2.

CHAPTER TWO

MIKA'S POV

“FIRE HER!”

My father looked up from the documents on his desk, his expression unreadable.

“I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me!” I pointed at Elsa, who stood beside the door with her arms folded across her chest. “I want her fired. I want Dante back!”

My father sighed and leaned back in his chair.

“Dante no longer works for us, Mika. His incompetence nearly got you killed. I won't be bringing him back.”

I clenched my fists.

“So, you're just going to replace him with someone worse?”

Elsa raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“Elsa is not a replacement,” my father said firmly. “She was personally recommended by people whose judgment I trust. You should be grateful to have her on your side instead of working against you.”

“Grateful?” I repeated, letting out a bitter laugh. “You expect me to be grateful to a woman who treats me like I'm some annoying child?”

“Perhaps you should stop behaving like one.”

His words hit harder than I wanted to admit.

I stared at him, waiting for him to take them back, but he simply returned his attention to the documents on his desk.

Of course.

What had I expected?

For eighteen years, I had imagined what it would be like to finally have a father. I had watched other children leave the orphanage with their parents, wondering what it felt like to be wanted by someone who was supposed to love you.

Now I finally had a father, and all I seemed to get from him was criticism, orders, and bodyguards.

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat.

“Fine,” I muttered. “Keep your precious bodyguard. But don't blame me when she can't do her job.”

“Mika,” my father warned.

“What?”

“Don't test my patience.”

I forced a smile.

“Wouldn't dream of it.”

I turned towards the door, but Elsa's voice stopped me.

“Are we done here?”

I slowly turned back to face her.

“You know what? You're right. We are done. But don't think this is over between us.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“Should I be worried?”

“You should be very worried.”

For the first time, the corner of her mouth lifted. It wasn't a friendly smile. If anything, it made her look even more irritating.

“I'd love to see you try.”

I marched towards her, stopping just inches away.

“You think you can come into my life, take over everything, and act like you own the place?”

“No,” she replied calmly. “I think I can do my job. Something you seem determined to make difficult.”

My jaw tightened.

“Get out of my way.”

“Gladly.”

She moved aside, and I brushed past her, deliberately knocking my shoulder against hers.

I heard her let out a quiet breath behind me.

“Childish,” she muttered.

I spun around.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me.”

I wanted to slap that smug expression off her face.

Instead, I shoved her.

She took a step back, more out of surprise than anything else, and looked down at the spot where my hands had touched her.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then she lifted her eyes to mine.

“We'll see, Mika.”

Something about the way she said my name made my stomach tighten, but I refused to let her see it.

I turned and stormed out of the room.

I had no idea how I was going to get Elsa fired, but I would figure something out.

One way or another, I was going to get rid of her.

---

An hour later, I was climbing through the window of Stefan's apartment.

I landed awkwardly on the floor, nearly knocking over a small plant beside the window.

Stefan stared at me from his couch.

“Remind me again why you couldn't use the front door?”

“Because sneaking in through the window is more exciting.”

He shook his head.

“You're going to be the death of me one day.”

“Don't be dramatic.”

I straightened my clothes and walked over to the couch, dropping onto it beside him.

Stefan lived about forty minutes away from my father's house, which made visiting him a little difficult. Still, it was worth the trouble. He was one of the few people I could spend time with without feeling like I was being watched every second.

Well, most of the time.

“So,” he said, turning towards me. “What's the plan?”

“Bad Marvel movie, snacks, and absolutely no mention of my father.”

He nodded thoughtfully.

“Sounds perfect.”

“See? This is why I like you.”

He gave me a look.

“You say that now. Wait until I pick the movie.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Just don't pick something boring.”

He reached for the remote, and for a little while, everything felt normal.

I wasn't the daughter of a dangerous Mafia boss. I wasn't the girl someone had tried to kill at a restaurant. And I didn't have an irritating bodyguard who seemed to enjoy making my life miserable.

I was just Mika.

Then Stefan spoke again.

“Your father won't be happy if he finds out you're here.”

I waved away his concern.

“He won't find out.”

“And if he does?”

“He won't.”

“Mika.”

“What?”

“Your father is a Mafia boss. Do you really think he won't notice when his daughter disappears?”

I groaned and leaned back against the couch.

“Can you stop reminding me that my father is terrifying? I know.”

“I'm serious. The last thing I need is him thinking I'm a threat to you.”

I turned to him.

“He won't hurt you.”

“You sound very sure about that.”

“Because I am.”

It was a lie, and we both knew it.

My father wasn't exactly the kind of man who gave people the benefit of the doubt. If he thought someone was a threat to me, he would deal with them before they had the chance to explain themselves.

But Stefan wasn't a threat. He was my friend, and I wasn't going to let my father's paranoia ruin the few normal things I had left.

Besides, I had locked my bedroom door before climbing out of the window. Nobody would think to look for me there.

At least, that was what I thought.

A knock sounded at the door.

Stefan and I exchanged a glance.

“Are you expecting someone?” I whispered.

He shook his head.

Another knock followed, this time louder.

“Stay here,” he said, getting to his feet.

I caught his wrist.

“Stefan, don't open it.”

He glanced at me.

“Why?”

“Because I have a bad feeling.”

He gave me a small, reassuring smile before gently pulling his hand free.

“It's probably a neighbour.”

He walked to the door and opened it.

I couldn't see who was standing outside from where I sat, but I heard a woman's voice.

“Is she in here?”

My heart stopped.

Elsa.

Stefan hesitated.

“No,” he answered.

There was a brief silence.

Then came the sound of a fist connecting with flesh.

I jumped to my feet.

A heavy thud followed, and when I rushed towards the doorway, I found Stefan doubled over beside a small table. One hand was pressed against his stomach, while blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Elsa stood over him, her expression completely calm.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I screamed.

She looked at me.

“I asked him a question and he lied. I hate liars.”

“So you punched him?”

“He made my job difficult.”

I stared at her in disbelief.

“You're insane!”

“Perhaps. Now, get your things.”

I rushed to Stefan's side and crouched beside him.

“Are you okay?”

He tried to straighten up, but a sharp breath escaped him. I reached for his arm, helping him sit properly.

“I'm going to kill her,” I muttered.

“I'm fine,” he managed, although his voice sounded strained.

I turned towards Elsa.

“Get out!”

She glanced around the apartment before looking back at me.

“No.”

I stood up.

“I said get out!”

“And I heard you. Unfortunately, your opinion doesn't change my job.”

“You can't just walk into someone's house and attack them!”

“Then perhaps he shouldn't have lied to me.”

I clenched my fists, struggling to control the anger building inside me.

“You're going to regret this.”

“I'm beginning to think you say that to everyone who annoys you.”

I took a step towards her, but Stefan suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Mika.”

I turned to him, expecting him to tell me to calm down.

Instead, I found him staring at Elsa.

His face had gone pale. His eyes were wide, and his fingers tightened around my arm as though he had just seen something he couldn't explain.

“Stefan?” I asked. “What's wrong?”

He didn't answer me.

He kept staring at Elsa.

Then, slowly, he turned towards me.

“Mika,” he whispered. “Who is she?”

I frowned.

“What?”

“Who is that woman?” he pointed at her.

I glanced between them, confused by the sudden change in his expression.

“She's my new bodyguard. Her name is Elsa Jean.”

Stefan looked back at her.

For a moment, he seemed unable to speak.

It was strange. Stefan wasn't the kind of person who frightened easily, and I had never seen him look at anyone the way he was looking at Elsa now.

He looked as though he recognized her.

But that was impossible.

Wasn't it?

Elsa seemed to notice his reaction too, but she didn't ask him any questions. Instead, she walked further into the apartment, checking the rooms before returning to the living room.

“Get your things, Mika. We're leaving.”

I stared at her.

“How did you even find me?”

“Your bedroom door was locked, and your window was open.”

I blinked.

“So?”

“So, I checked the security cameras on the property. It didn't take much effort to work out where you were going.”

I felt my stomach drop.

The cameras.

Of course.

My father had security cameras everywhere, and I had been stupid enough to think locking my bedroom door would be enough to fool everyone.

Still, that didn't explain how Elsa had managed to get here so quickly.

Had she followed me all the way from the house?

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“Did you follow me?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, it matters!”

She checked her watch.

“Then you can ask me about it in the car.”

“I'm not going anywhere with you.”

Elsa pulled out her phone.

“Fine. I'll call your father and tell him where you are. I'm sure he'll be delighted to hear that you've decided to disappear again.”

I stared at her.

“You wouldn't dare.”

She raised an eyebrow and began unlocking her phone.

I hated her.

I hated her stupidly calm expression, her irritating voice, and the way she acted as though she could do whatever she wanted without consequences.

Most of all, I hated the fact that she knew exactly how to get under my skin.

“Fine!” I snapped. “Give me five minutes.”

“You have two.”

“Elsa!”

“One.”

I glared at her before turning away..I gathered my things, checking on Stefan one last time before leaving.

“I'm sorry,” I whispered.

He shook his head, but his eyes drifted towards Elsa again.

“Just be careful, Mika.”

Something in his voice made me pause.

“What do you mean?”

He hesitated.

Then he shook his head.

“Nothing. Just be careful.”

I wanted to ask him more, but Elsa was already waiting by the door, looking as though she had all the patience in the world and was simp

ly choosing not to use it.

I gave Stefan one last worried look before following her outside.

It was official.

I hated her.

But as I watched Elsa standing beside the car, completely unbothered by the chaos she'd caused, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

There was something about her that didn't make sense. And judging by the look on Stefan's face, I wasn't the only one who thought so.