The sun streamed into my room and I breathed deeply, my eyes slowly opening to adjust to the glare.

Before I could register that someone was in my room, the door clicked shut.

I groaned and sat up on my bed. Every morning for five days now, Wilson has been checking in on me before I wake and leaving the moment my eyes open.

Why the hell was he sneaking out of my room just when I'm getting up?

I rubbed my hands over my face and sighed tiredly. I fisted my sheets in my hands and counted to three.

1, another day without my father.

2, another day without Kieran.

3, another day to be strong.

Because if I started crying, I will never stop.

With my heart and mind steeled and ready, I got out of bed and went to wash up.

Kieran was with me when my father's heart stopped beating. He was with me during the three days of the wake and through the funeral procession.

I didn't see him anymore after that.

I looked into the mirror and scoffed, who the hell wants to stay around this?

A tired, depressed, sad and lonely workaholic?

My throat seemed to swell with emotions and I swallowed hard, keeping everything in. The back of my eyes burned, desperate for release.

I wouldn't give myself the pleasure of crying.

I had to get a grip.

I got dressed, a simple white sleeveless top and black slacks with a gold belt.

I dusted on a light layer of makeup and grabbed my handbag off the sofa. The sofa that Kieran slept on.

I blinked hard at the memory as the image flashed in my mind. His surprised expression when I loomed over and kissed him.

I snapped my eyes shut and willed the video player in my mind to shut off.

A sharp knock on the door made me pull myself together, "I'll be right out Wilson."

I slung my bag over my shoulder and slipped my heels on before stepping out.

Wilson stood right outside and gave me a small smile, "Good morning Miss Simmons. Did you sleep well?"

I started down the steps, "You should know, why are you checking on me in the morning?"

"I learnt this during my psychology classes. You've lost a loved one and will require extra attention and care. I just wanted to make sure you're sleeping well."

I turned to him, "Thank you. I'm fine though, I really mean it."

He smiled and nodded, "Okay then."

He didn't believe me.

I let it go and continued into the kitchen, trying to eat more than the two morsels of food I'd been ingesting recently. It was pure torture.

I ate anyway and when I was done, Louis drove me to work.

After a bunch of meetings, skipping lunch and dinner and blazing through work, it was one in the morning.

My head pounded from the intense usage but I ignored it and took the private elevators down to the parking lot to retrieve my car.

I drove down to the 24-hour private gym that was equipped with an indoor pool.

I pulled out my duffel bag from the trunk and went inside, changing into my bikini before taking a dive into the water.

I took up a membership here just for the ambience of the pool. Normally, the candle lights and calm atmosphere reminded me of every other spa. But tonight, the beautiful glass ceiling exposed me to the star-studded night sky and I felt as transparent as the glass.

My father used to take walks with me at night, during those rare times that both of us were at home. He was constantly travelling, the need to move around drove him.

And when he finally stopped moving for once, to come home and recuperate from all the travelling he'd done, Connor came up with his stupid smart idea to damage his car.

Hurting my father in the process.

I looked up at the stars before turning around and swimming another lap.

And now the starry sky brought new memories to me. Reminding me of the night Kieran and I walked under the stars.

The same night sky, the same stars, the same people, in a different time.

My head burst through the surface of the water and I took in a huge breath, my emotions threatening to bubble over if I didn't breathe.

I placed my hands on the edge of the pool and pushed the pain to the back of my mind.

"Well well lookie here."

I cringed, Connor.

Oh right, we got the couple package to this gym.

I ignored him totally and swam another lap. When I reached the end, Connor was there, looking at me with an amused expression on his face.

"Alone? Isn't Knight your new slave that follows you around or something?"

I went to the side of the pool and climbed out, "It's horribly nice to see you too Connor."

He wolf-whistled like the annoying prick that he was. I glared at him and pulled my bathrobe on.

He wore a black dress shirt with jeans, a few scuffs on his face like he's been doing some fighting, "Did you ditch him too? I'm not surprised, you push every single guy away the moment your feelings get involved."

"Fuck off Connor."

"Woah watch your language babe. Out of all the habits your father broke you out of, swearing was one that definitely failed."

I gritted my teeth and stalked to the showers. He followed close behind, "Come on babe, don't look so sad. I'll take you back if Knight doesn't want you. I don't mind leftovers."

"I said fuck off you lanky piece of shit."

He laughed and pulled my arm harshly, making me spin back to him, "Stop being a brat now baby, Knight never wanted you. He just wanted in on your sweet pussy. And now that your father is gone, what do you say if we let bygones be bygones? You forget about my gang businesses and I'll forget the day you broke up with me. Fair and square."

I eyed him like he was an alien, "Are you fucking kidding me? I don't care if you are the last man on Earth or if Kieran just wants me for my body, I'm never getting back together with you."

"Nothing is impossible babe."

"We are impossible, get that into your non-existent brain."

"Now you're just hurting my feelings."

"I'll hurt a lot more than your fucking feelings if you don't get your hands off me."

"Babe come on-" He slid his hands up my sides and I threw a punch to his stupid idiotic face.

He groaned and cursed under his breath, "I let you get away with hitting me last time bitch, not anymore."

He grabbed a fistful of my hair, tugging forcefully, making me yelp in pain.

Before I could hit him anywhere else, I felt cold metal press against my stomach. I froze and Connor tilted my head up to look at his face, just as I heard a series of gun cocking erupt around us.

Kieran stood a distance away, a group of men behind him, pointing a gun at Connor, "Let her go."

My heart seemed to stop beating and my breath got caught in my throat.

Connor tightened his grip on my hair, "Well well look who we have here."

I struggled and felt the tip of his gun run up my side to my cheek.

Kieran released the safety of his gun, "I won't repeat myself Connor."

Connor laughed and kissed my temple, breathing in the scent of my hair, "What do you think of this scene Alina? Romantic isn't it? The man you're in love with trying to protect you but exposing himself in the process."

The darkness in Kieran's eyes seemed to envelop him, the warmth I was used to seeing wasn't there.

Scott popped out from the back of the group and signalled for me to attack Connor.

My mind snapped back into motion and I shoved my hand at Connor's armed hand before elbowing him in his ribs.

His gun fired into the ceiling, glass shattering and raining down as we fell to the ground. Scott ran forward with a few of his men and pinned him down when I felt a strong arm wrap around my waist.

Kieran's cologne invaded my senses as he held me against his warm body. He kicked Connor's weapon away and Scott looked up at him, "Get her out of here."

He didn't need to be told twice.

Kieran pulled me out of there, his eyes darting around us to make sure the coast was clear.

He took us to my car, realising that I couldn't possibly have my keys with me in my bathrobe. He slipped out a card and a key from his pocket, digging it into the handle of the door and it clicked open. He slipped me into the passenger seat before coming around to the driver's side and started the car.

He sped off in silence.

I should've felt safe, I should've let his scent overwhelm me, I should've been giddy from his warmth.

But instead, a chill seeped through my veins.

Kieran was one of them.

If anything, he was as dangerous as Connor.

I promised my mother and dedicated my life to protecting my father from the mafia.

And here I was, in the car with one of the most dangerous men in the city.

She gripped her seatbelt like it was her lifebuoy.

Her eyes were wide and hard, as if she couldn't comprehend what just happened.

I dialled the phone for Wilson and he picked up quickly, "May I help you Mr Knight?"

"I'm with Alina, she'll be staying with me tonight."

"Did something happen?"

"My men are handling it, I'll take Alina home first thing tomorrow."

Short pause, "Can I speak with her?"

I turned to her to find her staring out the window.

I reached out for her but she cowered away and shot me a steely look, "I'm fine Wilson, just really tired."

Wilson's voice came out rougher, "Take care of her for me Mr Knight. Alina, you can call me anytime, you know that right?"

She took a deep breath, "Thank you."

"I'll talk to you again Mr Knight, goodnight," Wilson warned through the phone and I sighed.

"Goodnight."

I ended the call and pulled up at my apartment.

Security waved me in and I parked Alina's car in my extra lot. I shut the engine and let the silence drag on for a few seconds more.

"Alina-"

"You're one of them."

I sighed, "I'm not one of them."

"Explain that thing in your holster then."

She didn't look at me, it was as if the mere sight of me disgusted her.

"It's to protect myself."

"Against what exactly?"

"Against other gangs, I own the PI Agency with Scott. You'll be surprised to find out how many gangs seek trouble with us."

"Do you want to know why I broke off my engagement with Connor?"

I wasn't expecting this, "Because of your mother and father. Your mother died in a shootout, your father got into one of Connor's stupid accidents."

"How did you-"

"I'm not stupid Alina, I have eyes everywhere. The moment our agreement ended I searched up on you. I couldn't know you any other way. Why do you think I stayed away from you after your father's funeral?"

She eyed me, "That was why you stayed away from me?"

"Why should I hang around? You detest people like me even though I would never knowingly put you in the arms of danger. I left so you could be safe. I left so you didn't have to find out I'm such a shit person and you could move on and find a man that can actually love you."

She stared at me and my chest heaved from talking. I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car, slamming the door shut.

I rested my hands on the roof of her Aston Martin. I need to pull myself together.

I heard her door open and close, the beeping sound of the car locking resounded through the lot and I found Alina standing there, waiting for me.

It was ridiculous how even through everything, she looked perfect.

Her hair was still damp and messy after what Connor did, her slim form wrapped in the soft luxurious robe. She was gorgeous.

I let out a frustrated breath and went to the elevator, hearing her close behind me. I would've taken her to my house but my apartment was currently the safest place I could have her in.

We rode the elevator up to the penthouse, my body was blazing from being in a confined space with her.

I invited her into my apartment, her silver eyes taking everything in.

The white marble floors contrasted the blackness of my furniture and decor. I strode down the corridor and opened the door to the guest room, "You can rest here, I'll be in the room at the very end."

She nodded but didn't make a move to enter the room.

"I'll get one of my shirts for you, I don't have any other clothes for you at the moment. I hope you don't mind," I added.

The thought of her in my clothes again made my skin burn, I've never wanted someone this much in my life.

She nodded again and looked up at me, "I uh- Thank you. For earlier and everything else."

I gulped, I'm not getting any sleep tonight.

"No problem."

Her gaze seared into me, I could hear my heart thumping in my ears. Her sweet lips were slightly parted, waiting.

Then she blinked, straightened herself and walked into the room, closing the door behind her.