"I've been sober for a year, now it's time for me / To go back to my old ways, don't you cry for me."
~ Faith by The Weeknd

...♛...

Summer White

...♛...

The men don't wait for another second to witness the upheaval I caused in the room. Instead, they turn and continue on their way. I follow pursuit unwilling to bear the consequences of my actions.

My heels echo in the halls as we make our way to the main event. I'm at least ten steps behind the three large figures leading the way. They know I'm behind them but they don't look back to confirm even once. I don't look behind myself to see whether someone is following me to avenge that boy's life either. I'm sure his father would be more than happy to continue the war Kai and I have begun.

I'm not naive. Kai might have used his words to declare the war, but I used my hands to cause the first bloodshed solidifying his words. Now that I think about it, I'm equally as culpable for this war as he is if not more.

As we make our way through the crowd, I can feel my stomach starting to ache. My teeth grind against each other as I gently pad around the skin of my stomach and feel the sharp aches. I'm now at least fifteen feet behind the men and as I look back, I can see the other men starting to join the ball not looking happy.

I'm not scared, but I'm not trying to stick around to see just how unhappy those men really are. Not in this state at least. As I continue walking, I pull the morphine from the pocket of my dress putting two pills in my palm before putting the container back in my pocket. I grab wine from a waiter's tray and swallow the pills quickly keeping an eye on everyone around me.

I notice Kai, Alec and Cole heading towards the exit so I follow entering the cold air of the night once again. Smoke leaves my mouth immediately as I exhale. Even though my feet ache, I manage to close the distance between the men and me to about ten feet again. We head down the path to, I'm assuming, the parking lot.

A few people are lingering along the path, but they don't say anything. They hadn't witnessed what had happened upstairs, but if they had, I bet they'd have a few words or more, to spare. When I spot two girls smoking on the side, I stop, staring at the cigarette perfectly positioned between one of the girls' middle and pointer fingers. I'm hypnotized at knowing just how badly I want to feel that head rush. The girls look at me confused until they realize what I'm staring at. Without a word, the brunette extends it to me.

"We have more," she says. I smile, taking it from her.

"Thanks."

"Don't sweat it. Between you and I, those men look like a lot to handle," she winks whispering the last part as if the men might hear us. They're too far out of range, but I can understand why she felt the need to take the extra precaution.

"Between you and I, they're actually just a bunch of pussies," I wink, and we all laugh. "Thanks again."

"Don't worry about it," the girl waves. The girl who was next to her smiles as I head off to the parking lot. I insert the poisonous stick between my lips and inhale. The head rush is immediate, sending a wave of calmness throughout my body and the second layer of goosebumps on my skin.

I walk at a snail's pace trying to take in as many hits as I can and delaying the inevitable as much as possible. Are they even waiting for me? Maybe I overestimate how much I mean to Kai, but judging from his behaviour, he needs me. I can see it in his moves. He always needs to be one step ahead. He never falters. He's cautious, at times too much. It shows his anxiety, his fear of the unknown and failure.

This thing between Nick and him is personal, I can tell. Kai needs me for whatever he's planning and he'll do anything to make sure I stay with him. He'll try his best not to fuck up, but if he needs to make a move I'm not happy with, he'll make that move without a second thought knowing he can chain me up in his basement just like his brother did. I lose if I try to walk away, but with staying, it's a fifty-fifty chance of me winning or losing and I've always wanted to try gambling.

The dress feels heavier the longer I walk. I wish I could take it off right now and be free of the weight. The heels are also digging into the backs of my feet adding to my discomfort. I don't know how some women function in heels daily, I rather punch a concrete wall with rings on fifty times over than spend more than an hour in heels.

When I reach the parking lot, I find the three men huddled next to Alec's black G-Wagon. I stop across the lot from them, at least thirty feet away. Kai's back is towards me, but it's like he can sense my presence because I don't even make a noise, yet he turns around. His dark eyes land on me and I take a deep breath as the edge of his lip slightly twitches.

When Alec and Cole notice me, Alec digs inside his jacket's pocket and throws Cole a key. Cole catches it easily. I watch as Alec and Cole say their parting words before Alec climbs into his car and Cole walks over to the black Bugatti. The engines come to life echoing in the silent night before the cars reverse and make their way out of the lot. Kai remains in his spot, hands in the pockets of his slacks and a smile that could corrupt even the purest of souls. I can see the triumph reflecting in the glint of his eyes eager to dwell in this small moment of victory, but he suffices it with his smile. I meet his smile with a nonchalant inhale of the cigarette.

This isn't over. The real games have just started. Him discovering my identity puts both of us at an advantage. His advantage might be greater than my own, but it's still something. He can dwell at this moment all he wants, but small wins don't guarantee victory.

"We don't have all night," he says breaking the silence. My eyebrows furrow, but then I notice the Rolls Royce parked next to him, the lights flashing as he pulls out the key fob and holds it up in his palm for me to see.

Done with the cigarette, I drop it on the concrete ground. I lift my dress and step on the stick making sure it's out before I head towards the car. Kai opens the passenger door and waits for me to climb in before he shuts the door. I stare out the window at the barren lot as I hear him climb in. He doesn't spare a word before turning on the engine and heading somewhere. I'm not sure where we're going and I don't care to question him about it either. I won't get a straight answer out of him so I rather just feel the high of the morphine consuming my body as time passes.

We're the only ones on the road. The only thing illuminating the way are the headlights so I can't see much out the window though I refuse to turn my head. His presence alone is bothersome. It's a constant reminder of the truth that I don't think I have had the chance to comprehend. Him discovering my identity might give me a slight advantage but it also pulls me back to a life I never thought I would have to live through again.

He knows who I am.

I am Summer White daughter of Xavier and Hope White.

The girl his older brother kidnapped and used as a toy.

How did I get back here? I thought I had left it all behind yet I killed a man, only a few minutes ago, and for what reason? Because he touched me without my permission and tried doing more? That was deserved, but why was I even at the meeting in the first place?

Fuck.

I can feel my heart beating against my chest, the drums of my ears echoing loudly as I feel my head starting to hurt.

It's too silent in here. I'm thinking too much. I don't need this right now. I'm fine. Everything is okay.

Without thinking, I reach over and dial the volume loud enough for me to get rid of the voice in my head. The radio is a bit static since we're so far out of the city, but it's good enough to know that Moth To A Flame by Swedish House Mafia and the Weeknd.

I take a deep breath looking out the window again feeling relieved for just a second before the car drops dead silent. My head snaps to Kai immediately knowing he turned it off. I find the line of his sharp jaw facing me as he focuses on the road in front. His lashes connect every few seconds as he blinks. He can feel me staring, I can see it when his Adam's apple bobs and his fingers tighten around the wheel slightly. The suit tightening around his biceps makes me subconsciously squeeze my thighs. I clench my jaw pushing the unnecessary thoughts to the back of my mind and letting the anger take over.

There is so much I want to say, but at the same time, I want to say nothing at all. What is there to say? He isn't going to let me go. Especially after knowing who I truly am and what having me could do for him. He'd be a fool to let me go.

Though what could he use me for and what is with this rebellious behaviour? Why would he pull back from the unity like that and cause such upheaval? Does he expect me to go to war for him? I committed to working for him thinking that it'd be like the missions and things Nick made me do, but this is different, to the point where I don't even know what this is and why he's doing it.

I thought that I could read him and understand him, yet I feel like I've known nothing about him this whole time. He's always ten steps ahead of everyone. It's like the devil comes down to give Kai all the secrets. Or, he could just be the devil himself.

And what do you do to protect yourself from the devil?

You make friends with him.

"You don't like The Weeknd?" My voice is lower than usual trying to invite the sweetness through. By the slight creases on his forehead, I don't think it suits me or maybe it was unexpected. He probably expected me to burst because I've kept it together so well up until now. It'd be a great moment to do so too since it's just us two, but I won't give him the reaction he's looking for. Satisfaction is the last thing he deserves and I'll be damned if I'm the one to give it to him.

"I just prefer silence," he answers.

"So you do like The Weeknd."

"You can assume whatever you'd like."

"Thanks for the permission," I retort. When the car falls silent again, I decide not to push it anymore. The high of the morphine is distracting enough for now.

We drive for about thirty minutes going further from town when he suddenly pulls into an opening into the woods. My eyebrows furrow as I look around the woods, but it's so dark that nothing even comes to sight. The road is dirt and the car bounces on the rough terrain making me nervous. Where the fuck is he taking me?

Either this is where he kills me, or his house is in a secret location that even the FBI couldn't find if they wanted to. What kind of psycho lives on a property without a real driveway?

He takes a few turns and drives for about ten more minutes before the headlights shine onto what looks like an abandoned cabin in the woods.

I'm assuming this isn't his house because I'm sure the salary of a multi-millionaire dollar businessman, who is driving a Rolls Royce right now, can afford a mansion a hundred times bigger than this.

Even if I wasn't so high,  I wouldn't question him. It's not like he would answer. Also, overthinking and being anxious with thoughts in my head isn't gonna help me either so when he unbuckles his seatbelt and climbs out, so do I. The ground is hard and luckily my heels don't sink in. The cold breeze makes the hair on my body stand and I suck in a sharp breath staring at the spooky cabin.

As soon as the headlights turn off, I watch Kai turn on his phone's flashlight and head towards the cabin so I follow. The steps creak and closer up, it's clear to see that the infrastructure is falling apart on the outside.

"You can head inside. I'm gonna head to the back and turn on the circuit breaker," he says. He doesn't wait for me to reply and heads on his way taking the only source of light with him.

The moonlight illuminates the cabin enough for me to see the door up close, but I'm not a fan of the dark and being in the woods alone. The rustling of the leaves and the howling of the wind are only adding to the unease. Luckily, the morphine is still numbing enough for me not to care enough.

On instinct, my hand reaches into my pocket and when I feel the dagger still there, I relax. I'm not sure why we're here, but we'll find out soon. Instead of waiting out here in the cold, I twist the knob on the door and walk inside. I can't see much inside, but the moonlight coming in from the large windows from my left and right outline pieces of furniture inside which looks nothing like the outside.

I walk in further leaving the door open behind me. The inside is up to date with the modern looks of most cabins. There's a small kitchen on the left corner, a wall in the middle with a couch on its left side, and a bed on the far right side of the cabin. The cabin itself is not big so I can see most of it in the minimal lighting.

Feeling a sudden breeze, I hug myself rubbing my arms to keep warm. A loud bang from the door shutting makes me jump. The windows all of a sudden block all the light and the cabin is pitch black. It takes me a second to calm my breathing enough to listen to the slight creaking from the left side of the cabin, where the couch is. I have to follow the sound carefully and decipher through the sounds of the wind and howling wolves outside. All of which isn't helping my anxiety. I can't see anything.

This reminds me of the times Nick left me locked in a dark room. At first, it was easy, but as time passed, the silence would get to me. My mind would play tricks on me and sometimes when I fell asleep and woke up, I could never tell if I was really awake or still dreaming. That feeling was awful and feeling it again after years, it's tenfold.

The sounds travel around me in a taunting manner. From my left, to behind me, to my right, I spin trying to keep up, yet I'm unsure of where the sound is truly coming from. There's no one else here so it has to be Kai. I can feel him, but I know he's still far from me otherwise his intoxicating scent would have reached me by now.

"You're used to the dark, aren't you?" Kai's hushed voice comes from behind me and I spin immediately. My heart racing with anticipation.

"Unfortunately, yes," I answer, my voice timider than I'd wanted it to be. I hear the floor to my right creak and I face that direction. Then another sound behind me makes me slightly jump. He was right in front of me, there's no way he could have made it behind me that quickly and without me feeling him.

"You can't tell where I am, can you?" he says. His voice sounds like it's coming from my left. I don't turn. I stay still trying to concentrate. I need to focus on feeling his presence, but my ears are drumming too loud and my legs are starting to numb from the angst. Kai knows what he's doing and he's good at it. "But you feel me, don't you?" I hear him shuffling.

"Near you," he breathes into my ear making me jolt. I spin instinctively, but he's gone before I can even fathom it. "On you."

"Huh," I suck in a breath feeling his fingertips brush the skin on my arm ever so slightly. I remain still feeling him close behind me, my ass pressed against his slacks. I can feel him through his pants and I close my eyes, gulping. His breath fans my head as he towers over me from behind yet I stand still too scared to move. It's unfair how my body reacts to him and how well he uses it against me. I can't even remember why we're here or if I'm even mad at him? It's like nothing else matters right now as long as he touches me the way my body loves it.

The tips of his finger glide up my arm and even though I couldn't feel anything seconds before, it feels as if I'm feeling everything all at once. My legs want to cave, I squeeze my eyes shut feeling his wild touch. I haven't felt something so innocent feel so intense before. As his fingers reach my left shoulder, they walk along the path leading towards my neck.

The backs of his fingers brush my neck before his palm take a hold of my jaw, his thumb caressing the stitches on my cheek. His front parts from my back as he leans down, his lips near my ear. The warmth of his breath travels down my neck and I feel my core tighten as I peer down to my side where I know he is but can't see at all.

"This is what's gonna happen. I'm going to tell you the rules you're going to follow while you're with me and when I'm done, if you agree like the good girl I know you are, I'm going to treat you. Do you understand?"

"Kai-"

"Yes Kai I understand," he cuts me off. I grit my teeth angrily breathing through my nostrils. My hand's fist at my side as I try to think through the high. His fingers tighten around my neck preventing any clear thoughts from developing and I groan letting the answer fall out of my mouth without a thought.  

"Yes," I rush, feeling the guilt inside my stomach right after. My mind hates every moment of this, but my body, fuck.

"Good girl." Before I can say anything else, his hold on me falls and his presence from near me disappears. He vanishes within seconds leaving behind a burning sensation. What the actual fuck?

The windows let the light in again and the cabin illuminates similar to before. When my eyes finally adjust, Kai steps out of the shadows in front of me. His gaze is intense as he takes a step forward, purposely stepping on my dress and preventing me from keeping my distance.

"You do as you're told. No questions asked," a step closer.

"You don't leave the house unsupervised.

The only people you get to talk to are Alec, Cole and me," another step closer. My knees bend at every step he takes as his weight strains the fabric over my shoulders.

"No one else gets to know who you truly are," his voice is lower like he's about to tell me a secret.

"Summer White is my secret," he says standing inches away from me. His head sinks, lips hovering over my ear, his stubble rubbing my cheek.

"You are my secret," he whispers, his voice deep enough for my core to feel the rumble in his chest. He pulls his head back, standing tall and staring down at me with a piercing gaze.

"Understood?" The demand in his eyes is clear. I can feel my bones shaking with rage and it takes every ounce of will in me to hold myself back. From wanting him, to wanting to kill him, took a few seconds and I think it's only adding to the intensity for me. I want to know him, but every time I think I'm close to figuring him out, something else happens and I'm like maybe I don't know him at all. He's keeping me on my toes, but I'm willing to work for what I want. I knew this wouldn't be easy.

"I want time to myself outside of the house. Alone," I state.

"Not happening."

"An hour a day," I plead. I don't necessarily want or even need the time alone, I just want to know how far I can push his boundaries.

"No."

"An hour isn't much. What can I possibly do in an hour alone?" I debate.

"I wouldn't risk what a few minutes of solitude could do for you nonetheless an hour outside of the house."

"There you go acting on your fears again," I shake my head emphasizing my disappointment. The remark lights a fire inside of him, one so bright it shows in the darkness of his eyes.

"I wouldn't call it fear," his voice is low and heavy. "I'm just taking precautions."

"Why is that?" I swallow. I don't like him close. My body lights up like a sensor at his proximity and there isn't a single part that isn't alive right now. I don't know what I hate more, how he can make me go from wanting to kill him, to wanting him to touch me or that he can make me want him at all? He stares at me intently, a whirl of thoughts in his mind trying to win an endless war.

"I know what you do," his voice is low. "What you did to Nick."

What you did to Nick... the words repeat in my head over and over again.

Flashbacks of my time with Nick play in my head, memories I had stored so far away that I thought I'd never find them again. I thought wrong. For a second, everything is hazy and I panic forgetting that Kai knows who I am. When I remember the events from earlier I remember I am no longer a secret.

Before, I was scared of Kai finding out who I was, but he already knows. Before I had to act from fear because that's what an innocent Captain's daughter would do but I'm not her anymore. I'm Summer White. A gang leader's daughter. I don't need to be scared now. I can fend for myself the way I need and want to without fear because nothing is at stake here except for me and I can sacrifice myself as much as I want.

What you did to Nick... Kai's words repeat in my head again making me remember exactly what I did. What Summer White is capable of. Suddenly, that feeling of fear is completely gone. Vanished into thin air as my confidence takes its place.

"Are you scared I'll do it to you?" I tease finding it humouring. Why else would he bring it up? In my defence, I would like to argue that the only reason I could do anything was that Nick let me have a spot in his life in the first place. "Find that little goodness in you," I point at his heart and he looks down at my finger before meeting my gaze with a glare, "and use it to my advantage. Have you wrapped around my fingers?" I twirl my finger in a circular motion before bringing my arm down.

"I'm not Nicholas. I don't care for redemption," he says, a hard look on his face telling me he's not nearly as amused as me. "You don't either."

"Everyone has a weakness. I'll find yours too," I shrug. I don't feel as guilty as I once did. I feel free knowing I did all I could to survive and that it paid off. It's what this Summer is best at. If she had to do it again, she would. She will.

"I suggest you save us both that destruction," he states, sounding dissociated.

"So, there is a weakness," I smile. It takes him a second to realize what he had done, but he smirks impressed that I had caught him.

"You are a smart woman," he breathes.

"Thank you," I whisper. My lips stretch into a wide smile. I'm sure I look more psychotic than I feel but something is changing inside of me. On the surface, I love it. Everything is feeling less heavy, but on the inside I know it's all temporary. This life is never going to be permanent for me and the second I'm done here, I'll leave and it will all come down on me at once. But I don't need to live in that anticipation. I can still enjoy this and be who I need to be for the greater good. At least that's what I'm telling myself for the time being.

"You're also a bad one."

"Really?" I arch an eyebrow.

"You're cunning, manipulative and ruthless," he whispers lowering his head. "They said it was your eyes," his hand reaches up, cupping the side of my face. The pad of his thumb drawing circles on my cheek. "So mysterious and dark, they sucked your soul right in. You didn't even know what had happened until it was too late. Until she took what she needed and disappeared into thin air."

I wish I could see behind the veil of darkness in his eyes because the emotions behind those words make it seem as if he had personally encountered me. I know most of my memories with Nick are a blur, but if I had encountered Kai then I would remember. I would never forget his presence and for some reason, it does feel nostalgic. It always has and I thought it was because of his connection to Nick, but maybe it's something more. Maybe it's more personal than that and the way Kai behaves, the way he speaks, it feels like it is. I hope he either tells me or I remember him soon because it might help me understand exactly where I stand with him and maybe even why.

His hold around my jaw becomes hard in an unforgiving way. Before I can do anything, his other hand pushes me and I take a few steps back before I fall back onto the bed. I had no idea it was so close until now. Kai straddles me fast, adjusting my body on the bed so the headboard is above me. He grabs my hands in his and pushes them above my head.

"Ow!" I scream the ache in my shoulder. I haven't been wearing the sling and I knew it hadn't healed properly but I was being careful. The morphine makes all the pain go away so I forgot about it. Luckily, it's also the morphine keeping most of the pain away now. Even though the pain is bearable it makes my head rush. Kai doesn't loosen his grip on my wrists so my sensory radars are just going off everywhere.

"Kai, what the fuck?" I scrunch my eyebrows. I shake my head trying to breathe through my nose and alleviate the pain, but as the seconds pass, the bullet wound also becomes apparent. It takes me a second to clear my mind and open my eyes again. I find his dark eyes drinking me in and strands of his hair fall over his forehead as he pulls his tie loose. My eyes widen when he leans over me, chest over my head as he ties my wrists to the bars on the bed frame.

"Kai!" I yell struggling but his weight keeps me down as he finishes securing the tie around my wrists. I can't feel my left arm so I can't fight back as much either. The more I move it, the more it hurts. "You're ruining the dress," I grit. I didn't care about the dress as much as I did about the vulnerability of us being in this position, but I wasn't going to let him know that.

"I don't mind. It was only forty-k," Kai chuckles. He moves back down to my thighs and lifts his weight off me but before I can do anything, he grabs me by the waist and twists me onto my stomach making my wrists cross.

"Fuck," I breathe closing my eyes. My heart is pounding against the mattress and my eyes are starting to water from how overwhelming everything is. Kai's weight settles on my hamstrings just below my ass and I internally groan.

"But since you care about it so much, we can always just remove it and set it to the side." I feel him lean forward and grab the zipper of my dress just below my neck. "Should we?"

"Kai, what do you want?" I swallow. I rest my chin on the mattress and stare at the knot trying to see if I can undo it, but it's tied too intricately for me to open it with only one functioning hand. I try to think of something else I could do, but nothing comes to mind. All I can think about and feel is him. His scent, his hands, his weight, it's all over me. I need to keep my head clear but every time we're close, I can't think straight. Actually, I can't think at all.

His cold fingers adjust my hair to one side and I can feel his breath over my neck. His whole body hovering on top of me with the weight mostly on his knees on either my body.

"You know the years away from the life did you well," his soft lips kiss the back of my ear and I shiver. "Nick didn't feed you. You were smaller than... fragile." He kisses my neck, a vibrant sensation travelling down to my core. "The smallest thing hurt you and left bruises."

"Stop, Kai," I beg. I don't want to be reminded of the past and the way he says it makes it seem like he witnessed it first-hand. Everything is so intense, I can't tell whether I like it or I hate it. He takes pain and pleasure to whole another level.

"I want you to feel good," he whispers into my ear. I gape unable to process his words as he parts from me, his hands slide down from my sides down to my ass. The pounding in my ears becomes louder and I squeeze my thighs nervously. I close my eyes and fist my hands drowning in anticipation. He takes his hands off me and a few seconds later, the palms smack down on my ass. "Kai!" I yell feeling myself getting wet. I bite down on my lip to hold back a moan as I feel the nerves in my body lighting up.

My mind is telling me to fear him yet my body is giving a different response. I'm not sure which one to listen to, but it's not like I have a choice. I'm tied down and Kai isn't letting me go until he's satisfied. But if it's anything like last time, it should be my body that's left satisfied.

"I love the way your ass fits in my hands," he says, playfully squeezing. He's not drunk, but he sounds like he is. "The way your body reacts to me, I could play with it forever." His weight shifts and I feel his chest on my back. The tip of his finger strokes the bone behind my ear. My mouth parts when I realize he's tracing the tattoo.

"I don't care if you were born a Dragon and I don't care what your last name is," his voice is strict, leaving no room for debate. "I don't care who had you before me. As long as you are with me, you are an Ace and you are mine."

He licks the nape of my neck just before biting it. I gasp at the unknown sensation travelling throughout my body. It was like fireworks going off in each nerve making me aware of more body parts than I had ever been before.

Kai is cruel in his ways and it doesn't change in bed because he doesn't wait for me to comprehend anything. He moves on to the next move quickly, always keeping the high momentum going. I'm not sure how much I can take because it's too much of everything I've never felt before.

His back lifts off me and his hand works my zipper down exposing my back without hesitation. A cold breeze travels over my skin and I shiver flexing my back.

"I don't belong to anyone," I breathe. My voice shook from the overload making me internally groan. I don't want him to know how he's making me feel. He doesn't deserve it, but there's no way I can hide it either. My body is betraying me.

"You will behave while you're with me."

"I will?" Compliance was never a trait I possessed and even though we're in a vulnerable situation, I'm not going to give him false expectations. I like earning both the pleasures and the pains of life and I'm sure Kai is going to give me a bit of both for my response.

His hands sneak under my dress, roaming curiously around teasing me. His large hands travel near my ass and tits but never fully touching. His touch is driving me insane and I find it hard to breathe. The pain in my stomach and shoulder increasing causing my head to spin. I've been through a lot but never something like this.

"You need me, Summer and I'm the only one willing to help you. Don't fuck it up for yourself because if you push me far enough, I will do what needs to be done." His hand glides down my bare ass and I gasp as he finds my wetness. I know I shouldn't have went commando again, but I didn't like the lines of the thong showing through the dress. His chest rumbles as he chuckles amused by my reaction. "How many times have you thought about us at the kitchen sink? Be honest."

"I haven't thought about it." Lie.

"No?"

"No." Lie.

My mind drifted to it often questioning exactly what it was but I knew that was the naive little girl in me. The other night was nothing other than two horny adults quenching a thirst so even though my mind replayed that moment way too often, it never lasted long.

"Your honesty is appreciated," I can feel him smiling. "Let's try to leave you with something worth remembering this time." His fingers dip inside of me, two at once through the slickness of my pussy and I moan as they hook hitting my g-spot. Compared to the pain, the pleasure felt immense but it lasts only a few seconds.

His hand slips out from under my dress and I furrow my eyebrows irritated. His tongue starts at the bottom of my back and glides up my spine making me moan and my whole-body trembles at the ghostly sensation.

What the fuck.

"You're an Ace," he says. I feel him nibbling on the skin of my back and I flex my shoulders groaning. It feels so odd but it sends electricity throughout my body. "Say it."

"What?" I breathe not being able to understand what he wants. His mouth continues working at different parts of my back. His hand finds the back of my head, hooking his fingers through my hair and tugging my head back. I swallow unable to move.

"What are you, Summer?" He questions, his head right next to mine now so I peer at him through my peripheral vision. With his hold on my hair, it's hard to focus my gaze on him so I look at the white bars in front of me to think.

The Captain's daughter would have complied with his request and would have said exactly what he wanted to hear, but I'm not her anymore.

The girl who was able to get out of Nick's hold wouldn't say that. I mean, she said things he wanted to hear at times, but more than anything, Nick loved it when I was difficult. He liked it when I allowed him to show his power. I'm sure Kai will too.

"A Dragon," I breathe biting my bottom lip. The anticipation of his reaction is unbearable. His hand leaves my hair and I feel the same hand reach into the pocket of my dress grabbing the dagger. Before I can even guess what's happening, I hear the tear of my dress as he uses the dagger to tear it in half until it falls completely to my sides.

I lie there naked, tied to the bed with my dagger in his hands and him sitting on the back of my thighs.

Fuck.

And just like that, the strong woman falls back into the memories of the girl she used to be. Of the girl that Nick forced to become a woman.

The tie around my hands reminds me of the sandy ropes Nick used to tie me up because he knew the times he would have to take. After all, I wasn't willing to give. I never was willing to give if I look back at it. I was just willing to do anything to make it out alive in any sense of the word. The shrieks leaving my mouth that left me voiceless for days echo in my mind.

I'm not here anymore.

I'm back there with Nick.

And whatever felt good, didn't feel as good anymore.

It feels like a never-ending death sentence.

No matter how much air I take in, it's not enough. The room is getting smaller, his touch is sickening. I can't do this.

He needs to let me go now.

"I-I," I try to catch my breath, but I can't. The flashbacks of those nights are consuming me. "S-stop, p-please.

"Summer," his voice is so soft here. I know it's a lie. I want him to stop, but he isn't going to. Nick never stops. He takes what he wants until he's satisfied. I'm scared. Why won't he just stop? I can feel the ties tightening as I try to free myself.

"N-Nick, p-please," I can feel the tears dripping from the corner of my eyes. I'm a kid. Fuck, I wish my family was here. Will they find me? Will they save me?

"Summer," I feel his hand between my legs. I gasp, it feels good. No, Summer stop. Nick is evil. Nick is, but he's being gentle? Why? How?

"Pay attention to my voice," I hear a voice, but it's not Nick.

"Focus on how good it feels," he whispers. I take his advice honing in on the sensation between my legs, my mouth parting instantly. One of his fingers plays with my clit while the other teases the entrance of my opening. I tighten my thighs earning a vibrant chuckle from Kai.

"Kai," I moan as he uses his other hand to force my thighs apart.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asks brushing my hair to the side and wiping the side of my face with the pads of his thumb. I think about it and go against it. I don't know why I trust Kai, but I do. When it comes to this at least.

He nods and whatever had dimmed has fully taken over. His fingers dip inside me and my hips push into the mattress begging for more.

"Kai," I moan.

"Does this feel good?"

"So good," I breathe.

"How good?"

"Good enough to make me come," I tease riding his fingers. Fuck. I can feel the tension in my core, I'm close. His fingers work fast and my head starts spinning as my thighs clench. I'm reaching the same high I did in the kitchen with him and I'm excited. I feel it coming, I'm right on the edge when Kai pulls his fingers out and slaps my ass with both his hands harder than he had before. I let out a frustrated cry from the pain and tension waiting to be released inside of me.

"Fuck!" I breathe biting my arm to hold myself back from whimpering.

His hand takes hold of my hair and he pulls my head back as his lips hover near my ear. "You are an Ace, Summer. Get it through your head and I'm not Nick. You can resist him, but you can't resist me.

When we were in the kitchen, my fingers felt so good inside of you, you pushed my head between your legs knowing my tongue would feel even better. It did, didn't it?

But you have to earn what you want with me and acting like a brat, is what gets you this."

"You're a piece of shit," I grit frustrated. My scalp started to hurt from his hold and my neck felt stiff from being yanked back uncomfortably. He chuckles letting go of my hair and I groan into the mattress completely annoyed by the situation.

What the fuck.

I've been repeating that a lot tonight but seriously, what is this angle? I feel his weight shift off me and the creaking of the boards as he walks in front of the bed. I keep my head down as I feel him untie my wrists. The second they're free, I pull my arms down massaging them.

My shoulder and stomach are both hurting but not as unbearable as the throbbing between my legs. There's no way I can let Kai do this. He can't use me and leave me halfway. I won't let him.

When I hear the creak of the board, telling me Kai's walking away, I flip up putting the front of my naked body on display. It's nothing Kai hasn't seen before, but there isn't much light so it doesn't bother me.

I spot Kai's silhouette near the door when I lean back onto the bed. My legs spread as my
right hand gracefully makes its way to my clit. I start rubbing myself, feeling my wetness and moan.

The shadow in the dark stills hearing my moans and I continue hooking two fingers inside of me. I haven't done this in front of someone before. I've always been alone or watched by someone through a camera so this was exhilarating in a way.  Especially knowing how hard it must be for him to watch. His ego is probably so hurt knowing I had to finish myself off. He probably didn't expect me to, but I can tell by both the lust and rage in his eyes, he's tearing up inside. Every feeling combined is only intensifying how euphoric I'm feeling. Physically I'm here, but mentally I'm so high the Earth seems like a pebble.

"Fuck," I moan as I lay down relieving the pressure from my elbows. Using my left hand, I feel my tits squeezing my nipples for more stimulation. I tilt my head back and arch my back getting completely lost in myself as I work my way to climax. That is until I hear the wooden boards creak which snaps me out of my haze. I catch Kai taking large steps towards me.

"Stop," I demand and his body jerks to a stop. I continue the motion of my fingers as I stare at him, his jaw so tight, he might damage his teeth. "You're lucky I'm letting you watch after what you did."

"Summer–"

"Uh-uh," I shake my head preventing him from moving closer. "I'll stop," I threaten. That seems to do it. He stays put and watches as I work myself back up to finish. "Fuck," I bite my bottom lip. I keep my eyes closed because I want this to be for me. I need this. Him being pissed off is just a bonus.

I can feel my juices dripping on the mattress as I continue fingering myself, feeling my insides tightening.

"Uh-fuck," I moan as my legs start to shake. Muffled behind my moans, I swear I hear him growl and it drives me insane.

"It feels so good," I feel myself nearing the release, but the door opens, a cold breeze rushes in and my whole body trembles. The light flicks on blinding me for a second.

Fuck my life.

"Leave!" Kai orders without turning his head. I spot Alec standing under the door frame, starstruck for just a moment before he realizes what's happening. My fingers continue because I refuse to come down again, I need the release. Alec goes to turn around when something forces me to stop him.

"Stay," I speak low trying to keep my high. I fall on my back and try to zone the disruption out.

"Summer–"

"Alec," I moan, demanding him to stay. I don't hear a response for a few seconds so I open my eyes and tilt my head to look at Alec standing tensed at the door frame. His amber eyes darkly met mine. There's a war inside of him, but with my eyes, I tame it just enough for him to stay. When I'm sure Alec won't leave, my eyes travel towards Kai, in the light his anger is more visible. His fists on his sides, his dark eyes stare at me dangerously. This man is built so fine, the suit only accentuates every curve of his muscles. As my eyes travel down, I catch the bulge in his pants and as I imagine what's underneath the fabric I reach my destination.

"Fuck," I moan feeling the orgasm unravel spreading from my core out. My eyes roll back and my hips roll into my fingers as I feel each nerve inside me shoot fire through the ends. "Oh, God!" My body trembles uncontrollably. I smile, giggling as the high calms, and tranquillity washes over me. I lay my back flat on the mattress and take a deep breath regaining my senses. I swallow licking my lips as I open my eyes and turn my head looking at Kai who seems completely unhinged trying to contain whatever he's feeling.

I gradually remove my fingers from inside myself making sure to keep Kai's dark gaze. I did that for myself and I want to dwell in it. I'm being cocky because I earned that orgasm tonight. It was mine and I was going to get it any way possible and I did. I bring my fingers to my mouth and stick out my tongue licking and sucking on them. I break my gaze from Kai to look at Alec. The only source of pleasure looking at Alec brings is knowing how mad it makes Kai.

I'm spent. The pain and the pleasure drained me, but I manage to sit up on the edge of the bed. I stare at the heels on my feet and can't believe all that happened and I still had my heels on. Feeling the ache in my stomach, I find blood staining the bandage over my bullet wound. My left arm is still numb from the pain so I try to keep it still next to me. I sniff drying the tears on my face using the back of my right hand and shake as the open door drops the temperature in the cabin.

"So, what did you bring?" I ask Alec staring at the backpack in his hand. He's still wearing the suit from earlier so I can the bulge in his pants making the fabric tighter. I feel my cheeks heat up, but I try to ignore them. I look at him waiting for his response and it takes him a minute to realize I was talking to him.

"Uh-mm. Mm-hm. Some essentials and food," he finally make out the words. "I'm just gonna leave them here so you guys help yourselves. We'll see you guys tomorrow at the house."

He doesn't wait for either of us to reply before leaving.

"He has a girlfriend," is all Kai says before he takes his jacket off and throws it at me.

I laugh knowing that I didn't need to say anything else. He was already riled up enough and I don't want this ending to change from great to bad.

Orgasm, food and a pissed-off Kai seem like the perfect end to an eventful day. As I adjust the jacket over myself, Kai walks around the bed to the bathroom. He closes the door with such aggression it shakes the whole cabin.

If he needs help in there, he can just ask.

Just kidding.

Losers can help themselves.

Sore losers can go to hell for all I care.

...♛...

When I woke up this morning, Kai wasn't in bed. He was nowhere to be seen and neither was his car. I didn't even sleep well through the night so he must have left quickly in the few minutes I was sleeping. I showered, got ready and ate some leftovers from last night. My back was sore from Kai's assault last night and when I checked in the mirror, I found an array of love bites arranged perfectly in the shape of a spade on center of my back.

His words rung in my ear when I saw what he had done. I don't care if you were born a Dragon and I don't care what your last name is. I don't care you had you before me. As long as you are with me, you are an Ace and you are mine.

I couldn't do anything about the love bites, but I did snicker at the sight of them. Usually gangs use tattoos as a marking method, I guess Kai uses love bites. I wonder if Alec and Cole got the same treatment.

After I got ready, I waited for Kai to come back. I explored the cabin and found some interesting books, but there wasn't much to explore. It seems like the cabin must be used as a safe getaway for the boys. It's in the middle of nowhere and the house is disguised to make it seem like it's just an old piece of shit when it's not. It's not until noon that I hear Alec pull up outside in his G-Wagon.

"Morning," Alec walks in with coffee in hand. He hands it to me and I take it graciously. He's dressed down today, wearing a set of black hoodie and sweats with white air forces.

"Where's Kai?" I question.

"He had some things to take care of," Alec says as he picks up the backpack he dropped off last night and heads back to his car. I follow behind him and take a seat in the passenger seat. Once he's done putting the bag in the backseat, I watch him walk behind the cabin probably to turn off the circuit breaker. He does one final check inside before locking it and climbing into the car.

"How long is the drive?"

"You don't know where Kai lives?"

"Uh, no?  Why would I?" I ask taking a sip of the coffee.

"I don't know I just thought..." he spares me a nervous glance.

"What?"

"Cole and I know who you are."

"Who I am?" I laugh. The build-up was tenser than it needed to be. "Who am I? Please tell me."

"You're the daughter of The White Dragon's. The one everyone thinks is dead because of Nicholas Black."

"Okay that is me, but I wasn't aware that I was that famous."

"Everyone knows the things Nicholas made you do," he says. I like how last night didn't change things for the worse between us. I wasn't thinking much at the moment about the long-term effects of my decision, but during the night I couldn't help but overthink everything. Alec, compared to Kai and Cole, is the most civilized with me and I need him to stay that way. If he had become bitter or cold, it would be a lot more difficult for me to manage my way through this.

"What do you mean everyone?" I question.

"Have you not looked back since you escaped?"

"I escaped for a reason, Alec."

"Nicholas took videos of the things he did to you. He sent them to your family and to others in the business to coerce them into doing what he wanted. That's how he was able to gain so much power in such a short time," he explains. I look forward as I comprehend his words. I can feel his eyes peering at me at times trying to observe my reaction.

"Were the videos just the things he did to me or also the things I did for him?"

"He wouldn't miss the chance to flaunt the assassin he made out of you, Summer. On top of that, you somehow convinced him and everyone around him that you were in love with him. Nick was on top of the world with you by his side."

"I was fourteen, Alec," I speak, distantly. My mind is drifting back to those days again. I know what I did, but I never knew it was being recorded. I didn't think anyone else would witness my actions.

"I realize that."

"I haven't been that person ever since I got out," I state. I was never in love with Nicholas even though I acted like I was. I was fourteen at the time and being raped and abused, anyone who thought I could even feel love for the same people doing those things to me was a fool. I could never love Nicholas. Ever. I just needed an out and I became what he needed just so I could find the perfect opportunity to escape and I did. It worked. I manipulated the same person that created the game. I know that. Now so do Kai, Cole and Alec.

"Are you sure about that?" he questions.

"What do you mean?"

"The night you killed our members, don't you think you were that person again?" I take a moment to think of an answer.

"I didn't have a choice that night. I knew they'd come for us if I didn't do what needed to be done. I can protect myself, but Alice couldn't and I can't always be there to save her."

"You couldn't save her in the end could you?" he says. My mouth drops at his low blow, but I try to keep my emotions at bay. I clear my throat as I look through the window.

"It was Kai," I turn my head to watch Alec's reaction. He stiffens at my words and I take a mental note. "Nick was trying to kill him, but Alice was the one who got shot. Kai is the one who brought me back," I continue. His posture loosens at my words. Mmh.

"Kai wasn't there that night. You could have let them go, but you felt you had no choice and you became that person again because she's a part of you. Other people give up, but you, you wreak havoc, Summer. That's a choice. People rather die than kill," he argues.

"People don't choose to kill unless they have to. You've clearly seen the videos of what Nick did to me. I was willing to die, but Nick didn't allow me that luxury either. If James found me even a minute later, I would have been dead," I speak frustrated. I won't be blamed for this life. If Nick didn't kidnap me, I wouldn't have done the things I did. I wouldn't be the monster that I am. I won't let anyone in this world devalue my trauma. They can't judge me because they are just as bad or worse than me.  

"Have you ever thought that maybe death doesn't want you?"

"I think death and I haven't ever wanted each other at the same time," I state. I set the coffee in the cupholder and stare out the window.  "You weren't born into this, were you?"

"No. Kai and I met when he moved to Chicago. I had just spent time in juvie and he came to me with the perfect offer."

"What were you in for?" I look at him.

"I killed my sister's boyfriend. He raped her."

"Killed?"

"More like mutilated him, but I'll spare you the details," he bobs his head.

"How old were you?"

"Fifteen then. Spent two years in jail and then three on probation," he answers. I like how he can just accept it. There's no hesitance in him. He accepts who he is, good and bad.

"Wasn't becoming friends with Kai Black bad for your probation?"

"Everyone knows who Kai was, but he hadn't ever gotten on the wrong side of the law. He was careful and good at it too. He made sure that my record stayed clean." I can sense Alec's loyalty towards Kai in the way he speaks about him. It's sincere.

"So you've been with him ever since?"

"Yeah."

The rest of the drive goes by silently. This was the most I had gotten out from any of them since I'd met them and I'm grateful. I'd go insane if everyone around me acted like a brick wall. They're aware of what I'm capable of and are going to keep their caution, but they don't realize that I am just as terrified of that girl as they are. I don't plan on being her unless I need to be and she'll only make occasional appearances. She will never consume me because I can't live like that for the rest of my life. As Alec said, she'll only ever be a part of me, but there's more to me than that and I wish that this world allowed the other parts to thrive just as much if not more.

This whole situation does make it more difficult for me. I need their trust and they have their guards up meaning it's going to require extra effort to gain it. It could take months before I can get anywhere with them, but we're off to a good start. Alec seems to be giving me a fair chance so I have to make sure not to fuck it up.

"So just some basic rules," Alecs starts as we approach the gates to the secluded mansion. "This is Kai's house. He stays here alone most of the time, but Cole and I and a few other people will spend nights here so we have our own rooms." The gates open automatically as the car approaches and I spot the four guards standing outside the gates with machine guns in hand.

"The gate scans the licence plates and if it is an unregistered vehicle, the guards will need permission from Kai, Cole or me to open the gates." We drive past the gates towards the house and I spot more guards stationed outside the main door and walking around the house. "The guards are only stationed outside and they're also on strict orders to not let you off the property."

"You guys don't trust me, huh?"

"Trust is earned around here and based on everything we know about you, you really can't blame us for taking precautions," he says.

"Again, I was fourteen then," I answer.

"And you're twenty-three now. Only God knows what those years have done for you."

"In Kai's opinion, those years have done great for my body." Alec chuckles as we come to a stop.

"If last night was any indication."

"Sorry about that by the way, I didn't know you had a girlfriend and I might be a lot of things, but a home wrecker isn't one of them."

"Don't be, if she was there, she would have joined in."

"Um- okay," I say as we climb out feeling myself getting red. "Is everyone here just very open with their sexuality because all the props to you guys, but I'd like to be warned if I'll be walking into any orgies?"

"Noted," he smirks. He nods at the guard as we head inside and he gives me a tour of the place. The house has fifteen bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a giant meeting room, three home offices, a theatre room, a game room, a sauna, a gym with a boxing ring, a massive pool and a backyard that is also fenced and an underground car garage with a secret basement underneath that. Alec said I'm not allowed to see the basement yet which I think is rude. He shouldn't have gotten me curious about it if he wasn't going to show it. Whatever. I guess I can wait.

The house is massive, to say the least and to think that Kai stays here alone most of the time says a lot about him.

He has no employees that stay with him permanently. A cleaning crew comes every weekend to clean up the place but that's about it. Along with the guards, Kai has the latest cyber security in the house which Alec said was created and is even run by Cole himself.

"A doctor is coming to see you in about thirty minutes. Before we start your training we need you to heal properly."

"Okay," I reply as we walk down the hall. Alec stops at a door.

"This is your room. It locks from the outside so keep it open if you wanna leave on your will," he warns.

"What am I? A teenager with no closed doors policy?"

"Whatever makes you feel better. Also, here," he pulls out a phone and hands it to me.

"It's brand new and only allows you to call the pre-saved numbers. All the activity on there is monitored so think twice before you try something."

"Got it. Anything else?"

"Yeah. Alice's funeral is tomorrow. Kai got it arranged and it'll be something small with Henry and his wife, some more of James' colleagues and of course, you. I'll be taking you because something came up for Kai and he won't be able to make it even though he knows how important it is to keep up this act between you guys. The FBI is still keeping tabs so remember to be extra careful both in and outside the walls of this house."

"When will I see Kai? We still have things to discuss because I'm not sure what my role here exactly is."

"For the time being, the only person you'll be seeing is me. Kai will let you know when he's ready to discuss things with you. Also, continue wearing your contacts and keeping your hair blonde. It keeps people from this world realizing who you are and we also have to keep pretending you're still Captain's daughter. Now, go check out your room and be ready for when the doctor arrives," Alec says. He walks away before I can even respond to him. When will Kai be ready for a discussion? I can't just stay here not knowing what I'm even here for? What the actual fuck. I swear Kai just keeps screwing me over again and again.

Groaning, I head into my room and a huge smile takes over my face. I don't know what I was expecting but a whole ass ensuite wasn't it. As I walk in, there's a king-sized bed on a higher platform with nightstands on either side. There's a large walk-in closet stocked with clothes that are both my aesthetic and size and a bathroom with a jacuzzi.

Once I'm done exploring the room, I take a seat on the soft mattress and take a deep breath looking at the patio door. The door wouldn't open and I think it's locked for security purposes, but the view of the backyard and hills is beautiful. This room is beautiful and I don't know why my eyes tear up.

My breath hitches just before I let out an inaudible cry. I cover my mouth with my hand as I sob into my hands finally being alone for the first time in what feels like days. I wish I could describe what I feel but I don't think this feeling can be justified in words. I'm in a position I never imagined I would be in. I hate what it's making me become and the people around me. So much of my life is no longer mine and that loss of liberty, it's like being with Nick or being the daughter of a gang leader again. My life is always a man's in this life.

I never truly had anyone before James and Alice. They taught me what it feels like to be loved unconditionally and without expectation. I learned that I could be loved even at my worst and that I could love at my worst too and that relationships don't make a person weak if there's real love involved.

They're gone now. The only two people that I had and it scares me to be in this world all alone. There is no true love here. Everyone chases the same thing, power. And no one cares how they get it. Relationships here exist in the forms of arranged or forced marriages and contracts in exchange for power. Love always comes with conditions here.

I wasn't born for this world, I was moulded into it by Nick. I can fit in, but that doesn't mean I like to. I hate this world. It's artificial. Nothing here is real.

No friends.

No family.

No love.

There's nothing here for me.

Only pain.

I never wanted to come back. Willingly, I never would have. The universe believes I have unfinished business here and has brought me back for a reason. I just hope no matter what happens that I'm strong enough to get through it.

I'm back to my old ways and cry knowing that I deserve that empathy from myself. I cry for a few minutes letting it out before I get up and decide to take a quick shower and change into sweats and a hoodie. When the doctor arrives, Alec brings her up to my room. We don't exchange names but she goes over the basic questions and performs some basic tests on me.

My arm is back in a sling and my ruptured bullet wound is again stitched. She has also put me on two weeks of strict bed rest.

...♛...

I didn't see Kai at all in the two weeks I was on bed rest. I knew he was home at times when I heard his bedroom door, down the hall from mine, close but other than that, I felt like I was locked up in a prison cell in this house.

Alec wasn't lying when he said the only person I'd be dealing with was him because it's been two months and I haven't seen anyone else. I'll admit, I have met Kai a couple of times and I have made some public appearances but that was all staged because we need to keep the FBI off Kai's ass.

Every time I tried talking to him, he wouldn't respond or shut me down immediately. There wasn't a moment where we were together and he wasn't angry. Even then, I tried talking to him because I'm desperate for some answers.

I could go into Kai's room at night and demand answers but I realized him staying away from me shows his weakness. He knows who I am and wants me to work for him, yet he hasn't talked to me at all.

After two weeks of bed rest, I was allowed light exercise and built up my strength from there. It's been two months since Alec and I have been training and I feel as strong as I did before my injuries. There's always room for improvement, but I'm happy with where I am physically.

The only thing I'm not happy with is that even though I've been training, I feel like the last two months have been static. I'm reaching my limit. I haven't left the house in two months and I'm going insane. I feel more like a prisoner here than an employee. I want to go on missions. I need Kai to trust me, but I need him to give me the opportunities to earn it. How can I do that when he has been avoiding me like the plague?

It's currently six pm and Alec has locked me in my room. Kai has a meeting in the house for his legitimate business and he needs me out of the way for it. I have no reason to ruin his meeting, but he doesn't trust me. At least I know I have a lot of work left to do.

I'm currently in bed watching Netflix on the TV because there is nothing else to do. As the show plays, I hear my door handle and I pause the show. I check the clock on the wall and it's only six-thirty. Alec said the meeting would take at least a few hours and that he wouldn't be back until eight.

When the door opens, I find a large man dressed in a suit. His eyes widen when he realizes I'm inside.

"Hi," I put on an innocent smile.

"Hi, sorry, I'm looking for the bathroom," he says. He doesn't work for Kai because all his men know where in the house they're allowed and where they're not. The top floor is off-limits for them.

"Oh, are you here for the meeting?"

"Uh, yeah. I am," he nods. "Ian Shaw."

I climb off the bed and make my way over to him holding the door open. It opens from the outside without a key so that's why he was able to get in.

"Summer White," I shake his hand. He raises his eyebrow. "Kai's girlfriend."

"Oh," he looks around skeptically. "So he just keeps you locked up in here?"

"No. What gave you that idea?" How did he know I was locked in?

"When I pushed the level down, a lock clicked," he says looking at the lock like he's analyzing it to confirm his theory.

"You know a lot about doors, huh?" I laugh brushing it off. There's a bathroom downstairs right by the meeting room, how would he end up so far into the house trying to look for it? Something isn't adding up. "I can show you where the bathroom is."

"Please. Thank you." I nod and wait for him to step aside before I take the lead down the hall. I feel him following closely behind.

"Sorry if I disturbed you."

"It's okay, I was just watching Netflix."

"What were you watching?"

"It wasn't good because I don't even remember to be honest."

"Then why not leave your room and do something else?" he suggests.

"I like being alone in my room especially when there are strangers in the house. I'm an introvert," I easily lie.

"Oh."

"Yeah, but you're a businessman so I'm assuming that makes you an extrovert. You wouldn't understand," I say looking back at him. I find him staring at the walls of the house as he passes.

"I mean Kai is a businessman and he understands you," he looks at me when he realizes I was looking at him. He smiles at me but I can read right through it. He's prying and taking notes of the house and snooping around. Why would someone Kai is trying to do business with do that?

"That's different," I state.

"How so?"

"Here it is," I come to stop and turn to face the man. He crashes into me and I swiftly reach into the pocket of his jacket and slip out his wallet. I slip it behind my back casually.

"Shit, so sorry."

"All good. I can wait outside and walk you to the meeting room too," I offer.

"Thank you," he nods.

"My pleasure, really," I smile. Once he walks into the bathroom and locks the door, I bring his wallet out in front of me and go through it. Inside, I find his FBI ID. "Fucking hell."

I'm not sure if it's just him or the other men are part of the FBI too, but Kai can't let this deal go through. Even if his businesses are clean, the FBI might plant things to make it look illegitimate. They're trying everything to convict him and I don't care who the FBI thinks they are, Kai and Nick are both mine to deal with. I keep his ID and close his wallet.

The door behind me opens and I turn around smiling. I hold his wallet out to him. "You dropped this."

"Oh," his face loses colour. "Thank you."

"You can check if everything is still in there," I prompt.

"I'm sure it is. Anyways, I don't have anything important in there," he tries to find an excuse. I prompted him on purpose because there's no way he would check his wallet in front of me when he knows what's in there. I knew the feds were stupid but not this stupid. How can you forget to take your IDs out on an undercover mission?

"No?" I ask. He nods agreeing.

"Okay, well the meeting room is just down the hall," I say walking towards it. Once we reach the glass doors, I spot Kai at the front of the room explaining the graph on the screen.

I open the door and let the agent walk in. Everyone in the room turns their attention towards us.

"He got lost so I thought I'd show him the way back." Kai's eyes are deadly as he scans me, a rage burning in his eyes. He's wearing one of his signature black suits. "Can you spare me a minute?"

"After this is done. Half an hour or so," Kai responds.

"I need to talk to you now. It's urgent," I say. I can feel everyone's eyes on me including Cole and Alec's but I don't pay attention. I know this is bold of me considering Kai avoids me like the plague and walking in on his meeting like this won't sit well with him but it's for his good.

"Summer, after this is done," he stubbornly responds.

"Okay, I'll wait in here," I say walking in. I take the empty chair closest to the door. I can tell he's unhappy but I nonchalantly wait for him to begin again. I look at Alec who raises his eyebrows in question. I shrug in response. Cole seems unbothered by my presence and acts as if I'm not even here.

Kai talks for about twenty more minutes before a discussion breaks out and I listen carefully. The meeting seems to be going in the direction of closing. I can't let that happen.

"My men and I agree, I think this proposal is perfect for our company. We'd like to sign the contract tonight," the man states. Who has a contract ready on hand like that?

"That's amazing," Kai says. "Do you have a contract made?"

"Yeah. I already had a good feeling about this and you're aware of how long we've wanted to do this. I think it's only right we don't delay this any further," he says. He reaches into his briefcase and pulls out a stack of papers handing them to Kai.

"Kai," I say as he pulls out his pen. That catches everyone's attention. "Don't you want a lawyer to look over them first?"

"I'm reading them through as I sign."

"Babe," I stand up and make my way over to him. "You're not a lawyer," I say making some of the men snicker. I clench my jaw. If they're agents, I don't want them laughing at his expense. Kai glares at me, but I ignore it staring at the cup of coffee right by the papers.

"Summer, we've been in discussion for a while. It'll be good for the company, you know this," he grits trying to keep his composure. The vein on his forehead is popping as he tries to contain it.

"I know, but can't this wait?" When I reach him, he spins in his chair to face me. The eyes on me cause my anxiety to spike, but I know I have to keep the act going. He can't sign this contract. Not yet at least. "I need you," I bite my bottom lip. "I've been waiting for you to come home all day," I state. I lean down, my hands rest on the arm of his chair and I stick my ass out. Kai's gaze is intense and he scans my face trying to decipher what's going on but I know he can't figure it out.

He waits patiently for me to continue and I decide to go for it. I spin and take a seat on his lap letting my right arm swing beside me hitting the cup of coffee on the table. It spills on the contract and the man who brought it.

"Fuck, I'm so sorry," I stand immediately.

"Jesus, fuck," the man groans.

"Mr. Han, I'm so sorry," Kai stands apologizing. He grabs the box of napkins on the table and hands it to him to clean while I stand there acting ashamed of my mistake.

"It's okay, Mr. Black."

"The contract," another one of his men points out. Everyone looks at it disappointedly. They're not upset the business deal didn't go through, they're upset that they won't have an in on Kai's business without it.

"It's okay. I'll have a new one made and sent to you as soon as possible. Clearly, you have things to tend to at the moment. Thank you for your time." Kai and him shake hands before he takes his leave with his men following. Cole and Alec offer to walk them out leaving Kai and I alone.

Before Kai can say or do anything, I bring out the agent's card and throw it on the table. Kai picks it up and his eyes slightly widen.

"He came into my room looking for the bathroom. It made me suspicious so I offered to show him the way and he started asking me invasive questions. I picked his wallet out of his pocket and found this. You're welcome," I state. Instead of waiting for a response, I head out and back into my room closing the door behind me. There was no way I was going to let him get a word in with me after the way he's been treating me for the last two months.

I don't need to flaunt saving his ass. He knows exactly what I did and I want him to recognize it himself. I didn't owe him anything, yet I still saved his ass. This better be worth something in his book.

A few hours later, Alec knocks on my door and walks in.

"Congratulations, you just got a promotion. We're on collection duty starting tomorrow," he says. He's still wearing his suit and it makes me question when his workday really ends. I sometimes believe he probably wears the suit to bed too.

"That's not a mission," I say sitting up on the bed. I was all ready to go to sleep because Alec wakes us up at five in the morning for training and I try to get as much rest as possible.

"It's the best you're gonna get for the time being," Alec shrugs walking to the patio doors and staring out.

"Fine, I'm ecstatic then," I force a thin lipped smile.

"I thought you'd be happy, genuinely," he says turning to face me. His eyes travel down the silk tank top to the blanket covering the bottom half of my body. I clear my throat gaining his attention.

"Sorry."

"It's not the first time," I say. I don't think he does it unknowingly. All of these men are calculative. It'd be foolish of me to think Alec so often happens to just gaze at my body lustfully and never act on it. First of all, he has a girlfriend and when he talks about her, the very few times that he has, he talks about her in a way I once hoped my lover would talk about me. There is no one for Alec besides his girlfriend and there is nothing but love and loyalty in his heart for her.

The only reason why I can think he looks at me the way he does is to see how I will react and if I will take it somewhere else which I never have and never will. I don't need Alec physically. I just need his trust and I can do that without having to touch him. I need him to trust me and my character so I don't feed into any of his games.

"Can I ask you something, not to make things awkward or anything?"

"I feel like it'll make things awkward, but go ahead."

"That night in the cabin, why'd you tell me to stay?" he asks.

"The more the merrier?" I answer unsure of what to say. I can't tell him the truth. I asked him to stay because I wanted to get a reaction out of Kai and I did. That made it clear to me that I have some sort of effect on him. That's probably why he has been avoiding me.

"Really?" he questions unimpressed.

"I don't know. A lot was happening before you came and I just got lost in the moment. I wasn't thinking about the consequences and the words kind of just left my mouth before I even got a chance to think," I explain hoping the word vomit makes some sort of sense to him.

"Mm-hm," he nods thinking.

"Why are you asking now?"

"Because I've seen the videos. I know what Nick did and being with you for the last two months is making me understand you differently."

"What do you mean?"

"I think you're desensitized to certain situations and I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing."

"For you guys or me?" I question. Alec doesn't care about me more than he cares about him and Kai. He's worried that my insensitivity to certain aspects of this life might allow me to do things that could hurt them.

He smirks and I watch as his tongue darts out licking his lips. His amber eyes staring at me curiously and impressed. The last two months between us have been good, but I know he's been trying to get inside my head and figure me out. I can tell it hasn't worked that well for him and it won't for anybody. You can't know someone who doesn't even know themselves.

"For all of us," he states. "I think you should be happy Kai even gave you this."

"I am. I finally get to leave the house, but I think hearing it from him would've made me feel more accomplished. Even though I deserve a thank you, I know I'll never get one from him but I thought he could at least be professional enough to talk to me about what my role here is by now."

"He's dealing with a lot, Summer."

"He said I wasn't going to be a prisoner, yet I've been nothing else since I've gotten here," I retort.

"You have every freedom within this house."

"That's a paradox."

"Even if you talk to him, you and I both know he's not gonna give you the answers you're looking for. You're just gonna drive each other crazy," he shakes his head.

"Is that why he's avoiding me? Because I drive him crazy?"

"I don't know about that, but when you guys are together, I know it drives everyone else crazy."

"I don't care what everyone else thinks, Alec I'm making one thing clear with you and that is that I'm losing my patience. You tell Kai when you see him that he has two weeks before I hunt him down myself and we live in the same house so we know that it won't be that hard. Also, thanks to him and this amazing recovery plan, I am stronger than I was before so I'm telling you it's better if he comes to me himself," I state. His eyes glisten amused by my confidence. I don't talk to him like that. I'm mostly sweet and innocent and always a yes woman around him because that's the easiest way to deal with him. This side of me needed to come out today because the sweet act was getting me nowhere.

"I will make him aware of your position."

"Good, now get out."

Alec smiles before nodding and taking his leave.

"Good night," he salutes before the door shuts behind him.

Collecting duty? Really? Do I look like a fucking collector to them? That is low-grade shit and even Nick had more faith in me than that. Then again, Nick was also abusive.

I won't lie, I've been living lavishly in this house. From food to the way of living, I'm treated as a human being and that's more than I could say about when I was with Nick.

I try to constantly compare both situations but I'm beginning to realize they're drastically different. I can't react the same way I did to Nick. I have to be different and adapt accordingly here. I think I've done pretty well so far and I hope it keeps getting better.

I think Alec and I are at a good place and I want it to stay like that.

Kai clearly is avoiding me so I hope that progresses into something better and he stops avoiding me.

Cole, I don't even know where we stand. He hates me. He thinks I act better than I am, but he shouldn't be that naive. Everyone has seen the videos so no one should act like they wouldn't do what I did in my position.

I hope this promotion to collection duty actually leads somewhere because I didn't think that I'd basically be in the same position as I was in two months ago.

A/N:

Such a long chapter. Took forever to write because life is falling apart for me and honestly I think everyone around the world so I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Sending all the positive energy to anyone and everyone who needs it✨✨

We're 1/4 through the book. There is so much more to come.

What do you think is going to happen next?