"You really know what you are talking about?" Steph's eyes narrowed as she inspected me like I was some insane human.

"Yes, Steph." I rolled my eyes, growing annoyed at her demeanor.

Her lips parted when she intakes a quiet breath. "Did Peter overdose you?" Her head shakes slowly and suspiciously.

"I don't get it. Why are you acting this way? I thought you care about Finn." It takes everything in me not to yell at her.

This is Steph, the girl who just told me she'd do anything for her best friend, yet she was staring at me like I've grown two heads because I was willing to accept Finn the way he was.

"Look, when I told you to listen to him, I didn't mean to like-you know..." Steph's voice trialed off-expecting me to understand, and I definitely understood what she meant, only I didn't care for her opinion, that's why I irefully stood up from the bed.

"Okay, I'm not asking for your permission. This is something I'm doing whether you're supportive or not." I firmly certified it to her.

She was quiet for a while. Her eyes were still on me, and I could feel it even though I was avoiding her. I was mad at her. "Do you love him?" She asked. Concern was saturated in her tone.

My lips pressed into a straight line before I swallowed. But I answered her because that's sincerely from my heart. "I want to. I just don't know how loving someone that isn't my parents or best friend feels like. I don't know how it feels like loving Finn." My voice was low, and it was filled with disappointment.

Steph stood up and hung her tiny bag across her shoulder before she approached me. "Keep him safe for us. He's not my only guardian angel. A lot look up to him." She patted my shoulder and exhaled. "I have to go back to the restaurant. A customer's celebrating her twentieth birthday. My mom needs my hand."

"I would," I assured her. I was already willing to be by Finn's side, and I was willing to give him what he was missing.

Steph was at the door when it opened before she turned the doorknob herself. Finn showed up in his regular outfits and messy but perfect hair.

He still looked slightly exhausted. He also hath the under-eye bags I've noticed on him for a while now.

Finn's hands immediately sunk into his pockets and his lips pursed while he shared glances between Steph and me.

"I'm out." Steph must felt the awkwardness, for she rolled her eyes and exhaled a playful laugh when she exited the room-leaving me alone with my kidnapper.

"So." I watched Finn take cautious steps toward me while he bit his lips.

"Do you have any idea in mind how to start?" I asked the quite nervous man.

Smiling, he respired. "So there's this place I want to take you to meet my guardians, but my company is hosting a charity event tonight, and I would love for you to come along with me." He suggested, but I could see worries in his eyes.

"You're letting me out of the house?" I asked, surprised at his proposal, and Finn swallowed. "Don't you think I could run? Or tell on you?" I remind him of my place.

His head inclined as his gaze intensified on the carpet he was standing on. "It would be all over then." He responded quietly.

In a mild moment, I observed the person avoiding looking up to me. How could that person I thought was ruthless end up this small and wounded in my eyes? "Your dad trusted people, and then they turned on him," I said, and Finn's eyes shoot up to meet mine. His chocolate brown eyes were filled with panic. I was sure he never thought I'd heard him.

"How did you know?" He asked by the time his breathing increased.

"I heard you. Weren't you telling me last night?" If I was correct, Finn was narrating everything to me. Only he thought I was asleep.

He heaved a sigh and sat on the armchair with his head low and his gaze drilling into the carpet. "So you don't want me. You're pitying me." That was his first statement after a long, painful silence.

"I don't pity you, Finn. I pity those people whom you hurt." I clarified it for him, and his confused eyes met my sincere ones.

"What does that mean?" He asked. I knew my words had hit him hard.

I swallowed from my position-far across the vulnerable man, and forced myself to explain. "I'm not on their side, Finn! Neither am I on yours. Honestly, I don't know where I stand. I'm just lost. My whole life, what I knew about Eric Hayes and my parents was different. I don't know what to think right now. I just wished I could ask my parents face to face as a grown-up." I think that's how I felt at that moment.

"Then come with me to the charity event." He was desperate, and I could see it in his pleading eyes.

I smiled at how easily he trusted people or was it me? He's willing to take me out. He should know the risk.

"My face is everywhere, Finn. I don't have to escape. Someone could easily find out about you." I remind him.

He was quiet for a while. "What if I make it a masquerade event?"

My eyes grew wide. "How easily do you get things done your way?" I asked crookedly.

Finn smiled at me. It was a normal smile, a smile that was earnest, a smile that every 20 years would give. Why does he have to be a murderer? That smile ached me, for I wished he grew up the way every kid should. He may be loved by others, but he was traumatized at an earlier age. He was forced to watch both his parents die in his presence.

"One of the bonuses of being a boss." He smirked.

All I could do was smile at him...

"I can't believe you're going to be my date tonight." He appended when I didn't reply.

I couldn't believe it either if you told me that a day ago, I would be choosing death over it.

But right there, I was only smiling at the excited incognito murderer who kidnapped me.

Finn POV

Instead of going to school, I spent that day promoting my men, not that I trusted them the way I do Teddy and Reddy, but Samuel and Justin were people I felt comfortable around. I've known them for a while. So they were the replacement of Teddy and Reddy around me.

Though I went shopping before the evening with my men, by shopping I meant girls shopping, it wasn't safe walking the street of Chicago with the girl whose face was on every screen or attached to the public walls. I wanted to have Cheryl next to me while we looked for her favorites, but it was the riskiest idea. I couldn't take any chance that would part us-not even before, than at that moment when Cheryl was willing to understand me.

Denny and everyone had agreed to make the occasion masquerade. I couldn't imagine losing Cheryl, thanks to her idea, for it reminded me not everyone I trusted was attending.

By the time we got Cheryl different things that I was sure she would be stunned, we headed back home. I was hoping she knew how to dress herself, for I doubted to hire any stylist for my sake.

Liam and Steph were also attending that night's event. I needed them to be there for Cheryl and me. If I were going to be roaming around a hall filled with different faces with a girl for the first time, I would need my best friend's support.

***

It was around seven when I left my studio in black dressed pants and a button-down shirt and boots. Yes, with a black pistol behind me.

Black was my favorite since after my life darkened. I'd never find colors in my world, and by the time I began growing up, darkness had fully consumed me.

I knocked at Cheryl's bedroom door before I opened it. It was the first time I knocked, maybe because I was nervous-I've never been on a date with a girl. When I say date, I mean somewhere very important, somewhere people I consider families are.

I halted in my track when I sight the prettiest girl in the sleeveless red dress that rested immediately after her knees. Her black heels completed the look just like the man from Gucci promised. She had makeup that wasn't so noticeable, yet she glowed. I scanned the way the dress hugged the most necessary places and loosened up places needed to be free. It showed very curves in her body. She was beautiful; she was the view that had the power to attract anything that came in her way.

"Hey." She called when I stood there without a word staring at her.

Cheryl was biting her lips, appearing reddish by my gawping.

"You, you look beautiful," I muttered, my eyes not at all taking a break from her.

"Thank you." She embarrassingly responded, looking away from me.

I took steps closer to her with my hand in my pocket, only that time I was bringing out the black mask I had brought for her.

I stopped directly in her front and said in a gentle manner. "Turn." And she did without hesitation, like a small kid from kindergarten. She was the cutest person I've ever seen.

When we were both facing the mirror with me behind her and her eyes on my reflecting version, I heard her swallow, I knew she still feared me, but I was grateful she was willing to come nearer to me. It meant the world to me.

I brought out the mask, it was made with black lace, and I was sure it was the right one, for as soon as I put it on Cheryl, I couldn't blink away. Her silky blonde hair and red lipstick matched the mask. She was rare. She was one of a kind.

Her red nails came along, slowly feeling the mask on her face while she-herself admired her beauty.

With my hands around her necklace. "Can I trust you?" That was what slipped out of my mouth. I guess I really do have trust issues.

Her green eyes were transparent, and she didn't take them away from the mirror. "To not leave you? Or..."

With a swallow, I inclined my head and cut her off with a single nod because what she was going to append wasn't my biggest fear. My biggest fear was losing her.

"I'm kidnapped. I would love to keep my position." There was humor in her tone but promised in her voice, and I confirmed it when our eyes met in that mirror. I saw assurance in her enchanting eyes that gave me solace, and if Cheryl were to escape tonight-I'd be the fool, for I gave her my heart and everything in me.