Captive Mate BL
Chapter 228: - - 228-

Chapter 228: -Chapter 228-

"Looks like a long trip," The driver kept the conversation going, getting into the driver’s seat.

Lake huffed out a breath as he got into the backseat of the car. "You go on trips often?" He turned the question on the chatty driver.

He wasn’t eager to hand out information about himself like freebies, even if the person asking meant no harm.

"Nah, the job’s too demanding," The driver shook his head in disappointment. "But for a pretty Omega like you, I would in a heartbeat."

Lake was very close... so very close to taking off the silk rope around his neck to tell the driver that he was mated.

But the situation was still too fresh for him to take advantage of Davian’s mark like that.

He fully intended to do that much later, but he would hate for this cab driver to be tracked down and have him reveal something so important so soon.

"You’d take me on a trip, huh?" Lake leaned into the conversation.

Maybe he should keep being an ’escort’ open as a source of income.

Clearly, this cab driver wouldn’t be a potential client, but something about having people give you money for very little effort was intoxicating.

"Yeah," The driver grinned, looking back over his shoulders. "You like beaches? We could tour some islands, just you and me."

The conversation was brain-numbing, but it distracted Lake from thinking too deeply about things, so he went with it.

A harmless conversation with flirty undertones with the driver was enough for the Alpha to help take his things to his apartment for him and waive the charge for the trip.

And all Lake had to do was take his hastily scribbled phone number on a torn piece of paper with a smile and a promise to call.

Alphas were so easy.

He made sure to tell the security guards as the cab driver was leaving to keep a note of his face and never let him back in.

Lake didn’t even bother unpacking, he had the entire month to do so.

On their way here, he had seen a restaurant just nearby, it was within walking distance, which was his preference.

He took a shower in his new apartment, there was a bathtub, and he also didn’t need to worry about water bills so he was generous with the hot water.

Lake made sure to put on a new silk tie around his neck before leaving the house.

He left his hair down, the tips slightly damp, his phone in hand.

Wearing more normal clothes frequently made him realize that he didn’t have nearly enough clothes to make a full outfit for a week.

He would have to go shopping for some new clothes, and maybe this time he could actually pay attention to the things he liked and not just what he could afford.

Lake thought about Davian as he ambled down the street, it was a homely neighborhood, young families walking down the street as they headed home.

He doubted that the Mafia King would remember him after a month had passed, and that was to his benefit.

Davian didn’t seem to care much for love but Lake was certain that he would end up with some rich heiress or someone equally as high standing in society.

And he didn’t feel bitter about it, honestly, Lake couldn’t care less.

Everyone was dealt different hands in life, and his plan was to make his life worth living.

It was why he didn’t try to run from his father’s debtors, because all that would have done to him was make him a fugitive.

Turning to shady businesses to clear the debt was an even worse path to take.

And it all worked out in the end. Maybe he could go after rich men with money to spend who liked the idea of cheating.

Lake wouldn’t be cheating on anyone, but his mating mark would give off that idea.

Because even though he tried not to think about it, Lake couldn’t think of anything he could do without having to return to school.

He could only settle for menial jobs and jobs in the service industry, and he would pass completely on that.

Lake was brought out of his thoughts when he got to the restaurant, he had considered getting takeout like he had done the past few times.

But he wanted to step out, staying in his room constantly wasn’t beneficial.

Maybe he should get some groceries; cooking would be less of a chore now that he had so much time.

Previously, cooking wasn’t fun because he had to do it after a hard day at work, but now, he would be essentially cooking for fun.

He could even learn to bake, the short let apartment had come with a oven.

Lake expected to stand out a bit for being alone at the restaurant, but other people seemed to have similar ideas.

They even shared tables with other, each person focused on doing their own thing.

He wasn’t up for another conversation after the cab driver, so he was content to sit in solitude and enjoy his meal.

Walking back to his new apartment when it was much later was the perfect end to the evening.

The streets were well lit, and it didn’t at all feel like Lake was going to get shanked in the back.

He would really like to get a house or a proper apartment here.

The people here lived such normal lives, very far away from the influence of the Mafia.

Lake realized then that he wasn’t even mad at Arthur, although he had every right to be.

The butler was a thorn in his side but it was his unexplained dislike of him that gave him this freedom.

If Arthur had treated him like every other house staff, Lake would have been cooking some lazy dinner in his previous apartment after a day at work.

And he would go to bed early so he could wake up early and spend the entirety of his day doing chores.

He would also have his father’s debt to think about.