I watched the 6'4 Xaden move closer. He leaned against the door and crossed his arms, as if we were a major inconvenience.
"How did you get in here?" I asked Xaden.
"I was waiting by the door when I heard you scream. You didn't even lock it, and you know how far your father's enemies will go to bring him down. You shouldn't be this clumsy."
His gaze swept across the apartment with open irritation and disgust.
I suddenly became aware of how small it was. Since I refused money from my father, I had used what little I made to rent this place.
"You have no right barging into my girlfriend's apartment and lecturing her about her safety," Lucas remarked.
Xaden ignored him completely and looked straight at me, as if Lucas didn't exist.
"Judging from your apartment, you seem to have very horrible taste—" he paused dramatically, then continued before I could speak.
"Did you really have to settle for a thing like this?"
He looked directly at Lucas.
"You have no right to question my decision or make snide remarks about my boyfriend," I snapped.
His head tilted back in laughter before he picked up the file he had dropped on my table earlier.
"Oh, I do." He held it up.
"Whatever you had going on with your plaything over here comes to an end tomorrow. Your contract with the Lanchesters takes effect the moment you turn twenty-one in two days."
Fuck.
I had forgotten. Turning twenty-one was creeping closer, and every attempt to evade this written fate had proven futile.
He turned to Lucas.
"How do you think Mr. Rosetti would react when he hears you assaulted his daughter?"
Lucas threw a punch, but Xaden moved with unnatural speed, dodging it before it could land.
"I didn't assault her," Lucas said through seethed teeth.
"You did," I forced out.
"I hate to agree with him, but you constantly tried to force yourself on me even after I said no. Any problem our relationship is going through is your fault. All you care about is sex. You claim to love me, but you aren't even trying to fight for us."
I shoved my hand against his chest.
Tears threatened to spill, but I refused to let them fall. I would not cower in the presence of my enemy.
I turned to Xaden.
"Whatever you came here for, do it and get out."
Xaden frowned. "That's no way to talk to your fiancé."
I scowled.
"Luc, please leave. We'll continue this conversation another day."
Lucas groaned and muttered something under his breath before leaving.
Now I was alone with the devil — a very dangerous and handsome one.
"Why are you here?" I asked, impatience thinning my voice.
"My father asked me to ensure you sign the documents in that file. It's important you read it and edit it to your liking. It concerns family shares and your new position in the company."
I looked at the file with disgust.
"And what if I have no interest in inheriting this cursed business? Fuck you, your father, and the stupid shares."
He straightened, no longer leaning on the door. His hazel eyes gleamed with mischief, as if daring me to defy him.
"I am not a violent man, nor am I a woman hitter. But I know many ways to make a person bend to my will. If you do not sign that contract and return it to the Lanchesters' threshold within twelve hours, I will not fail to live up to my name."
He turned before I could reply and shut the door behind him.
What was the worst he could do? Threaten me?
I had seen the dare in his eyes… and now I wanted to know how much havoc that light could cause.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I didn't sign the documents twelve hours later.
It was 3 a.m., and sleep refused to come. I lay awake, imagining every possible way Xaden could ruin my life.
The weather was cold. I wrapped my blanket tighter around my body while scrolling through my email.
Then I saw it.
An email from my nursing internship programme.
Dear Kayla Harrison,
We regret to inform you that you have been delisted from our internship programme as you do not meet our sponsorship criteria. You are required to report to the head office and return every item in your possession. Failure to comply will result in a $500k fine.
Tears gathered at the corners of my eyes.
Was this his doing? If it was… how did he find out?
Not even my father knew about the internship.
I will not give up now.
No.
I will not let him have the last laugh.
I quickly took a bath and changed into a black hoodie and matching joggers.
A gun was hidden in my shoe rack, just in case anyone ever tried to break in.
Father had insisted i learn to shoot before i turned ten. I also got trained on how to fight by Lucas and Ace, my father's most skilled assassin.
I tucked it into the pocket of my hoodie and slipped on my trainers.
Rolling my hair into a bun, I grabbed the old motorcycle I used for missions like this.
If Xaden wanted to go low, I'd show him exactly how low I could go.
The ride to my father's estate took an hour and thirty minutes. My family were late risers, but caution was still necessary. The security teams were scheduled to switch shifts by 5:20 a.m., so whatever I came for had to be done before then.
I climbed over the back fence — the least guarded side of the property. Thankfully, my gun was fitted with a silencer.
Perks of being a nursing student: anatomy. I knew exactly where to aim to disable a person — not enough to kill them, but fatal if left untreated.
I shot the first three before fully dropping to the ground.
Four more guards lingered in the darkness. One must have noticed the others were missing because he called the attention of the rest.
I moved toward another perimeter, careful not to draw the attention of the four behind me.
Then I stepped on a dry leaf.
The sound cracked through the silence. Every head turned.
Fuck.
I ran.
Trees were scattered across the grounds, and I had never been more grateful for them. I grabbed a low branch and pulled myself up, climbing quickly. My black clothes blended into the darkness — but dawn was approaching.
If the next rotation arrived, I'd be dead before they even recognized it was the black sheep who had finally returned.
I pulled out my gun again. This time, I aimed to kill. It hadn't been my intention — not until the four guards became eight.
I shot two who had drifted too far from the tree.
Looking down, I spotted a tall, dark-haired guard directly beneath me. I jumped before he could turn. Using the grip of my gun, I struck his temple and knocked him unconscious.
Leaving his body beneath the tree, I ran straight for my father's office. I needed to get in and out before the others realized what was happening. The estate was massive — they would waste precious time searching for me.
Luckily, the office window was open. I slipped inside and began searching his desk for anything connected to the Lanchesters. Something I could hand to the police. Something strong enough to destroy their spotless reputation.
But there was nothing.
And time was not a luxury I possessed.
Then my eyes caught something.
My heartbeat quickened.
"No…"
I wasn't even sure how loud I'd said it. Maybe I hadn't meant to speak at all. But the moment the word left my lips, cold metal pressed against my head.
"Found you," a voice said.
The lights flicked on.
Shit.