Chapter 13

Kia "Kia, how's it going? I'm missing you, Honey. I didn't call you because I have been busy with one of my social events."

"Dad, what's wrong? Why are you sounding weak? I feel something happened to you!! Tell me quickly," I asked him.

He coughed through the phone. "I'm fine, Honey. There is nothing to worry about. Focus on your studies instead. I'm eager to see you in that white coat. I want to see my baby girl as a doctor," I felt his smile on the other side, "Promise me, Kia. You will never give up on your dream. Promise me you'll become a successful doctor. Promise me you'll help every person who wants your help. You'll never be like your brother," his words surprised me. Why did he suddenly start talking like this?

"Why do you think of Fabi like that, Dad?" I said, after pausing a few seconds. Dad always had a problem with my brother, and I didn't know why? I knew he was a drunkard and engaged in some sort of illegal work, but that's how I could pursue my dream. My college and hostel fees were not that easy to afford for dad. It was all coming through my brother Fabian and my part-time job.

"Promise me, Honey," his voice was barely audible. I couldn't understand why he was talking so strangely?

"I pro....." before I could complete my word, I heard something explode through the phone. Something heavy and unpleasant.

"Dad!!" I screamed and woke up, clutching my sheet tightly. My breath was heavy and sweat dripped down my temples. I looked across the room, seeing only darkness and the only sound I could hear was my heartbeat, "Why don't you leave me alone, Dad? You have been hunting me since the day last time I heard you. You care for me, but I am not the person I used to be. I'm not your baby girl. I'm a criminal, not a doctor. My dream shattered on that day when you were gone. Dad, you are too selfish. You didn't even tell me you were in trouble and accept your fate silently. Accept those fucking shots in your head." I bit my lips to stop myself from screaming. Scream at him. Why did he leave me alone? Why couldn't I feel his warmth again? I miss you, Dad. I miss you so much. You were the best father in the world.

Sunlight filtered through the window. I checked the time. It was six in the morning and also I checked the day, 12 August. How could I forget that day? My nightmare! My fucking nightmare. That was the day when I heard him last. My father's death anniversary. I didn't know my brother's death day because I had found him in a dumpster. His bruised and rotten body. I breathed hard, struggling to control my emotions. I should not have been in Seattle at that time. If I were with my dad then he would probably be alive.

I slipped out of bed and went into the bathroom. I walked over to the tiled bathtub and turned on the water, waiting for it to get warm. After a few minutes, I let my body into a warm bathtub and rested my head comfortably. I was staring at the ceiling blankly. There was no way I could ever make him fall to me. I hated his scent, his arrogance, and his deep blue eyes. I hated that I was attracted to him. I had not met him after that wedding ceremony, and I did not intend to meet him again.

My heartbeat quickened when I heard the doorbell. I got to my feet and dressed and went down. I opened the door after the second doorbell, "Hello, Ma'am, this is Max," a man in a dark suit presented himself politely, "I came here on the behalf of Mr. Miller. He wanted me to check on you and give it to you." he showed me a brown packet.

"What's this?" I didn't even invite him inside because I hated Vivian's men.

"This is ten thousand dollars for your necessities. He said you will probably go shopping with Mrs. Robinson so he wanted to make sure you'll get some designing stuff for yourself," he gave me his sweet smile, "I hope you would enjoy your day," he handed me the packet before walking in the elevator.

I frowned while glancing at the packet. I had nothing to use for his money. I tossed the parcel and went into the kitchen. My mood was so bad that I had no desire to eat. I just wanted to spend my whole day silently and peacefully, but how could I find peace? Knowing that my family killer was still alive and was living a happy life.

"Tell me what you want to eat?? You know how good I cook!"

"I'd go for the chicken with spaghetti, meatballs, and salad," I giggled. "Daddy, how do I get your food in Seattle? I'll miss your spaghetti and meatballs."

"You'll miss me just because of this reason?" His greenish-brown eyes met mine. There was so much adoration in his eyes.

I quickly stood up and hugged him tightly. "Of course not, Dad!! I miss everything. Promise me you'll call me every day and then tell me every detail of your work and I'll do the same."

"I promise you."

I sat back and placed my head in my palm, taking a deep breath, "Dad, will you ever come for your daughter?!" I was talking like a fool. His cemetery was far away from New York, and I wasn't able to go there with no one's help. I had never missed his anniversary, but this time. I needed to get out of his memories. The more I sit here alone and the more his memories would bother me.

My eyes dropped to the parcel. After standing up, I went into my room to find the dress that was appropriate for the nightclub. I was going to the nightclub so that I could erase his memories. All the dresses I had were old-fashioned. I pulled out a two-layer lace skirt and one of my blue gowns. Since I had nothing sexy, then I would make it sexy. I found scissors and chopped my beautiful gown. The gown had to be cut into two pieces. I made my blouse even shorter. It was off the shoulder, so it was revealing my pale skin and cleavage. I put on my dress and preferred heavy make-up. I straightened my hair, which hung down over my shoulder perfectly. I slipped on a pair of heels and grabbed my purse and walked down. Before I left, I put some money in the purse.

***********

The driver parked the car in front of the building and waited for me to get off. Before I got out of the car, I paid him. I went into the club. Two bouncers were already blocking my way, asking for my ID. I didn't have any ID, so how would I enter through this? I stood straight with my head high, "Yes, yours?" the dark muscled man asked.

I pulled out a few dollars and placed them in his hand. "Is that a problem?" I gave him a seductive smile. Both men stared at me, then stepped back after a few seconds. I sighed with relief and went into the club. I looked around. The colorful light was flashing across the room and people were drinking and dancing along to the beat of the music. I took a seat. "I'll have vodka," I ordered the barman.

He gave me a brief smile before handing me my drink. I gulped the drink down before ordering another one. I didn't know how long I would stay here and how long I would continue my drink, but I just wanted to drown myself for a few hours in this world. I was extremely sad, and sorrow was swallowing me deep down. This club was the only way I could fight through my despair. Men were watching me, their hungry gazes were roaming my body, but I didn't give a fuck. I continued my drink. The barman was giving me a weird look, probably counting my glass.

"Hey, beautiful," a man with dark brown hair leaned against the counter facing me. I could smell his foul breath. For a few seconds, I thought to shove him out of my view, but I waited for him to step back. "Would you like to dance with me?"

I narrowed my eyes on him. "Not even in your dream," I snarled and turned away, ignoring him.

"Well, a beautiful girl like you does not look good alone," he came even closer to me, invading my personal space, "Are you waiting for someone?" He almost brushed my arms.

"It's none of your business," my vision blurred. Shit! It seemed like I drank too much. I tried to stand up, but my legs were unstable, and I felt dizzy. "Don't you understand? Get the fuck out of my sight," I growled and pushed him hard. He was fucking annoying me. I grabbed the counter to help myself.

"You know who you're messing up with?" He barked.

"Yes, I'm messing up with an asshole!!!" I retorted back.

He immediately grabbed my arms. "I'm going to fuck you hard, bitch!" this time I was boiling with anger.

I quickly released my hands out of his grasp and grabbed my purse and pulled out my blade, "Don't blame me for that!!" I slammed my blade right against his left arm within seconds of the blood-soaked shirt.

"Bitch!!" He screamed and slapped my face as hard as he could, "Hey, stop the music," he ordered the DJ and the DJ followed his order, and now everyone was looking at us like we were the only celebrity here. He grimaced with pain. "Now I'm going to teach you a lesson." his lips curled into a cruel smile.

My hand was still on my cheeks, and I was figuring out how many he was because sometimes I saw him two and sometimes three, "You know who I am," I stumbled to my foot, "I'm Vivian's. You can't touch me," I didn't know I was claiming myself to him.

Confusion flickered across his face as he stared at me. But after a moment, he laughed like I had cracked some sort of joke, "Vivian! Really?" He couldn't believe me. "Every woman says the same, but in reality no one is!!" I stumbled one more time, "I'm the owner of this club and you're here. It means you're mine. I would fuck who I want to fuck. I'll fuck you the whole night, sweetheart."

I launched myself at him even though my body was shaky and dizzy, but I was capable of punching him to bleed. But before I could punch him, he dodged and slapped me hard. I spun around on the heel and collapsed onto the harsh floor and tasted my blood.

"You know how hot you look with your angry face, and it makes me even harder. I'm already hard and want nothing more than to fuck you."

I cringed at his words. "Try me. I'll cut out your dick," I hissed. If I had not been so drunk that I would have killed him long ago.

"Ben, hold her down!!" He ordered his man while kneeling. "Now, I'll see who will cut out my dick." a man came from the back and reached me, holding both arms behind my back. He gripped my arms. I tried to struggle.

"Let me go," I tried to snatch away my arms, but he was holding on so tight I was sure I'd have a bruise on my arm. "Let me go if you don't want to die. Vivian will kill you if he sees me in this condition." I was fooling myself while thinking about Vivian. He would never come. How did he know I was here?

His hungry eyes were gazing into my body. "I've never seen a girl like you. You're different." he grabbed me by the hair but before he could kiss me, his body dragged out of my sight and the next moment crashed against the counter. I gaped at him with wide eyes. The blood was pouring down his white shirt now, his blood almost soaking his clothes.

I looked at the person who was towering over him. The blood was dripping down from his fist. "You wanted to fuck my woman?" I had never heard Vivian like that.

"I didn't know she was yours. I didn't...." He was trembling under his gaze.

"He is lying," I said in my shaky voice, and the next moment, Vivian's gaze shifted to me.

He came nearer to me and reached me on his knees, scanning my face carefully. He trailed his fingers on my lower lips where I had got bruises. "Did he touch you??" His eyes were dark due to fury. "Did he touch you?" he growled, and he was looking extremely angry.

I nodded and said nothing, "Max, take her out right now!!" He said through his teeth.

I swallowed under his piercing gaze and tried to stand on my feet, "No, I want to...." before I could complete my word.

"I said out!!"

A man wrapped his arms around my waist and guided me towards the exit gate. "I wanted to kick his ass," I slurred.

"You have missed it because my boss has already killed him," that man said amusingly and sat me in the car. Everything was blurry.

*********

When I opened my eyes, I was in someone's arms. I felt the familiar scent of strong cologne. My vision was still blurry, and my head was throbbing due to pain. "Ugh!! I feel sick," I groaned.

Vivian didn't let out a single word, taking me silently to the apartment. I rested my head against his broad chest. It felt so good. I smiled to myself and clutched his shirt tightly. "How did you know I was there?" I asked him and waited for his answer, but he didn't say a single word even though he didn't look down at me.

Finally, we arrived at our floor, and he quickly opened the door and headed to my bedroom. "Why don't you answer me??"

He placed me on my bed and was ready to leave me. But I grabbed his hand, stopping him. "Why are you ignoring me?"

At last, he met my gaze, and it was still burning with anger. "Because you're drunk," he hissed.

I grabbed his collar, pulling him even closer to me. "And you're always drunk," I whispered while brushing my lips through his ear, "Did you kill him?"

He immediately brushed away my hands and stood up. "You need to take some rest. I'll talk to you later," he said through teeth.

"Talk to me what?" I snapped, "If you want to talk, then talk to me right now!!"

He glanced over his shoulder, giving me a deadly look. "I wonder how much you have drunk. If I weren't there, then he would have already....." he didn't complete his word and let's take a deep breath, "From now on you'll not go anywhere alone. I'll have you as one of my men. He guards you from now on."

"I don't want to be guarded by your man 24/7."

He didn't say a word, which means he didn't give a fuck of my want. He would do what he wanted to do.

I cleared my throat, "Um, thank you," I didn't know why I was thanking him, but I felt good that he was there for me, "I've never drunk that much but today is different for me," I closed my eyes for a few seconds, "I just wanted to forget him."

He spun around, giving me his full attention. "Him who?"

I rubbed my forehead and temples to remove the headache. "My father. Today is his death anniversary and I'm missing him so much. I was feeling lonely in this vast apartment, so I made a plan to go to a club. But I did not know that all this would happen to me. I just went there to divert my mind." my throat constricted, and I swallowed painfully, trying to keep my voice steady.

Vivian stepped towards me and sat beside me, "I'm sorry," he said and hugged me, "I lost my control when I saw you with that bastard," I froze in my place and didn't understand what to do, what to say on his statement. After a long time, I was feeling the same warmth in Vivian's arms and I wanted this badly, so I hugged him back. He felt so good, so strong, and so positive. Why was I letting him close to me?

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