Einar made his entrance midway through the movie, outwardly composed as he surveyed the living tableau on the couch with Moe in the center. Tension palpably gripped the room as he approached, his mere presence evoking a familiar unease. However, he greeted them softly, took a seat without displacing either Kay or Manny, and gracefully accepted Kay's offered glass of wine without asking the vintage or bouquet. He was making an effort, and Moe regarded him gratefully, earning a glow of appreciation in return from Einar.

Despite his best efforts, the relaxed atmosphere dissipated throughout the evening due to the fissure he had inadvertently created. By the movie's end, Manny, sullen and silent towards his brother, stood up. He kissed Moe on the cheek with sincerity, shot Einar a disparaging glance, and exited, followed by Kay in his usual graceful manner.

"Did you enjoy the movie?" Moe asked, patting the seat beside him once they were alone. Einar grinned and moved over obediently.

"You're summoning me like a loyal pet, Moe," Einar quipped, his lips concealing the jest he had prepared, his eyes smiling mischievously. His fingers traced under his T-shirt, grazing his toned stomach. Stepping back from Moe, he whispered, "I enjoyed the movie. I believe you'll enjoy the rest of the evening even more. Shall we?"

"I'm going to sleep with Miny tonight," Moe announced as he rose. A sense of anticipation and a subtle fondness had begun to stir within him from the moment Einar had arrived.

"Really?" Einar responded with a hint of disappointment, pausing briefly. After a moment's hesitation, he added, "May I join you?"

"He hasn’t been sleeping well lately, and you won't get much rest either," Moe remarked nervously, feeling uneasy about the proposal; Einar seemed to be moving too quickly.

"I'll stay with you," Einar reassured, pulling him close and planting a gentle kiss on his temple. "Please, I rarely request this, Moe."

"Not exactly," the warm atmosphere began to chill, and Moe gently pulled away from the embrace, preemptively closing himself off. "You ask quite frequently and for a lot of things. First, you asked me to give our relationship a chance, then you wanted me to distance myself from Kay, after that, it was about sharing custody of Miny, and now you're proposing to sleep near him."

Einar's eyes flashed dangerously in response to Moe's sober and agitated tone, and he tilted his head as if carefully considering his words, though he was actually prepared to retaliate—Moe had become adept at reading his intentions over time.

"You agreed to give our relationship a chance, Moe, and a relationship entails more than just occasional intimacy," Einar spoke softly, but his gaze narrowed. "It means being more forthcoming with me than with your escort, offering me affection more frequently than him. And yes, Moe, I truly wish to have a closer bond with my own son."

"The same son you nearly killed," Moe's retort hit below the belt, fueled by the tension of Einar's previous statement and the implied threat within it. Einar flinched, absorbing the harsh blow, his complexion paling, brows knitting together, breath quickening.

"And I will always regret it. But regardless, he's my son, and I have a right to him," Einar's possessive tone lent weight to the word "my", casting a heavy implication of complex and insurmountable consequences. Moe instinctively recoiled, defensively tugging at the collar of his T-shirt. Einar quickly realized his misstep and moved closer, his voice filled with confusion as he attempted to backtrack, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. Your words hurt, and I..."

"And you're leaving," Moe interjected dryly, gesturing towards the exit. "Now. Out, Einar!"

Einar's fists clenched impotently at his sides as he stood momentarily defeated. With a sharp turn, he strode towards the exit, his steps heavy with frustration, while Moe wiped sweat from his forehead and retreated to his bedroom, resolved to begin searching for a new apartment the next morning.

"Anyway," Kay nervously tousled his hair, urging the tense Moe towards the shower, where they turned the water on full blast. Leaning in close, Kay whispered in his ear, "Anyway, I paid Manny a visit, convinced him to break into Einar's office. The lock was a breeze - street experience, you know? He rifled through one stack, I took care of the other, and lo and behold, we found it. Take a look."

Unlocking the phone, Kay handed it over to Moe, who recoiled with a sense of impending disaster. The screen displayed lines fraught with tension, words overlapping. Moe hurried to the sink, splashing cold water on his face to regain his composure. After drying his hands, he seized the phone, reading with a growing sense of dread. Einar, that fucking Einar, had taken measures to ensure his own safety, to secure Moe's compliance. The poorly photographed pages of the document laid out a damning portrayal of Moe Hayes's lifestyle- disorderly, lacking stability, marked by years spent on the streets surviving by dubious means, including prostitution. Furthermore, it demanded sole custody of Miny Hayes, identified through DNA testing as Einar Simmons's son.

Moe faltered before he could finish - it was futile, glaringly obvious. His weakened fingers released the phone, deftly caught by Kay, as he leaned against the wall, his back slick with sweat, his gaze fixed on Kay, who shifted uncomfortably.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Just try not to pass out, alright?" Kay's gentle hand brushed his shoulder. "And let's leave this place. There are cameras all over the house, and your Einar might see that we've been locked in the bathroom for too long. He might get suspicious, and I still value my life. Promise to tell him that if he finds out you got sick and I helped you vomit, alright?"

"Alright," Moe's lips felt numb, but he made a conscious effort to speak more clearly. "Alright. Let's go."

"I instructed Manny to stay silent, but with his fiery temperament, how long until he reveals... Einar returned earlier than expected, nearly caught me in the office, and I barely escaped, thank heavens. Meanwhile, the little troublemaker is still in there, digging for more dirt," Kay rolled his sleeves up, reached into the shower, and shut off the water. "Alright, snap out of it, buddy. You're in a favorable position for now. You know what he's up to, and he's clueless that you're onto him. You'll get through this. You've got fake documents for you and Miny, right?"

"Just for me, but I'll... I'll manage," Moe slapped his cheeks lightly, trying to boost his spirits, then followed Kay into the living room, where Kay announced loudly, "I warned you about spicy Indian food if you're not used to it. Chutney acts like a laxative. Have a Coke followed by a liter of water, Moe. It'll help settle your stomach."

"I will," thoughts raced chaotically, refusing to form a coherent logical sequence. Moe wanted to rush to Miny, dress him, grab the documents, and run, but even in such a stressed state, Moe understood- he can't give Einar any reason to be suspicious. Everything must be done with care and precision.

"Listen, a glass of whisky won't hurt. I'll pour just two fingers. The milk will be fine; you're not feeding every hour now," Kay headed to the bar, tapping the glass. Moe sank into the chair, weakly tapping his knee: think, think, think!

Even in his worst nightmares, Moe hadn't imagined such a turn of events. Einar must realize that any progress they had made would vanish in an instant, leaving them bitter enemies. Yet, it seemed Einar, driven by possessive instincts, hoped Moe would submit to his terms out of necessity, even if devoid of love, as he was accustomed to using leverage to get his way in the business world. The sense of betrayal weighed heavily, sending shivers down Moe's spine. He accepted the heavy crystal whiskey rocks glass gratefully, teeth clattering against the rim. Kay, who watched sympathetically, steadied his hand, helped him finish it, and took the empty glass, sitting beside him.

"I'll be right back..." Moe tightened his fists, feeling a surge of false energy after downing the searing drink, but Kay swiftly covered his mouth, giving him a stern look, and Moe fell silent—no need to act foolishly in a house that likely had surveillance cameras.

"Let's plan a trip to the beautician tomorrow; you're in need of some grooming," Kay suggested, settling down on the couch beside him, looking relaxed. "We'll hit the sauna, then treat ourselves to a facial massage and moisturizer, and by the end, we'll have a fresh, peachy daddy."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Moe replied stiffly, forcing a smile that came off as awkward, prompting Kay to sigh and rub his forehead.

"Alright, everyone, let's watch the movie. Tomorrow morning at ten, we'll rendezvous at my favorite spa. I'm calling dibs on your Einar; I need to let loose," Kay said with a playful wink, and Moe nodded dully, still preoccupied with recent events.

It was imperative to secure Miny's documents, and with Daniel hastily retired, Moe knew he couldn't rely on external help; he would have to handle it himself. He contemplated the possibility of obtaining fake documents for Miny in Mexico while still in the U.S.—after all, infants' documents are rarely scrutinized in their home country. As Moe gradually regained his composure, he reassured himself with the thought that he had his own separate accounts, not controlled by Einar, with sufficient funds that he could gradually withdraw without drawing too much attention, even if Einar monitored his financial transactions through his connections.

By the end of the movie, which Moe scarcely watched, his mind was consumed with fury towards Einar. Digging his nails into his palms intermittently, he seethed with anger at the thought of Einar's intentions.

Manny's suggestive expression caught Moe's attention as he entered the living room, prompting Kay to intervene with an irritated sigh, ushering Moe back to the couch.

"We'll head out, I suppose. See you tomorrow, Moe!" Kay's words brought a sense of finality to the evening.

"Did you tell him? You did, didn't you? We were supposed to handle this together, damn it, Kay!" Manny grumbled irritably, pacing in front of Kay, who raised his arms in defense.

"I told him you weren't feeling well, and yes, I suggested he take some time for himself. He understood," Kay responded firmly, his voice carrying across the room as he seized Manny by the collar to prevent him from approaching Moe. "So, leave him be tonight! Honestly, I expected better from someone with your background, Manny! Sometimes silence is the best option. Silence, Manny! Omegas don't appreciate alphas critiquing their appearance, especially when they're interested. I don't count—I'm his friend."

Manny recoiled, still frustrated that he hadn't been the one to break the news, stuck at home with Einar demanding answers about his intrusion into his office. Reluctantly, he allowed himself to be pulled away as Moe gestured for him to leave, his voice kept intentionally low to avoid being overheard. Manny could have escalated the situation further, either by confronting his brother or by saying the wrong thing, which would only complicate matters for Moe.

Sensing Moe's contemplation, Einar persisted with another message—he had been calling and texting relentlessly over the past week, seeking a meeting, all of which Moe had denied. Angrily, Moe glared at his phone, his hatred for Einar burning fiercely at that moment—he despised the man with every fiber of his being for his persistent attempts to worm his way back into their lives, to infiltrate their peace, to manipulate his emotions. Fuck him!

After careful consideration, Moe rose from the sofa when the house fell silent, making his way to the bedroom where the safe was discreetly tucked into the closet. He had overseen the installation of the safe himself and was the sole bearer of its code. Retrieving the documents, he concealed them securely beneath the hanging clothes. With trembling fingers, he transferred both the forged and genuine documents into the large parental bag, which contained various compartments for diapers, bottles, and other essentials. He packed two sets of clothes and a pair of shoes for himself, and five changes for Miny, deeming it sufficient for their immediate needs. Wiping his sweaty palms on his pants, he stood up, his resolve firm.