Alex

"Get up. You're weak."

I grumble from my place on the cold ground and turn my head toward Cold. The bastard is staring down at me with a blank face, his fists tightened and not even a drop of sweat on his bare chest.

How the hell is this possible? I had gotten better the past few trainings. I could easily beat him—at least once.

Today, I'm always losing.

Am I really weak, or did he never actually use his full strength and all his tricks on me? If this is the case, I'm screwed. I can't lose anymore. I've been here for so long already, and it's time for me to do what I had in mind ever since he proposed me this crazy deal in order to save my friend's life.

That's right. Don't forget that.

Right now, it's pretty much impossible to forget with Cole's glare on me. That makes me angry, and I use that anger on him.

"Screw you. I'm not," I mutter, quickly getting up and positioning myself in front of him.

"Then prove it," he retorts, throwing his fist at my face. I see it coming and dodge.

He clenches his jaw. I smirk.

"So, what happened with Nick?" he asks as I try to make him fall to the ground.

I grit my teeth, my chest rising and falling quickly. Talking and fighting at the same time isn't that easy.

"Told you already. Everything was going just fine until Nick orders me to kill her."

"And you didn't want to?" It doesn't sound like a question. More like a statement.

I take a deep breath and step back from him. He crosses his arms over his chest, watching me. Something that surprised me when I first started to train with him was to notice that he didn't have any tattoos. I've heard about the S.N.A and the snake tattoo, but Cole doesn't have one. Maybe he thought it was smarter not to bring back that tattoo. He didn't want anyone to know the S.N.A was back—with another leader who happened to be Dan Valdez's nephew, and a new...specialty.

Cole loves drugs. I remember Enzo telling me once that he did everything, which is true. But right now, Cole is mainly focused on dealing drugs, and, well, me.

I don't know how any of this works. Besides the time I interrupted Cole and that resulted in him killing a man, I've never got involved in his shit. I've been surrounded by people doing illegal activities for five months, and yet I'm still alive and sane.

Who am I kidding? I'm going freaking crazy. Every day I wonder when shit will go down. What if I get arrested?

I shake my head to myself. Anyway. Cole only has one tattoo on his chest, some sort of Chinese symbol which I have no idea what's the significance. Weirdly enough, I don't have a thing for tattoos. Enzo doesn't have any, and—

Shit. I inhale sharply and turn my head to the side. Don't start thinking about him. He's not here. He gave up on you.

"Alex?"

I blink and look at Cole. His eyebrows are furrowed. Right. I need to focus.

"I didn't have any reasons to," I say, scowling. "I thought I had to gain Nick's trust, not yours."

He shrugs. "Nick thinks you're not on our side."

I raise my hands in annoyance. "And you believe him because I refused to kill an innocent woman?"

"She saw you guys. She's a threat now," he states coldly, narrowing his eyes. "You didn't want to kill her because she's your friend."

"She's not my friend," I argue, meeting his glare without flinching. "Why do you suddenly believe everything Nick says?"

I run a hand through my long hair and attempt to redo my ponytail. Cole's gaze falls on my right wrist, and he finally notices.

"What's that? You got that while we fought?" He grabs my arm and stares at the bruise with a frown.

"Nick," I answer quietly.

He releases my arm and asks seriously, "When?"

"Told you. Nick was angry that I didn't kill an innocent woman," I repeat calmly, looking away.

I still notice Cole rolling his eyes and turning away from me. I hear him mutter under his breath, "Fucking Nick." Then he turns toward me. "I'll talk to Nick and have someone else keep an eye on you from now on."

I shrug and turn my head to the side. I smile a little. Destroying their trust for each other? Check.

"You know what?" Cole suddenly says after drinking from his water bottle, "I think I know what you can do."

I swallow, placing my hands on my hips. "What do you mean?"

"You mentioned you wanted to go out more often, am I right?"

I nod, now feeling insecure. I don't know where he's going with this, and I have the feeling I won't like what's coming.

Cole smiles, but it's more sinister than friendly. There's an exciting spark in his eyes, and he takes a step closer to me.

"I have a mission for you," he announces, his blue eyes staring deep into my eyes, searching for something. I remain impassive. "A solo mission."

I clear my throat. "What is it?"

His fingers brush my cheek, and this time, I truly have to fight the urge to not move away. This is wrong. All of this is. I let him get way too close to me to get what I want. I saw a side of him that I'd never thought I would see. There are times he almost fools me, almost makes me think that he's good. But then I remember he would kill anyone in a heartbeat if he wants to, and not if he needs to. When we're alone, he's acting soft with me like he cares—and he said it himself. But is this real? No. None of this is. I'm using him, and he's using me.

This isn't going to end well.

And I get my confirmation when he says to me in a whisper, "Killing."

My heart drops. I go still and glare at him. "I refused the first time, and—"

"It's not an innocent person this time," he cuts me off, tilting his head. "Do that and I'm sure Nick will change his mind. If you do that yourself, alone, with no one's help, my men will fear you for good. You'll be your own person."

I already am my own person.

"It's really nothing, Alex." Cole shrugs, staring at me. "I'll give you all the indications. Everything will go fine. You're ready."

This isn't what I want. I knew I would need to do certain things I don't want to do, in order to get Cole's trust. But this? Am I really ready to do that, only to prove my loyalty to him?

Shit. My hands tremble, and I quickly tighten them, my nails digging into my palms. I breathe in slowly. Now is not the time to panic. I'll figure this out. I'll manage.

I nod once, smiling a little. "Okay. You can count on me, Cole. Who do I need to eliminate?"

I want to throw up.

What have I gotten myself into?

*

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