Made for crime

Breaking Point

The next few days after the incident passed in an uneasy calm. Kai had barely left my side since then, his protective instincts running high. I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves, but we hadn't talked about it again. Not really. The closest we'd come was that moment in his office when he held me and asked me not to scare him like that.

But the truth was, things between us still felt... fragile. Like we were balancing on the edge of something sharp and dangerous. I didn't know how to break through the wall he'd built up, the one that seemed thicker than usual since the day Rosetta and I snuck out.

I missed the ease we used to have—the way he'd smirk at me from across the room, or pull me into his arms just because he felt like it. But lately, he seemed more on guard. He'd been busier with Bratva matters, always on edge, and I could feel him slipping further away, even when he was right next to me.

it was frustrating, but I tried to give him space. Kai wasn't the type to be pushed, and I knew that if I tried too hard, he'd shut me out entirely. Still, there was a restlessness in me that I couldn't shake, an itch to address the growing tension between us.

I finally decided to confront him one night, after dinner. The mansion was quieter than usual, Rosetta and Carter having retired early. The soft glow of the lamps in the living room bathed the space in a warm light, and I found Kai standing near the window, staring out into the night like he was watching for something that only he could see."Kai," I called softly, stepping into the room.

He didn't turn around, but I could tell he knew I was there by the way his shoulders tensed slightly. "Nina."

I took a deep breath and walked over to him, standing just behind him. "We need to talk."His jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might ignore me. But then he sighed and finally turned to face me, his dark eyes scanning my face. "About what?""

You know what," I said, my voice steady, though my heart was racing. "About us. About everything that's been going on since that day."

His expression hardened a little. "I told you—""I know what you told me," I interrupted, my frustration bubbling up. "But we haven't actually *talked* about it. You've been distant, Kai. Even when you're here, it feels like you're somewhere else."

kai rubbed a hand over his face, clearly torn between wanting to shut me down and knowing I wouldn't let it go. "Nina, I'm trying to protect you."

"I don't need you to protect me from yourself," I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended. "I need you to *talk* to me. I need you to be honest about how you're feeling."

His eyes flicked to mine, something unreadable in them. "What do you want me to say? That I'm pissed you put yourself in danger? That I nearly lost my mind when I couldn't find you?"

"Yes!" I said, taking a step closer. "I need you to say it. I need you to tell me what's going on in your head instead of shutting me out."

Kai's nostrils flared, and for a moment, I thought he was going to walk away. But then he let out a rough exhale and turned fully to face me, his eyes burning with a mix of frustration and vulnerability.

"You want to know what's going on in my head, Nina?" His voice was low, but there was an edge to it that made my pulse quicken. "Every day, I'm pulled between this life I lead and wanting to keep you away from it. You're in the middle of all this danger because of me. And it scares the hell out of me."

I blinked, surprised by the raw honesty in his words.

He stepped closer, his gaze intense. "You think I don't notice how much you hate being cooped up here? That you want more freedom? I see it every damn day, Nina. But I can't give it to you. Not without risking your life."

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. "Kai, I know the risks. I've known them from the moment I stepped into this world. But I chose this—I chose *you*."

His expression flickered with something like pain. "And every time I look at you, I wonder if that was the right choice. If keeping you close is only going to get you hurt."

My heart ached at his words, but I refused to let him push me away. I stepped forward, closing the distance between us until I was right in front of him. "Kai, I'm not afraid of you. Or this life. I'm afraid of losing you because you won't let me in."

His breath hitched, and for a moment, I saw the cracks in his armor, the fear and doubt that he tried so hard to bury. He reached out, his hand cupping my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin in a way that made my heart ache.

"I don't want to lose you either," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion.

I leaned into his touch, my hand coming up to rest on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm. "Then stop shutting me out. We're in this together, remember?"He didn't answer right away, but his eyes softened, and I could see the weight of his fear starting to lift, if only a little. "You drive me crazy, you know that?"

I smiled softly, feeling the tension between us ease just a fraction. "Good. It means I'm doing something right."

Kai's lips quirked into a small, reluctant smile. "I don't know what I did to deserve you.""Lucky for you, it's not about what you did," I teased, pressing closer. "It's about what you're going to do."

He raised an eyebrow, his hands settling on my waist. "And what's that?"

"Stop treating me like I'm going to break," I said, my voice soft but firm. "Let me in, Kai. I'm not afraid of the dark parts of your world. But I am afraid of losing you to them."

His grip tightened on me, and for a long moment, he just stared at me, his gaze searching mine like he was trying to figure out how to let go of everything that was holding him back.

Finally, he sighed, resting his forehead against mine. "I'm trying, Nina. I am. But it's hard.""I know," I whispered, my fingers curling into his shirt. "But I'm not going anywhere."

Kai let out a rough breath, his arms wrapping around me fully, pulling me against him in a way that made me feel like he was holding onto me for dear life. "God, you're impossible."

We stood there for a while, wrapped in each other's arms, the tension between us finally beginning to melt away. I knew things wouldn't magically get easier overnight, but this was a start. A step toward finding each other again, even in the chaos of the world we lived in.

Kai pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his grip still firm but less desperate now. "I'm sorry for shutting you out."

I tilted my head up to look at him, my heart swelling at the sincerity in his eyes. "Just don't do it again."

He smirked, but there was a warmth in his gaze that hadn't been there before. "Deal."

And just like that, the distance between us disappeared, replaced by something stronger, something that felt a lot like hope.