Despite the fact Luan was in enough trouble, he seemed to have a real propensity for attracting unpleasant situations. He had only been fleeing for a short while before he caught a whispered conversation, his hackles rising when it reached his ears. Footsteps were fast approaching the corner he had been about to round, and though he usually wouldn’t mind, they were being loud enough in their less than legal conversation to raise his awareness. 

“I’m telling you, no one will know it was us. They never check that room.” A man spoke, muffled and hurried. 

“I don’t know, man. I didn’t sign up for something like this. She’s just a kid. What if something happens to her?” Was the rushed reply, the new voice squeaking out his concerns as their voices came closer. 

Luan looked for somewhere to hide, not wanting to be thought of as an eavesdropper on something that was clearly illegal. He was already on the hook for kidnapping. He didn’t want to add to the list of reasons why someone would want him dead. 

Lucky or not, one of the doors near him was open a crack. He could see it was vacant, at least for now, and jumped inside to hide. It was barely fast enough, as the men scampered by the closed door a moment later. 

Luan was planning on just leaving, but there was something about the way they’d talked, as if they had a little girl locked up in some uninhabited room. Luan knew how high maintenance children were, and you can’t just leave them alone. 

Not like he could find his way back to the table right now, so he decided to follow the strange men. Really, Luan was a little concerned with his willingness to follow people who seemed interesting. He swore it wasn’t always a habit, but lately, he just couldn’t seem to help himself. 

They walked down the hall, opening a door near the end with a key card. Luan ran to catch the door just as it was about to close. Holding it open just a crack, he listened to what was happening inside. The two voices from before were there, still worrying over their fates. But he also heard a small, female voice, fear and sadness lacing the stilted words. 

He knew that voice. 

Peeking through the crack, he saw the men, one with a mustache and bald head sitting on a couch. The other was pacing, his face coming into view as he did so. He was tall, probably an alpha, with muscular arms and a blonde mohawk. Both were talking quietly, hushed voices with angry words. 

That wasn’t what drew Luan’s attention, though. Sitting on another couch, knees pulled closed as she sniffled softly, was Mira Jin. It was also at this point that Luan decided: Dante was definitely a bad father, and Luan wasn’t going to give Mira back to him. He had just gotten rid of her this morning, and she was already getting kidnapped again. Luan had thought the fact he managed to get her in the first place was pure luck, but apparently, anyone could just waltz up and kidnap the most high-profile child in the city. 

To say he was mad would be an understatement. Luan was furious. What kind of father lets people keep kidnapping his daughter? If it had been just once, he could have let it go. These things happen. You can’t always prevent mistakes. But the fact it had happened again, especially so soon after she had been returned to the man, was unacceptable. If Luan ever saw that man again, consequences be damned, he was going to sock him in the jaw. Repeatedly. 

Now, though, he had to worry about stealing Mira from her kidnappers. 

There went the possibility of him getting to taste any of the fancy food in this place. And it was such a good opportunity, too. He could handle two guys, though. 

He inwardly sighed, mentally gearing up for the fight he was about to instigate. The minute the man that was standing turned his back from the door, Luan saw his opening. 

With a final, frustrated clenching of his fist, he threw the door open, chucking his phone at the man on the couch as he tackled the one who was pacing. 

He heard a resounding smack, no doubt his phone hit its target, as he quickly slammed the man's head into the floor. There was a crunch, blood spouting from his nose, before he went still. Luan knew from experience that he would at least be dazed for a bit. The floor was a hard thing to have your face thrown at. 

The one on the couch was holding his eye, the other narrowing in on the man that had thrown a phone at him. He jumped at Luan, forcing him to jump away from the man on the floor. Holding his fists up, protecting his face as the man came closer, Luan ducked under his angered swing before driving his right fist into the man's abdomen. He grunted, taking another shot at Luna's head, which he dodged, swinging around and bringing the bottom of his fist into the side of the man's head. That made him stagger as Luan walked closer, slamming the man's face down into his knee. 

The entire fight took less than a minute, Luan thanking his experience on the streets through the entire thing. The man with the mohawk groaned, stirring from his spot on the ground. Luan only gave him a second before he was kicking his already bloody face back into the ground. That would keep him down for a while. 

“Mommy?” came a soft little cry, Luan’s eyes finding the watery gold that was still sitting on the couch. Mira’s eyes were wide, tears wetting the edges as she looked up at him. He crossed the room quickly, kneeling in front of the small girl. 

“Mira. What are you doing here?” He asked, voice getting quiet as he gently approached her. 

She sniffled some more before jumping forward, arms wrapping around his neck tightly. She started crying more, tiny wails leaving her mouth as she clung onto him. He sighed, scooping her up and walking to the door. 

He would definitely be in trouble for ditching dinner, but there were excuses that could be made. 

Right now, Mira was more important. 

He would have to deal with the poor excuse she had for a father later.