CHAPTER 507: COLLATERAL DRUNK DAMAGE

In the stairwell, the young man opened his mouth and uttered the most ridiculous thing Micah had ever heard.

"My name is Luca McKay. I am Leo’s brother."

Micah’s temper flared up. "Stop bothering me," he snapped. "If I remember correctly, last time your brother showed up, I made it clear I didn’t want to meet him. Why are you pestering me again?"

"No. I am not," Luca said in a rush. "Please, just listen. I simply wanted to thank you and... ask you to help my little brother again. He has lost his mind."

"Help?" Micah repeated, his patience already thinning. "I practically told your brother I wanted nothing to do with Leo or your family. Do I need to spell it out for you? What are you hearing? Really, what part is hard to understand?"

"No, wait. I... shit. I am bad at talking." Luca’s expression twisted. "What I mean is... fuck. He is going to renew his contract with that awful company again," he blurted out, words tumbling over each other.

Micah halted. "What?"

Luca ran a hand through his black hair, his movements frantic. "I don’t know what happened. But he got a call, and after that, he acted crazy. But I am sure it’s connected to you."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Micah lashed out at the man. He grabbed Luca’s collar and shoved him back against the wall. "Don’t drag me into your brother’s mess. If he is stupid enough to ruin his own life, that’s not my business. Don’t make me regret ever helping him."

"Listen. I think someone found out about you... about what you did for him and they are using it against him, maybe threatening him." Luca didn’t resist Micah even though he was capable enough to throw him over his shoulder and suppress him. He was that desperate.

Micah’s grip tightened. Great. Who could have leaked it? Other than Clyde and Seth, no one should have known... who the hell spotted him?

"That’s impossible," he hissed through gritting teeth. "No one should know. Even your brother had trouble finding me, and he had military help."

"I know..." Luca said, eyes darting away, his face reddening. "It’s probably my fault! I got drunk one night and ran my mouth about it to a bunch of my friends in a bar. I think someone picked it up..." he couldn’t finish his words.

"Are you crazy?" Micah yelled, seething with anger.

Luca flinched. "It was an accident, I swear..."

"Shut up!" Micah growled, kneeing him in the stomach just hard enough to knock the air out of him. Luca doubled over, clutching his side and coughing.

"Who were they?" Micah demanded sharply. "Give me their names. I’m going to silence them."

Luca winced as he tried to straighten, grunting. "I...I don’t know! I didn’t catch them all!"

Micah paced a step away, running a hand through his hair in frustration. His pulse hammered against his temples. He was this close to losing his temper completely and beating the crap out of this man. He never thought all his painstaking efforts to cover his tracks would vanish in a puff of smoke because of some careless drunk.

Who would have thought that Leo’s idiotic brother would leak his identity? Talk about irony.

"Unbelievable," he muttered bitterly. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve just caused me?"

Luca didn’t answer, still catching his breath.

"Does the instructor, I mean your brother, Sergeant Seth McKay, know about it?" Micah asked, voice low but sharp.

Luca shook his head weakly. "He is still on the mission."

Micah clicked his tongue. "Tsk. Figures." He stared at Luca for a long moment before asking. "How did you find me? My face and name, how?"

Luca averted his gaze, hesitant. He couldn’t exactly admit that Leo’s room was practically plastered with Micah’s photos, or that he had overheard his brother moaning Micah’s name. "I overheard my older brother Seth talking about you," he lied.

Micah rubbed his forehead. "Great." He pulled out his phone and unlocked it. "Give me your contact. And send me the list of everyone who was in that bar. The time and place. I’ll trace them myself. I need to know who I’m dealing with first."

Luca nodded quickly, fumbling for his phone. "Sorry. I’ll send everything I can remember."

Micah pocketed his phone again. "Right. Is your brother here too?"

"Leo? Yeah," Luca said, rubbing his sore stomach. "There was an audition at the hotel today. I came with him because... well, I was afraid something would happen to him. He doesn’t even have a manager or assistant right now."

"Was it Twilight entertainment forcing him to partake in it?

"Mm," Luca hummed. "Otherwise, Leo wouldn’t have set foot outside. He has been cooped up at home these past few months."

Micah cursed under his breath. "Trash company." He took a deep breath. "Does he know I am here too?"

Luca shook his head like a clock pendulum. "No, I was the only one who spotted you."

Micah pondered for a moment, then straightened, his tone shifting into command. "Listen carefully. Keep an eye on him. Cut off his contact with outsiders for now. No calls, no meetings, no auditions. Don’t let him sign anything either. The situation will be resolved in just the next few days."

Luca nodded slowly. "Got it."

Micah turned to leave, pushing open the stairway door. His jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.

As he walked back toward the elevator, frustration burned in his chest. "Fuck," he cursed himself for meddling too much.

But he couldn’t just accept that Leo ruined himself again with another terrible contract. First, he had gone through too much trouble saving that bastard. Second, he didn’t want to hurt Jacklin more than she already had been because of that fool, Leo.

Seriously, it wasn’t Jacklin’s fault that her friend turned out to be such a mess of a person. The guilt of ruining Leo’s life would weigh down on her shoulders for the rest of her life. And she was Clyde’s niece, for god’s sake. She was family. Even though she didn’t like him that much. Micah still wanted her acceptance, wanted to help her, even just a little.