"Your staying with me." Lucius said. My mouth dropped in shock, going dry. I was staying at his house? Why?

"Why am I staying at your house? Why can't I just stay at my own home?" I asked

"Because we're afraid that you might run out of the house and Lucius is able to keep you stable in one place. And we thought it was safer." Mom said shrugging and wearing a shit eating grin. I rolled my eyes, I barely knew the guy himself and he's already attached to me? Guys are so lame!

"But I can take care of myself! What about me working at the bar?" I pointed out completely forgetting about working there.

"Well you'll have to call your manager or whomever to give you a two week break, because you aren't going anywhere without someone." Mom said with a stern look. I cursed and grumbled pissed that I'll be bored for the two weeks, I pinched the bridge of my nose and pondered for a moment, after the sniper shooting me in the shoulder it would be good to have someone with me.

"Fine! I'll go. But any stupid shit I will kill you." I said glaring a Lucius.

"Who says I'll do stupid shit?" Lucius smirked.

"Language! You two, do you have no shame?" Mom scolded us slapping both of us on the back of our heads.

————-
The ride home was silent. Lucius decided to drive me home so I can get an overnight bag. Mom decided to stay with Talia and Colton at the hospital.

"So why did you decide to have me at your house?" I asked trying to break the silence.

"To keep you in one place. Because your mom wished it. Me and Talia your sister discussed having you stay at my place for the next two weeks. And because you are I have some ground rules in my house." Lucius breathed out.

"Like what? Not to dance on the table naked?" I scoffed.

"That too. In all seriousness, I would like to tell you not to go into my room or my office unless I allow you too come in. That is all I have for you Manson" Lucius said.

"Fine." I said I looked back at my phone and completely ignored him the whole way.

After an entire silent car ride, we had finally reached my apartment where I lived away from my moms home. I had decided to get an apartment so I won't disturbs my mom when I'm leaving the house or doing at home work, and to have my personal space.

"This is where you live?" Lucius scoffed raising a brow. Skeptical because I live in a dump.

"Yes. It's called having a low class life dear." I said patting him on the cheek while getting out of my car. I smirked at him and walked in my house while he just stayed in the car dazed.

Typical rich people. Don't know what kind of places people like I live in. No wonder they live under a rock. Civilization is the best thing you can have instead of running a big ass CEO company. While people are running their asses off to work while they sit back with a damn cup of tea. This is exactly why I hate rich people like him.

As I walked into my apartment I heard footsteps coming up after me.

"I thought you didn't want to come in the place you call a dump." I said narrowing my eyes.

"Didn't think you'd be so offended about it." Lucius said shrugging.

"Tsk. You rich people dont give a shit what we do out here in the real world. Here I'm saving peoples damn lives out there while you guys run a CEO." I said while walking to my bedroom.

"Make yourself comfortable. Glasses are in the cupboards ontop." I added.

"What makes you think that we don't give a shit about anything?" Lucius asked me. I could hear his footsteps walking around my living area.

"Because your rich and all you care about is fame and ruining people's lives." I scoffed. Gathering up a bag I found in my closet then going to my dressers, I saw him lean on my door way with a cup of water in the corner of my eyes.

"Ruining people's lives eh?" He said.

"Yes. That's what I think about it." I said throwing some clothes in my bag.

"How do you know we're ruining people's lives and why? Is it because we think so lowly of you people? Like little ants running below our feet trying to make a living of life?" He asked.

"Yes basically it." I said.

"Before my life went big, it was not easy living with my own parents. I'm not going into detail because you don't need to know anything. I just want you to know, that we don't look at things like that, especially me." He said.

"The only thing that you look at is yourself. Your selfish and guilty of the things that have happened in your life. For whatever you did. We all make mistakes, no ones perfect." I said while scooting passed him to go to the bathroom and get some small needed things. After I came back from the bathroom with my things I threw it in my backpack and I sling my bag over my shoulder. I glanced at him with a raised brow.

"Is that all your going to take Manson?" He asked.

"Yap." I said popping the p. I pushed passed him and he followed tail and I took one last glance making sure I didn't miss anything that I wanted to take. My eyes lingered on the Camera my father gave me as a last birthday present before he passed on four years ago. His death still fresh in my memory, I blame my self for his death, wanting to go back to the police station because I forgot my phone. Got t boned by a drunk driver And my father was the one who took the most impact and didn't make it. I shut my eyes blinking away some tears.

I should've been the one that died. It's my fault. I felt a soft hand put on my shoulder, I glanced behind me and saw Lucius staring at me with concerned eyes.

"Are you okay?" He asked cautiously.

"I'm fine." I said shrugging off his hand and pushing out the front door.

"You wanna drive?" He asked.

"No thanks." I said as we walked out of my apartment building.

Trying to hide my emotions is not easy for me, I don't want to be seen weak, hurt or even sad. Sometimes I feel like I'm broken. In a few weeks my dad's death would be coming up, the worst memories come back every year. I don't know how I would cope with it this time. Alone for a fact. Mom had to deal with my screaming with then after effects of my dad's death, crying that he wouldn't wake up. It's like reliving the same day over and over again. I just want it to stop.

It was then until I broke down in the car, lucius had realized this and pulled over.

"Keep driving you idiot." I said through sobs. I tried to keep my tears back, but they just kept flowing like a damn river. Soon this car would sink in my tears like titanic did.

"No, not until me why you are crying." He said firmly.

"It's nothing." I said shaking my head my voice cracking as I spoke, I hated losing my shit in front of people, it made me feel weak. I was damn afraid of going through the pain, so fucking afraid.

"Just take deep breaths and stay calm Manson."

"Please stop, I just want to be alone." I pleaded with him.

"Breathe with me." He said he cupped my face with his huge hands, making me feel tingly inside. I hated the way he made me feel. What is this man doing to me? I barely know him, he's a complete stranger and I feel this way towards him? My thoughts are all over the place not knowing where to stop, at crossroads and questions with no answers. I feel like I'm drowning in my mind.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." I said repeating myself trying to calm myself.

"You are." He breathed out. I calmed myself by listening to his breathing, I had finally stopped crying and letting the tears stop. My eyes red from doing so.

"You alright now? You want to continue or talk?" He asked.

"I just want to go to the hotel please." I breathed out. He nodded and didn't pry anymore, for that I was grateful.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It wasn't until then we realized that we would be greeted by an expected guest in the hotel penthouse. When we opened that door I saw a man that looked all too familiar to me.

"Little sister, it's been a while. And your doing alright." The man said.

"Alex?" I asked surprised, a shit eating grin lit up my face. Dropping my bag and running to hug him.

"Mind telling me what's going on and who the hell you are?" Lucius asked.

"Alex Manson this young ladies older brother." Alex said crossing his arms.

"I didn't know she had a brother."

"That's because you don't know a lot of things about me just by looking me up." I said grinning.

"Tch. I'll be in my office, you two can have a reunion of your own if you'd like I don't care. Just don't let her out of your sight, she's on house arrest." He said as he walked down the corridor where his office was.

"So who's the bastard?" Alex asked looking down at me.

"Lucius King." I said shrugging while walking to pick up my bag that I dropped and dusted off the imaginary dust. 

"Isn't he a big top billionaire of a CEO company for hotels?" He asked while searching my eyes for any clues.

"Yeah, have you heard of him?"

"Of course, He is famous after all. And I am in the business outline as well. Did you forget about your older brother?" He asked feigning mock hurt by putting a hand on his chest. I chuckled.

"Well you've been gone for so long ever since Dad passed away, and I've been busy doing detective work." I shrugged.

"Oh yeah, I heard from Mom that you got shot." He said frowning glancing at my injured shoulder. I cupped it out of action. I bit my cheek wondering how he took it.

"Yeah, I did. After doing a case where the witness was apparently his cousin, I was walking out of the hotel when a bullet went straight in my shoulder and I just happened to be there at the right time." I said.

"Damn it, little sister you don't have to be so reckless all the time.  What will happen if you get yourself killed like Dad? It will devastate Talia and especially Mom." Alex said coming up to me.

"You don't think I don't know that? I've been at this position for two whole years. When Dad died they covered it up with a drunk driver killing him, but his case is still open I feel like it's all connected to Talia's case. Someone's trying to threaten our family and I'm going to stop them." I promised.

"Are you fucking insane Xellia?! You can get your self killed! You don't know who the fuck your dealing with! I don't want to lose you!" Alex shouted at me.

"Alex I'll be fine! I can take care of myself. What do you think I've been doing for the past four years that you've been gone Alex? Huh?" I said throwing up my hands.

"Doing stupid and reckless things that's what! I'm glad your taking a break but fucking quit this job! It's dangerous. What The guy did to your partner Riley, was terrible. And what he did to Talia, was way out of line."

"I can't just quit Alex, it's my profession, it's what I live up to every damn day. I've seen horrible things out there that I can't unsee. I've had nightmares of them. But I got a hold of my fears and pushed them away. So fuck the dangers and let me stop this god damn bastard who put a bullet through my shoulder." I said.

"I understand that you can't unrest what you saw, or rest until you get rid of all evil. But for fucks sake, for moms sake, stop giving everyone a heart attack and let the FBI do it." Alex begged.

"The FBI doesn't give a shit what the police department does, they take people off of the face of the earth and take care of the things that aren't supposed to be around and hide it. They don't care. It's our own job to protect the city that's why we're called NYPD for a reason. Now can we please just drop it?" I begged.

"Fine. I'm not done here though." Alex said glaring at me. I sighed with relief as Lucius barged in the room looking between the two of us. The tension in the room was heavy.

"Everything alright here?" Lucius asked cautiously.

"Yeah. Let me have a chat with you King." Alex said beckoning to his office door. Lucius nodded stiffly glancing at me for half a second and followed Alex. I was shocked at how Alex acted towards me. He's different from what I remembered, when he left it was lonely without him. But I still had Talia at least.

I sighed and flopped down on the couch and flipped through some channels on the tv. Finding nothing that satisfied me, I played games on my phone.

A few hours passed when Alex emerged from Kings office.

"I'll see you later Xellia. Lucius better keep his damn promise." Alex mutters before exiting. I glanced at the door waiting for Lucius to appear from the room but don't see him. Only hear a slam of an item hitting the wall with a bang, I jumped running towards his office door.

I knocked, "is everything alright?" I asked cautiously.

"Everything's fine, just leave me be." He said anger lacing his voice. I shuddered at his anger and quietly backed away from the door and went into the room that I'll be staying in for the time being.