IT HAD BEEN more than two weeks already, but SM couldn't make herself leave Knight's side. After everything she learned about him, she couldn't just go back home—which she was supposed to do—and leave his house.

Looking at him sleeping peacefully like now... she couldn't leave him... even just for a little while.

This man who called himself a monster... he was far from being one.

He might have monstrous skills, presented a cold front most of the time, and might have ended countless lives—and she would never justify that—but for her, he was just a fragile man on the inside.

A selfless man who treasured the people he loved more than himself.

Who wouldn't treasure and love a man like him? She must protect him at all cost. She'd make sure she wouldn't do anything to hurt him.

"I will stay by your side and keep you..." she said in a whisper.

She ran her fingers through his hair and noticed that his blond roots were starting to peek through. He might not have dyed his hair yet.

Her chest tightened. He had to hide even his real hair color. But why? Why did he need to pretend? Why did he need to suffer?

Little by little, while slowly knowing Knight and his past, she was starting to hate his father.

SM took Knight's hand when she noticed his forehead crease as he grumbled in his sleep, as if he were in pain. He started to twist and turn as his whole body gradually became covered in sweat.

A nightmare. The reason he couldn't sleep peacefully.

She wiped the sweat from his forehead and kissed it before wrapping her boyfriend in a warm hug while sitting beside him.

"Wake up, Knight," she whispered. "Wake up for me, baby."

She didn't release Knight from her embrace until he stopped fidgeting. Then she saw tears streaming down his face as he opened his eyes and looked at her.

"You're here..." he whispered before his face broke into a happy smile. "Thank God."

She wiped the tear off his cheek. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here."

"But aren't you going back home later?" He looked in pain. "I won't be sleeping with you at night, and I won't be waking up with you in the morning. I'll miss those moments with you."

"I'll miss those too," she said, smiling. "How about I stay for a couple more days?" She knew she couldn't leave him yet anyway.

Knight's face suddenly lit up, then he tightly wrapped his arms around SM. "I'll love that!"

SM laughed and hugged him back. "By the way, do you want to come with me?"

Knight released her from his embrace. "To where?"

"To Eli's condo. I'll visit her later." She caressed Knight's cheek. "Come with me so you can check on her. You can use me as your reason to see her."

Gratitude filled Knight's face. "That'll be nice. Thank you."

She kissed him on the cheek in response. "Anything for my lord."

Knight chuckled softly before locking his lips onto hers. She answered with the same passion as she encircled her arms around his neck.

SM gave a faint whimper as they both fell onto the bed, Knight hovering over her. She closed her eyes, letting Knight undress her slowly.

"Uhmm..." SM let out a soft moan as Knight's hands caressed her naked body. When she felt his touch on her chest, she lightly grasped the bedsheet. He massaged her breasts, slowly rolling his tongue around her nipples. He sucked and licked them, making her undeniably wet down there, pleasure shooting through her belly.

That felt good.

She clenched the bedsheet more tightly when Knight switched between her breasts, massaging them, sucking her nipples.

SM couldn't do anything when Knight trailed his lips along her stomach. Her gentle whines followed one after another as his lips traced her lower abdomen then traveled down her wet womanhood.

"Aahh..." she moaned with her eyes closed.

Her thighs parted on their own when Knight deepened his kisses on her entrance drenched in his saliva and her own fluids.

"Uhmm... Knight..." She lifted her buttocks to chase his mouth adoring her womanhood. "Ohh..."

Her body arched when Knight swirled his tongue around her pearl, her hand gripping his hair. He was licking her, sucking her, and tasting her, his tongue lapping up her juices. She couldn't catch her breath as she repeatedly moaned.

"Ohh... Ahhh... Uhmm..." SM twisted and turned on the bed while Knight was eating out her wet folds. "Ahhh! Knight!"

SM took a deep breath when she felt his tongue come in her entrance. When Knight pulled his tongue out, he swirled it around her pearl once again, which vibrated because of the intense lust SM was feeling.

"Ahhh..." SM clung on the bedsheet while Knight persisted in tasting her juices. He kept on licking and licking until she trembled, her legs shuddering as she came.

So good... so damn good!

"Ohhh..." she whimpered as pleasure tore through her.

SM's head was still hazy, her thoughts still scattered, when Knight settled on top of her and intertwined their hands together before his length filled and stretched her vagina walls.

SM's lips parted and almost screamed in pleasure and delight, especially after his length had fully occupied her entrance. She gasped, her legs parting wider.

"So big..." she murmured. Yet still so good.

She could feel how girthy and long his penis was inside her. It was a miracle that she could accommodate his size like this.

Skin to skin.

He felt so hard and hot inside her, filling her womanhood and making her feel content.

Knight trailed his kisses from her neck to the back of her ear. Their hands remained intertwined.

"Does it hurt?" he whispered.

SM opened her eyes to set her eyes onto her lover. "No... feels good."

Knight smiled before kissing the corner of her lips and slowly moving inside her. A soft but long moan escaped SM as he moved, followed by another and then another when Knight started to thrust in and out of her.

She let go of her hands from his to wrap her arms around his neck and cling to him as his length glided in and out of her.

She was so wet, and he was erect, aroused, and hard. "Ahhh... Oh!"

Knight pounded in and out of her, making her body shake violently. She shuddered and trembled at every thrust.

"Ohh! Oh! Oh!" She tightened her arms around his neck. "Ahh! Ah! Knight... Ah! Ahh!"

Knight caressed her waist, down to her hips, before guiding her thighs that were already encircled around his waist as he thrust his length into her womanhood over and over.

"Ohh! Oh! Ohh! Ohh!" She clung to Knight's neck even tighter. Her loud moans were only cut off when Knight captured her lips and showered her with fiery, passionate kisses.

"Fuck!" Knight muffled a cuss inside her mouth as he kissed her senseless. Both of them were already beaded with sweat, which had already blended on their bodies, as their lovemaking intensified. They were hot and sweaty and horny.

"Fuck!" Knight hissed as he buried himself deep inside her.

"Ohhh!" Her body arched when his erect sex had gone deeper. "Knight..."

He pushed himself to kneel on the bed while still inside her, and since her arms were encircled around him, he was able to carry SM with his movement. She was now seated on top of his thighs, straddling him while moaning.

Knight held and squeezed her butt cheeks as he thrust inside her. Her breasts bounced as she moved her body up and down. When she curved her back outward because of overwhelming pleasure, he locked his lips onto one of her nipples. Her grip tangled in his hair as she arched her body even more, allowing herself to feel the intensely satisfying sensation inside her.

"Ohh! Ohh! Ahhh..." she kept moaning as she swayed her hip on top of Knight. "Uhmm! Ohh! Ahh! Knight! Ohh! Ahh!"

Her nails dug into his shoulders when she was approaching her climax.

"Ohh! Knight! Aaahhh! I'm c-c-com-ming!" she screamed. She arched her back as her juices exploded.

Knight's grip on her waist tightened as he pushed his full length deep inside her one last time and filled it with his warm cum.

Both of them were exhausted, panting. SM rested her head on Knight's shoulder while she remained on top of him, his penis still inside her.

"Let's do it again later," Knight said, breathing heavily. "I'm still horny."

SM laughed before hugging her persuasive boyfriend. "Anything to make my baby happy."

Knight softly chuckled before releasing himself from her embrace to look at her. "I'm so lucky to have you. Don't you dare change your mind about me."

Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"You're so beautiful, inside and out, Sweet Monday," he explained. He wanted SM all for himself. "It's impossible that no one would like you. You can easily catch the eyes and heart of anyone."

"So?" She shrugged. "They're not you."

That put a smile on his lips. Still... there was doubt in his eyes. Ah, this man, doubting her affection for him.

"What if you were to have a change of heart?" He sounded... so insecure.

"Baby," she replied, cupping his face, "I'm already way too deep with you. And what am I, a kid to change my mind that easily?"

"It could happen..."

SM tsked. "If it could happen, then you'll have a change of heart too—"

"Hell no!"

"Then hell no for me too." SM shook her head. "It's just you, okay?"

Knight nodded.

SM sighed before kissing him on his lips and getting off him. She instantly felt Knight's semen traveling down on her inner thigh. Then she walked into the bathroom to freshen up her body. Knight immediately followed.

She shook her head with a grin when Knight took a bath with her.

"No funny business," Knight said in a commanding voice, smiling, before he embraced her naked body under the shower and kissed her neck down to her chest.

And because she was always soft when it came to Knight, she let him do whatever he wanted with her body and found herself making love to Knight.

Again. In the bathroom. Underneath the cold shower.

WHEN CLOUD SAID that they had a guest after he and SM showered, Knight didn't expect to see Elizabeth—her long lost sister he had been trying to find—in the living room. And she happened to be just under his nose. The question was , what was she doing here?

"Hi!" Elizabeth greeted him with enthusiasm when she saw him walk toward her. "I went to my lazy boss's house, so I decided to drop by. Sweet Monday is still here, right?"

Knight nodded. "In our room."

She nodded before looking at him. "Are you sure we haven't met yet? I mean, I'm sure I've seen you before."

"Where?"

Eli released a heavy sigh. "I'm not even sure. And I don't even know why I wanna see you. Argh! This is confusing the shit out of me. I couldn't sleep last night, wondering where I've seen you. And finally! This morning, I remember!"

He turned a steady gaze toward her, awaiting her next words.

"Who are you really?" Eli asked. "You told me we're not related in any way, but I'm sure that you look like my brother. I mean, he's blond, and you're clearly not. I can vaguely remember him, you know, but I know you resemble him! If you're not my brother, I'm sure you know him. Am I correct?"

Knight placed his hands in his pockets and shook his head. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Elizabeth stomped in frustration before plopping down on the sofa. "Argh! I hate this. Why can't I fully remember my own brother?!"

He stared at his younger sister, who was already frowning. I'm sorry, Elizabeth. This is for your own safety. Seeing his sister safe and unharmed was enough for him. This was the reason he was looking for her anyway—to see her living a peaceful life.

Knight sat on the single sofa. "Why do you not remember your brother?"

"I had an accident when I was in high school." She sighed. "That's why I can't remember most of my past. I badly want to remember my brother, I don't know why. Maybe because whenever I try to recall him, I feel at peace and loved. I think that love is coming from my brother. But..." She looked at him. "If he loves me so much, why hasn't he come to see me?"

I've been looking everywhere for you, little sis. If you only know how much I want to hug you right now.

"I'm sure your brother loves you," he told Elizabeth before beaming a reserved smile.

"I guess..." Elizabeth sighed then smiled when her eyes gazed at the staircase where SM was descending. "Sweet Monday! How are you?" Her face instantly brightened. She rushed to hug SM before whispering something in her ear.

SM softly chuckled. "Crazy. You're the last one I'll be jealous of."

Elizabeth laughed. "I'm just here to clarify things... that's all. And I was wrong," Elizabeth said as she scratched the back of her neck. "He's not my brother. Ugh, I hate this. I thought I found him."

SM subtly glanced at Knight before smiling at Elizabeth. "You can visit here any time, whenever you like. I'm sure Knight will welcome you to his home. You're my best friend after all."

Elizabeth grinned at him. "Really?"

Knight nodded. "Of course."

"Okay! You said that yourself!" Her smile widened before hugging SM. "Alright, I need to go now. I just dropped by, after all. Let's have a bonding session soon."

SM nodded with a smile. "Sure, just call me."

She waved at Elizabeth as they bade their goodbyes. When Elizabeth had finally left the mansion, she approached Knight.

"Are you okay?" she asked as she sat on his lap, brushing his cheek and hair.

Knight nodded and then asked, "What kind of accident happened to Eli for her to forget me?" Knight asked.

"Car accident," SM answered. "Though I don't know the details. When I met her, the accident had already happened and she couldn't remember you anymore. By the way, is your father's spy still here? Can I now leave?"

"He'll leave today." He circled his arms around SM. "But I have to really make sure he truly has left for your safety."

SM smiled. "I'll be fine."

"You don't know my father."

"Knight, if worse comes to worst, I'm not just gonna sit there and take shit from your father. My parents didn't give birth to me and love me just so anyone could scare or hurt me. I am ready to fight them, whoever they are."

"He can take you away from me—"

"And you think I would let him take me away from you?" She showed him her fist. "This will say hello to your father's face. I know it's disrespectful, but if he does something I don't like, I won't hesitate, Knight. I'm kind and nice, but I will not be pushed around. I wasn't born and raised to be bullied."

He looked at his girlfriend with great amusement. Her eyes glimmered with bravery. "I'm really lucky to have you."

"Of course, you are," SM joked, softly chuckling before rewarding him with a kiss on the lips. "But no joke, I will truly fight for us. The thing I can't stand the most are nosy, intrusive people, and based on what I have heard from you, that's how your father is. If he interferes in our relationship, I won't just stay silent, Knight."

"I know," he replied, tightly wrapping his arms around her waist. "Because you're amazing. And I'm more than willing to fight for you too, baby."

Their conversation was cut off when he received an email from his phone.

It was from the Orgánosi HQ in the Philippines.

Fuck!

He released SM from his embrace and then raised his gaze to her after going through the email. "It's work."

He saw SM take a step back before she asked, "Work, as in the bloody one?"

He nodded. "Yes. That one."

SM took a deep breath. "Will you be out for long?"

"I'm not sure. Depends..." When SM nodded, he knew that she was trying to understand him.

"Alright... but please, no wounds? I don't want to see you wounded."

Knight smiled. "Yeah. I can do the 'no wounds' part."

"Thank you." SM embraced him and then kissed him on his forehead. "Take care. I don't care if you came back bloody as long as the blood is not yours."

He was stunned by what she said. Had she really accepted that part of him? "It's okay even if I kill?"

She looked at him with admiration. "Baby, I already made peace with the fact that my boyfriend's definition of work has nothing to do with stocks and board meetings."

He chuckled softly. "And that's okay with you?"

SM nodded. "Yes. It's okay. I mean, how many women are there who can brag about their boyfriend being a count?"

That made him laugh. "I knew it, you're after that," he joked.

SM laughed in return. "Now you know what I am after, do your best on being a count so I can take care of you more," she replied, riding on his joke.

He shook his head, laughing. "Yes, Boss."

She smiled before hugging him. "Alright, I'll let you leave. Take care."

He smiled and kissed her lips before leaving SM's side.

To find a woman who could understand him and what he does, it was a blessing. And to make her stay... it would be a miracle.

"Dimitri," he said while driving his car, talking through his Bluetooth earpiece. "How's the info I asked you to investigate? Have you made sure it's correct?"

"It's positive, Boss."

With what Dimitri had said, Knight couldn't help but massage his temples. "How sure are you that our asset inside the Triad is Beth, just as I learned?"

"One hundred and ten percent, Boss," Dimitri replied. "She changed her face. Her files were buried in the organization's database, but I asked Shun to pull it out, and it's really her. The mother of the Vitale twins."

He tightened his grip around the steering wheel. Fuck! She had been undercover for a long time. He couldn't just make her stop, even if she was under him.

"How much damage will it cost if we pull her out now?"

"It can kill her. The twins are still incapable of protecting her."

He let out a loud sigh. Then the best thing to do now was to allow Beth to continue spying. Her sons were still on the run, anyway. Their lives are still at risk in the Philippines, which was why they were in Italy. How could they protect their mother that way? It would only cause chaos. The situation needed to be controlled by him for the time being. The twins had to protect themselves first while he protected the twins' mother.

"Dimitri, make sure nothing happens to Beth. Make sure of her safety," he demanded. "The twins already suffered too much."

"Yes, Boss."

When the line ended, he called Shun. "Still busy, you motherfucker?"

Shun laughed. "What is it?"

"I need my tracker."

"My wife is still asleep, so I'm all yours—except for my heart and body. They belong to my wife."

"Gross." He tsked. "I want you to keep an eye on someone."

"Give me a name," Shun quickly replied. By the way he responded, Knight knew he was already in front of his laptop.

"Gregorio Patlan."

"Who's this motherfucker?"

"Triad's gun smuggler," he answered. "Call me once he arrives in the country so I can clean up some mess."

Shun laughed. "Yeah, yeah. By the way, have you heard about what happened to Andrius?"

He sighed. "Yeah."

"Will he be okay?"

"He'll be fine," Knight said.

"I hope so."

"Yeah..."

"So..." Shun trailed off. "I heard you got yourself a girlfriend, Count."

That put a smile on his lips. "She's amazing, Shun. Just plain fucking amazing. I'm at a loss for words at how amazing she is."

Shun chuckled. "You're all praises, eh?"

He also softly laughed in response. "Because she's really amazing."

"Does she know your activities in the Orgánosi?"

"Not that much."

"Tell her."

"I will."

"Good. Keeping a lot of secrets won't do your relationship good."

"Thanks, Mr. Relationship Expert," Knight commented with sarcasm in his voice.

Shun tsked. "Whatever. I'm hanging up. I'll call you if I have an update."

"Bye."

He parked his car in front of Racini's Hotel and got out of his car. As he was walking toward the hotel's entrance, an unknown number called.

"Who's this—"

"Sweet Monday Canja Lopez," the voice on the other line said. "Pretty little thing, isn't she?"

Knight stopped his tracks and discreetly scanned his surroundings.

Fuck!

"Who's this?" he asked, his voice calm.

"A friend."

His jaw tightened. The voice sounded like a man in his forties or fifties. It was gruff yet quirky.

"Well, friend, if you hurt my Sweet Monday, I will hunt you down and kill you myself."

The person on the other line laughed. "Amusing. Your father trained you well."

His face darkened. "Who's this?" he repeated.

"I told you, a friend." The man chuckled. "Anyway, as a friend, I'm telling you that your father's spy knows about SM."

His eyes widened.

"What are you going to do, Count Knight?" The man on the other line laughed. "Continue being your father's lapdog? Why don't you bark?"

He remained calm. "Why don't you say that to me face to face?"

"Don't you trust my words?"

"I don't trust people I'm not close enough to kill."

"Now that is sweet. Anyways," the man said, seemingly enjoying himself. "I just called to warn you. It's on you if you listen to me or not. You're a grown man. You can even bark. Have fun, Your Highness."

Then, the line died. Knight helplessly stared at the screen.

Who was that? A friend, he said. A friend who knew about his father's spy who knew about SM. He couldn't let this spy report back to his father.

He must protect Sweet Monday at all cost.

He quickly called Shun while pacing back and forth to his car. "Shun, track Arturo Bonapart. Now!"

"Who's he?"

"My father's spy."

Shun cussed as Knight heard him typing something on the keyboard. "What are you going to do to him?"

"He knows about SM." He gritted his teeth as he got in his car. "I can't let him report back to my father."

"Knight, he is your father's spy," Shun stated with emphasis. "You do realize you'll be going against your father if you kill him—"

"Accidents happen all the time."

Shun cussed. "Finally! Against your father. It's gonna be fun."

He turned the steering wheel of the car and drove aimlessly. "Where am I going, Shun?"

"Airport," he answered. "He's bound for Japan in an hour."

"Got it," Knight said before speeding toward the airport.

Sorry, Arturo. But I have to eliminate every person who's a threat to my Sweet Monday. No one is exempt.