Made for crime

The Fallout

The car ride back to the mansion was suffocatingly quiet, the tension thick in the air. I sat between Kai and Rosetta in the backseat, trying not to meet anyone's gaze.

 Carter sat in the front with his jaw clenched so tightly I could almost hear his teeth grinding together. No one said a word, but the silence was heavy—filled with the weight of what had just happened.

I stole a glance at Kai, his profile sharp and expression unreadable as he stared straight ahead. His hands rested on his knees, but I could still feel the residual anger radiating off him, barely controlled. 

His jaw was set in a way that told me not to say anything—not yet, at least.

I felt like a child who had just been caught doing something incredibly stupid, and in a way, I had. Sneaking out without telling him? Without even thinking about the dangers that were out there? I knew better. But I had been so desperate for a sense of normalcy, I let my guard down.And now, I was going to have to face the consequences.

As the mansion came into view, my stomach twisted into knots. The place looked just as imposing as ever, with its towering gates and stone walls, but tonight it felt even more like a fortress. I had wanted to escape this life, just for a few hours, but now I realized how deeply entrenched in it I really was.

The car came to a stop, and Carter was the first to speak. "Inside. Now." His voice was sharp, almost cold, as he turned to Rosetta. "We'll talk later."

Rosetta flinched but didn't argue. She knew she was in trouble too, and for once, she didn't have a clever retort. She just gave me a weak smile and whispered, "Good luck," before slipping out of the car and following Carter into the mansion.

That left me alone with Kai.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself as he opened the car door and got out, waiting for me to follow. His silence was unnerving, and I couldn't tell if he was angrier at me for sneaking out or more shaken by the fact that we had almost gotten hurt.

"Nina," he said finally, his voice low but sharp, as I climbed out of the car. "Inside."

I nodded wordlessly and followed him through the front doors. The guards stationed at the entrance exchanged glances but said nothing, clearly sensing the storm brewing between us. Once we were inside, Kai led me down the hallway, his steps quick and purposeful. He didn't stop until we reached his office.

The door clicked shut behind me with a soft finality, and the tension in the room felt suffocating. Kai stood with his back to me for a moment, his hands braced on his desk, the muscles in his arms taut. I could see the rise and fall of his shoulders as he took deep, controlled breaths.Finally, he turned around, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart stutter.

"What the hell were you thinking, Nina?" His voice was quiet, but the anger in it was palpable, like a storm waiting to break.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "I wasn't—"

"You're damn right you weren't," he interrupted, his tone sharp. "No guards. No weapons. And you just—what? Walked around the city like you weren't a target?"

I winced, his words hitting harder than I expected. "Kai, I—"

"Do you know what could've happened?" His voice rose, his eyes darkening with frustration. "If I hadn't found you... If that guy had done anything—" He cut himself off, running a hand through his hair, pacing the room like he was trying to keep himself from exploding. "You could've been hurt. You *and* Rosetta."

"I know," I whispered, the guilt rising in my chest like a wave. "I know we messed up, but I'm not a kid anymore kai I'm well aware of my surroundings"

He stopped pacing and turned to face me, his expression fierce. "You didn't just mess up, Nina. You put yourself in danger. Do you even understand that?"I met his gaze, my throat tight. "I do. I'm sorry, Kai. I just... I just needed to get out. To feel normal for a little while."

His jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. "Normal? You think anything about this life is normal? You can't just walk out there like you don't have a target on your back."

I flinched at the harshness in his voice, but I forced myself to stand my ground. "I get it. I do. But I feel like I'm suffocating here, Kai. I needed a break."

His eyes softened for a brief moment, but the anger quickly returned. "Then tell me. Tell me you need space. Don't just... disappear. Do you have any idea what went through my mind when I found out you were gone? That someone had gotten to you?"

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. I hadn't thought about how he would feel—how terrified he must have been.

"I didn't mean to scare you," I whispered, taking a step closer to him. "I just... I thought I could handle it."

Kai shook his head, his expression a mix of frustration and something else—something deeper, like fear. "You shouldn't have to handle it. That's what I'm here for, Nina. To keep you safe. To make sure nothing happens to you."

His words hit me in a way I hadn't expected, and I felt the tension between us shift. His anger wasn't just about me disobeying him. It was about fear. Fear of losing me. Fear of not being able to protect me in a world that was constantly trying to tear us apart.

I stepped forward again, my hand reaching out to touch his arm. "Kai, I'm sorry. I really am. I should've told you. I shouldn't have snuck out like that."

He didn't pull away, but he didn't relax either. His gaze flicked to my hand on his arm, then back to my face. "You scared the hell out of me."

"I know," I whispered. "I won't do it again."

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The tension between us was still there, but it was softer now, less sharp. I could see the internal battle in his eyes, the part of him that wanted to hold onto his anger, and the part that just wanted to make sure I was okay.

Finally, he sighed, his shoulders dropping just a fraction as some of the tension left his body. "You can't keep doing this, Nina."

"I won't," I promised, stepping closer until I was right in front of him. "I'll be more careful. I'll talk to you."

He studied me for a moment, his gaze intense, before nodding slowly. "Good."

I felt a surge of relief, but I knew we weren't completely in the clear. There was still an edge of unease between us, a lingering tension that wouldn't go away easily. But for now, I was just grateful that Kai hadn't shut me out entirely.

As if sensing my thoughts, Kai's hand reached up, gently cupping my face. His thumb brushed against my cheek, and for the first time since we'd gotten back, his expression softened. "You have no idea how much you mean to me, do you?"

I blinked, surprised by the tenderness in his voice. "Kai..."

"Don't scare me like that again," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "Please."

 my chest tightening. "I won't."

 I couldn't help but feel that maybe we were going to be okay.
For now.