"Victor?"

I whip around to look into his brooding eyes in horror but his gaze doesn't move away from the scar on my chest. Slowly he starts stepping closer and I gulp to step back.

" What are you doing here? How did you enter!"

" Name Rosebud. Give me his fuc*ing name."

The authority in his voice made my knees go weak for a second. Avoiding his eyes and clenching my jaw ,I
fumble with my shirt buttons. Struggling to close them and hide the scar.

When suddenly an iron grip clasps around my wrists and next I know I am pushed back on the mirror. Making all the things on the dressing table to come crashing down.

My wrists lock above my head in a dead lock and his dark eyes lift up from my chest for the first time.

A strange darkness swirls in them.

Something I have never encountered before.

My silence made him lean more closer to me, till his rock chest presses against my full heaving one. My breath gets clogged in my throat.

He leans in closer and I hold my breath to close my eyes. I can't do this right now. I am drained. No matter what he does, I won't be a fool to give in.

He doesn't say anything and nor did I.

Our heavy breaths were the only sound audible when I felt his forehead pressing against mine. His hot breath fans my lips.

" I never loved myself  Rosebud. But..."

His nose slides against mine tenderly and I struggle to not look into his eyes. My thudding heart ready to leap out of my chest.

" If these scars are from that night 5 years back...."

He dips his face lower to press our foreheads together.

" I don't think I will ever hate a man more than myself, Rosebud.  "

My fists pinned above my head clench. My head rubs against the mirror and my mind loses its brain cells.

That night.

The night that changed my life completely.

A mere reminder of that night had my heart racing and a familiar heaviness to claw my chest, no. It can't happen right now. Not in front of him dammit!

The mere reminder of a panic attack had me panic more. I start sweating and my breaths turn shallow but before the clawing could worsen and those screams could echo in my ear, a jolt hits my core and I felt my body set on fire.

I look down astounded to find his head dipped in my chest,  those soft lips place a kiss on the scar on my chest, like they are the most beautiful thing in the world.

And then another.

And another.

My clenched palms un clench and I breathe heavily, hating yet loving this like a moth loves to burn in flames.

His lips leave a trail of fire behind.

The cells which have been long frozen, shiver to thaw back to life.

No.

I can't feel this way. I need to stop. I need to push him back. But my limbs were useless right now.

" Vi...Victor"

I breathe his name , to only have him kiss my scars more passionately. Each kiss, costing the previous one. Trying to heal what has long been lost.

" Tell me it's a lie Rosebud. "

Kiss

" Tell me it didn't happen after you left the bar."

Kiss.

" Tell me it's not what I think it is."

Kiss.

" Tell me...I didn't fail in saving you...that night."

His arms wrap around me  possesively, like he was scared of me vanishing in thin air. And all I could do was sigh to say the truth.

We can't run from it our entire life.

One day we have to face it.

" What happened that night wasn't your fault. You can't save every woman who gets assaulted. Now can you?"

The second these words left my lips, he stilled like the silence before the storm. His fingers wrapped around my waist retreat and those kisses stop to leave emptiness in their wake.

His dark eyes snap up to look into mine.

And I make sure to hide that scared innocent girl behind the veil of coldnesss.

The hands gripping my wrist retreat. And I see another storm unleashing in his eyes.

He won't give up on this.

I just know it.

" I am going to hunt down every assailant in this world and kill him right in front of your eyes till you don't tell me who touched you, Rosebud."

The promise in his eyes made a shiver travel down my spine. He looked like a wounded beast who had no chains pulling him back.

Nothing less than an animal.

And for the first time in year's, I was scared.

" And once I have killed them?"

Tracing his thumb on my lip, he nods to declare.

" I am going to punish myself for letting you go that night. "

"I promise to earn my forgiveness from my own blood, if that's what it takes to have my old Rosebud back. "

My heart stops to breathe for a second. He...he can't be serious right?

With this he turns around to leave. The authority lacing in his voice clear.

" The results came out earlier today. Your sister is pregnant with my brother's child. Now that it is confirmed. You both are my responsibility. "

"Pack your bags. You both are living under my roof from tomorrow.."

He was going to leave when I speak from behind.

" Theodore doesn't love her.  You can't expect them to live a happy ever after!"

He looks at me over his shoulder, his back stiff as a board and his eyes lifeless.

" Not everyone gets a happy ever after Rosebud. Sometimes we have to learn to live with our mistakes. "

" Be ready by 9 tomorrow. "

With this he is gone and I couldn't help drop down on the bed with my head in my hands.

It's a good opportunity to get to know more of him.

It will help with the mission.

But somehow I just can't come to terms with the very thought of living under the same roof as him.

The stupid old Rose still lives somewhere inside me and everytime he touches me? She struggles to come out and give in.

No.

I will kill her if I have to. But I will never do the same mistake again.

If he is truly the lost King of the underworld, he will be behind the bars in no time.

And the best thing?

He won't even know what had hit him.

                  ***

As told by him, at exact 9 a black mustang and a driver were at out door. The man helped us get our stuff into the car , while Rain settled on the passenger seat to sigh and close her eyes.

Pulling open the front door I settle beside the old man aka the driver and he gave me a confused look.

" Ma'am are you going to sit here?"

He asks astounded and I burst a bubble of the bubble gum in my mouth to look at him with a raised brow.

" Yup. Any problem?"

" No...no of course not. Just..."

He was reluctant to complete the line when I did it for him.

" Those rich high society people don't sit here because they feel they are too high to sit in the front seat of their own car beside a driver. I am sorry to burst your expectations but neither am I rich nor high society. So it you don't mind...."

Opening my palm, I wink at him.

" Can I drive this beauty. Trust me, it would be an honor. "

His eyes double theirs size and I just sigh. Leaning in I pull the car keys from the ignition to smirk.

" Thank me later. "

                ***

 
" Ahhh slowly child!"

" Sis! What the fuc* are you doing! Do you plan to kill us! I am pregnant dammit!"

Turning the steering wheel to the complete right, I slam the gas pedal and pick up the hand break, the screeching of the mustangs rubber tyres follow along with a cloud of smoke and I smirk. Looking in front at Victor standing in the drive way of his huge mansion.

That cold look plastered on his face.

Let's see how long he can put on that fascade.

Lifting the clutch, I press on full throttle and the car slide to life, speeding towards his figure at lightning speed.

" No...no! Stop! "

" Shit! Fuc*!"

My co passengers scream, holding their seat belts for support and my eyes darken when I see Victor not moving.

He still trusts me.

Too bad.

I am the last person he should trust.

My grip on the steering tightens. My heart thuds faster in my chest. What if I run over him? I bet the secret agency will award me with the highest gallantry.

Mafia men are sinners. He must have killed innocents. He deserves this.

His dark eyes stay fixated at me.

Daring me.

And I show no signs to back down when his words repeat in my mind.

"I don't hate a man more than myself, Rosebud. "

" I promise to earn my forgiveness from my own blood, if that's what it takes to have my old Rosebud back. "

Fuc*!

I press on the brakes and that car screeches to come to a deadly halt just 5 inches away from him.

What's wrong with him?

Does he seriously want to die?

Putting on a blank face I step out to slam the door shut. Walking towards him with long confident steps I throw the car keys at him.

And he catches them without even breaking his eye contact with me.

A smirk lingered on his lips.

He is a sadist. I am telling you.

" Welcome home,Rosebud. "

He rather whispers and I scoff at him to walk past.

" It's a lovely car. Shame that you are it's owner."

He only chuckles to follow behind and his next words made me stop in my tracks.

" And you have a lovely ass. Shame it has something stuck up in it all the time. "