Kim blushes something fierce before she pulls her hand from Ronan’s.

Aiden smiles at Ronan, but there’s no humour whatsoever in it. “Isn’t that your dominant hand, Astor? It would be a shame if it somehow didn’t work tomorrow.”

Woah. Aiden can be really scary if he chooses to.

“Sick fucker,” Ronan whines, dropping my hand.

I catch Cole’s lips moving in my peripheral vision. ‘Pussy,’ he mouths at Ronan.

“Fais chier, connard.” The latter flips him the finger.

Cole just smiles. He’s like a cat toying with a mouse.

A hunter with a prey.

He sets the trap and sits back to watch his prey being caught.

I’m beginning to learn Cole only shows the tip of the iceberg to the world. There’s a whole lot of secrecy and darkness underneath the surface.

I can only imagine what it feels like to be his enemy.

Shivers.

After a while of joking and jesting — and Aiden sulking on the side — they stand to leave, promising to visit when I get discharged tomorrow.

“You don’t have to come.” Aiden shoves every one out of the door. He pauses at Xander. “You and I need to talk.”

Xander’s ocean eyes snap back to Kim who’s still standing beside me.

She pales, her hands digging into her skirt before she pulls at the sleeves of her pullover. She’s been doing that a lot since she came in.

Actually, she’s been having this wild gaze for a few days now.

Kim smiles, but she sucks at faking them. The grimace falls way too soon as she leans in to kiss me.

“Are you okay?” I clutch her hand.

“When you’re out,” she gulps. “I’ll tell you everything.”

“Okay.”

She hugs me again, sniffing in my neck. “I’m lucky to have you in my life, Ellie.”

“So am I, Kim.”

Xander doesn’t leave. He stands by the side of the door, slightly blocking it. He doesn’t attempt to give way and Kim has to stop.

“Can you move?” she snaps without looking at him.

“No.” He stares at the top of her green hair, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Just move out of the way, Xan—”

“Don’t say my fucking name.” He cuts her off.

Kim’s face reddens as she slams her shoulder into his shoulder and brushes past him.

He nods at Aiden and then follows her.

Aiden continues to watch down the hall with that calculative look before he shuts the door and joins me.

The mattress shifts as he sits beside me and wraps his arm around my shoulders.

“What the hell was that all about?” I ask him. “Why did you tell Xander you needed to talk?”

“It’s for Reed’s sake.”

“K-Kim? Is she in danger?”

“Not yet.”

“Not yet?”

“I know how much she means to you.” He sighs. “I’ll make sure she’s safe.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Hear her side of the story first.” He strokes my hair back. “And then we’ll talk, okay?”

I nod slowly. As much as I want Aiden to tell me everything, Kim is my best friend. I need to hear what the hell is wrong from her.

Aiden retrieves the plate of the cut apples and places it in front of me. He’s back to sulking, but he still feeds me the slices.

I try to tell him that I can use my hands, but he’s not listening.

I take a bite and munch on it slowly. I study his profile as I eat. The strong jawline, the metal eyes and the dark strands I’m itching to ruffle up.

He’s mine.

All mine.

The thought fills me with a strange type of empowerment.

This boy who told me he’d destroy me is now my number one protector and carer. He would do anything to make me happy.

Turns out his plan with Agnus was about the Rhodes deal. Aiden and Dad’s right hand somehow convinced Tristan Rhodes he could get better results if he hired both King Enterprises and Steel Corporation in their respective field - King for imports and exports, Steel for copper and their mass productions.

Jonathan and Dad, ex-friends and rivals, are now partners.

This deal brought a certain type of peace to their strained relationship. I don’t have to worry about Jonathan anymore either.

Levi told me about the threat Aiden made against Jonathan. If he comes near me or interferes in our relationship again, Aiden will leave him without an heir.

I never wanted Aiden to go against his father, but the fact that he’s doing it for me makes me feel all fuzzy inside.

“Are you still mad about earlier?” I ask after the third bite.

“Hmm. So you knew I was mad.”

Oops.

He removes the hospital table and lowers himself atop of me. Before I can blink, Aiden grabs both my wrists and pins them onto the pillow over my head. “Was it fun, sweetheart?”

“Maybe.” I bite my lower lip, my heart hammering so loud, I’m sure he can hear it.

This side of Aiden is my addiction and my damnation.

I love his intensity and his madness.

I’m in love with his dark mind and twisted soul.

“Looks like I need to remind you who you belong to. Isn’t that right?”

I remain motionless, excitement and thrill filling me to the core.

His free hand caresses my bottom lip. “Answer me.”

“Yes.”

And then his lips claim mine.

Epilogue - Aiden

Three months later

* * *

Negative energy hums under the surface. It mounts and soars with every second. The loud music and drunk people at Astor’s place aren’t helping.

Knight passes me a joint, but I shake my head.

Fuck this shit.

I’m pissed off.

And I know exactly why I’m pissed off.

Tonight was a semi-final game and Elsa came to watch and stayed through the entire thing. Yes, she finally came to one of my games. This time, it was for me and not for some other fucker.

To top it off, she wore my T-shirt. Number eleven, King. I had to stop myself from flying off to the stairs, remove that shirt and fuck her on the spot.

All the annoying people present put a halt to my fantasy.

Instead, I gave it my all during the game. I might have scored two goals to see that spark in her blue eyes.

Unlike common belief, I’m a giver. I just take more than I give.

Now, back to tonight’s actual problem. Elsa and I were supposed to go to the Meet Up where I could worship her body all night.

I had plans that started with her moaning and end with her screaming my name.

See? A giver.

Last minute, Elsa decided she wants to come to Astor’s fucking party. I told him to cancel it, but the twat disappeared somewhere to drink and fuck — probably at the same time.

I’m stuck here with a grumpy Knight who’s been smoking more weed than a hippie and groaning like a divorced old man thinking about pensions.

Nash vanished. He’s been disappearing without notice a lot lately.

Elsa is nowhere to be seen.

I pull my phone and read our last conversation.

Elsa: Wait for me at Ronan’s party.