Chapter Four

W aking up, I feel refreshed. I feel so good, I don't even want to open my eyes.

This is the first time in forever that I've gotten to sleep like this. It makes me feel like I'm forgetting something. Shouldn't I be up? Did I sleep through an alarm?

My eyes pop open, and my heart starts to race. I am not looking at my ceiling.

The memories rush back into my head.

The image of Mr. Jones's body stuck right there in front.

I saw a dead body last night. I watched someone dispose of that body, then sold myself to him for a chance at survival.

What the hell was I thinking?

Getting out of bed, I walk over to the door to check it. If he came in while I slept, he didn't wake me. He must have come in, though, because the dishes are gone.

A shiver takes over my body at the thought that I slept through him being in here. He could have done anything to me in the state I was in. How could I let myself go so completely like that? I mean, I know I was exhausted, but do I have no self-preservation?

Mad at myself, I lean against the door, trying to hear any noise from the other side. It's quiet. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

I try to open the door as quietly as I can. I don't want him to know I'm awake yet. Peeking out, I don't see him.

My bladder is begging me to relieve it, but I don't want to risk running into him. I'm not ready to face my reality again.

I wish I could just go back to sleep. Everything there was perfect. It's where I always allowed myself to think about the things I truly wanted in life. It is my one escape.

There's no way I could go back to sleep now, so instead I made a break for the bathroom the next door down in the hall. I slide inside, slamming the door shut behind me, relieved when I find a lock on the other side.

I take several deep breaths as I try to listen for him, but again, all is quiet. I should be happy he is not rushing to greet me or do whatever it is he plans to do with me, but instead it has me on edge. I'd rather know where he is so I can come up with a plan on how to deal with him. This not knowing is driving me insane.

After I'm able to calm down, I handle my business quickly, washing my hands. Then I decide that rather than hiding in the room, I should go look for him. Face this head-on. I've never been a coward before. I won't start now.

Tiptoeing down the hall, I listen for any sign of where he might be. When I make it to the end, I peek around the corner to the open-concept living area. He's nowhere to be seen.

Could he be outside instead?

It's not until I make it to the table he has set up that I see the note.

Lucy,

I had a job I needed to do. Know I didn't want to leave you alone while you settled, but I cannot break my promises. I will be home as soon as I can. Feel free to explore and use anything you may find. You will find food in the cabinets.

Kado

I brush my fingers over his handwriting. It's scratchy but legible. Almost as if he is used to communicating this way, which I guess he is. From what I have observed so far, he must be mute. I wonder why he doesn't use sign language, though.

A pang of empathy hits me. How hard his life must be to not be able to effectively communicate with people. I shouldn't feel any sort of way toward him, but maybe anger, but I find myself wondering if his condition makes him sad. Lonely even.

Shaking off the feelings, I decide to do what he said. I explore. The apartment is small. There isn't much to it. There's not even a couch in the main living area. There's a large photo with Kado, Cleo, Kai, and people I haven't met hanging in the middle of the wall, but it is otherwise empty. The only furniture in the place seems to be the bed and dresser in the bedroom, the table with four chairs, and one lone bookcase filled with books.

It's sparse, to say the least.

Even the bathroom only has the necessities. Toothbrush, toothpaste, hand soap, and a two-in-one man's soap. There are three towels folded under the sink with one towel obviously used recently hanging on the back of the door.

The kitchen isn't much better. The fridge is bare, with only orange juice, eggs, some lunch meat, cheese, mayo, and butter inside. The freezer only holds ice. Nothing else. The cabinets hold some mismatched dishes, along with what I assumed only college kids and poor people eat. Instant noodles, powdered mac and cheese, and protein bars. Literally the bare minimum.

I don't know how I'm going to survive this place. How long can I eat this overly processed shit before my body revolts and refuses to keep it down?

I know I am poor, but I always managed to eat meat and some fresh foods like salad or veggies. If I couldn't get fresh, I at least had canned.

This man's cabinets look like they have never seen a vegetable in their lifetime.

Taking a deep breath, I ignore the food and make my way to the front door.

I try to open it, but it is locked. There's no obvious locking mechanism, though. It's as if it's inside the door. I remember when we got here last night, he put a code in the system, and the door made a noise. I bet that's how to unlock it.

I'll have to try to pay attention to the code next time he uses it.

Searching each and every nook and cranny, I don't find a single way to escape. There are no windows. No way to even tell what time it is. This is worse than prison. At least they allow you a small window, even if it is barred.

Plopping myself back down on the bed, I stare at the ceiling again.

I need to come up with a plan or something, but what would be the point? Would I ever be able to run far enough away to escape these people?

Probably not.

Even if I could, what kind of life would I be running to? I'd always be looking over my shoulder. I'd never be able to put down roots.

Do I really want to live like that?

I wish I had cameras in my apartment.

I never needed them before, but now I wish they were there, so I know she is doing okay. My worry for her is clouding my mind.

I should be paying attention. We are on a conference call with some very important people discussing the continuous human trafficking that is going on in several areas of the country.

Instead, I'm thinking about her. She is so pretty. She has such long, beautiful brown hair. Her eyes look almost golden with how light they are. I could stare at them for hours.

I only wish she wanted me to stare at her. Maybe one day she will warm up to me. For now, I will take what I can get.

I smile a little as I think about her waiting at home for me. I think that's what I'm going to enjoy most about this. I don't quite know her yet, but I am looking forward to getting to know her. Knowing that she is going to be waiting when I get there and that I have someone to come home to.

"Kado, do you think you can follow him for a few weeks? Figure out if he is part of it or just another red herring?" Kai asks, pulling me out of my stupor.

I wasn't listening, but I don't tell him no.

I nod at him, focusing back on the screen.

It's crazy to think that a couple of years ago, this wouldn't have been possible. There is no way the head of the Westies, along with his Chicago head, would ever be on a call with the heads of the Catalini family, the Yakuza, or the Petrov Bratva, let alone all three at once.

Times are changing, though. We are bad men and do bad things, but we have a line. That line has been crossed repeatedly. We will stop at nothing to end it.

"Good. They shouldn't be doing another round there for another few months. We will try our best to stop them here before they get to you, but in case that fails, be ready," Bastiano, the head of the Catalini family, advises.

"We just barely stopped them here," Nikolai, the head of the Petrov Bratva, admits. "They are getting smarter. They know we are looking into them, and I think they know we are working together. They are going to be more quiet about it now that we know. Be vigilant and let me know if you need me to send any of my men out that way."

"Will do. You let us know the same," Killian, the head of the Westies here in the US, adds.

"I have backup through the Medina Cartel for now. I will let you know if that changes," Nikolai tells us.

He clicks off without saying goodbye, as always.

"Such a warm guy, huh?" Tristano, one of Bastiano's men, jokes.

"You don't get to be head of the Bratva without going through some shit. Be more respectful before I have to bail your ass out of yet another dangerous situation," Declan, one of the Westies from here in Chicago, throws back at him.

"It was one bar fight. You won't ever let me live it down." Tristano rolls his eyes.

"Enough," Greer, Bastiano's sister and also the wife of Killian, snaps.

Yeah, there's a lot of cross-dating in this little world of ours.

"If that is all, I need to get going. Cleo is making some bonbons, and I promised to be her taste tester," Kai drawls out like he's bored.

"Of course, tell my sister to save me some," Callum, the head of the Chicago Westies, pipes in.

"Absolutely not, they will be gone before you get the chance. Have your little witch make you some. I hear she's good at making concoctions," Kai says.

"The best." He smiles big. "Enjoy your day, everyone."

Then his screen goes dark. The New York participants say their goodbyes until the screens are black.

I want to be able to say my Lucy is the best at something. I need to figure out what she can do. Maybe she can bake too? Or maybe do witchy things like Autumn?

Then again, I don't know if I want that kind of voodoo in my home. We don't mess with the otherworldly things in my culture.

I wish I could just ask her. That would make everything easier. Instead, I am stuck.

Kai turns in his chair, looking at me as I lean against the wall behind him.

"How's your pet?"

I frown at him. I don't like him calling her that. She's not a pet. She's a woman. My woman. Just like Cleo is his.

Standing up straight, I glare at him.

"Hey now. Let's not get into a fight I'm not sure you can win," Kenji jokes, looking at Kai.

"Are you speaking to me, your boss, or him?" Kai muses.

Kenji only smirks. "You are the dark prince, but Kado is a trained assassin who actually helps you train. Hmm. I'll let you decide who I was talking to."

Kai laughs. "Fair enough. My apologies, Kado. How is your lovely houseguest?"

It's better, but I'm still a bit peeved. So instead, I just ignore him.

"That well, I see. Well, Cleo would like me to let you know that she is available if you need anything or if Lucy needs a friend. You know how that girl group is. It's sickening how herd-like they've become." Kai narrows his eyes at the thought.

Kenji laughs. "Sickening? More like frightening. Our women all banned together could take down a first-world country without blinking. I wouldn't want to be on their bad side."

He has a point. Their women are formidable. I learned quickly to endear them to me so they wouldn't want to chop any body parts off.

I bow slightly, my indication that I am leaving.

"Remember, she needs more than food and water," Kai calls out.

I flip him off as I head toward the door.

"He is going to kill you one day. You know he can," I hear Kenji say as the door closes behind me.

I could kill Kai. It would be easy if he wasn't a close friend, but having him close means it would be even easier.

I won't, though. He saved my life once. I will protect him until I die.

Even if he talks poorly of Lucy.

Well, maybe that might be the line, but I have time to decide.

Thinking about anata , I smile.

I get to go home to her. I hope she is settled and happy to see me.

If not, it might hurt my heart, but I'm a patient man.

I can wait forever if I need to.