He shrugs. “I’ve been trained many years to be able to do that. I can move silently so no one, enemies nor allies, can hear me. I wasn’t able to sneak up on you before. Our connection was too great. You could tell anytime I moved, but now…” his voice is sad as he trails off.
I nod. “I was just heading back to my room. It seems I’m not really needed for this game. You’ve already won.”
“Just because the crew knows me better, doesn’t give me an automatic win. If you want me to win, I will. If you want me to ensure you get a fighting chance during this game, I will. If you want me to go full force into competition mode and do everything I can to defeat you while you compete back, I will. Just tell me what to do, stingray.”
Enzo puts his hands in his pockets and looks down at me with so much hope in his eyes. I don’t know what he’s hoping for, just that his eyes are big, his expression is soft, and there’s a hint of a dimple in the corner of his cheek. He wants to smile at me so badly, but won’t let himself.
All I see when I look at him now is a monster. A monster who has killed. A monster who was just as capable of hurting me like Milo did. A man who did hurt me, almost as badly as Milo.
“You can’t hide away yet, Kai. Soon, baby, you can hide away in the most remote place on earth. After this is over, I’ll make sure it happens if that is what you want. But I don’t want you to live with regrets. The life of hiding may be what you want, and I don’t blame you if it is. But despite what you may think, you were built for this life. I think you are just as capable, if not more so, of living in this world and shining. You are strong and just and loyal and brave. All the traits a good leader needs. The Black empire has done some bad things, but you might be the only person who could turn it into something good.”
I can’t stay. Maybe if it was just me, I would try. I would fight to get my feelings for Enzo back. I would fight to see if I was a capable leader. But this baby means I don’t get to be cavalier with my life. I have to protect this new life at all costs.
“Let me show you how beautiful this world can be. Let me introduce you to the people that work for us. Show you how human and powerful this job can be, then you can decide,” he says.
But I can read between the lines. He wants me with him so he can protect me. He doesn’t know what we are about to face for the next month. And if I’m here unprotected, I’m at risk.
I’ll do anything to protect my baby.
I look into the depths of Enzo’s eyes, reaching down to his soul. And for some reason in this moment, I truly believe Enzo is the only person who is capable of protecting me.
“Okay.”
7
ENZO
IT FEELS like everything in my life has been moving toward this moment. This game will most likely be our last together. If I win, I just have to complete the final task, produce an heir, and I return to living my life as Enzo Black.
Powerful.
Wealthy.
Lonely.
Those are the three words that described my life before Kai. And they will describe my life after her. I’m living on limited time. I know she’s going to go. But I’m afraid her disappearing won’t be as freeing as she wants it to be.
She will always be looking over her shoulder. Every damn day one of my enemies will find her.
She will never feel safe.
Maybe she won’t feel safe if she became Kai Black, one of the most powerful people of the underground. But at least she would have the power to control her own destiny.
Whatever she chooses, I want it to be her own choice.
And until she’s officially made the choice, I want her with me.
To keep her safe.
And because as much as I try to be selfless when I’m around her, I’m selfish. I want her with me. Even if I don’t get to touch her. Even if all I get to do is crave her. If all I get is to breathe the same air. I want her near me. And I want to heal her before she leaves.
Kai may think she’s broken, but she’s thought that before. I don’t care who heals her—Liesel, Langston, or me. I don’t care if she finds a way to realize how whole she is all by herself. But I can’t let her go until the nightmares have diminished. Until she can walk in both the light and dark again. Until she’s the queen she was always meant to be.
And her one little word, returned my hope—okay.
Not hope that she could love me again, just hope that she’s going to be just that—okay.
Only then will I be able to let her go. I thought I freed her before. It was a lie. This time, when I let her go, it will be real, permanent. My life will be empty from that moment on.