Someone shook my shoulder, waking me up from my slumber. Looking around, I realized I was inside Clark’s car.

“Let’s get you fixed up,” he said, slipping off of his seat belt.

It was dark outside and I wasn’t sure where we were. I hear the back door opening and I turned around to see Clark carrying the still unconscious Valery out of the vehicle. His coat was covering her tattered body.

I began to well up again, seeing her all beaten up. Clark gently pulled her out, carrying her bridal style while shutting the car door close. I got out as well and followed him to what seemed like a small clinic in the middle of nowhere.

“W-where are we?” I asked as I rubbed my arms.

The air was chilly and the jacket I was wearing wasn’t helping much to keep me warm.

“Valery’s dad is a doctor. This is his place,” Clark answered.

There was a bright signage from afar and I read it.

Boikov Clinic. Open 24/7.

Attending Doctor: Dr. Maxim Boikov M.D | Surgeon

Maxim Boikov. So he’s Valery’s father? I haven’t seen any of Valery and Oleg’s parents. They seemed to be the type to be workaholic, just like mine.

There was a gray Audi car outside the parking lot and I reckoned it belonged to the doctor. It was a quiet clinic, far away from society. I wonder who comes in here anyway?

The 1-storey building was brightly lit. Clark and I entered the place and a nurse with brunette hair tied in a bun greeted us. She appeared to be quite an old lady but damn, she’s beautiful.

And she looked like…Valery…?

“What in the world?” she gasped out loud when she saw us coming inside. “Valery?!”

“She was kidnapped,” Clark shortly informed.

“What?!”

Clark rolled her eyes at the woman.

“Just call Maxim and patch her up. I stopped the bleeding in her head but she needs first aid, now.”

The woman began to panic, telling Clark to put Valery inside one of the rooms. I followed him, worried about Valery’s current state.

A few seconds after the woman disappear, she came back together with a man, probably as tall as Clark, wearing a doctor’s robe. I’m guessing he’s the same age as his nurse and he really looked like an older version of Oleg.

There was a bored look in his eyes. He turned to Clark who shrugged his shoulders.

“Val got caught up with my business. Sorry.”

The doctor, who I assumed was Maxim, walked towards the bed to check Valery.

“I need space,” Maxim announced, looking at everyone in the room.

The lady ushered Clark and I out of the room as they tended the wounded Valery. We sat on the bench in the lobby, patiently waiting for them to finish.

“Valery will be fine, right?” I asked Clark. “S-she’s not…she’s not gonna…”

Clark ruffled my hair and smiled reassuringly at me.

“Maxim’s gonna make sure his daughter’s gonna be okay.”

I stared at him and pondered. So he’s really Valery’s father. He’s not what I expected him to be. Based from those piercing eyes of his, it wouldn’t surprise me if he belonged to the Mafia.

Half an hour passed and I was feeling sleepy. I kept falling asleep but I tried not to. I wanted to make sure Valery’s out of the woods before I doze off.

Clark put an arm around my shoulder. He pulled me close to him and my head bumped against his hard chest.

“Sleep,” he ordered. “I’ll wake you up.”

I guess I was exhausted. Feeling Clark’s warmth immediately sent me to dreamland. It felt so good to be hugged, especially by the guy who you had fallen in love with. His buff body pressing against mine was like heaven, his smell that’s engulfing me, it was more than I could ask for.

--

I woke up hearing distant voices. My eyes fluttered open and I saw the lady nurse talking to Clark. She saw me wake up and smiled immediately at me.

“Doesn’t he remind you of someone?” she commented, smirking knowingly at Clark who was standing in front of her.

“No.”

“Ah, speaking of, your parents haven’t visited us yet,” she said, pouting at Clark. “That’s so rude. I know it’s not easy for them to come here but visiting us once in a while isn’t that too hard, right?”

Clark shrugged his shoulders.

“They’re busy with whatever business they’re doing.”

I stood up, cringing as I felt my lips stinging. I touched it and it was swollen. Ignoring the pain, I stared at the nurse.

“S-sorry for what happened to Valery. It’s my fault that she…”

She cut me off, tapping my shoulder in forgiveness.

“It’s okay. I know what happened and to be honest, I don’t blame you. It’s been a while since something like this happened to our family but you know, it’s not like it’s the first.”

I blinked at her, confused.

“What?”

“She knows who you are,” Clark said but it didn’t help me understand what she meant.

Seeing my questioning look, he sighed.

“Alexandra and Maxim were once part of the Mafia back in the old days. They’re retired now,” he explained with a dead voice.

My eyes widened in pure shock.

“You were in the Mafia?!”

Alexandra grinned.

“It’s supposed to be a secret but it doesn’t matter anymore. People have forgotten who we are so we’re safe,” she said.

Clark snorted in mockery but didn’t say anything.

Alexandra neared me, observing my face in a close distant.

“So you’re Valery’s friend, huh? Of all the people she can be friends with, she just have to be with someone from the mob. Ironic, right, Clark?”

He didn’t answer her.

“Valery’s okay now. What she got are minor bruises. She’s gonna be fine after a couple of days,” Alexandra informed.

I sighed in relief, smiling.

“T-that’s good to hear.”

Maxim stepped out of the room where they took Valery in. He had a tired expression.

“Clark,” he called. “Who did this to her?”

I shuddered at the tone of his voice. Yep, he’s definitely from the Mafia.

“The Voronin group,” Clark replied. “They used Valery to lure Orlov out.”

Alexandra grinned and said, “but thanks to you, their plans were sabotaged.”

“Kill them.”

Alexandra and I turned to Maxim after hearing him say those words. My heart dropped in fear, snapping my head back at Clark who only smirked at him.

“You didn’t need to tell me that. I’m feeling pissed off already.”

“What they did to my daughter, make sure no one’s alive in their group.”

“Understood.”

--

After making sure the Valery was alright, I bid Maxim and Alexandra goodbye. I apologized to Maxim to what I’ve done to his daughter but he only gave me a blank look before turning around to get back inside the clinic. Alexandra just waved a hand at me and got back inside as well.

“I think he hates me.”

“Well, you’re the reason why Valery got fucked up,” Clark said.

I scowled.

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”

“Don’t worry. I’m going to kill them all.”

I gulped. Staring at Clark, I’m aware he was serious with what he said. I was a witness of how strong Clark but we’re talking about a Mafia family. Even if they’re small in numbers, they were still dangerous.

“Y-you can’t do that…y-you’re…”

I didn’t want Clark to get hurt.

Not him too.

We stopped in front of his car.

“They hurt Valery,” he said, staring at me, his eyes reflecting something sinister, “she’s your friend, isn’t she? Don’t you want to let those people feel the same pain Valery felt?”

I’m fuming in anger. I wanted to hurt the people who did this to Valery.

“I do,” I mumbled.

Clark smirked.

“In this world we’re living, everything has a consequence. If you’re weak, you won’t be able to protect the people you love.”

He tipped my chin with his fingers, running a thumb over my swollen lips.

“You say you don’t wanna be in the Mafia but you know that there’s no escape, right?”

I trembled from his touch.

I do know that.

“This won’t be the last time. I’m sure there’s a lot of people who wants you dead so it’s either you eat them first before you get eaten by your enemies,” Clark mumbled, his eyes staring directly into mine.

I couldn’t look away from him.

His gaze was so intense and with the way he was caressing my lip, I’m getting drowsy.

“You’re going to be the leader of the Orlov family and to be the leader, you need to be strong.”

I clenched my fists.

What Clark said was right.

There’s no escape from this life.

I’m stuck in here whether I like it or not.

“What do I need to do to become strong?”

A spark of light appeared in his eyes and he smirked in satisfaction.

“Just be with me and do anything I say. As long as you have me, you won’t lose this game.”

--

Later that night, I lied on my bed, thinking hard about what Clark said.

All my life, I’ve been escaping reality that I’m the heir of the Orlov family. I know what we do and it’s disgusting. My father torments people for the sake of money and power, he do bad things and sooner or later, I would do the same thing as well, whether I like it or not.

I’m not ready yet. I’m a coward, weak and a crybaby.

But with Clark…with Clark, maybe I could do it?

Instead of running away from reality, I should just accept it.

I hugged the pillow close to me, burying my face into it.

The sight of Valery getting hurt haunted me. If I were to become the leader of Mafia group, I would have to distant myself with innocent people, even if they have connections with the mob.

All those people who never judged me, who never bullied me, I have to disregard them.

All I need was Clark.

Touching my bottom lip, I remembered the sensation of his thumb running over it.

“Clark…”

--

I didn’t want to go to school today. Oleg called me and told what happened to her sister. He didn’t know that I was the reason why she was kidnapped and beaten up and I didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth.

I remained lying on my bed even though it was already 10 in the morning.

I’ve been contemplating about life and it’s making me crazy.

The knocking on the door woke me up from my thoughts. I got up, opened the door and saw Isaac standing in front of me with his usual poker face.

“The boss is calling for you,” he informed.

“Huh? You mean my dad?”

“No, I mean Clark,” Isaac corrected.

I flushed in embarrassment.

“H-he’s calling me? What for?”

“He wants to show you something.”

I blinked, tilting my head in

“What?”

--

I changed my clothes while Isaac patiently waits for me. I stared at myself in the front of the mirror. I looked like a mess and it was embarrassing to face Clark like this.

But I had no choice. He’s calling me and I needed to see him.

I rubbed my face and sighed out loud. Getting out of my room, I saw Isaac leaning against the wall, his arms crossed.

He lifted his head and I saw those cold and dead eyes of his. I was scared to see him so intense, I wonder what happened.

“Let’s go,” Isaac said.

I followed him out of the house. I wanted to ask him if something was wrong but I couldn’t find my voice to talk to him. He’s screaming aura not to come close to him and talk or else something bad might happen.

The car was parked right outside the house. There were a few men loitering around but I ignored them. Isaac unlocked the door and opened it for me.

“Where are we going?” I finally asked as I watched Isaac enter the car and sit on the drivers seat.

He started the engine and began driving. It took him a full minute to answer.

“The boss caught the leader of the Voronin group.”

I stiffened.

“W-wait, did Clark…?”

I saw Isaac’s hands tightened around the steering whee.

“He wiped out the whole Voronin group.”

A chill ran down my spine. I was speechless, just staring at Isaac with wide eyes.

Finally, I managed to say, “what kind of person is Clark?”

Isaac stepped on the brake, stopping before the stop light turned red.

He was looking straight head as he answered, “the kind of person you don’t want to make enemies with.”

I gulped.

“But you don’t have to worry. As long as you have him at your side, everything will be alright.”

I smiled a little, never noticing the scowl on Isaac’s face.

--

Isaac and I stood in front of a shabby house. There were cars parked outside but it looked like an abandoned place in the middle of a peaceful neighborhood.

“This is the place where Clark wants me to meet?” I asked.

Isaac nodded and said, “yes.”

“Okay.”

I stepped forward but Isaac caught my hand, stopping me from walking. I turned around to look at him, raising a brow.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

His hand was cold and slightly shaking. It worried me.

“Isaac?” I called out.

He had a scornful expression.

“You don’t need to go inside.”

I blinked, tilting my head.

“But Clark told me to go here,” I reasoned out.

Isaac lifted his head to stare me in the eye. Smiling in defeat, he sighed and lets go of my hand.

“I’ll be waiting for you here.”

“...okay?”

I went inside the house, wondering why Isaac behaved that way. I haven’t seen him look at me like that.

There were three guys waiting for me and when they saw me, they led me to where Clark was. There was nothing inside the house, no furniture and whatsoever. We went downstairs, to the basement and I could hear faint sounds of crying from somewhere.

The guy in the middle opened the door to the end of the corridor, letting me in. I smiled at him before entering but it was quickly gone when I saw what was happening inside. My knees buckled and I was close to falling down on the floor. I held my nose to stop myself from puking at the sight of a man being butchered on top of a table. Clark was sitting on a chair while a guy continued to slice the dead body as if he was slicing an animal that’s about to be cooked.

Clark saw me and he smiled. Standing up, he tossed his phone to the nearest guy and walked towards me.

His shirt was tainted with blood and it was horrifying to see him like this again. He saw my reaction and he only smirked in amusement.

“You came late. What was Isaac doing?”

I gulped, my body trembling in fear. I couldn’t say anything.

“Boss,” the guy butchering a corpse called and Clark and I both looked at him, “this one’s finished.”

“Good. Wrap it up with the others.”

“Got it.”

They began wrapping the cut up limbs in plastic wrappings and I had to look away so that I wouldn’t throw up. Everyone in this room acts like this was nothing out of the ordinary and it’s making me even more sick just from thinking about it.

“We’re going to sell their organs later this night,” Clark informed.