Amelia’s POV
As soon as the call ended, I stayed frozen, gripping the phone like it might slip away and betray me. My heart pounded so loudly I swore Kai would hear it from wherever he was. I inhaled deeply, then exhaled, forcing myself to steady the panic clawing at my chest. If Kai even suspected something was off, I knew how it would end—and it wouldn’t be with a conversation.
When I finally felt composed enough, I squared my shoulders and headed downstairs. My steps were measured, deliberate, each one an effort not to give myself away. At the bottom of the staircase stood Carlos, waiting casually with a black briefcase in his hand. His lips curled into a faint smile as soon as he saw me.
“What?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended as I approached him.
“Nothing,” he replied, the smile stretching wider. “The dress looks good on you.”
I rolled my eyes, not in the mood. “Whatever.”
“You could at least say thank you,” he teased, the smile turning into a full-blown smirk.
“Is that the briefcase?” I asked, quickly shifting the topic. My eyes darted to the sleek leather case in his hand.
Carlos glanced down at it, then back at me. “Yep, it’s all here. Everything you’ll need for the job.”
“Let’s get going,” I said, brushing past him toward the door. The sarcasm in my voice was intentional, but Carlos just chuckled as he followed.
When we reached the parking lot, I spotted Kai leaning casually against a black SUV, phone pressed to his ear. Even from a distance, the sight of him sent a shiver down my spine. He exuded authority without even trying, his tailored black suit fitting him too perfectly, the shirt beneath just as dark. His hair was a little tousled, but not enough to make him look anything less than put together.
Kai Alessandro in all black—it wasn’t just a style; it felt like a warning. And yet, I couldn’t deny how unfairly good he looked in it. The color black suited him in every way, from his appearance to the void that seemed to be his heart.
Carlos and I walked toward him, the briefcase swinging slightly in Carlos’s grip. Kai ended his call just as we got close, his sharp gaze shifting to me. His eyes swept over me in a way that felt far too analytical, like he was peeling back layers to uncover whatever secrets I was trying to hide.
“Boss,” Carlos said, breaking the silence, “everything’s set.”
Kai gave a curt nod, but his eyes stayed locked on me. “Didn’t know you owned anything black,” he remarked, his voice laced with mild surprise. “I thought for sure you’d pull up in a yellow dress today.”
A smirk tugged at my lips, and I shot him a glance. “What can I say? I like to keep you guessing. Wouldn’t want to be too predictable.”
Kai’s expression didn’t change, but Carlos cleared his throat, clearly sensing the tension. “Shall we get going?”
“Sure,” I said, my tone deliberately light, but I didn’t break eye contact with Kai until I turned to head for the car.
Carlos climbed into the driver’s seat while Kai and I slid into the back. The air between us was thick, and I made a point of sitting as far from him as the space allowed. The faint hum of Olivia O’Brien’s Complicated played on the radio, but it did little to drown out the awkward silence.
Kai stayed quiet during the drive, his gaze fixed on something only he could see. I glanced at him every so often, trying to read his mood or guess his next move, but his expression remained a closed book. Being around him felt like sitting on a ticking time bomb.
The bright neon lights of the club came into view, casting the surrounding streets in an eerie glow. Carlos expertly maneuvered through the bustling city, pulling up to the entrance with ease. As we stepped out of the car, I instinctively reached for Kai’s arm, my fingers wrapping around him without thinking.
He froze for half a second, then turned to me with a glare so cold it felt like ice piercing my skin. “I don’t recall giving you permission to touch me,” he said, his voice a sharp blade.
I met his gaze head-on, forcing myself to remain unfazed. “I thought I was supposed to be playing the role of your girlfriend,” I replied, feigning innocence. “Don’t you think it’d look suspicious if I walked behind you like a spy?”
Kai’s glare softened into something unreadable, his lips pressing into a thin line. After a moment, he let out a low sigh, clearly begrudgingly agreeing. Without a word, he let me keep my grip as we walked into the club together.
The music hit me first—deep, pounding bass that seemed to vibrate through my bones. The dim lighting was punctuated by flashes of neon, casting strange shadows across the room. The smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke clung to the air, mingling with the scent of sweat and cheap perfume. Half-naked girls danced around the room, their laughter blending with the low murmur of conversations and the clinking of glasses. Men sat at shadowed tables, some openly flaunting their guns as if daring someone to challenge them. This wasn’t just a club; it was a haven for criminals.
My grip on Kai’s arm tightened, this time out of instinct rather than pretence. He didn’t pull away, but his gaze flicked to me, his expression unreadable. I scanned the room, my eyes catching on a group of men seated in a corner. They were surrounded by girls in revealing outfits, cocaine packets scattered on the table like casual party favors. One man caught my attention. There was something familiar about him, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen him before.
Kai must have noticed my unease because he stopped abruptly, turning to face me. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice low, almost concerned.
I hesitated, unsure how to answer without giving too much away. My mind was racing, calculating every possible move, every potential threat. Being here with Kai was dangerous, but not nearly as dangerous as the game I was playing behind his back.
 “get a grip of yourself, they are all humans like you, they won’t eat you” kai said in a dismissive voice
“i’m fine, the place just reeks of alcohol” i lied as i tried to put up a brave front.
Kai's gaze remained fixed on me, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he could see through my act. “you wouldn’t have any trouble as long as you avoid the man on brown shirt” kai said while I searched for the man on brown search with my eyes, my eyes fell on a man with brown shirt and black pants, he was the same man who stared at me just few minutes ago. He was slouched against the chair while a girl gave him a lap dance. No matter how hard i tried to recall where I had seen him, I didn’t seem be able to place him.
“what about him?” I asked, my eyes still on the man
“that’s Pietro, and he’s a person you’ll want to avoid. Don’t get into trouble with him. Lay low and avoid his attention. Don’t get into small talks with anyone, only talk when it’s absolutely necessary. If you get into trouble with him, i’ll not be able to save your ass” kai said while a smirk played on my lips
“why? Because you don’t have the power to? I never thought there was anyone higher than the almighty kai” i said, mockery dripping of my tone
“no, but because we’ve had a really good relationship for years and even though he isn’t part of my mafia group, he is a lot more useful than most member of my mafia. He’s been a great asset to me and even though i feel tempted to put a gun through his head sometimes, i just have to tolerate him for the sake of the mafia” kai whispered with both hands in his pocket as his eyes roam around the club
“so, you are saying that you’ll choose your ally over the world best hacker and computer genius” i asked, a hint of joke in my tone but i didn’t expect kai to take it seriously
“i don’t consider him an ally, i don’t have allies, just tools to aid my operation. It’s better when they remain as just a tool i could use at my own disposal because it’ll be a lot easier to cast them away if they ever let me down someday. and that’s exactly what you are amelia, a tool for me to use, so you should be cautious of him because i am not about to ruin our years of ‘friendship’ all in the name of saving you. if you cause any trouble for yourself, i’ll let you face the consequences” kai said in a serious tone before walking away, heading towards the table to join the group of men. His words echoed in my mind as i followed behind him.
As I stood there, deep in her thoughts, a commotion disrupted the atmosphere. I watched as a woman bumped into Kai and accidentally spilled her drink on his suit. Gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd, and the music momentarily quieted down as all eyes turned to the scene unfolding before them.
The woman's reaction was swift, and she exclaimed with a hint of seduction in her voice, "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry. How can i make it up to you?" Her tone carried an underlying suggestion, hinting at more than just an innocent accident. Kai looked down at his now damp suit and then up at the woman. His expression was guarded, his eyes assessing her carefully. He didn't respond immediately, seeming to weigh his options.
The woman's intentions became clearer as she brought out a towel and moved closer to Kai, her movements deliberate and calculated. She was attempting to capitalize on the situation to get close to him, her actions dripping with a mix of apology and flirtation.
However, as the woman approached, Kai subtly moved back, his body language indicating his irritation towards her. He observed her for a moment, his expression unyielding, before finally speaking. "What a terrible way to make a move on somebody," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
To my surprise, the woman didn't seem deterred by Kai's response. Instead, she smiled, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, you know what they say, sometimes a little spill can lead to an interesting connection."
Kai's lips curved into a dry smile, his amusement evident. "Is that so? How do you plan to make it up to me then?"
The lady walked towards him and stopped when she was standing in front of him. She placed her right finger on his suit as her finger trailed all the way from his chest pocket to the hem of his suit. “i could clean you up, you know” she whispered in a seductive voice
“do you have any idea how much the suit you just touched cost? It cost your fucking life” kai also answered in a whisper
“exactly, so how do you want me to make it up to you? i would give anything to make up for my mistake” the lady also answered while a smirk tugged at his lip
“I would like to think of myself as an expensive man; my price might be too high for you to pay. Are you sure you would be able to afford it?” kai asked
“yes. All you have to do is name it” the lady said with desperation in her voice
“i want your hand, the same hand you laid on my jacket. I want you to cut it off and give it to me, be quick about that except you want me to take it in an unpleasant way” kai said, his smirk fading away and a serious gaze replacing it as he stared at the woman whose smile dropped in fear as soon as he said that.