LOGINDaisy I twist in front of the mirror, my shirt is lifted to reveal the bruise on my back. With a sigh, I turn away from the sight and let my shirt drop. Right now I am just a jumbled mass of aches and pains. Andreas really didn't pull any punches or maybe I am just so unathletic. Groaning, I take off my sweat-drenched clothes and let them drop to the floor.I step under the warm spray of the shower, wincing when the pressure hits my sore spots. If I am already run this ragged, I wonder how I am going to survive the next session.The scent of lavender fills the steamy air as I massage the soap into my skin. The warm water works its magic and I start to relax, muscles slowly unclenching. I rinse off and stand underneath the shower, letting my head rest on the cool wall.It's in these quiet moments that my mind drifts to Aunt Mercy. I am worried about her being all alone dealing with Callum’s death and my being here. She lost her son and I might as well be a thousand miles away. Callu
Daisy I wake up to a space beside me, telling from the coolness of the sheets Kaiden left a long time ago. The attack was one of the worst things that had ever happened to me, but it was the rude awakening I needed. Did I like Kaiden because I saw the part of him that he hides from everyone even Alex or did I like him because he was the closest person to me here? Kaiden had told me that Andreas will be waiting for me where I had my first and only shooting lesson in the woods by noon. I want to pass the time by exploring the mansion but flashes of what happened the last time fill my mind. I also don’t trust my guards. At least one of them could be working for Erebus. I step out of the room to get to the kitchen, and the six men waiting for me outside surround me. It is as unnerving as the first day they guarded me. I stack my plate with more waffles than I’d normally take. I’d never seen Andreas smile, Alex was a mean asshat but at least I’d seen him smile. Granted, he only smile
KaidenIt was raining today. I hated the rain. My mother loved the rain, she sometimes said the rain washed things away. If the previous day was hell for you and it rained the next day, then the universe was trying to tell you to start afresh. Somehow those words gave me comfort when I was six but now they meant nothing. Each day I was not certain about keeping Daisy safe was hell. The rain could not change how I felt about that. I step out and head for the cars with ten of my men. Andreas will stay behind with Daisy. If the rain stops before noon, they can start their first training. He’s ruthless and unrelenting, the perfect teacher for her.The training is meant to be top secret so I gave her bodyguards missions to do between noon and early evening. I’m trusting Andreas with everything. It’s a leap in the dark and if he’s part of Erebus's executives then I’ve basically shot myself in the foot. I love this silence in the car. These trips from the mansion to the casino or a wareho
DaisyThe door opens and Kaiden strolls inside, his hair tussled, with some auburn strands sticking up. His brows are lowered as he tugs at his tie, loosening the knot and slipping it from his neck.I gasp when I notice the deep purple bruise on his nose. "What happened?" He looks up at me, his hands still in the motion of unbuttoning his shirt. "Erebus happened. I was ambushed on my way to the tunnels underneath Blackbird by one of his men. Well not ambushed, I lured him there." There's a small smirk on his face like he is reminiscing about the events. I scowl at him and it drops. "I'm okay," he assures, rolling his eyes. "He was an amateur anyway. It was an easy kill."I wince involuntarily at that, he notices but doesn't comment. In his world talking about people like they were nothing but bags of flesh was normal. "You're impossible," I mutter. Before I can stop myself, I take a few steps forward and reach my hand up to brush softly against his nose. "Does it hurt?"He freezes
Kaiden: I sign the contract validating the partnership between Blackbird and the wine company before passing it off to their representative."We look forward to a long partnership with Blackbird, sir," he says, offering his hand for a handshake. I oblige him and he leaves my office, the door shutting behind him. Erebus has been weirdly silent since the death of Christos and it is putting me on edge.What the fuck is he up to? The bastard never stays this long without trying to fuck shit up. Feeling boxed in, I exit my office. Blackbird is asleep by this hour, and the floor is filled with staff as they prepare its interior for another bustling night. The air is filled with the muted chatter of my men and other workers. With this as background noise, I take a moment to breathe. I haven't had this since I discovered the existence of Erebus; always running after the next clue, chasing down the next traitor. I had forgotten how much I needed this tranquillity. Placing my hands on
Kaiden:The buzzing of my phone pulls me from sleep. Groaning, I turn over careful not to jolt Daisy who clings to me in her sleep. She needs her rest after suffering through the nightmares and this is the most peaceful sleep she has gotten since the attack. She shifts with me, adjusting her body to the new position.I pick up my phone and start reading through the messages. There are updates from Alex and Andreas.Andreas is informing me of the whispers circulating amongst Kyklos executives about the 'purge' I am conducting. Good. That will keep them on their toes and hopefully one of Erebus's lapdogs will make a mistake and fall into my trap.Alex's messages contain updates on the Paragon buildings' renovations as well as the debt list. After sending messages to each of them acknowledging their work, I go through my schedule for the day.I stiffen when I feel Daisy stir on my chest, murmuring under her breath. I run my hand over her bonnet-encased hair, my hand glides across the sil







