CHAPTER 33

I woke up because someone knocked on my door. Not gently. Three loud knocks.

“Vera.” A female voice.

I sat up slowly. “Who is it?”

The person who will drag you to breakfast if you don’t open this door.

Livia. Of course. I sighed and got out of bed. When I opened the door, she stood there with her arms crossed and a smile way too happy for morning.

“You look like someone who regrets life choices,” she said.

“I live in a house with your brother,” I said. “Of course I regret my life choices.”

She laughed. “Come on. Breakfast.”

“I can eat in my room.”

“No you can’t.”

“Yes I can.”

“No,” she said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me into the hallway. “You are officially part of the morning chaos.”

“I don’t want to be part of the morning chaos.”

“Too bad.”

She dragged me down the stairs.

“Does Kael know you’re doing this?” I asked.

“Oh he’s going to hate it.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

“That’s because you don’t understand how fun it is to annoy my brother.”

We reached the dining room. I stopped immediately. Kael was already there, sitting at the table, coffee in front of him, looking calm, Lucian leaned back like he owned the place, Aaron sat beside him, staring at his plate like the eggs had personally offended him.

Everyone looked up when we walked in. Lucian smiled first. “Well, look who survived the night.”

I glared at him. “Barely.”

Kael’s eyes moved to Livia. “You brought her here.”

Yes.

“Why?”

“Because she needs breakfast.”

“She could eat upstairs.”

“That’s boring.”

Lucian laughed. “Let her sit, Kael. It’s more entertaining this way.”

Livia pushed me into the empty chair next to Kael. I froze. She definitely did that on purpose. Lucian noticed immediately. “Oh this is perfect,” he said.

Aaron coughed. Livia sat across from us and poured juice. Her eyes narrowed slowly. “Wait,” she said. Everyone went quiet. “Wait,” she repeated.

Kael took a sip of coffee. “Eat your food, Livia.”

She pointed at me. “You kidnapped her.”

Silence. Kael lowered his cup slowly. “I didn’t kidnap anyone.”

Lucian raised a hand casually. “You absolutely kidnapped her.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

Aaron tried to hide a laugh and failed. Kael looked at him. Aaron immediately grabbed his fork and started eating like his life depended on it. Kael turned back to Livia. “You forgot to mention the part where I also saved her.”

Livia blinked. “Oh.” Then she leaned forward. “Wait, wait, wait. Start from the beginning.”

“No,” Kael said.

“Yes,” Lucian said. Kael ignored him.

Livia pointed at me. “So you didn’t come here willingly.”

“No.”

“And my brother forced you to stay.”

“Yes.”

“That’s not what happened,” Kael sighed.

“That’s exactly what happened,” Lucian grinned.

Kael turned slowly. “Lucian.”

“I’m just helping the investigation,” he shrugged.

Livia gasped dramatically. “Oh my God.”

“What?”

“You like her,” she said to Kael.

“No.”

“You do.”

“I don’t.”

“You brought her here.”

“I saved her.”

“You never save anyone.”

Lucian laughed. “That is a very strong point.”

Kael ignored him. “Eat your food,” he told Livia.

She leaned closer. “I’m telling Dad.”

“You won’t live long enough,” Kael said, not even blinking.

Lucian laughed. Aaron pressed his lips together, trying not to join in. Livia looked offended. “You’re threatening your own sister.”

“Yes.”

“That’s rude.”

“You’re annoying.”

She turned to me. See what I deal with?

I'm starting to understand, I said.

Lucian pointed at Aaron. “You’ve been very quiet.”

I’m eating, he said stiffly.

Lucian smiled slowly. Aaron suddenly became very interested in his eggs again. Kael noticed; I saw it in the way his eyes moved between them. Livia noticed too. Her eyes shifted from Aaron to Lucian, then she smiled.

“Oh,” she said softly. Aaron almost choked. Lucian raised an eyebrow. “Oh what?”

“Nothing.”

“That didn’t sound like nothing.”

“Just observing,” Livia shrugged and sipped her juice. Lucian smirked. Aaron looked like he wanted to disappear.

I leaned toward Livia. What did you notice?

“Later,” she whispered. Great. Now I was curious.

Kael pushed his plate away and stood. “Finish your breakfast,” he said.

Where are you going? Livia asked.

“Work.”

You say that like you do normal work, Lucian snorted. Kael ignored him. Then he looked at me.

You’re staying here today.

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

“That’s not a reason.”

Don't Forget Whose House you are in.

“You should listen to him,” Lucian leaned toward me.

“Why?”

“When Kael starts giving orders calmly, it means something dangerous is happening somewhere.”

Kael gave Lucian a cold look. Lucian smiled sweetly. “I’m helping.”

Livia pointed at Kael. “You’re being suspicious.”

Kael walked toward the door. “You’re being annoying.”

“That’s my personality.”

He paused, looked at me again before leaving "Don’t leave the house.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Good.” Then he left.

The room went quiet for a moment. Lucian leaned back. “Well.”

“What?”

“This is fun.”

“Yes it is,” Livia clapped once.

Aaron stood suddenly. “I have work too.”

Lucian looked up. “You work with Kael.”

“Yes.”

“And Kael just left.”

“Yes.”

“So what work do you have?”

Aaron froze. Livia covered her mouth. Lucian stood slowly. “You’re definitely nervous.”

“I’m not.”

Lucian stepped closer. Aaron stepped back immediately. Lucian smiled. “Interesting.”

“I have calls to make,” Aaron said, grabbing his phone, and walked out quickly. Lucian watched, still smiling.

Livia leaned toward me. “Okay.”

“Okay what?”

“Now I’m sure.”

“About what?”

She grinned. “This house is about to become very messy.”

“You’re enjoying this too much,” Lucian said.

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry,” she said to me.

“That doesn’t sound comforting.”

“I support chaos.”

“That sounds worse.”

She grabbed my wrist and dragged me upstairs. “Come on.”

“Where?”

“My room first.”

“Why?”

“Because I need my bag.”

We reached the top of the stairs. She pulled me down the hallway.

She opened her bedroom door. Her room looked nothing like the rest of the house—too bright, too colorful, too normal.

“You live in a mafia mansion, but your room looks like a P*******t board,” I said.

“I like chaos,” she said. “But cute chaos.”

I leaned against the wall. “So what exactly are we doing?”

“We’re leaving.”

“Leaving where?”

“Shopping.”

I stared. “Your brother literally told me not to leave the house.”

“Yes.”

“And you still want to go?”

“Yes.”

“That sounds like a terrible idea.”

“That’s why it’s fun.”

I crossed my arms. “Kael will lose his mind.”

“He already lost it years ago.”

“That’s not funny.”

“It’s a little funny.”

She opened the door again. “Come on.”

I didn’t move. “The guards will stop us.”

“No they won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“Because they’re scared of me.”

“That doesn’t sound real.”

“You’re about to see.” She grabbed my wrist and dragged me down the stairs.

Minutes later we were outside. The air felt lighter. The front gate stood ahead. Two guards were there. One looked confused when he saw us.

“Miss Livia.”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Kael said—”

“I know what my brother said,” she interrupted.

“But—

Are you stopping me?

The guards looked at each other, then at me, then back at Livia. One sighed. “No, ma’am.”

The gate opened slowly. Livia smiled at me. “See?”

I hesitated, then we walked through. Thirty minutes later we were in the car, music loud, windows down, wind in my hair. For the first time since coming here, I felt normal.

She glanced at me. My brother scares you, but you don't show it,

“He scares everyone.”

She laughed softly. “Fair.”

Two hours later, we returned. As the car turned into the driveway, something felt wrong—too many cars, too many men. Livia slowed. “Oh… that’s not good.”

My stomach dropped. Kael stood in the middle of the driveway. Hands in pockets. Tie loose. Jacket gone.

“Get out,” he said. His voice wasn’t loud, but every guard went silent.

Livia stepped out first. “Hi.”

Kael didn’t look at her. His eyes were on me. I got out slowly, heart pounding.

He turned to the gate. “The guards on morning duty.” Two men stepped forward nervously.

“Yes sir.”

Kael nodded once. “You let them leave.”

Silence. One swallowed, Miss Livia insisted—

Kael pulled a gun from behind his back. Before anyone could react—BANG

One guard screamed and collapsed, grabbing his leg,

BANG, The second guard fell beside him. The sound echoed, My chest tightened.

Livia didn’t flinch. Kael lowered the gun slowly, looked at the men on the ground. You should be grateful you are alive.

Then his eyes moved to me, cold. You left the house,

My throat went dry. “I—”

He stepped closer. “You remember what I said this morning?

I nodded

Words Vera...use your word when I ask you a question ...Kael said