~Benny~Great. Kai kept his distance from me all day, and now he knocked down a door while I was in the middle of a rough make out with Artemio.Artemio was an eye candy, tall, dark, and handsome with a filthy mouth. He chased me all day like a dog in heat. As soon as Klaus left the pool, he went for the kill and invited me to go somewhere quiet with him so we could talk.I stood and smoothed the white knitted cover-up. “Don’t you know how to knock?”I eyed Artemio as he pulled himself together. He couldn’t look me in the eye. Poor guy was confused by the sudden shift in my mood. Honestly, I had all the intentions of sleeping with him. But when Artemio kissed me, all I could see was Kai’s face. Every touch, every caress, every part of me yearned for the man who broke my heart.When things between Artemio and I started to heat up, a nagging feeling in my belly grew. He knew what he was doing, but something didn’t sit right with me. Everything felt wrong. I took over, hoping taking th

~Benny~I should’ve kept my opinion to myself. If I did, I wouldn’t be facing Kai’s measured gaze. He regarded me with such intensity that made chills unfurled under my skin.It’s apparent that he’d be skeptical of how I’ve been treating him all day. But I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how I struggle to stay cool even when he’s around.“Aren’t we?” I asked offhandedly, flashing him a measured smile.Unfolding his corded forearms, he took two calculated steps forward. I fought the urge to step back. He stood so close that his scent attacked my senses with full force, ready to sweep me off my feet.I was still high on endorphins from the pool. I could still feel his possessive grip on my waist. If not for the distraction in the kitchen, I bet I would’ve let him kiss me.That’s how weak I am for him, and he knows it.Slowly, he cracked a smirk that made my knees buckle. Then he raked his eyes over my body. The dimmed light of the hallway illuminated how he was undressing me.

~Kai~I drew incoherent figures on her forearm; her skin was silk under my calloused thumb. The night drifted at a snail’s pace, my thoughts juggled back and forth on what had been, the present, and what will be.The mansion's guest rooms were identical. A queen-size bed, its headboard thrust on the wall, a sliding door opening to a balcony across it. I hadn’t left Benny’s side, not for the lack of trying, but every time I’d stand to close the sliding door, her hand suspended over my torso would tighten, and she’d whimper, ‘don’t leave me.’She drawled the words like a helpless child calling to her mother at night, afraid of the monsters lurking under her bed. Though she knew it wasn’t her mom holding her. In my last attempt to disentangle myself from her vice hold, she called my name, effectively keeping me from trying again.Fear was a human’s natural response to danger, threat, and pain. I’ve met a handful of people who feared nothing, not even death. But they weren’t born that way

~Kai~My knuckles sliced through the air, hitting the punching bag. It curved in the middle as the chain jiggled from the bar where it hung. Sweat coated my skin, my hair clung to my neck and forehead as I tried to control my breathing. I swiped a hand over my forehead, noting the red spots on the bandage wrapped around my knuckles. Hours of channeling my frustration into this sandbag had my knuckle skin peeling off.“You okay?” Hunter sauntered inside the training room, dropping his bag with a thud on the floor, echoing in the cacophony of my hiss and punch.“Yeah,” I stepped back, shaking off the cramp settling in my ankles. I worked on my rhythm, ignoring the pain, and began throwing combinations again. “Why wouldn’t I be?”Physically, I’m in good shape. Mentally, not so much.I woke up alone in Benny’s room. Anger dug its claws into my chest when I realized she had left without even saying a word.Klaus said Benny flew to Sicily with Markus. She’ll stay there for the time being wh

~Kai~Until the morning Benny ghosted me, I was convinced that what I did two years ago was for the best. Truth be told, I didn’t ponder much on the consequences of my actions back then, not for the long run, at least. I trusted Benny would go back to her life in Paris - pre-Tony, pre-mafia, pre-me - not delve deeper into this life.Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy she’s with her family, but everything I did ricochet in my face.“We’re here, Signore.” The cab driver met my gaze through the rearview mirror.My head was buzzing, but not drunk enough to get through whatever shit was waiting for me inside that mansion.I pulled out my wallet, counted a hefty bill, and handed it to the young cabby. His eyes went wide, staring at the money. “This is too much-” his voice was muffled when I slammed the door shut.When he picked me up from the bar, he hesitated in driving me to the Martinelli mansion. It didn’t come as a surprise; public vehicles rarely cross this side of town.I didn’t look back