~Benny~I should’ve kept my opinion to myself. If I did, I wouldn’t be facing Kai’s measured gaze. He regarded me with such intensity that made chills unfurled under my skin.It’s apparent that he’d be skeptical of how I’ve been treating him all day. But I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how I struggle to stay cool even when he’s around.“Aren’t we?” I asked offhandedly, flashing him a measured smile.Unfolding his corded forearms, he took two calculated steps forward. I fought the urge to step back. He stood so close that his scent attacked my senses with full force, ready to sweep me off my feet.I was still high on endorphins from the pool. I could still feel his possessive grip on my waist. If not for the distraction in the kitchen, I bet I would’ve let him kiss me.That’s how weak I am for him, and he knows it.Slowly, he cracked a smirk that made my knees buckle. Then he raked his eyes over my body. The dimmed light of the hallway illuminated how he was undressing me.
~Kai~In the fear that marred Benny’s face, I watched in silence as helplessness settled in her emerald eyes.“I… I…” her voice stuttered with fear.She clasped her hands together, looking my way with such vulnerability that forced my feet to move and take her in my arms. I encased her head, shoulder and pressed her flat against mine in a protective cocoon. It was spring, but her body shook as though she’d been out on a winter’s night with no clothes.Fuck.If I could give her the warmth of my body so she’d stop fucking trembling, I would.“Kai…” she whimpered. Her tiny arms looped around my waist weakly.The anger concealed beneath Rylee’s stoic expression morphed into pity. She nodded at me, our gaze locked with understanding. I scooped Benny, bridal style, and brought her to her room; the mattress hissed with our weight.Benny pulled her knees to her chest, hugging them as I let her go.This reminded me of the man in the shadows. That night, Benny’s fear was as tangible as the gun
~Kai~I drew incoherent figures on her forearm; her skin was silk under my calloused thumb. The night drifted at a snail’s pace, my thoughts juggled back and forth on what had been, the present, and what will be.The mansion's guest rooms were identical. A queen-size bed, its headboard thrust on the wall, a sliding door opening to a balcony across it. I hadn’t left Benny’s side, not for the lack of trying, but every time I’d stand to close the sliding door, her hand suspended over my torso would tighten, and she’d whimper, ‘don’t leave me.’She drawled the words like a helpless child calling to her mother at night, afraid of the monsters lurking under her bed. Though she knew it wasn’t her mom holding her. In my last attempt to disentangle myself from her vice hold, she called my name, effectively keeping me from trying again.Fear was a human’s natural response to danger, threat, and pain. I’ve met a handful of people who feared nothing, not even death. But they weren’t born that way
~Benny~Before Melanie, every fiber of my being was keen on avoiding Kai at any cost. And when tomorrow comes, I’d lounge in my safe haven in Colorado, far, far away from him.But fate was a bitch. It reminded me that nothing lasts forever. The peace I’d been relishing has come to an end.Surprisingly, Kai could still thaw the fear induced by my nightmare. For months after the island, I dreamt of Kai leaving me. Instead of Markus, the man in the shadow waited in the living room. A good night’s sleep had been scarce for three months straight. Some nights were worse than others. I’d scream, waking up soaked in tears and sweat. Markus allowed me time to deal with it on my own until he couldn’t take it any longer. He urged me to seek professional help.A traumatizing experience triggered the nightmares; it’s what Sandra, my psychiatrist, said. It’s not fucking rocket science. Markus said it was safe to tell her the truth, so I did. Her conclusion, my experience with Tony, triggered my nig
~Kai~My knuckles sliced through the air, hitting the punching bag. It curved in the middle as the chain jiggled from the bar where it hung. Sweat coated my skin, my hair clung to my neck and forehead as I tried to control my breathing. I swiped a hand over my forehead, noting the red spots on the bandage wrapped around my knuckles. Hours of channeling my frustration into this sandbag had my knuckle skin peeling off.“You okay?” Hunter sauntered inside the training room, dropping his bag with a thud on the floor, echoing in the cacophony of my hiss and punch.“Yeah,” I stepped back, shaking off the cramp settling in my ankles. I worked on my rhythm, ignoring the pain, and began throwing combinations again. “Why wouldn’t I be?”Physically, I’m in good shape. Mentally, not so much.I woke up alone in Benny’s room. Anger dug its claws into my chest when I realized she had left without even saying a word.Klaus said Benny flew to Sicily with Markus. She’ll stay there for the time being wh
~Benny~The contrast between ‘Rylee the assassin’ and ‘Rylee as Mrs. Martinelli’ mirrors day and night. Her eyes were void of emotion when she killed Melanie. She was a woman with one mission: eliminating her target. But right now, watching her breastfeed Ramona while Mikael played with the caterpillar xylophone beside her, I couldn’t imagine she could be the same woman who saved me from Melanie.She eyed Mikael with immeasurable fondness, releasing Ramona, crawling toward his brother.It’s been two days since we arrived in Sicily, and Rylee spent their afternoon under the shade of the old oak tree. The twins love playing on the blanket, Mikael in particular. He’s fond of the outdoors, his curious eyes following every moving animal and insect he sees. On the other hand, Ramona was content sleeping or sitting beside her mom; she was timid.Rylee lifted her gaze to me as I approached, carrying a tray of snacks. I made club sandwiches for Rylee and me, while the twins never tired of eati
~Kai~Until the morning Benny ghosted me, I was convinced that what I did two years ago was for the best. Truth be told, I didn’t ponder much on the consequences of my actions back then, not for the long run, at least. I trusted Benny would go back to her life in Paris - pre-Tony, pre-mafia, pre-me - not delve deeper into this life.Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy she’s with her family, but everything I did ricochet in my face.“We’re here, Signore.” The cab driver met my gaze through the rearview mirror.My head was buzzing, but not drunk enough to get through whatever shit was waiting for me inside that mansion.I pulled out my wallet, counted a hefty bill, and handed it to the young cabby. His eyes went wide, staring at the money. “This is too much-” his voice was muffled when I slammed the door shut.When he picked me up from the bar, he hesitated in driving me to the Martinelli mansion. It didn’t come as a surprise; public vehicles rarely cross this side of town.I didn’t look back
~Benny~Klaus’ plan was simple, a game of cat and mouse, and I would be the bait.I have to trust he knew what he was doing. He wasn’t named as the scheming mafia prince for no reason, was he? Besides, he cared too much to put me in danger, hence assigning Kai as my babysitter again. I have very little understanding of this plan. My part in it was simple: live the life I used to have. Easy peasy? I thought so too, but the moment the cool Paris spring air smacked me in the face on the tarmac, nostalgia had my eyes stinging, and my chest tightened.To make this font believable, Kai and I will stay in my old place. Klaus sent a team to redecorate it to accommodate the two of us.My landlady Josephine rented me the second floor of her home while she resided on the first, managing her own bakery.It had only been a week since Melanie attempted to kill me, and Klaus’ team transformed my shabby one-bedroom apartment into a magazine-worthy two-bedroom flat. It now had two rooms, a shared ba