10

At first glance Daniel realized that the tall, well-groomed blond who entered his studio knew their secret and tensed up.

"Is your name - Loki? - he said ironically and introduced himself with a business card.

"What do you want, Sean? I am not into modelling stuff."

"I'm interested in your lover, El … as you call him, although everyone thinks he's Ethan."

"What!? Have you been stalking us?"

"What did you expect, Daniel? - the blond emphasized his name. - Did you think that no one would recognize you at the edge of the world? Rumors about your gentle boyfriend spread everywhere. You shouldn't have display him publicly if you are hiding from your father."

"Damn…" - Dani whispered desperately, clenching his fists. - Are you going to turn me in to him?"

"The reward for any information about the missing heir is quite decent, but I'm more interested in negotiating with you."

"I don't have money to pay you!"

"But you have El. He is a treasure, isn't he? I would have made a lot more money with him."

"Bastard! - Daniel snapped angrily. - Don't you dare approach him!"

"Ow! Jealousy! Are you afraid that I will take him away? Yeah… look at me! Easy peasy!"

"Just try and I'll kill you!"

"Then many victims will be on your conscience. El is such a beautiful boy and how many hands will reach out to him! Are you going to kill everyone? Your despair is understandable, but wouldn't it be better for your lover to live a more pleasant life than in this outback."

"It's none of your business! Eliot loves me and that's why he's with me now."

"You stole him from his parents, who sued your father. You kidnapped him, deprived him of choice. I guess he gave in to you and let you do..."

"So what do you want? Also steal him in front of everyone? He won't go with you, Eliot can't be lured away by any gifts. You are a stranger to him!"

"So rude conversation! - Sean frowned. — There's no possibility to deal with you! I have to turn you in to Larco, since you are so slow-witted!"

Sean chuckled mockingly as a villain and quickly slipped out of the studio, while Daniel clutched his head, frantically considering what to do next.

Eliot could be kidnapped at any moment. He rushed to the bar on moped, but it was too late: his beloved was not there. An icy cold pierced his heart.

"Ethan didn't come today… - Stan muttered sadly to him with wet eyes. - Yesterday, one rich guy was hanging around him, I think he was involved in this. I am so sorry! We didn't save him."

The unpleasant roar of a black helicopter inevitably approaching in the sky increased his despair...

***

The head humming with pain and the hands bound at the wrists puzzled the abducted who came to senses up. Eliot looked around, finding himself lying on a couch in a semi-dark empty room.

"What kind of place is it? Where I am?"

He recalled that he was suddenly attacked near the bar and roughly pushed into a car with dark windows, someone put a bag over his head, and then hit him on the nape and drove somewhere for a long time.

"Hey, anyone!?" - Eliot rushed to the door, tugging on its metal handle, and it was locked.

He wept helplessly after several attempts and sank to the floor, leaning against the wall.

Soon a lock clicked in the handle and the door opened.

"Ethan… - the tall man said in an affectionate tone and stepped inside. - Are you crying?"

"Who are you?" - The teen jumped up and backed away from him.

"You do not recognize me? I am Sean. We met in the beach bar."

Eliot shook his head and shouted:

"Why did you tie me up? And locked up here?"

"Sorry! It wasn't me who kidnapped you, it's Larco's people. I asked to left you alive..."

"What do you want from me?"

Eliot rushed to the exit and was deftly grabbed by strong hands.

"Let me go!"

"Let's talk calmly without hysterics!"

Sean turned on the lights brighter and slammed the door shut, placing the teen on the couch. He gently untied Eliot's hands and smoothed his tousled hair.

"Don't worry! I won't offend you."

His foxy green eyes gazed adoringly at the prisoner.

"I want to home," - Eliot said plaintively, glancing warily at the kidnapper sitting next to him.

"I'll take you back if you agree to work for me…"

"Work? Like what?"

"A model! I want your photos and videos, - Sean said softly. - I think… you will be successful in this business. It's huge money if you understand!"

"Is that all? Only photo shoots you want from me?"

"Yes, and what did you think about me?

"I didn't think anything nice! Why did you give up Dani to his father? Because of me?"

"Sorry! I had no idea you could be killed. I fell in love with you... and you didn't want to talk to me."

Eliot frowned with his eyes fixed on the floor.

"You want to trade my appearance… I don't like it, I said it clear!"