8

The taxi was moving away from the house of Liam, but Ethan could not stop thinking about Alaric.

In your perfect posture.

In your smile measured.

In the way he offered money without hesitation, as if it were a common transaction.

Nothing in that man seemed out of place.

But Ethan did not trust in perfect.

And then, he saw it.

The number.

A number that he only could see.

When he was narrowed by Alaric's hand when saying goodbye ...

The number appeared, engraved in your mind.

40.

Forty murders.

The air in his lungs felt more dense.

I was excited about

Liam's father ...

He had killed forty people.

And it did not seem that it took away the dream.

Ethan felt his pulse to accelerate.

I had seen it before.

He had touched people and had seen small numbers: an accident, a moment of anger, but nothing like this.

Never an amount so high.

Never someone so perfect.

The taxi moved, the lights of the city reflected in the glass.

Ethan closed his eyes for an instant, trying to process it.

What had just discover?

A respected man.

A bright surgeon.

A model father.

And behind all that ...

A series killer.

Ethan opened his eyes slowly, his expression became cold.

"You have to be joking."

I could not simply ignore it.

I could not do as if I had not seen that number.

But I also knew something else.

If a man like Alaric has killed forty times ...

I would not stop there.

And now ...

Ethan was in his radar.

The hospital had its own pace.

The white lights, the smell to disinfectant, the sound of steps stepped in the corridors.

For some, it was a chaotic atmosphere.

For Alaric Varen Archer, it was his second house.

Here, no one saw him as a monster.

Here, he was the professional whose fame just grew.

The presisable hands surgeon.

The impeccable man who transformed the pain in hope.

And, as always, women noticed it.

Some patients.

Some nurses.

Some doctors with years of experience and education.

Women who not only wanted their attention, but they wanted to be worthy of her.

-Dr. Archer, his surgery was impressive, as always. A surgery resident smiled at him, with a glitter of admiration in his eyes.

"Thank you, Dr.," he said, with an educated smile.

His voice was always warm.

Always perfect.

But in his mind ...

I did not feel anything.

The admiration of others was a reflection of their perfection, nothing more.

If the women were offered to him, it was only because his presence attracted them.

Not because he would see them.

Some fascinated him for his intelligence.

Others, for its beauty.

But in the background ...

They were all the same.

Because none of them really knew it.

---

Meanwhile ... Ethan does not stop observing

Ethan continued with his normal life.

Games. Studies. Jokes.

But his mind was no longer the same.

From the moment he saw the number forty in Alaric, his world changed.

I could not simply ignore the truth.

But I could not move carefully either.

So he waited.

And he observed.

Alaric was too perfect.

Too controlled.

But no one can be perfect all the time.

-----

The announcement reached the last hour of classes.

"The school trip this year will be within two weeks," the teacher said, adjusting the glasses. Be sure to deliver the signed permits.

The classroom burst into murmuros and emotion.

Even Liam raised his view of his notebook.

It was not someone who used to get excited about things like that, but ...

-Wem, Archer, do not tell me you do not think about going! "Isaac looked at him with a confident smile, drowning him.

Liam sighed.

- Where will it be?

-A resort near the lake. Three days.

-It's not bad.

Isaac smiled with satisfaction.

-Exacto. Nothing classes, only relaxation and good company.

Ethan, who had been listening in silence, leaning his chin in his hand and looked at Liam with a carefree air.

-I hope you do not get bored too, Archer.

Liam looked away towards him.

-Ido can bore you with you around.

Ethan smiled slowly.

-I hope I'm.

Something in his tone made Liam feel a slight tickle in the skin.

Chapter 47: Convince an implacable man

Liam knew that he convinced his father would not be easy.

Alaric was not of the kind that simply signed school permissions without thinking.

So when the dinner ended and the table was silent, he decided to try it.

"There's a school trip within two weeks," he said, with a quiet tone. It is mandatory.

It was not.

But Alaric did not have to know.

The man looked up from his wine glass, watching him with his typical neutral expression.

'Where?

-A resort by the lake. It will only be three days.

Alaric took a sip of his wine.

-I do not know, Liam.

Liam remained firm.

-I'm not distract me from my studies.

-That's not what worries me.

I knew I would say that.

-Papá ... I know how to take care of myself.

Alaric's eyes shone with some indespraferable.

¿Concern?

But after a few seconds, he let out a sigh and nodded.

-They is good. But I want you to wear enough food ready. I do not want you to eat anything.

Liam smiled just.

I knew I had won.

---

A family time

The next day, they were shopping together.

It was a weird.

Alaric was not the kind of father who made common family activities.

But there they were.

Choosing ingredients in the supermarket.

"This is too," said Liam, seeing the products in the cart.

-Necesite good food.

-It is a three-day trip, not an expedition.

Alaric ignored it.

And for some reason, Liam did not bother.

It was strange ...

But at that time, they seemed a normal family.

Nothing secrets.

Just father and son doing shopping.

And although I knew it was an illusion ...

For an instant, he decided to cling to her.

---

Days later: The start of the trip

The school bus went on the road, leaving behind the city.

Isaac and the others spoke animatedly, some listened to music, others played on their phones.

Liam was next to the window, watching the landscape.

Until he felt a push at his side.

Ethan.

- Do not you get tired of looking through the window?

Liam slightly turned his face.

-It is relaxing.

Ethan smiled.

-It's a foreign fun concept.

Liam raised an eyebrow.

-And what is yours?

Ethan looked at him staring, his playful expression, but with something more hidden behind.

- Discover it.

Liam looked away again, but his heart was a bit faster.