AUTHOR'S POV

New York,
07:33 pm

" Put your seat belts on ". Caden said hurriedly looking at the rearview mirror as he noticed that a few black cars were following him.

Grace somehow secured herself and clenched the seat as Caden increased the speed.

Soon he dogged them and turned his car towards a silent road. He kept on looking behind but found no one chasing them. He sighed heavily and lower the speed.

Looking at the descendant sun outside the window Grace questioned. " Is it over?".

" It hasn't even begun". Caden replied.

" Where are you taking me now?". She asked looking at the outside view getting darker.

" What do you think?". Caden asked facing her but she didn't reply nor turned her head to look at him from the wide and silent road ahead of them. " Could you think a little loudly?". He joked.

" You are going to hand me back to them in return for your sister, then why are we running". She asked making eye contact with him.

" Elly-".

" Grace ". She corrected again turning her head ahead.

" Elly name suites you more-".

" Caden ". Grace's voice came out above a whisper but was audible enough for Caden to hear. Her eyes were fixed in front of her. Noticing her swelling he followed her gaze.

" SHIT". Caden pulled the break as three black cars were blocking the whole road.

The trio was standing in front of their cars. Hunter. Dash. Nick. They came out of nowhere.

Caden quickly tried to take a U-turn but Nick shoot the front tire. The car jumped a little before bending on its right side a little." Dammit". Caden hit the steering wheel.

" What now?". Grace sounded scared.

" Stay inside the car ". Caden said opening the car door for himself.

" They'll kill you". Grace stopped him by grabbing his wrist.

" They'd have killed me by now if they didn't want me alive". Saying that Caden stepped outside the car and closed the door behind facing the trio. " Take me to your boss". Caden said a little loudly for them to hear.

" You are talking to him". Hunter who was resting his back on his car's hood stood up and walked towards Caden. "Caden Torres a.k.a. Terror. A 24 years old local thief. Short friend circle consists of Elijah Diaz and a hacker named Scott Valdez ". Hunter stopped in front of Caden. " In short... my wh*re's brother". Caden's fingers curled up into a fist hearing Hunter addressing Vi like this.

Hunter smirked looking at how's Caden controlling his anger. " Open the car first, pretty boy. Glare me later. I'll give you more reasons". Saying that Hunter turned his gaze towards the car.

Grace was already looking at him. Hunter stared at her until Caden blocked his view and stood in front of him.

Hunter lifted his gaze with pure psychopathy. He pulled his gun out and suddenly shoot in the center of Nick's forehead without even looking at him taking everyone off guard.

Nick's lifeless body fell to the ground. Even Dash was shocked.

Grace gasped looking at the view in front of her. She tried to open the door but the car was locked. " Caden? CADEN?".  She tapped her palms hard on the car window but no one turned. Lowkey witnessing a murder didn't affect her much.

But It was Caden's first time witnessing a murder. He was quite shocked but he didn't show it. " This is just a demo of what I do who betray me ". Hunter indirectly warned. " You knew we'll be here, didn't you? Still you chose this road". Hunter asked.

" I hid her and waited for a reward all this time. Unfortunately she ran. If you'd have found her, my hands would be empty". Saying that Caden unlocked the car using the remote and handed it to Hunter.

" Cleaver, As expected. Now kneel". Hunter commanded. Caden took off his cap and obeyed.

Grace flinched a little as the car beeped at first, then her eyebrows crashed together looking at the scene from the car.

" Dash?". Hunter called.

Dash went towards the car and opened the door for confused Grace. She got off the car and walked towards them with unsteady steps.

" I want Vi as a reward". Caden said without even sparing a glance at Grace.

Tears formed in her eyes hearing him dealing with Hunter. She was out of words. He betrayed again.

" Stop right there". Caden's voice turned Grace's and Dash's heads towards him. " Assure me first". He said to Hunter.

Hunter scoffed. " Betraying is not in my blood. I don't make promises. My words are enough".

Caden nodded and soon Dash and Grace pass by them, Hunter followed her through his eyes. Dash made her sit in Hunter's car and went back towards them again looking at the dead body lying on the road.

" Send him via ship". Hunter commanded making Dash nod.

Dash grabbed Caden's arm and made him stand before handcuffing him to take Caden with him.

Hunter turned towards his car where Grace was already sitting. Her eyes were on Caden all the time. Hunter sat on the driving seat and started the engine.

" He sold me?". She asked in disbelief, looking at Caden sitting in Dash's car. 

" He thinks so". Hunter said as he had another plan in his mind. " You belong to me anyways". He added turning the car smoothly towards the destination.

His blood was boiling in his veins and the car's speed was proving it, only he knows how he was controlling himself.

Grace saw a road sign written private area. After three minutes of a straight ride, the car stopped. Hunter got off the car and opened the door for her. As soon as she stepped out she saw a luxurious jet in front of them. " Where are you taking me?". She asked as she finally thought of something else besides Caden's betrayal.

" Home ". Hunter replied grabbing her wrist.

" Russia?". She asked looking down at her tightly gripped hand.

" King's Land". Hunter replied taking her with him.

He made her sit on a seat and secured her with a seatbelt before taking a seat in front of her.

Soon the jet took off. Grace's eyes were fixed on the dark view outside the window while Hunter's on her. A few minutes of land beneath them then only ocean and ocean.

" Drink it". Hunter said placing a glass full of water in between them on a table.

Grace turned her attention towards his manspreading poster but didn't glance at his face. She hesitantly picked up the glass and took a sip.

" One question. Only one". He said bending forward a little. " Why didn't you come back? ". He asked the question which was screaming in his mind since the day she disappeared.

" I don't know how I end up in New York". She said lowly looking down.

" Accidentally. You got sent accidentally because of getting mixed in between those girls in the basement. You ran from the New York airport and also helped a girl to escape. Violet was her name". Hunter explained.

" Vi?". She mumbled. " Caden's sister?". Her eyebrows crashed together.

" That thief's sister. The girl you gave your ring to ". Hunter said looking at her as she closed her eyes tightly shut.

She palmed her forehead feeling sharp pain as she started to get some blurry memories of that rainy night. " I gave her a gun too". Grace muttered and her eyes shoot open witnessing Hunter in front of her. " Is she in New York now?". She asked knowing Caden and Elijah are searching for her.

" That's not the question, sweetheart. I asked why didn't you try to come back to me? I know you must be scared to get sold that night. But why did you change your name? Your identity and ran from the hospital while you could easily approach back to me? My men were everywhere". He asked again trying to sound calm but the storm in his chest wasn't helping.

" I- I got into an accident that night. I lost my memories in that accident. I don't remember anything". She explained.

Hunter chuckled. " You want me to believe that? ".

"That's the truth". She slightly nodded her head.

" No, that's called bullshit". Hunter clenched his jaw.

" I told you the truth. Believing it or not is your choice". She said a little loudly and turned her face towards the window. She already was going through a lot and his continuous questions were irking her more.

She doesn't know who is she actually talking to. The few articles she read online didn't describe Hunter.

Hunter chuckled. He got so calm that he surprised himself. He was mad but at the same time, her presence did magic to him.

She always gets angry at every little thing that he adores the most. He loves watching her turn red.

She looked at him from the corner of her eyes only to see his heart eyes for her. She turned her face towards the window again. He looked so unserious.

She doesn't know where life's taking her but she only knows that it's her reality. At least she's going where she belongs. Away from the fake world, Caden created for her. Even if it's hell, coz it's not like she's living in the past few months was any less than that.

Hunter's mobile rang. He pulled it out from his coat to see his father's name.

" Yes, Dad". He picked up the call.

" Got your girl. Now my little mafia, pay some attention to your business".

Hunter chuckled. His father indeed is the Godfather of the underworld and still has a soft tone for his family. He knew what was going on in his son's life. And he's happy that he got what he wanted.

" You called to congratulate me?". Hunter asked.

"Let the world congrats you. I'm announcing the Mafia King next week in Russia. The crown will be owned by one of my heirs. All the underworld mafias will be there. His father invited.

" Arrange a feminine crown also Dad. The queen will be there with me ". Hunter said looking at Grace.

" The king hasn't announced yet". His father chuckled at Hunter's confidence.

" I'm born leader. No throne or crown is needed ".

• He doesn't hope or wish, he decides.

• Chapter published on: 02 August 2022

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