Page 55 of Vintage

The offer was too tempting to decline, and with a few reluctant nods, we welcomed him into our group.

I sensed something was amiss but pushed forward, my instincts sharper than the alcohol dulled them.

We settled as Luhak came to sit next to me. He grinned, and asked for my name, and in exchange I asked his, pretending I knew nothing about what shit of evil he was.

“So, what do you do for a living, Luhak?” I asked when we were on the topic of discussing about my job.

Timothy kept a watchful eye on Luhak throughout our exchange, alert because it was a favor both Darius and I had requested from him.

“Genetic engineering,” he answered, his smile broadening. “I moved to town about a year ago.”

The conversation was easygoing as I dug a little deeper. Luhak talked about his work with such passion that it sent chills down my spine. His eyes sparkled whenever he mentioned the idea of blending two species. Hedescribed his research with a coldness that hinted at a mind more intrigued by manipulation than by any moral considerations.

“So, what brings you to our little bar?” I asked, trying to keep things light despite the unsettling vibe.

“Oh, just hunting for inspiration,” Luhak replied, his gaze wandering to the dance floor where women moved under the soft lights. He pointed, his expression darkening as he focused on one woman.

My heart dropped—it was Amery.

“Check her out,” Luhak said, his voice laced with intent. “I could do wonders with someone like her.”

A wave of anger surged through me, my fists clenching without thought. Just seeing him drool over my wife ignited a red haze, and I could almost feel the urge to make him pay.

“She’s my wife,” I managed to say, keeping my tone even.

Luhak laughed, a sound that made my stomach churn. The urge to leap at him and pull Amery away from his gaze was overwhelming. But I knew I had to prioritize dealing with the threat first. This was about more than just protecting my territory.

“A guy like me has every reason to be interested. You’d be shocked at how easily someone like her could be… swayed. I mean, if she’s your wife, any guy would try to pull her into his world. A powerful man’s wife is like a crown jewel, and every man out there would want to take it for himself.”

"Nice try, but I’d recommend you keep your hands off my wife." I whispered low, mixing threat with a warning as I brushed off his shoulder to emphasize my point.

I was fuming inside, but I forced myself to stay cool. I needed to figure out what this guy was really after. With a casual flick, I secretly attached a tracking device to Luhak’s jacket while Timothy sensed the tension and switched the subject. We made sure Luhak drank the next round, all while laughing to keep it under the radar.

Every time Luhak downed his drink, he shot me a subtle look, and I couldn’t help but grin. His mind games weren’t going to work on me anymore. It was time for him to play by my rules.

I leaned back, casually resting my hand on the edge of the sofa while crossing my leg, keeping my gaze locked on him and flashing an innocent smile.

When he winced after the fourth shot, making a gurgling noise, I took the rest of his drink and downed it like it was nothing.

My friend made some disappointed sounds, but I just tipped my glass his way, ignoring him and keeping the vibe friendly as we continued the drinking game.

“Why don’t you share more about your work?” I asked, pretending to be interested. My real job was to keep Luhak talking and learn more about him.

“Ah, the marvels of gene editing,” Luhak started, his voice taking on a dark excitement. “It’s all about control. Shaping life to our desires.”

I clenched my jaw, feeling my stomach twist as Luhak rambled on, completely unaware that I already knew all about him.

He kept rambling on, but honestly, nothing about him impressed me. The more he talked, the closer I felt to losing it, picturing myself with my hands around his neck, leaving his body marked with my signature.

"We're not so different, really... you carve wood, and I work with living beings. Just think about it—if we could give humans that kind of ability, species would evolve in ways we can't even imagine. Nothing would hold us back, not even cancer or any disease. And women? They're the perfect subjects because their biological systems are more advanced than men's. Just look at their sense of smell, vision, and hearing."

Every word he uttered only strengthened my determination—I couldn’t let this guy near my wife. Tonight, I’d do whatever it took to keep Amery safe.

"So, what are you working on these days?" I handed him a glass of mixed booze, hoping to keep him talking.

He shrugged and took a sip of the unidentifiable liquid. "Just the usual—humans and animals."

That simple statement carried a lot more weight than it seemed.

---