Jonathan wanted to weaken and break her emotionally so she becomes useless when she takes her position at the head of her father’s company.

With a weak head, Jonathan can pressure her and take over Steel’s empire.

Which is, in his mind, the greatest form of revenge.

Ethan took Alicia, and he’ll take Elsa and the company.

I realised all of this too late.

Jonathan already set the game in motion ten years ago.

He never told me about her. He never stopped to tell me she’s alive somewhere.

Instead, he kept her guardians close by offering them huge work opportunities with King Enterprises and used the chance to keep an eye on her.

Then, at the right moment, he made one of his employees recommend Royal Elite School to Elsa’s Aunt, knowing exactly how much she wanted a great education for her niece.

That day I saw her again, I came home to find Jonathan smiling with triumph. He was happy that his battle had started.

He didn’t ask for my permission when he brought her over. He didn’t even prepare me.

But Jonathan is all about the surprise factor.

The opponent is easier to handle when he’s taken off guard.

He likes to use that tactic a lot. In chess. In work. In life. Everywhere, basically.

Since the day Elsa walked into RES, Jonathan and I have been playing on the same side of the board.

Until I touched her.

Tasted her.

Became fucking lost in her.

The moment I decided that Elsa is mine and no one else’s, she stopped being a pawn on Jonathan’s board.

Yes, she was a pawn in mine. Yes, she didn’t have a choice to be dropped on my side of the chessboard.

But what she wouldn’t understand is that being my pawn is much fucking better than being Jonathan’s.

I don’t want to hurt her — not in that sense.

But Jonathan?

Jonathan would set her on fire and watch as she turned to ashes.

Elsa is lucky.

She’s damn lucky that she got under my skin and became an inseparable part of my being.

If I didn’t know better, I would even suspect that she had me hooked on her to save herself.

“You have one more chance to change your mind.” Jonathan raises an eyebrow. “Seize it.”

He doesn’t offer second chances, so the fact that he’s going out of his way says a lot.

Not that it matters anymore.

I already chose my side.

And it’s not his.

I slam my king at the head of the board. “The game starts with two kings, Jonathan.”

He hits my queen with his king. “But it ends with only one.”

I stand up, but not before straightening my queen. He won’t be bringing her down.

Not on my watch.

My phone dings with a text.

Knight: Nash ran his mouth about the kidnapping to Elsa. She asked me to take her to her shrink. I’m in the waiting room.

My grip tightens around the phone.

Fucking Nash.

I’m going to fuck him up.

I pull up Queens’ number and type.

Aiden: Nash fucked Johansson from the track team.

The reply is immediate.

Queens: What the fuck?

Aiden: I thought you should know.

I smile on my way to the door. That will teach him to stop fucking around with me.

If he wants a war, then a war is what he’ll get.

“She’s Steel, Aiden. Destruction is in their blood,” Jonathan calls after me.

I stop, but don’t turn around. “And ours.”

“Do you think she’ll still love you after she remembers your monstrous past?”

My left eye twitches, but I wait for it to subside as I spin around to face him. “Alicia loved you even after knowing you’re a monster.”

His face falls as he drops his own queen. The sound of the chess piece hitting the board echoes in the silent office. “We both know how that ended up for her.”

37

Elsa

Sweat covers my limbs and beads on my forehead.

My breathing comes out rugged and out of control.

The leather creaks underneath me.

It’s too dark behind my closed eyes.

“Do you see the steps?” Dr Khan asks from across from me.

“It’s those same dark stairs. There’s an old wooden door in view. It looks like something you see in those World War Two films or something.”

“Go on,” he urges.

My shoulders snap upright, but I don’t stop to focus on the fear.

Fear is temporary in front of my thirst for the truth.

Now more than ever, I need to know what’s in that basement.

I told Dr Khan that I’m not blocking myself anymore. That this time, I’ll remember.

I’ll remember Eli and my parents.

I’ll remember everything.

My breathing slows as I take the steps down.

The light becomes dimmer with each step I take. The shadows darken, forming a black fog around me.

I can feel those monsters whispering on my skin and clawing at my back.

Return where you came from.

You don’t belong here.

No. This is my home and exactly where I belong.

With a deep shaky breath, I keep going. All I focus on is the old basement door.

There’s something important there.

Something like the truth.

Don’t they say the truth sets you free?

“Slowing down and shutting down,” Dr Khan’s voice lowers in volume. “Slowing down and shutting down. Slowing down and shutting down… shutting down completely.”

* * *

I stand in front of the door, only it’s not me. I bring my hands up to my face and they’re small, little hands. My feet and body are also small. The top of my head barely reaches the handle.

The seven year-old version of me.

The one who erased everything.

Keys dangle from my right hand and a small lamp from the other.

I stole them keys from Ma.

She put on red lipstick and went to bed, so she won’t be coming here.

The keys jingle and my breathing trembles with it.

This is the first time I steal them keys from Ma. She’ll be mad, but I’ll give her a red rose so she stops being mad.

I glue my ear to the door.

It’s here again. The whimpering.

Hmmm.

Hmmm…

Hmm...Hmm...

Pain slashes through my heart like them monsters are squeezing it.

Since the one who shall not be named went to heaven, I hear them voices like this in the basement.

Dad told me to never come back here again.

Uncle Reg told me it’s for ‘my sake’. Dunno what ‘for my sake’ means.

Last month, Ma found me lurking here and hit me on the back with her horsewhip.

I didn’t tell Dad about it because he’ll fight with Ma and I don’t like it when they fight.

So I stopped coming here. I don’t want Ma mad at me. I don’t want Dad mad at Ma.

But today is different.

Before, them whimpers and moans only stayed for a day before they disappeared. These whimpers have been going on for three days.

Three whole days.

Them monsters must be doing something like they did to the one who shall not be named.

They’re pulling someone else into the dark waters and not giving them back.