Chapter 7

POV: Karol Kensington

The hospital room was terribly quiet.

I looked down at the burned, melted piece of Ciro’s knee brace. I tried to make sense of it. Someone in my own family had tried to destroy this man’s life. The proof was right here. It was horrifying, but I could not let myself panic. Not right now. Not in front of him.

I took a slow, deep breath and squeezed my shaking hands together.

"Your heart is beating too fast, Mr. Restrepo," I said. My voice was flat. I walked over to the glowing machines next to his bed, turning my back to his large frame on purpose. "Because of your torn knee and your upcoming surgery, you need to stay calm. Stress will only make the swelling worse."

"Acting like a cold doctor," Ciro said. He sounded amused. "That is your plan? 

I didn't turn around. I checked his IV bag. My fingers moved quickly and perfectly, like a robot.

"You are their prize horse, Karol," Ciro said. His voice got lower and much more dangerous. "They show you off in your clean white coat. But the second you make a mistake, they get rid of you to save themselves. You are bleeding for a family that will happily watch you drown."

"And you are the one saving me?" I laughed "You are blackmailing me, Ciro. You are threatening to destroy them if I don't become your prisoner."

"I am giving you a chance to find the traitor in your house before they hurt you, too," he said. His eyes got very dark and hot. Looking at him made my face burn and my toes curl.

He reached for the table next to his bed, pulled a thick white paper from a folder and threw it onto the rolling tray. He pushed the tray across the bed until it got to me. On top of the paper was a heavy, gold pen.

"What is this?" I asked, looking at the black ink.

"Your new life," Ciro said.

I picked up the paper. The big words at the top made my stomach drop. Private Care and Secrecy Contract.

I read the rules quickly, getting more scared with every sentence. "Move to Villa Altamira... give up my phone... work twenty-four hours a day... Ciro, this isn't a job contract. This says you own me."

"It is a private care rule," he corrected me smoothly. He leaned back. "You belong to my recovery until I can play soccer again. You will live in my house. You will eat at my table. In return, I will pay you and spare your family business."

"This is crazy," I whispered. The paper shook in my hands. "You cannot legally do this."

"I am Ciro Restrepo," he said quietly. His arrogance filled the whole room. "I do whatever I want. 

Sign it."

I stared at the gold pen. If I signed this, I was crossing over to the enemy. I was giving my life to a man who hated my family. A man who made my blood run hot and confused me every time he looked at me. But if I didn't sign, my whole life would be destroyed by morning.

I picked up the heavy gold pen. My hand hovered over the bottom line. My heart was beating so loud I could hear it.

"Just know this, Karol," Ciro whispered. He moved forward, ignoring his bad knee. His face was just inches from mine. I could feel his warm breath on my cheek. It made me jump. "Once you sign that paper... you cannot go back to the Kensingtons. You are mine."

I swallowed the fear in my throat. I put the gold pen on the paper and started to write. Just as I finished signing my last name, the door to the hospital room slammed open.

"Do not sign anything!" a loud voice screamed.

I spun around, dropping the pen. Standing in the doorway, fighting against two of Ciro's huge security guards, was the one person I never expected to see.