consider your partner's wishes."

"Fair enough," Alexander agreed, running his hands under his sweater and T-shirt, smoothing over his back and belly. "Let's compromise. You can go to your gym after the concert, but I still get to fuck you afterwards. It's important to consider your partner's desires too."

"Your desire seems to be never-ending," Daniel quipped. "Like a male dog perpetually in heat. If I always complied, I'd have worn out my rectum by now."

"You are dramatizing," Alexander giggled as he leaned in for a kiss.

"I bet you're still aroused, aren't you?" Daniel teased, unexpectedly reaching for Alexander's groin. "As expected."

"You're such a sadist," Alexander groaned. "Damn, you really turn me on, Danny. It's never happened with anyone else. Maybe we could... in the bathroom quickly, hmm?"

"Are you serious?" Daniel's jaw dropped in disbelief, tapping his forehead with a finger. "At school?! Use your imagination and your right hand, you pervert."

"Damn, you're right, school," Alexander grunted disappointedly, stretching out enticingly. "How about now or in the parking lot?"

"Ah! You're impossible," Daniel recoiled. "Enough already, you're ruining the mood."

"Don't be upset, Danechka," Alexander quickly shifted gears and spoke in his usual tone. "Don't take it the wrong way. I don't see you only as a sexual object. I'm... you know, into you overall. It's normal to constantly seek affirmation of affection from the person who's driving you crazy. And you keep me on a bit of an emotional diet, so my feelings sometimes get redirected into libido."

Daniel sighed in irritation, contemplating the words he had just heard. It made sense, though he had never experienced such feelings for anyone else. It had been apparent that Alexander desired affection from him, even in the early stages of their relationship. Back then, when Daniel had gradually become more affectionate towards him, Alexander had recognized it immediately. At times, he had settled for hugs instead of sex, appearing both exasperated and content.

Throughout the past month and a half of what Daniel labeled as their third phase, a certain warmth had indeed developed towards Alexander, but it was far from the level of tenderness he had experienced before, thankfully. Moreover, Alexander's persistent attempts to fuck him only served to push him further away. If Alexander were to stop monitoring his every move, ceasing to hover over him like a predatory falcon, perhaps Daniel would warm up to him more quickly.

"If you take away the surveillance, the guards, and stop questioning my every move, then maybe my feelings towards you would change," Daniel remarked, briefly glancing at Alexander with a closed expression before sighing. "I see."

"You don't understand," Alexander grumbled wistfully, making no effort to offer a hug. "I'll remove tracking from my phone and computer today, no problem. But as for the guards, I can't do that, and please stop asking. I'm concerned about your safety. What if, instead of targeting me, someone decides to target you, given that your role is already clearly defined?"

"Who would target me?" Daniel expressed genuine surprise. "Do you seriously believe that...?"

"Fedorov has three more associates, I've mentioned before," Alexander hummed faintly. "The fact that they haven't gone after me doesn't mean much. They might be keeping silent, waiting for the right moment to seek revenge. It's unlikely they'd kill me, but they could cripple me for amusement, leaving no evidence - they're more skilled at it than I am. However, they might target you, knowing my father wouldn't retaliate for you; it wouldn't be worth it for him. That's why I always have a guard with me, and I won't allow you to go without one."

"Why did you let me go for two months?" Daniel asked, horrified to realize the reason.

"Because... I wanted to wean myself off you then, treat you like a drug. I thought it would be easier if you just vanished because I couldn't bring myself to let you go," Alexander answered honestly, locking eyes with him. "I didn't realize back then that I couldn't bear to live if anything happened to you. I would have avenged them all for you, Danny, and then I would have perished myself."

"You..." Daniel recoiled in his seat, pressing his back against the door. Panic consumed him, chilling him to the core. He hadn't fathomed that his freedom of movement around Moscow could pose a threat, nor had he realized that Alexander harbored a conscious desire for his death, his complete disappearance. The latter part of the response was equally disconcerting: would Alexander truly release him when the agreed-upon term elapsed? He astutely added.

"I'll release you by the end of the term, darling, so don't be so tense. It's written all over your face. I regret endangering your life, but I won't do it again. Trust me, removing surveillance from your phone is a significant gesture on my part. I'd feel more at ease knowing your whereabouts at all times. Besides, you do have a tendency to slip away every now and then. Three days ago, for instance, where were you for those few hours?"

"Out for a walk," Daniel responded predictably. The tension still lingered, urging him to keep his distance from Alexander, and the reminder of the crucial excursion when he had concealed the flash drive and tape recorder in a storage locker only intensified it.

"I've heard that before," Alexander's eyes narrowed, his mood shifting instantly. "I want details: where, why, what. Something or someone mattered to you enough to slip sleeping pills into Maxim's cup to make your escape."

"There won't be any," Daniel ground out between clenched teeth. He felt no remorse for Maxim; if he could have, he would have added laxative. It was fortunate he had taken over for ill Tengiz, as he wouldn't have the heart to give him sedatives. "If you're looking for a fight, you won't find it here."

"I don't seek it," Alexander forced himself to step back, a visible exertion of will. "But it's dangerous, Danny, you must realize. If I, the son of the all-powerful Matvey Bystritsky, was brazenly kidnapped, then you, an unknown man with no family or connections, will be a target. Please remember that, and don't wander off. The bodyguards aren't just for observation; they're there to ensure your safety. Damn, are we arriving already? Fine, we'll discuss this later. But speaking of marathons, I'll have to rotate fresh bodyguards every few kilometers, so they won't be worn out from running when, or rather if, an attack occurs."

"Fuck! This is too much!" Daniel gripped the door handle the moment the car came to a halt, but Alexander swiftly pulled Daniel towards him.

"We're sticking to the protocol for exiting the vehicle. Just follow my lead. And please, keep your expression neutral, or you'll frighten the kids," he added with a slight smile.

"Your eyes are so blue now, almost violet." And without a smooth transition he started.

Deep blue dusk and moonlight. Once

I was handsome, I was young.

Headlong, now or never — how fast

All flew ... flew away ... flew past.

Chill my heart is, pale my sight...

Deep blue happiness! Moonlit night!

"I'm tired of your cryptic poems! Try something different for a change!" Daniel blurted out with frustration, causing Alexander to fall silent with a sullen expression.

Entering the school building with somber expressions, they each pondered their own thoughts, unrelated yet somehow relevant to the other. Sensing Alexander's scrutinizing gaze, Daniel quickened his pace, instinctively seeking distance from his formidable partner. It was only natural to want to protect himself from Alexander's influence, just as it was uncomfortable to acknowledge the lingering tension from the recent incident in the shower. Daniel couldn't shake the nagging feeling of inconsistency that was once again gnawing at his nerves. As they cautiously slipped into empty seats in the hall, where the show had already begun, disgruntled parents turned to look back at them.

"Lariska will have my head," Alexander grumbled as he took his seat. "I'm sure she's already noticed I'm late. Anyway, we can just say you held me up."

"Yeah, you were busy fixing your makeup," Daniel replied glumly. "Say whatever you want, but just know it won't make things easier for me."

"I didn't think about that, okay, I'll come up with something," Alexander said, reclining in his seat and attempting to hold Daniel's hand, tightening his grip when Daniel tried to pull away. Despite his efforts to restrain his dominant impulses, Alexander couldn't help himself, especially when he sensed Daniel growing angry with him. He needed the physical connection, the reassurance of having Daniel close, even though Daniel wished to be somewhere else.

As the performance unfolded, Daniel found it both touching and tedious, stifling yawns behind his hand as he impatiently glanced at the wall clock. Alexander, too, seemed bored, absently stroking Daniel's hand while visibly restraining himself from pulling him closer. His interest was piqued, however, when a group of seven-year-old children flooded onto the stage in a neat semicircle, with one boy, bathed in the orange-red glow of the spotlight, stepping forward.

"Finally. Look, there's our Yanchik. He looks like me, doesn't he?" Alexander whispered, surreptitiously licking Daniel's ear.

"He does," Daniel shivered, observing the boy. Apart from the hair color, he bore a striking resemblance to his uncle, as if a miniature version of Sasha were standing on stage. Tall, with sharp features, a proud stance, and that trademark Bystritsky arrogance reflected in his expression. Yanchik tested the microphone, tapping it lightly before speaking clearly.

"One, two," he nodded to the accompanist in a grand manner, eliciting friendly laughter from the audience. As the music flowed, Yanchik's melodious voice filled the air, his solo standing out amidst the chorus of children's voices like a lark's song. Daniel smiled faintly, shielding his eyes - he too had sung the same song long ago at the Lycée Français. The lyrics came flooding back to him, accompanied by vivid memories.

Comme un enfant aux yeux de lumière

Qui voit passer au loin les oiseaux

Comme l'oiseau bleu survolant la terre

Vois comme le monde... le monde est beau

Beau, le bateau dansant sur les vagues

Ivre de vie, d'amour et de vent

Belle, la chanson naissante des vagues

Abandonnée au sable blanc

Alexander softly sang a refrain in his ear,

L'amour, c'est toi; l'amour, c'est moi

L'oiseau, c'est toi; l'enfant, c'est moi

He grinned as Daniel arched his eyebrows in surprise - Alexander's French was pretty good.

"I used to study French, among other languages, but I gave up. It means: love is you, love is me, a bird is you, a child is me. It suits you very well; you are my bird that keeps trying to fly away," Alexander explained before straightening up. Daniel felt a pang of someone else's unrequited longing, causing him to hesitate. He rubbed his jacket on his lap, pulled his sweaty hand out of Alexander's grasp, checked his cell phone for messages, then abruptly rose and made his way toward the exit, almost running. In the corridor, he spotted Tengiz with his back turned and quickly ducked around the corner. Tengiz's voice echoed loudly in the confined space.

"Yes, Alexander. Sorry, I didn't notice. I'll find him," Tengiz's voice rang out.

Daniel hurriedly made his way to the glass door leading to the staircase, no longer attempting to be silent. He rushed downstairs and stopped on the first floor, realizing that the driver might already be waiting for him at the only exit. Cursing the strict security protocols of the international school, he stomped his foot in frustration before heading off to find the restroom.

Splashing cold water on his face helped to calm his nerves. As he sat on the toilet lid, contemplating whether to text or call, he noticed Alexander's name lighting up on his phone screen. He declined the call, deciding to let Alexander enjoy the children's concert and deal with his own feelings. Next time, Daniel resolved to think before being blindsided by unexpected confessions. With his mind made up, he dialed the number.

"Hey, Nastya. Thanks for the update. Are you sure it's accurate?

"Hi, Daniel. Thanks, I'm good. How about you?" Nastya chuckled lightly, despite the seriousness of the conversation. For someone who had been blatantly neglected for his sake, she sounded calm. But her decision to pursue his matter indicated that the Singapore incident had compelled her to act.

"Okay, just kidding. I've checked your Moscow colleagues, and there don't seem to be any suspiciously large transactions. As for the other two, like I mentioned earlier, I can't investigate them."

"Sorry, where are my manners," Daniel rubbed his forehead. "Thanks again for this. It's helpful to narrow down the suspects. Although I'm not seriously considering the other one, it's always good to double-check."

"Do you want me to talk to Gosha?" Nastya offered tentatively. "You know he's not your biggest fan, especially after what happened in Singapore. But if I ask him, he might be able to look into everyone's foreign transactions. In case they moved it all offshore."

"Well, feel free to approach him, but I doubt he'll be inclined to allocate company resources and his own time to help me."

"It's worth a try. Let's stay in touch if you need anything. Bye. Take care."

"Goodbye," Daniel echoed into the silence, his eyes tiredly fixed on an invisible spot. It felt like another dead end, even though Igor had seemed like such a promising lead. It probably made little sense to scour social networks for any trace, even among spouses and fiancées, no one, even if they were involved in the fraud, would openly display their sudden wealth. Moreover, there was the possibility that none of his former colleagues were implicated, and Zakhar Zinoviev alone orchestrated the entire scheme.

Reluctantly, it was time to return, though Daniel ignored Alexander's messages and switched on a game on his phone.

Alexander seemed noticeably anxious, shifting restlessly and looking around with a strained smile until he spotted Daniel approaching casually. With a wave and some words exchanged with the sisters beside him, Alexander's composure lightened a tad, and they turned to study Daniel with curiosity. Both were older than Alexander, yet they appeared well-groomed and youthful. Nonetheless, the age gap was unmistakable, as was the familial resemblance. Daniel offered a begrudging smile as he moved closer.

"Hi, sorry about that, work called. I'm Daniel."

"Hi Daniel, you can call me Alya. Nice to meet you," Alya tossed back her reddish wavy hair, her smile casting a soft glow that revealed tiny wrinkles. Daniel felt a bit more at ease.

"Hello, Daniel. I've heard a lot about you. I'm Larisa," Alexander's second sister, also a redhead like Alya but with a darker hue, regarded him sternly, scrutinizing him closely. "Why are you making Sasha so nervous?"

"Don't tease him, Larisa. Nobody's making me nervous," Alexander interjected, taking Daniel by the elbow and giving it a tight squeeze as he pulled him closer.

"Ah, so that's why you were twitching and looking around," Larisa remarked with a smirk, her expression softening as a swift meteor crashed into her. "And this is my Yan. Jan, meet Uncle Sasha's friend Daniel."

"Hello, Yan, you have a great voice. I really enjoyed your performance," Daniel paused briefly, noticing Jan's direct gaze, which seemed surprisingly mature for a child.

"Hello, Daniel," Yan replied at last, extending his hand. Daniel shook the sticky hand and caught a mischievous glint in his green eyes - he had deliberately dirtied his hand. Daniel smiled naturally - as a child, he had also played such pranks, but only with other children, not adults.

"Looks like you've found the prodigal," a voice suddenly interjected, and Daniel felt the fingers on his elbow digging even harder into the muscle. Turning slowly, he recognized the approaching figure and swallowed, realizing instantly who stood before him.

Matvey Bystritsky observed the world through cold, intelligent blue eyes, devoid of any warmth. While his children, particularly the gentle and charming Alya, appeared attractive, he himself was rather unappealing: with a sharp, elongated nose - a feature somewhat softened in his children's faces - a narrow face, thin lips, and a penetrating gaze.

"Hello," Daniel whispered, instinctively seeking comfort in Alexander's protective embrace.

"I'm Matvey, Sasha's father," Matvey narrowed his eyes, as though contemplating how to sink his teeth into the small fish called Daniel King, and smirked at Alexander's growl.

"Dad, please," Alexander interjected.

"Let's go, I'm hungry, and Yanchik's bedtime is approaching," Matvey remarked, affectionately rubbing his grandson's cheek.

"Danny has work," Alexander hurriedly explained. "So he'll drive me and then leave."

"Whatever you say. See you later, Daniel," Matvey said dispassionately, pulling Yan closer to him. "I took time off work on purpose so I wouldn't be late. And do you know what I brought for you?"

"What?" Yan clung to his arm, locking eyes with him.

Daniel didn't catch what Matvey had brought for his grandson; they had already moved ahead while Alya and Larisa were saying goodbye. As he watched the slender, towering figure approach his grandson, Daniel's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected realization.

"Tell me, Sasha, just tell me the truth. Was it him who ordered my downgrade in the zone?"

Alexander, who was pulling him in the opposite direction to avoid the crowd of parents on the stairs, groaned audibly. He hugged Daniel tighter, urging him forward, shaking him out of his stunned inertia, and whispered while planting a kiss on his temple.

"Danechka, why do you need this now, huh? Let's forget everything. Nothing bad will happen anymore, I promise. Damn it, he wasn't even supposed to be here today!"

"Was it him?" Daniel repeated insistently. "Tell me."

"Yes," Alexander reluctantly confirmed, his cheeks flushing suddenly. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

"And now, apparently, you can?" Daniel chuckled, pushing away.

"I can now because he's changed his attitude toward you, and he thinks he was wrong to do what he did. He won't apologize, if anything. But know that he accepted you, that is, accepted you as my boyfriend," Alexander said, sounding conflicted. "We'll talk about it in the car, okay?"

Daniel faltered, staggering forward. Before his eyes loomed the repulsive visage of the elder Bystritsky, emanating an aura of formidable power, the same man who had crushed him effortlessly after his son had done so first. Hatred surged within him like a dark, sticky cloud, his fists clenched impotently. What could he do against the all-powerful tycoon, deeply entrenched in crime? Nothing but silently seethe with loathing. They reached the car in silence, and there, as soon as Alexander tentatively touched his knee, Daniel uttered hoarsely.

"I hate you both."

Alexander sighed, withdrawing his hand. Nervously drumming his fingers on the glass, he answered after a pause.

"I don't know what to do to make you feel better, Danny. I hope I can find a way to help you. You can hate my father; he doesn't care, but me... I beg you, don't. You can beat me up tonight when I get back. Whatever you want, Danny, it's your choice."

Daniel rested his forehead against the cold glass, covering his ears to block out the words, and squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn't change anything; even if he beat him, Alexander would be back to normal in a week. But if he could put them both through the same agony... That thought echoed inside him with such jubilant delight that the hatred faded into the background.