Made for crime

Blood and solnishka

The front door creaked as I pushed it open, the faint glow of the chandelier spilling into the dark hallway. My footsteps were heavy against the marble floor as I trudged inside, the weight of the night still clinging to me like the dried blood on my shirt. My hands were sticky, knuckles raw, the metallic scent of violence filling the air around me. I didn't need to look in the mirror to know I looked like hell. I felt it.

It wasn't just Viktor's blood on me—there was a deeper weight, something heavier than flesh and bone.

I had dealt with traitors before, but every time it felt like a part of me got stripped away in the process. Not that I could afford to care. This was the world I'd chosen. This was my life.I just needed to get to my room, shower, and drown out the memories with whiskey. Simple. But as I reached the base of the grand staircase, I heard soft footsteps behind me—too light to be any of the men who worked in the mansion. I didn't have to turn around to know who it was.Nina.

"Kai?" Her voice was soft, a melody that cut through the fog of blood and exhaustion swirling in my mind. Of course, it had to be her. The one person in this house who didn't belong in the dark world I lived in. The one bright spot in all of this.

I gritted my teeth and sighed, still facing the staircase, trying to will her away without words.

"Kai, what happened?" She was closer now. I could feel her presence, like a light behind me, pulling me in despite the storm raging in my head. I heard the worry in her voice, but I didn't want to face it. I didn't want her to see me like this—like a monster.

"Go back to bed, Nina," I muttered, my voice low, rough. "It's late."

She ignored me, of course. She never listened when I wanted her to.

"I'm not going anywhere until you turn around." Her voice was firm, despite the softness. And then I felt her hand on my arm, gentle but insistent. It was warm, a contrast to the cold, sticky blood that coated me.I

 let out a sharp breath and turned, knowing I couldn't hide from her. Not tonight. When I finally faced her, Nina's eyes widened in shock as she took in the sight of me. I was a mess. Blood splattered across my shirt, bruises starting to form on my jaw, my hands shredded from the night's work.

She took a step back, her hand dropping from my arm, but her eyes didn't leave mine. The expression on her face was a mix of concern and something else—something I didn't deserve."You look like you've been through hell," she whispered, her gaze softening as she took in the blood on my shirt. "Are you hurt?"

I wanted to snap at her, tell her to stop looking at me like that. Like she cared. Like she didn't belong in a completely different world from mine. But instead, all I could do was grunt. "Not mine."

Her brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms over her chest, that stubborn streak showing in her expression. "That doesn't make it better, Kai."I clenched my jaw, the tension building in my shoulders. I didn't want to do this right now. I didn't want her to see this side of me—the side that had no soul left to give. 

"Look, Nina," I started, my voice gruff, "this isn't your world. You don't need to worry about this." I gestured vaguely to the bloodstains on my shirt, trying to push her away. Trying to keep her at a distance. It was better that way. But she didn't budge. 

Of course she didn't."*Your* world?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow at me. "You live in this mansion. So do I. You think I can just ignore it when you come back looking like this?" I huffed, running a hand through my hair, feeling the dried blood pulling at my skin. 

"You should."Her eyes narrowed, a flash of irritation crossing her face, but instead of arguing, she stepped closer. Too close. 

"Kai," she said softly, her voice laced with frustration but also... something warmer. "Let me help you."I took a step back, trying to put space between us, but my back hit the stair railing. Damn it. 

"I don't need help, Nina," I muttered, my tone sharper than I intended. "I just need you to go upstairs. Go back to sleep."Her eyes softened as she looked up at me, and she reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against my cheek where a bruise was forming. Her touch was gentle, soothing in a way that made my skin tingle.

"Kai," she whispered, her voice full of that damn concern that I didn't deserve. "You look like you've been through hell. Let me just... get you cleaned up, okay?" 

I wanted to pull away, wanted to tell her to stop. But the way she looked at me—with that strange mixture of tenderness and determination—made something inside me crack. She wasn't going to let this go.I groaned, rubbing the back of my neck.

 "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."Her lips curved into a small smile, and she grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the downstairs bathroom. 

I followed reluctantly, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that this girl, with her soft heart and bright eyes, had somehow wormed her way into my world.Inside the bathroom, Nina flicked on the lights, and the brightness made me squint. She guided me to sit on the edge of the tub, and I watched as she rummaged through the cabinets, pulling out a first aid kit. She moved with a kind of quiet efficiency, the kind that made me wonder how she could be so calm when I was covered in blood.

She came back with some gauze and antiseptic wipes, kneeling in front of me. "Give me your hands," she said softly, holding out her own.I hesitated, my hands still stained with Viktor's blood, the knuckles torn and raw. But Nina didn't flinch. She just waited, her eyes locked on mine with that quiet determination that always threw me off balance.With a sigh, I gave in, holding out my hands. 

She took them gently, carefully wiping away the blood and grime with a soft touch that felt... too good. Too right.

"This is going to sting," she murmured before dabbing the antiseptic on the cuts. I hissed at the sting, biting back a curse, but Nina just gave me a small, teasing smile. "Big, scary mafia man, and you can't handle a little antiseptic?"

I glared at her, but I could see the amusement dancing in her eyes. "Watch it, solnishka."

Her smile widened, and for a second, the tension in the room eased. I shook my head, feeling the corner of my mouth twitch up despite myself. She had that effect on me—always finding the light in the darkest of moments.She worked in silence for a few more minutes, her hands gentle as she cleaned the cuts on my knuckles. When she was done, she leaned back, wiping her hands on a towel.

"There," she said softly, standing up. "You're not as terrifying now."I raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the wall. "I'm still terrifying, solnishka."

She just grinned at me, shaking her head. "Sure, Kai. Whatever you say."

There was a moment of quiet, where she looked at me, really looked at me, as though trying to figure out what made me tick. It was unnerving, but at the same time... it wasn't so bad.

"You don't always have to be the tough guy, you know," she said softly, her voice cutting through the silence.I looked at her, the girl standing there with a smile too bright for this life, and for the first time in a long time, I didn't have an answer.