Desire Me If You Can [Novel] - Chapter 66

• “Dane! Are you okay? What happened?”
“Haah.”
Hearing Joshua’s voice, Dane let out a deep sigh. After discarding the useless parachute, he walked for hours down the desolate gravel road and arrived at the villa. Upon entering, he immediately began rummaging through the place. To his surprise, he found a phone. Seeing that it also had internet access and even a computer, he was so taken aback that it drained the little energy he had left.
Anyway, the first thing to do was clear. He dialed Joshua’s number, and after a long series of beeps, Joshua’s voice came through. But at first, Joshua seemed wary of the unknown number, though once he heard Dane’s voice, his attitude immediately changed.
“There was an accident. … Sorry, I let my guard down.”
Joshua apologized in a drained tone, then added, “It’s fine. I should’ve been more cautious with Grayson, especially since he’s not someone to underestimate… Anyway, it’s all good as long as you’re safe. I’ll be there to pick you up soon.”
“Where are you? …”
• “It’s fine, you don’t need to tell me. I already know.”
Before Dane could even finish his sentence, Joshua responded.
“You know?”
Dane asked, puzzled, and Joshua answered quickly.
• “Yeah, Grayson’s there, isn’t he?”
“And?”
Dane asked again, and after a slight cough, Joshua confessed.
• “There’s a tracker in the bodies of people from the Miller family.”
Dane was taken aback and fell silent, not quite understanding. Joshua continued talking.
• “So, if something happens, like now when we’ve lost contact, they can track the person down using the tracker. It’s connected to satellites, so even if you’re underwater, they can find you.”
“Ha…”
Dane thought to himself, rich people really do everything. But anyway, the situation wasn’t too bad for him. He sighed deeply and then changed the subject, asking, “Got it. How long until you arrive?”
• “I was already preparing. But it’s getting late, so I can’t leave now. Just wait one more day, I’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
“…Okay.”
Dane didn’t feel thrilled about spending the night with Grayson Miller, but he had no choice. After exchanging a few words, he ended the call.
When he stepped outside, the living room was empty. As he stood alone in the silence, a sudden sense of discomfort washed over him. He immediately began searching the house for something to eat.
Inside the villa, everything was as Grayson had described-surprisingly pleasant. It seemed well-maintained, with hardly any dust. If the conditions were right, spending a quiet holiday here wouldn’t be so bad, he thought.
That is, if the conditions were right.
When Dane opened the fridge, his illusion was shattered. Inside, there was only one loaf of bread, and the expiration date was anyone’s guess. He pulled it out and examined it for a moment before opening the package and sniffing it, but there was nothing remarkable about it.
As he eyed it suspiciously, he felt someone approaching from behind. Grayson, having finished his shower, was walking toward him in a bathrobe, rubbing his wet hair with a towel.
“… What is it?”
Grayson stopped as if sensing something suspicious in Dane’s gaze. Dane silently stared at him before holding up the bread. Grayson looked between the bread and Dane’s face as if questioning what was going on.
“Eat it.”
“What’s this?”
Grayson still seemed doubtful, his eyes filled with suspicion. Dane answered in his usual blunt tone.
“It’s bread.”
“Then why are you telling me to eat it?”
Grayson didn’t drop his suspicion. Dane thought to himself that perhaps it was because Grayson, who deceives others so often, probably thought others would try to deceive him the same way.
Well, he should’ve lived more honestly, Dane thought.
“It seems fine, but who knows what’s inside? So, you try it.”
Grayson stared at him, dumbfounded, then looked him over from head to toe.
“Do I look like a guinea pig to you?”
Dane wasn’t fazed by Grayson’s sarcastic remark.
“You won’t die from this. Go ahead, eat it.”
“…Hah.”
Grayson rubbed his forehead with one hand, glancing away in exasperation. He seemed ready to argue but paused when he saw Dane holding the bread out to him. A feeling of futility seemed to wash over him. What was the point of all this?
Grayson silently watched Dane, snatched the bread from his hand, and took a big bite, chewing loudly. After devouring half of it in one go, Grayson silently handed Dane the rest of the bread. Only then did Dane bring it to his mouth.
As he took a bite, he frowned slightly at the taste, and Grayson just shrugged his shoulders.
“I didn’t say it was good.”
Dane shot him a glare and reluctantly finished the rest of the bread, grimacing all the while.
How did it come to this?
The question arose late in his mind, but he already knew the answer. He’d foolishly fallen for the act. That guy’s third-rate play.
As he looked at Grayson’s shameless face, his anger flared once again.
You deserve this.
Suddenly, Joshua’s words came to mind. There was likely an underlying belief in them that Dane wouldn’t fall for Grayson’s tricks. He shifted his self-loathing towards the real culprit.
“I didn’t know you were so good at faking pain. If anyone should be an actor, it’s not Chase Miller, it should be
you.”
Unable to contain his anger, Dane sneered. As usual, Grayson wore a relaxed smile on his face.
“I’ve heard I’m good at acting, but I can’t change my complexion. I just had a little help.”
“Help?”
Dane frowned and asked, and Grayson responded promptly.
“I took a special pill. One that only works on people like me.”
Dane blinked, incredulous, before asking skeptically.
“You’re telling me you took a pill that makes your condition worse on purpose?”
“Yep. When I take that pill, I feel like I’m actually going to die for about 10 minutes. But the effect only lasts for 10 minutes.”
Grayson laughed out loud again. Dane, baffled by this, stared at him.
Extreme alphas usually don’t respond to medicine or alcohol. To get any effect, they would need a massive dose, which makes it nearly pointless. If it causes a reaction in them, what would it do to regular people?
This wouldn’t be so simple.
“You carry pills like that around?”
“Only for situations like this. If I take it, I’ll feel fine in about 10 minutes.”
Grayson smiled again, grinning mischievously. A situation like this, he must have meant, like kidnapping.
“Do you know why extreme alphas always travel with bodyguards? Do you know how many criminal organizations specialize in targeting them?”
Dane recalled Wilkins’ words. Could it be that he carries those pills for situations like this? To make enemies let their guard down, perhaps…
In fact, Dane had fallen for it, so he couldn’t really say anything. That pill was quite effective. Muttering a curse in
his mind, Dane suddenly had a thought.
“Is that why you know how to undo handcuffs?”
With a frown, Dane asked, and Grayson smirked.
“I’ve learned a lot for emergencies like this.”
Dane mulled over his words for a moment before asking with a suspicious look.
“Is that why you’re good with a stick?”
“Yep. My dad taught me.”
Grayson tilted his head curiously.
“How did you know? Did Bailey tell you?”
“Wha…?”
Dane, feeling uncomfortable as if he’d just overheard something he shouldn’t, trailed off and then changed the
subject quickly.
“Did Ashley Miller ever hit you?”
“Dad? Hit me?” Grayson feigned surprise, making an exaggerated expression. Suddenly, Dane realized the source of the strange
discomfort he’d felt from Grayson. His emotional expressions were sometimes exaggerated.
It was as if he was mimicking what he had learned.
“Dad never hits us. He did choke me once when I was really young, but it was just that one time.”
Dane silently stared at Grayson’s calm face.
“Are you serious?”
Grayson gave a long grin, then flashed a bright smile.
“No.”
“Fucking bastard.”
Of course. Dane cursed at him. He was pathetic for nearly falling for it again. After being tricked once, he was in
this situation again.
Without another word, he turned and went straight into the bedroom. The moment he lay on the bed, exhaustion
washed over him. The long day had finally come to an end. He exhaled deeply and fell asleep, hoping that nothing
more would happen.
Then, that night, something unexpected occurred.