Amelia’s POV
The lady's confidence crumbled in an instant, her playful demeanor replaced by sheer terror. Her eyes widened, and she took a step back from Kai, clutching her hand as if protecting it from his words.
"You...you can't be serious," she stammered, her voice quivering.
Kai's expression remained stoic, unwavering. His dark eyes bore into hers with an intensity that was capable of sending chill down her spine. "I am"
I watched the unfolding scene with a mixture of shock and disbelief. The demand Kai had made was beyond ruthless, even by the standards of the criminal underworld. It was a chilling reminder of the world they were in, where power and control were asserted in the most brutal ways.
As the tension in the air thickened, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the woman who had foolishly crossed paths with Kai. I knew too well that kai is really brutal, but what i was witnessing right now was way too inhumane.
Summoning my courage, I approached Kai, my steps cautious. I reached out to gently touch his shoulder, intending to whisper to him, to ask him to show some mercy. But as soon as my fingers made contact with his suit, Kai's reaction was swift and harsh. He turned his head to glare at me, his eyes ablaze with anger.
"Take your hands off me and mind your business," he snapped, his voice cutting through the noise of the club.
I flinched at the coldness in his tone, the warning in his eyes. I knew better than to push further when Kai was in such a mood. Without a word, I withdrew my hand, taking a step back and leaving Kai to deal with the situation as he saw fit.
The woman looked around desperately, as if searching for an escape. But the club was filled with onlookers who had paused to witness the confrontation. They watched in a mixture of fascination and fear, knowing that crossing Kai came with dire consequences.
Kai walked towards her as he pulled out his gun, making the lady tremble “move your hand away from your body, i only want your hands, not your life. But if you don’t comply, i might as well take your life”
As she slowly moved her hand away from her body, all the people in the club watched in silence, their eyes fixed on the unfolding drama. The woman seemed on the verge of saying something, perhaps a plea for mercy, when Kai pulled the trigger.
The gunshot shattered the silence the club. The bullet struck the woman's right hand with a sickening thud, causing her to let out an agonizing scream. Blood spattered from her wounded hand, staining her dress.
I winced at the sight, my heart aching for the woman who had paid a painful price for her reckless actions. The club was silent, not even a shocked or terrified expression could be seen in the faces of the people, it was as if they all expected kai to act that way.
“carlos, find someone to clean the mess up” kai ordered placing his gun back in his pocket and heading towards the table while amelia followed behind him immediately. Kai slipped his gun back in his pocket and walked away as though nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. What made the whole situation a lot more strange was the fact that no one was even making any attempt to stop him, they all watched with smile on their faces as though it was a comedy drama playing right in front of their eyes.
 
As soon as we got to the table, my senses were overwhelmed by the mingling scents of alcohol and cigarette smoke. Kai's arrival was met with nods and subtle acknowledgments from the other men at the table. My eyes darted between them, noting the careful dance of words and gestures, each interaction a complex negotiation of alliances and unspoken threats. The man in the brown shirt raised an eyebrow as his gaze shifted to me. It was a gaze that felt almost predatory, a calculated assessment that sent a shiver down my spine. I quickly averted my eyes, my heart pounding in my chest.
Kai took a seat at the table, his posture relaxed yet commanding. I followed suit, choosing a seat next to him. I felt a mix of discomfort and curiosity, like a pawn in a high-stakes game I was only beginning to comprehend.
“sorry about that kai, she is probably new here” one of the men said but kai said nothing
There were three men present. One of the men who seemed to be the leader of the group was putting on a white suit and holding a wooden tobacco pipe in his right hand. He looked like he was in his late 50’s and he was also older than the two men who looked kai’s age. He grinned as soon as his eyes met with mine, revealing his brown teeth which was probably as a result of too much tobacco, i could also feel the stares of the other men on me.
“Kai, hai trovato una nuova puttana?.” The man said with a smirk (translation: you got yourself a new whore?)
“Sembra che lo sia?” (translation: does it seem like it?) kai answered while I sighed in frustration as I wondered why they started off with Italian all of a sudden. I had absolutely no idea about what they were saying, but something in my guts told me that the conversation was about me. who knows, they might actually be negotiating on how to end my life while i sit there cluelessly.
“Vorrei prendere in prestito la tua puttana per la notte, se non ti dispiace” (translation: i’d like to borrow her for the night if you don’t mind) the man continued with a suggestive grin
Kai's response was a low, humorless chuckle. "No Antonio, lei è una persona speciale " His voice held a warning edge. (translation: she is a special one)
“c’mon kai, what happened to your generous attitude. we can still share, you know?” Antonio pushed further
“maybe he is actually planning on settling with this one for good” one of the men who was putting on a dark blue jacket said while the others busted out laughing out loud.
Kai's expression hardened, his patience seemingly wearing thin. "one more word from you Sergio, and you’ll be six feet below. Bastardo!” kai cursed while they all went mute. Antonio extended his hand to me for a handshake while I hesitantly accepted his gestures.
“i’m Antonio, the leader of Cipriano family and one of kai’s good friend” the man introduced, and I felt my breathe hitch for a moment. I remember that name, Cipriano. Cipriano family were the second largest mafia group after Alessandro family. I wasn’t too surprised, not like i expected a murderer like kai to be surrounded by priests and saints, as they say, birds of the same feathers flock together.
“Amelia” I respinded with a forced smile. my eyes briefly met with the man in the brown shirt again, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he turned his attention elsewhere. The exchange sent a chill down my spine, a gut feeling that there was more to their connection than I could comprehend.
“what would you like to have?” Antonio asked me as soon as the waiter brought a drinks to the table
“she’s fine, let her----
“oh please kai, let her speak for herself” antonio interrupted kai before he could finish talking
“one shot of whiskey will do” I said and i could feel kai’s gaze divert to me as soon as i said that
“are you trying to get drunk?” kai whispered leaning in slightly
“i know what i’m doing, i’m not dumb. Besides, a shot isn’t enough to get me drunk” I also whispered back.
A shot of whiskey was brought to the table shortly afterwards, I was about reaching out for the drink when kai leaned over slightly and lifted the shot glass, gulping down everything down his throat. “carlos is at the pub waiting, go join him. He’ll lead you to the armory” kai said in a whisper.
“Pietro, the meeting is about to commence.  Tell your bitch to leave. You too, Sergio” kai said, to the men. I didn’t need anyone to tell me that my presence was also not needed, so i walked away, heading towards the pub to meet carlos.
As I left, I could feel Pietro’s eyes boring into me. Subtlety clearly wasn’t his strong suit. Even without looking back, I could practically hear the smirk in his voice when he finally spoke. "Where did you find this bitch of yours? She’s hot!"
Kai’s response was icy. "You still act like a male whore after all these years."  kai said, avoiding pietro’s question
******************************
The pub wasn’t hard to find, and neither was Carlos. He was sitting on a barstool, nursing a glass of wine like he had all the time in the world. As soon as he spotted me, he finished off his drink in one gulp and grabbed a briefcase, striding toward me.
"Would you like a drink first?" he asked, his tone casual, almost amused.
"Let’s just get this over with. I’m already sick of this place," I replied with a dramatic sigh. He chuckled, clearly entertained, and motioned for me to follow him.
We wove through the crowded pub until we reached a discreet door at the back. Carlos opened it, revealing a dimly lit corridor that led to what I assumed was some private area. As we walked, his voice dropped to a hushed tone.
"There’s no one here, not even a security guard, so you don’t have to worry."
"That’s suspicious, don’t you think? Why wouldn’t there be a single guard?" I asked, my instincts kicking in.
"Having guards here would draw unnecessary attention. Antonio’s just arrogant enough to think no one would dare to cross him," Carlos explained, setting the briefcase on the ground.
I frowned. "Why is Kai investigating Antonio? I thought they were friends."
 “the mafia is just like an hunger game, you have no friends or ally, anyone can be backstab anyone at any time” carlos explained while I nodded
I looked around the dim room, my gut telling me I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The air felt heavy, like even the shadows had secrets to hide. "So, what’s the plan here?" I asked, trying not to let my unease show.
Carlos leaned casually against a table, looking like this was just another Tuesday for him. "Kai wants you to hack into the armory’s security cameras. We think Antonio’s been involved in some shady dealings, and we need proof to bring him down."
No pressure, right?
I picked up the sleek little hacking device Carlos had brought and gave it a once-over. Impressive. For someone who acts like a walking disaster, at least he had good tools.
"Alright, let’s get this over with," I muttered, plugging the device into my laptop.
I inputted the keys in the laptop as i started working and in no time, i was done.
The camera feeds popped up on my screen. Every corner of the armory was laid bare before me. I saved what we needed, disconnected, and slammed my laptop shut.
"Done," I said, spinning around, only to find Carlos... playing a video game on his phone.
"You’ve got to be kidding me," I muttered under my breath.
Carlos glanced up, blinking like I’d interrupted something important. "Oh, you’re done? That was quick."
My patience snapped. "You do realize anyone could’ve walked in here and shot us both, right? Maybe prioritize our safety next time instead of Candy Crush or whatever the hell you’re playing."
He shrugged, completely unfazed. "Relax, it didn’t happen, did it? Pack up the tools so we can leave. I promise to keep watch this time."
"Absolutely not. I’m done here. You can pack up and clear the evidence yourself," I shot back, my tone dripping with sarcasm.
Carlos frowned. "But this is your job. We’re not supposed to split duties like this."
I grabbed my bag and started for the door, tossing a final retort over my shoulder. "Then tell your boss to pay me."
I stormed out of that room, still fuming. My heels clicked angrily against the floor as I made my way back to the club. Carlos could deal with his own mess—I wasn’t about to babysit him.
Kai’s POV
I was sitting at the table, barely hearing the noise of the club around me. My mind was spinning, and I was trying to keep my frustration in check. Amelia. Where the hell was she? I told Carlos to keep an eye on her, and of course, that idiot couldn't manage one simple task.
I caught sight of him weaving through the crowd, his face already screaming guilt. Great. This was gonna be fun.
"Boss," Carlos started, clearing his throat like it’d soften the blow. "Amelia’s done with the mission. Everything’s taken care of."
I didn’t even bother looking at him right away. "Where is she now?"
There was this awkward pause, and when I finally glanced up, he had that look. You know the one. The I screwed up but maybe I won’t die if I explain fast enough look.
"Uh, I thought—"
That’s all I needed to hear. I was out of my chair in a second, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him close. "You were supposed to keep an eye on her," I growled, my voice low enough that no one else could hear over the music. "She doesn’t know this place, and it’s not safe for her to wander around alone."
"I thought she was with you," he stammered, his hands awkwardly hovering like he couldn’t decide if he should try to push me off or just let me kill him. Smart choice. He didn’t try.
I shoved him back, letting go. I scanned the room, my eyes cutting through the crowd, but she wasn’t there. "Find her," I snapped, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Now."
Carlos nodded, already turning to leave, but I wasn’t done.
"And, Carlos," I added, my voice dropping even lower, "don’t let Pietro find her first. If he does, you’ll be as good as dead"
*****************
Amelia’s POV
I had found my way to the club’s top-floor balcony, needing a breather from all the testosterone-fueled chaos below. The cool night air helped, and the view wasn’t bad—city lights sparkling like they were mocking my life choices.
I was tracing the rim of my whiskey glass, lost in my thoughts, when I sensed someone approaching. Turning slightly, I saw a man walking to me. The way he carried himself, like he owned every room he walked into, was hard to ignore.
"Enjoying the view?" he asked, his voice smooth, like he was already halfway through charming his next conquest.
I turned fully to face him, sizing him up. "It’s alright," I replied coolly.
He smiled, extending a hand. "I’m Pietro."