CHAPTER 38: WHAT’S YOUR STORY, ELIAS?

The sleek black car screeched to a halt at the edge of the Grand Regal Hotel’s parking lot, where Ethan stood waiting, his arms crossed and his expression a mix of irritation and curiosity.

Jace jumped out, his face flushed from the rush of driving back. The city lights glowed behind him, casting shadows across the pavement. The engagement party was still in full swing inside, the muffled sounds of laughter and music spilling out into the night.

"Sorry, Ethan," Jace said, catching his breath. "I didn’t mean to leave you hanging."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, sliding into the passenger seat as Jace hopped back into the driver’s side.

"Where the hell did you go? You just vanished in the middle of the party."

Jace started the car, the engine humming as he pulled onto the road. "I had something important to take care of. It couldn’t wait."

Ethan leaned back, his eyes narrowing. "Something important, huh? Care to share?"

Jace hesitated, his hands tightening on the wheel. He couldn’t tell Ethan about Elias... not yet.

"Just... a friend needed help. It’s no big deal."

Ethan studied him for a moment, clearly wanting to press further, but he let it go with a sigh.

"Fine. Keep your secrets. But hurry me out of here. I was having a decent time until the whole thing fell apart."

Jace glanced at him, curious.

"Fell apart? What do you mean? Is the party over already?"

Ethan snorted, shaking his head.

"Not over, but it’s a mess. Viktor Drago stormed out in the middle of the toast. Apparently, he’s chasing after some nanny. And he left his bride-to-be standing there like an idiot."

Jace’s heart skipped a beat, his hands jerking on the wheel before he steadied them.

’Viktor’s looking for Elias.’ He forced a neutral expression, shaking his head as if it didn’t matter.

"That’s... dramatic. Why’s he so worked up over a nanny?"

Ethan shrugged, scrolling through his phone.

"No idea. The twins were freaking out, saying their nanny had left with a guy. Guess it’s a big deal to them."

Jace’s stomach twisted. He’d paid off a security guard at the hotel to disable the cameras that caught him driving Elias away, ensuring Viktor wouldn’t have any footage to track them.

’He won’t find him,’ Jace told himself, gripping the wheel tighter. ’Elias is safe at my place.’

Still, the thought of Viktor Drago tearing through the city looking for Elias made his pulse race.

"Anyway," Ethan continued, oblivious to Jace’s tension, "I left because Mom and Dad are back home. They texted me, asking where you were. They sounded like they were pissed."

Jace nearly slammed on the brakes, his eyes widening. "They’re home? Already?"

Ethan glanced at his phone, nodding.

"Yeah. They got back an hour ago. Oh, and they asked if you brought a friend to the house. What’s that about?"

"Shit," Jace muttered under his breath, his foot pressing harder on the gas. "They weren’t supposed to be back yet."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. "What, you sneaking girls into the house now? Or is this about that ’important thing’ you were doing?"

Jace forced a laugh, his mind racing. "Something like that. ... don’t worry about it."

Ethan smirked but didn’t push further, turning his attention back to his phone. Jace’s thoughts were elsewhere, focused on Elias and Lila alone at the house with his parents. He hadn’t told them about his guests, assuming he’d have time to explain before they returned. I need to get there before they scare him off.

The car sped through the city, weaving through traffic as Jace pushed the limits of the speed limit. Within minutes, they pulled up to the Voss estate. Jace parked haphazardly, barely turning off the engine before jumping out. Ethan followed at a slower pace, his expression amused.

"Slow down, man," Ethan called. "What’s the rush?"

Jace didn’t answer, rushing through the front door into the living room. The sight stopped him cold. Elias sat on a plush couch, his shoulders slumped, looking small and gloomy under the scrutiny of Jace’s parents.

Mrs Voss, dressed in a lavish emerald gown from another party, sat across from him, her arms crossed and her expression stern. Mr Voss, in a crisp suit, stood beside her, his gaze sharp. The air was thick with tension, and Elias’s hands were clenched tightly in his lap.

"Mom, Dad!" Jace said, stepping forward. "I’m so sorry, I should’ve told you..."

Mrs Voss held up a hand, silencing him. "Sit down, Jace. We need to talk."

Jace hesitated, glancing at Elias, who gave a small nod, his eyes tired but calm. Jace sat beside him, lowering his voice. "Are you okay?"

Elias nodded again, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah. ... wasn’t expecting this."

Mr Voss cleared his throat, his tone firm.

"Jace, you brought strangers into our home without telling us. Explain yourself."

Jace took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully.

"This is Elias, my classmate from school. His sister, Lila, is sick, and they need a place to stay. I didn’t tell you because it happened fast, and I thought you’d be gone longer. I’m sorry."

Mrs Voss’s eyes softened slightly, but her voice was still sharp.

"You should’ve called us, Jace. We come home to find a boy and a sick girl in our guest room. How do you think that looks?"

"I know, I messed up," Jace said, his hands raised. "But Elias is a good guy, and Lila’s just a kid. They’re not causing trouble. I wanted to help them."

Mr Voss smirked, leaning back in his chair.

"Help them? I’ve never seen you care about anyone outside this family. You’re usually too busy getting into fights or causing trouble."

Mrs Voss nodded, a faint smile breaking through. "He’s right. I thought you were turning into a thug, Jace. It’s... surprising to see you do something selfless."

Jace’s cheeks flushed, and he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Geez, thanks for the vote of confidence."

His parents chuckled, their expressions warming. Mrs Voss turned to Elias, her voice softer.

"You’re welcome to stay, Elias, as long as Jace takes responsibility for you and your sister. We trust our son to do the right thing."

Elias’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and he nodded. "Thank you, ma’am. Sir. I really appreciate it."

Mr Voss leaned forward, his eyes curious.

"So, what’s your story, Elias? Why do you need to stay here?"