I give a single sharp nod, jaw still tight. “Good.” My eyes narrow at the screen again. “So why the fuck wouldsomeone interfere with simple gear for my payroll instead of stealing all that money’s worth of coke?”
Ray exhales. “That’s what we’re struggling to figure out, boss. I’ve got Sam and Luke pulling every trace they can find… what time it happened, how they got in and out without tripping any alarms.”
I clap a heavy hand on Ray’s shoulder, the muscle beneath my palm tensing. “Good. I’m gonna take a shower, then we’re off to visit Mr. Vladski.”
Ray frowns, clearly caught off guard. “We are?”
I gesture sharply, irritation flaring fresh. “Isn’t that what Ijustsaid?”
“Right,” he mutters, nodding once.
“He’d benefit from this,” I add, already turning toward the door. “So that’s my first stop. Besides, any excuse to finally put a bullet in his skull is a good one.”
Ray lets out a short laugh despite himself. “I’ll have some guys ready.”
I nod once and head down the hall, boots heavy on the polished floor. The sweat is cooling on my skin now, making the vest stick even more uncomfortably, but my mind is already shifting gears… calculating, planning, the cold mask sliding back into place over the frustration that Kit stirred up earlier. Shower first, then business, then maybe… I’ll find my frightened little runaway.
Chapter Five
~Outing ~
Kit
I’ve been holed up in my tiny room for what feels like hours now, dressed in the plain jeans and oversized hoodie I pulled on after my panicked escape from breakfast. My dark curls are behaving for once, falling softly across my forehead instead of sticking up in every direction. I’m sitting cross-legged on the narrow bed with Lorraine’s Kindle balanced on my knees, the screen’s soft glow the only light I need. She let me borrow it a few days ago, mentioning something about a subscription that gives her unlimited free books… I don’t really understand how it works, but I’m grateful for it.
At first, I tried to stick with something familiar: a coding manual full of algorithms and debugging techniques. It should’ve held my attention, but today even that felt flat and boring, which is surprising because coding has always been my escape. After a while the words started blurring together, so I gave up and started poking around in Lorraine’s library instead. She has everything… biographies of old politicians, heavy history books about wars I’ve never heard of, and then rows and rows of romance novels with colourful covers and dramatic titles.
Curiosity got the better of me. I clicked on the “recommended for you” section, and the very first book that popped up felt like it was reading my mind. The cover showed a stark black skull intertwined with deep red roses, elegant and menacing at the same time. Under the title was a little tagline in sleek white font:Dark Mafia Romance.
I frowned, thumb hovering over the screen, then clicked anyway. Maybe these fictional characters would be nothing like Soren… or maybe they’d help me make sense of the man who now owns every part of my life.
???
An hour later I’m deep into chapter six, completely pulled in despite myself. The male lead is cold-hearted and ruthless, just like Soren, issuing orders with that same icy authority, and keeping everyone at arm’s length. But the story keeps hinting at something deeper: a big secret he’s carrying, and the suggestion that he actually has a soft spot for one person, even if he struggles to admit it or show it. The way the author describes his internal conflict makes my chest feel strangely tight.
I let out a small, quiet laugh to myself, shaking my head. Nothing like Soren at all. Soren doesn’t know how to be nice. He doesn’t do feelings, especially not for someone like me. All he does is control me, keep melocked away, and use my body whenever the mood strikes him. I’m just his favourite toy, nothing more.
A gentle knock on the door makes me jolt upright, heart skipping. It’s too soft to be Soren’s usual heavy fist.
I swallow and call out cautiously, “Yeah?”
The door cracks open and both Lorraine and Selina pop their heads in, wearing bright, conspiratorial smiles.
I quickly lock the Kindle and set it aside on the bed. “Um… hi?”
Lorraine’s smile widens. “We’re going shopping.”
“Oh… cool,” I murmur, pulling my sleeves down over my hands. “Have a nice time.”
Selina laughs, stepping fully into the room without waiting for an invitation. She crosses over, grabs my hands, and gently pulls me up off the bed. “You’re coming with us, kitty boy.”
Panic surges through me instantly, hot and choking. I stammer like the pathetic mess I am. “No… I-I can’t… Soren won’t like that… he…”
Lorraine waves a hand dismissively. “Oh hush, child. You’ve not been anywhere for two years. It’s not good for you.”
Selina grins wider, still holding my wrist. “Besides, the boss isout.”
My frown deepens. “He is?”
