Play Me - Revised

Chapter 13

"That's hard to believe."

"That's because you've made assumptions about me based on your experience with him."

"Like my experiences with you haven't further proven my assumptions," I retort. His eyes flicker with annoyance as he looks past me with disinterest.

"Any other questions?"

"What's your main source of income?"

"Weapons, drugs, cars and real estate. We accept certain contracts if it's worth the price."

"Anything else?"

"The human trafficking rumours are fake. Nicholas fuelled them to make things more complicated for me and my business."

"Did it work?"

"No. People who do business in that industry aren't stupid enough to act on what they hear."

"Did you know me when I was with your brother?"

"I heard you... and I saw you at times, but you never saw me."

"Why?"

"There was no need for you to."

"Those scars on your chest, did Nick do that to you?"

"Yes," he continues holding eye contact telling me he's not affected by the confession.

"Does Nick know I escaped that night?"

"He knows you're alive. None of the autopsies matched your description. By the time the autopsies were complete, it had already been a couple days, but Nick sent out an alert to his team to search for you.

He couldn't search for too long or spread the search far, otherwise he would risk others knowing you were alive and out of his hold so he announced that you died in that fire."

"Do you think my current situation is a give away?" I ask. Kai's eyes scan me throughly before committing to an answer.

"In some aspects yes, but you don't look how you used to. Besides the disguise, you're healthier and a lot stronger. That's why I've emphasized a unique training plan for you to help you switch up your techniques. The less you fight like you used to, the more people will doubt who you actually are."

"Makes sense. What's the plan moving forward?"

"I'm hoping The Dragon's have taken the warning and I expect them to lay low for a bit. No one else poses too much of threat at this moment, but I'm working on a couple alliances and deals to make sure that we stay ahead of everyone else. As far as Nick goes, he's been laying low for now. It's a little odd, so I have people around him to get some information."

"Where do I come into play?"

"For now, I want you to lay low and continue with what you've been doing. There is a work event coming up next weekend that I'd like you to attend with me."

"Okay."

...♛...

I used to have a lot of nightmares when dad first found me. I would wake up in the middle of the night screaming and thrashing. It scared Alice and we had to be separated into different rooms because the things I would say were too much for a fifteen year old who hasn't been a part of the life I've experienced.

It took a lot of time, but at the end of my first year with them, I was able to bury and numb out my past. I've barely ever thought about it ever since, unless something was triggered and even then, I was able to suppress whatever came up.