Khaye's mind was full of apprehensions. It didn't help with her shooting practice, though she tried her best to focus, and Marco had noticed it.

"What's bothering you?" he asked, his brows furrowed into a frown. "You're not thinking about this sexual thing going on between us and how wrong you were to jump into the sack with me, right?" he asked in jest.

She shook her head, eyes squinting against the sun. "No, I'm just thinking about Gian." It was too late for her to take back her words and she mentally slapped herself for being too reckless. It had been two days since she received her brother's text and she had been very careful around Marco. Sure, keeping such information from him would definitely piss him off, but it wouldn't hurt if she didn't go to the meeting, which was later that afternoon.

"What about him? I thought we already talked about this? We do our thing while we stay away from your brother. Did he contact you?"

For the first time, she didn't like Marco's cop instincts. She did her best to be convincing as she shook her head. "No, nothing like that."

"Then?" he urged.

"Then I'm just bothered," she snapped. "He's my brother after all. And he's in deep shit. And he wants me dead. Isn't that enough for me to at least be bothered a few times each day?"

"Woah, hey, calm down. I didn't mean anything bad. I was just asking."

Khaye blinked and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. It's just the stress. Everything's just quite fucked up right now."

"Well, not everything. I rather like the moments in bed," he said, wriggling his brows.

"I liked it better when you were playing Mr. Cold Guy who can't flirt. It was more interesting."

Marco just laughed and motioned his head toward the can of Coke twenty meters away. They were able to find a secluded area near the house they borrowed and had been practicing shooting since that morning. "It's time for another round," he said, stepping back to let her do her thing.

She had been practicing for three days now and Marco had said that she was getting better at it.

I'm not coming, she said to herself before she pointed the gun at the can twenty meters away and pulled the trigger.

*****

In the two days that followed after her very short visit to Vernier's residence, Desiree had been quite busy. Theo was often called underground for the two consecutive days and it was only necessary that she went with him.

But this time, her visit to the place had had developments. On the first day, Ms. Kane asked if she wanted to join her for coffee. Of course, there was a quaint café underground. This one though was located slightly closer above ground so the windows above offered light from the outside. The frequent noise of ignorant passersby gave off the feeling that they were in one of the cafes on the street. Which, was true since the building directly above them was a real café with real and normal customers. Only that they didn't know another, much hidden, section was located underneath.

Ms. Kane did not talk about the Liaisons. She didn't talk about the people they met underground or the other activities they did. What they talked about was their everyday normal life. Desiree, of course, could only listen and grasp as much as she could for there was nothing she could offer about her normal everyday as of the moment other than the amazing sex with Theo.

When Theo found her three hours later after three cups of latte, she wasn't sure she wanted to leave just yet. Ms. Kane had proven to be a good company and her humor, much to Desiree's surprise, fascinated her.

Theo allowed another hour to sit in that café with her and Ms. Kane, his brows furrowed. When the lady took off fifteen minutes after he sat down the table with them, Desiree asked him what happened.

"Nothing," he had said, dismissing her question by calling the attention of the waiter. He ordered for a cup of Americano.

"Is it about Vernier?" she had asked. "Was that what the meeting was all about?"

He was already shaking his head even before she finished. "He would not bring that up anytime soon or in the future. He knows where he stands in my father's organization." He looked over his shoulder to see if anyone was within earshot. Then he returned his attention to her and a look of concern crossed his features. "He didn't approach you by any chance, did he?"

Desiree shook her head, still shivering at the memory of Vernier's malevolent face. She didn't think she could face him again. "Then what is that sour look on your face about?" she had asked, changing the subject. "I know you always look that way, but I had gotten used to your softer features, Theo. Blame the sex, but I preferred the tamer look."

He chuckled, a rare occurrence, but didn't say anything.

She leaned forward and asked, "It's not about the twins-" and stopped when he gave her a look. "Okay, I'll pretend I don't notice the dark look and quietly sip my coffee like the behaved captive that I am." Her use of the word captive started another argument which he lost because, as what Desiree had put it, she was still a captive in all sense of the word.

They returned underground the next day but this time, it was not Ms. Kane who accompanied her while Theo went on a meeting with new clients. Tatiana had apparently been looking for her because they needed to go shopping.

"There's this big party coming up in a few months and we really need to find-"

"Tatiana, the party is happening in a few months. There's no need to rush," she told the lady. She was not in the mood to go out shopping underground. "And plus, you're pregnant. What if the dress doesn't fit you by then?"

Tatiana's face fell. "Oh. Yeah. Right. I forgot about that one detail." The lady then proceeded to sit in one corner until Desiree rolled her eyes and sighed. "Okay, if you really want to go shopping, I guess I can go with you. We can buy something for the baby instead-"

"Really?" Tatiana asked with excitement, jumping to her feet. "Okay, let's go."

Desiree smiled and walked with the lady out of the lounge. Together, they went toward Ms. Kane's shopping warehouse to kill some time.

*****

Richard approached Theo with a knowing smile intended to mock him. "You really went that far to save her, Theo. Really, it was awesome to see you run out that bar and drive to Vernier's residence like the fucking Flash himself."

He looked over his shoulder to see their father talking with the new client. He pretended to be busy pouring a cup of coffee. "Keep your voice down."

"Which makes me wonder," Richard continued anyway, leaning against the wall to peer down at Theo, "if you give a fuck what happens to her, why did you make that stupid trade with Vernier?"

Theo fixed his brother a smoldering look but only got a curious frown in return. And when Theo kept his silence, Richard's face started to brighten with realization and shock. "You are planning something, you bastard."

"Keep your fucking voice down, Richie." That surprised Richard more. It had been years since he called his brother that.

The mockery was gone and so was the smile. Richard was looking worried, concerned even, as he looked around to make sure that they had enough privacy. He leaned closer to Theo and grabbed his arm. "Are you planning something stupid, Theo?" he hissed under his breath. "You can't be that stupid to fucking think you won't get caught-"

"Says the man who had been planning to run away with his woman with a bag of cash," he hissed back at his brother, looking over at their father nonchalantly.

Richard's jaw tightened. "What are you planning to do?"

He studied Richard for a moment before answering, "I'm not telling if you won't jump in to join."

"What makes you think I'd want to be a part of this?"

He cocked an eyebrow at Richard. "You were planning to go away with Jamaica. That says a lot about your loyalty to this family of ours."

Richard turned and stared at the back of their father's head. "You're thinking of destroying him."

Theo didn't answer. "As I said, I am not saying anything unless you jump in." He was almost certain, confident even, that Richard would not say anything. Richard had done a lot of things in the past and his recent failed attempt to escape this life with Jamaica could be considered one of the most unforgivable ones in their father's book. He wouldn't spill any of Theo's shit if he could help it.

"I am not crazy enough to do whatever you are planning, Theo. You better stop thinking about it."

Instead of saying anything more, he just nodded, taking his cup of coffee with him out of the door.

*****

When she and Tatiana arrived back at the lounge, Theo was already there waiting for her. He was holding a cup of coffee in his hand as they entered, chuckling about their impulsive shopping spree.

He raised his brows with amusement when he saw the bags in their hands. "I don't remember any talks of shopping," he said, crossing one leg over the other.

"I didn't go shopping. Tatiana did," Desiree said, lifting the bags in her hands. "These are all for the babies."

He replaced his cup on the coffee table and stood up. "I had a long day, Des. Let's go home."

Desiree was surprised when she felt her shoulders drop. Tatiana was a good company and she had not been in the presence of another woman her age where she laughed. Not since Jamaica's death.

"We'll be back tomorrow," he told her when she didn't move.

"Okay, then," she said, putting the bags near the door. "You take care of yourself and the baby, okay?" she told Tatiana. The lady gave her and Theo a peck each, her face flushed with excitement.

"I'll be here tomorrow. I have appointments with some old clients so I guess I'll just come find you then."

Desiree nodded and walked out the door to follow Theo.

Once inside his car, she turned to him and asked, "Why did Tatiana marry Yann?"

He was driving again this time and his one hand reached out to play with her fingers, a habit he seemed to have developed just yesterday after their big fight at the cafe. "Business."

She wasn't surprised to hear that at all. "Do you think he hurts her? Like physically?"

His brows furrowed. "Why do you think that?"

She shrugged. "He's not...well, I can say he's not a good guy and I somehow worry that if he is hurting his wife, Tatiana's pregnancy might be in trouble."

Theo turned her hand so her palm faced upward and planted his own hand over it. He seemed to be thinking of the right answer before he said, "Yann knows Tatiana is dear to a lot of people underground. Her father is fucking Vernier in the first place. If he hurts a strand of her hair, he'd be dead. But then again," he continued, looking her in the eye, "there are different ways to cause hurt."

"Well, I can say he ignores her a lot."

"That's their problem, not ours. The price they have to pay for their bigger goals."

She decided not to argue that one because it would only lead to a very heated discussion about wrong goals and their dirty, inhumane world underground. But after a few moments, a question popped in her head and she wasn't able to stop herself before she spoke it, "Why do you want to take Mr. Hong down?"

Theo's hand stilled over hers. He didn't answer but he didn't act like he didn't hear her question either. He finally lifted his hand away from hers and Desiree just shrugged, turning her attention to the side of the road. She didn't really need to know the answer, but that didn't mean she wasn't curious as hell.

*****

Khaye had been pacing restlessly around her room after lunch. Gian hadn't contacted her again but she was sure he was waiting for her in the park. She bit her lower lip. It was a risk but Gian was her brother. She needed to hear from his own mouth that he was betraying her.

He might be playing double agent. He might still be with the good guys. He might still be trusted. Nothing's proven yet, said the big part of her brain.

But the one filled with fear was keeping her from walking out the door to meet her brother. And there was Marco. How would she explain to him where she was going without telling the truth?

An hour later, worry started to creep in. Gian could be in danger as well. He could be trapped into something like her. Maybe he needed her help with something? Without another thought, she walked out the door and grabbed her jacket. Marco was outside, sitting in front of his computer, when she announced, "Let's go get some groceries. We need to restock."

"We have enough-"

"I need toiletries, Marco," she insisted.

He checked his watch and sighed. "Okay. I need some fresh air and a drive anyway."

Khaye just nodded. She just needed to have a drive to the city then she'd be on her own.

*****

They spent the afternoon cooking a late lunch. While Theo locked himself in his office to talk to some people on the phone and do a lot of other illegal activities, she snuggled in the comfort of his bed with a good book. She didn't know how it happened but she just found herself being stirred from sleep by Theo's mouth against her neck and his arm around her waist.

She moaned sleepily and turned to face him, snuggling into the crook of his neck. "I'm too sleepy to have sex right now, Theo," she whispered groggily. She could feel her open book pressed at her back but too lazy to move it out of the way. His arm wormed its way under her neck, serving as pillow, while he slowly turned on his back. She wrapped one arm over his waist, intending to go back to sleep.

"He killed her," he said somewhere above her.

"Hmmm?" she asked, still in the realm between sleep and wakefulness.

"Our father, Mr. Hong," he answered, his voice low and calm.

"What about him?" she asked, snuggling closer. When he didn't answer, she forced her eyes open and tilted her head to look at him. His eyes were closed, his forearm over his forehead. "What about Mr. Hong, Theo?"

"He killed her. That's why I want to destroy him." He opened his eyes to look at her. There was nothing in there that told her he was angry or furious. There was just nothing there and it was even scarier. "He killed our mother."