Criminal

Chapter 33

As I sat in bed, boredom gnawing at my insides, I couldn't help but watch Kael as he worked, his focus unwavering, his mind seemingly lost in the depths of his own vendetta. I knew I needed answers, needed to understand why he had dragged me into his twisted game of revenge against my father.

"Tell me," I demanded, my voice tinged with frustration, "what did my father do to deserve this? What did he do to you?"

Kael glanced up from his work, his expression unreadable. "Your father," he began slowly, "is a man who thought he could control everything and everyone. But he made a grave mistake, one that cost him dearly."

I narrowed my eyes, refusing to be placated by his vague answers. "That doesn't tell me anything," I snapped, my voice laced with irritation. "I need specifics, Kael. What exactly did he do to you?"

Kael's lips curled into a sardonic smile, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. "You're so desperate for answers, aren't you, Ava?" he murmured, his tone dripping with condescension. "But perhaps it's better for you not to know."

I scoffed, frustration boiling over into anger. "Don't play games with me, Kael," I spat, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. "I have a right to know why you've dragged me into your twisted revenge plot."

He chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. "You have a right, do you?" he taunted, his gaze boring into mine with an intensity that made my heart race.

"You think you have rights in this situation, Ava?" Kael's voice dripped with disdain as he moved closer, his presence looming over me like a dark shadow. "You're here because of your father's sins, not because of any entitlement you believe you possess."

I bristled at his words, refusing to back down. "I won't let you manipulate me, Kael," I shot back, my voice trembling with defiance. "I deserve to know the truth."

His eyes flashed with something primal, a dangerous spark igniting in their depths. "And what if the truth is too much for you to handle, Ava?" he challenged, his voice low and menacing. "What then?"

I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. "I'll handle it," I declared, my tone unwavering.

His lips twisted into a predatory smirk, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Oh, Ava," he murmured, his voice a seductive purr. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."

I swallowed hard, my pulse quickening at the raw intensity of his gaze. "Try me," I countered, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can handle more than you think."

Kael's smirk widened, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Is that a challenge, my dear?" he murmured, his voice sending shivers down my spine. "Because you know I never back down from a challenge."

I met his gaze, my own eyes blazing with defiance. "Then prove it," I challenged, the words dripping with determination. "Tell me everything, Kael. I dare you."

A low chuckle rumbled in Kael's throat as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against my skin. "You're playing a dangerous game, Ava," he whispered, his voice a tantalizing caress. "But if you want to know the truth, I'll give it to you."

My heart hammered in my chest as I held his gaze, refusing to look away. "Tell me," I demanded, my voice barely a whisper.

Kael's lips curled into a smirk as he began to speak, his voice low and enigmatic. "Your father, Ava, is more than just a corporate lackey," he began, his words laced with veiled menace. "He's a key player in a game of power and corruption."

My breath caught in my throat as I listened, a sense of dread creeping over me. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"He's a buyer for a corporation that deals in more than just business," Kael explained, his tone cryptic. "They traffic in human lives, Ava. From those who go missing without a trace to those who are silenced for asking too many questions."