The aftermath of the fight was chaotic. Broken glass crunched underfoot, and the remnants of dinner plates lay scattered across the restaurant floor. Patrons were still buzzing with excitement and fear, but for Oliver Hayes, the moment felt surreal. He had leaped into a brawl with a notorious mafia heir, and somehow, they had emerged side by side.
As the noise began to die down, Alexei turned to Oliver, his expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. "You've got guts, I'll give you that," he said, shaking his head as he brushed some glass off his sleeve.
"I'd rather not sit idly by while you're in the middle of a fistfight," Oliver replied, trying to catch his breath. "I didn't expect you to be so reckless."
"Reckless? You don't know the half of it." Alexei's smile faded as he glanced around, assessing the damage. "But you're right. I shouldn't have dragged you into this."
Before Oliver could respond, a waiter approached, looking disheveled and shaken. "Sir, the police are on their way. You'll need to leave before they arrive."
"Great." Alexei sighed, running a hand through his long hair. "Let's go, then."
They made their way through the back exit, the air outside feeling fresh and crisp compared to the tension inside. The streets were alive with the sounds of the city, but Oliver felt an undeniable weight in his chest.
"I didn't expect to find myself in a fistfight on my first trip to Moscow," Oliver admitted, trying to lighten the mood.
"Welcome to my world," Alexei replied, his voice low. "But trust me, you should stay far away from it. It's not as glamorous as it seems."
"Then why do you stay?" Oliver asked, genuinely curious.
Alexei hesitated, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. "It's complicated."
Before he could elaborate, a sleek black car pulled up, the driver quickly stepping out to open the door for Alexei. "Get in," Alexei commanded, glancing at Oliver.
"I'm not going with you," Oliver said defiantly. "I don't want to be entangled in whatever mess you're involved in."
"Too late for that." Alexei's expression was unyielding. "You're already in over your head. If you want to stay safe, you should come with me."
After a moment's hesitation, Oliver nodded, sensing that arguing would lead nowhere. He slid into the backseat, acutely aware of Alexei's presence beside him. The driver pulled away from the curb, navigating through the bustling streets.
As they drove, the tension in the car was palpable. Alexei stared out the window, lost in thought, while Oliver fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, grappling with the implications of what had just happened.
"Why did you jump in?" Alexei suddenly asked, turning to Oliver with an intensity that made his heart race. "You could have gotten hurt."
"Because I couldn't just stand there," Oliver replied, surprising even himself with the sincerity in his voice. "You may be a mafia heir, but you're still human. I couldn't let you take all the hits alone."
Alexei raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth quirking up. "Most people wouldn't care."
"Maybe I'm not most people," Oliver shot back, meeting Alexei's gaze.
A moment of silence passed between them, charged with something deeper than annoyance. As the car sped through the city, Oliver couldn't shake the feeling that they were about to embark on a journey neither of them had anticipated.