THE PRICE OF A KISS

CHAPTER 003 

JAXON:

Pain greeted me before my thought did.

A sharp, pulsing headache throbbed behind my eyes as light sliced through my lids.

I groaned and turned on my bed, instinctively reaching for the familiar weight beside me. My arm slid over a warm body, and I relaxed, nuzzling closer, my cheek brushing against a solid and hairy chest.

Wait, hairy?

My nose caught the different scent of earthy cologne, far different from my boyfriend’s clean fruity cologne.

I opened my eyes despite the blinding pain that came with the bright light and lifted my head.

A man lay there sprawled, his chest rising and falling, vine-like tattoos spreading as far as the eye could go. His hair was a dark mess, draping over his overly handsome face. Recognition hit me like a punch to the gut.

Memories from last night all flashed in my head, and a scream clawed its way up my throat, but I swallowed it down, clamping a hand over my mouth as my heart pounded wildly against my rib cage and my wide eyes kept staring at the stranger, the champion from the underground pit fight. The image of our tangled body on my bed kept flashing, causing me to back away, but I paused when his hand tightened around my waist.

I remained still, now getting the chance to view my surroundings, and was shocked. This wasn’t my bedroom. Hell, it wasn’t even my home.

‘Damn, it’s this stranger’s house.’ I cursed myself internally, slowly moving his hand and getting out of the bed. I picked up my discarded clothes from the floor, putting them on as fast as I could and racing for the door.

I paused by the door, staring back at him. Despite the tattoos that covered almost all parts of his upper body, he looked so gentle and calm compared to the man I had recklessly kissed last night.

I should wake him—nope. I dismissed that thought, closing the door carefully. Thankfully, the house wasn’t too large, and in no time, I found myself outside and into the dawn of Manhattan.

I hailed a cab and watched the street light smear past the window as we pulled away.

My phone buzzed, and the name of my best friend flashed on the screen.

“Tisha.”

“Hey, bitch,” she said. “Don’t tell me you’re still asleep.”

I glanced at the dashboard clock. “It’s six-thirty in the morning.”

She laughed. “Chicago says afternoon. You sound wrecked. What happened?”

I sighed, detailing everything that had happened. From David’s betrayal to a one-night stand with a complete stranger whose name I never asked for.

“Well that’s really fucked up.”

I couldn’t agree more.

It didn’t take too long before the familiar outline of my home came into view. A small group of reporters were gathered, their eyes peeled at my approaching vehicle.

The cab stopped. I paid and stepped out.

Flashes of cameras exploded, followed by numerous voices.

“Over here, Jaxon!”

“Look this way!”

“Is it true you’re in a relationship with your manager, David Beckham?”

“The Met Gala is a few weeks away; what’s your say on the invitation?”

I ducked my head, pushing through as a district officer forced them back. The lobby doors closed behind me, cutting off the noise.

“Let me guess, the paparazzi?"

“Yeah.”

She laughed. “You really do have shitty things going on, but look on the bright side, you’re no longer tied to that douche bag I've always warned you about. And also, you have all the attention. God knows if I were the most famous male supermodel like you, I would definitely utilize my charm.”

I chuckled despite the snag at my heart from remembering David. I brought out my key card. “I expect nothing less from a bitch.” We both laughed at the joke, but my laughter ceased after I scanned the door to my apartment only to see it was already opened.

I frowned, turning the handle and pushing the door. The living room was empty, just like I’d left it.

“I’ll be coming back to NYC next week and—”

“Tisha,” I breathed, cautiously walking inside. “I think someone broke into my house.”

I was about to leave and call the security, but the door shut in my face.

Two men stood between me and the exit, dressed head to toe in black. Masks hid their faces, leaving nothing but cold, black eyes. One stepped forward and raised a compact gun, the barrel steady as it locked onto my chest.

“End. the. Call.”

I froze, my body a complete mannequin.

Tisha’s voice cracked from the phone. “A fan maybe? Is anything stolen?”

Slowly, I raised both my hands in surrender, cutting the call.

“Step closer.”

I nodded obediently, trying to steady my breathing and racing heart.

One of them tapped on his ear. “Found him, boss. Should we kill him?”

I swallowed hard. Hearing that word thawed me from my frozen state.

“Hey, m…man.” I stammered, stumbling back and trying to keep some distance. “T…take whatever you want. I have money. Lots of it. I’ll give them to you. Just don’t hurt me.”

The man with the gun tilted his head. His dark eyes shone with something dangerous. “You think we want your money? Cute. You’re the lover of the Vercetti Don. What is needed is your head in a case as a present for him messing with my boss.”

My eyes widened.

Don? Like the Mafia Don?

 “W…what?” I stammered. This must be a mistake. I had been very careful not to cross paths with anything from my past. Hell, I even cut all ties with my father so as to escape that dangerous lifestyle, so why was I being called the Mafia’s lover? “You must be mistaken. I don’t know any Vercetti. Please, you got the wrong person.”

“Seize him. We need a clean cut.”

“NO. THIS IS A MISTAKE.” I struggled against the two men who held me, dropping me to my knees.

I watched the one who seemed to be the leader drop the gun and brought out a sharp knife from his pocket. My eyes widened at the sight.

“NO. WAIT. I HAVE NO RELATION TO THE UNDERGROUND. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME.” I screamed as he neared closer.

I tried to breathe, but that simple action has become way harder. I couldn’t think as my mind emptied: no thoughts, no plans, just raw, paralysing terror.

The leader removed his mask, revealing a Black man with black eyes. He has tattoos curling all around the exposed part of his body. He raised my chin, scanning my face.

“It’ll be a waste for such a pretty thing like you. I must say, Dominic Vercetti does have good eyes for choosing his lovers.”

I shook my head, tears threatening to spill. “Please, man. I don’t know any Vercetti.”

“Still denying. How sad.” He struck.

I should be paralysed by fear. I should only kneel there, pinned by two guys as the knife aimed for the slaughter. But in a life-and-death situation, old memories seemed to resurface.

Before the knife could reach my neck, I instinctively shifted to the side.

A scream tore through the quiet as blood splattered on my face. I didn’t waste time focusing on what had just happened, instead dropping all of my weight. I twisted, and the blade sliced air where my throat had been.

I kicked out blindly; my heel connected with a knee, and a snap and scream followed.

I scrambled backward, watching their bewildered expression. I was about to stand and run for the door, but the second man lunged. I grabbed the fallen knife, my hands slick with blood, and swung out widely. Luck seemed to be on my side as the steel met flesh. He howled, staggering back, clutching his side as crimson poured between his fingers.

The leader cursed, fishing out his gun.

My eyes widened as he fired, but I used the second injured man as a shield, hiding behind him as I struggled to keep his injured body standing before me as bullets fired. Immediately, I hurled the knife at the leader, causing him to lose grip of the gun.

Silence crashed down.

I stood there shaking, still holding the body with all my strength.

“You’re trained.” The tired voice of the leader sounded, but I was too pumped to calm down. Not when I was about to die.

“You killed one of my men. I will make you suffer before you—”

The sound of sirens wailed in the distance, and a breath I didn’t know I was holding finally let out. Tisha must have called the cops.

“Boss, we have to go. The cops are here.”

I peeked from behind the body, locking eyes directly with the leader. His hard eyes glared menacingly at me as he stepped back, going for the door.

“I swear I'll make you suffer a fate worse than death before I kill you. I’ll be back.”

His words were like a deadly promise before they left, bathing the room in chaotic silence.

I dropped the body, my own body collapsing heavily to the ground.

Everything blurred as the cops burst through the door, torches slicing into my eyes while I stared at nothing. Absolutely nothing.