Violent Sins (New York Sinners Series Book 3)

16| Familiar

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Familiar

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Chapter 16: Familiar (Kai's POV)

Shock. Panic. Fear. Curiosity. You could name just about any emotion, and it was painted all over Rose's pretty little face for the entire table to see. Clearly, our families meeting so soon had caught her off-guard. 

I couldn't say she was the only one; I was almost as baffled when my mother called me this morning, demanding my presence at brunch with the Chens. 

Truth be told, the idea that Rose may have agreed to this arrangement only temporarily to buy herself more time did cross my mind. But the look in her eyes betrayed my suspicions last night. 

She looked desperate enough to think working with me was a good idea. And that was about as desperate as her morals would ever let her be. 

I couldn't help but watch her throughout the conversations that buzzed around us at that table. It wasn't simply because I struggled to take my eyes off of her. She watched and listened to the conversations between our parents with undivided attention. 

I could already see the wheels turning in her head as she tried to devise a solution to this problem, but the sighs of defeat and frustration she let out every few moments told me that all the scheming was to no avail. 

There was no out. She made her bed, and now she would have to lay in it. 

"Rose?" 

I kept my eyes on her as Mrs. Chen called her name. She missed it, continuously poking and prodding at whatever was left on her plate. 

"Rose," Mrs. Chen repeated, clearing her throat. 

"Rose," her father said sternly. 

Inhaling sharply, her eyes snapped straight up to his. "I'm sorry." The words slipped out of her mouth so fast, it was practically a reflex. It seemed like that's all she was ever doing around her father. Apologizing. 

"Mr. Warner would like to know what you think," Dom said to her quietly. 

She blinked once, then twice, absolutely lost in the conversation. She was so zoned out that she hadn't comprehended a single word spoken in the past fifteen minutes. 

"Mr. Chen," I said, meeting the man's eyes. Along with his, everyone else's gaze shifted to me. 

Remind me never to draw attention to myself at a table with these people. 

"I would like to have a word with your daughter," I paused. "Alone." 

His eyes narrowed for a brief moment. "Do you deem that to be proper, Kai?" 

"Frankly, Sir, what I deem improper is you not letting me speak to my fiancée alone." 

"Kai," my mother hissed at me. 

I held his gaze, arching a brow slightly as I tilted my head. 

He scoffed dryly before nodding dismissively. "Go ahead." 

I rose from my seat and rounded up to Rose, waiting for her to join me before we walked away from the table and headed toward the building. "What's wrong, Ms. Chen? Getting cold feet already?" I smirked, slowing my steps as I noticed the quick succession of hers.