Christmas Captive

"Mind your own business," Ross spat out.

"Didn't I tell you to take your hands off her?" Kai insisted calmly. I heard a click then, and my date's eyes widened in fear. He raised his arms in the air.

"Calm down, would you?" he asked, nervous. "I was just walking her home."

"No you weren't," I hissed in response. "You groped me!"

"Shut the fuck up," he snarled at me. "Can't you see he's got a gun pointed at me?"

My body froze. All my memories of finding Margaret's body came flooding back. She'd been shot point-blank and left for dead. I closed my eyes, unable to deal with the situation at hand.

"You don't ever speak to her again," Kai hissed at Ross. "Tomorrow you find a new job and hand in your notice at Mario's. You're fucking done. Got it?"

"I got it," Ross said, whimpering as Kai shoved the gun behind his back. "Fuck, just let me go. I won't even look at her again, I swear..."

"If you do, I'm taking your finger off that hand next time," Kai hissed. "Now get the fuck lost."

Ross scampered down the alley, breaking into a run and fearfully glancing over his shoulder as he did his best to get away from me.

"Are you okay?" Kai asked, and I nodded, refusing to meet his eyes. This man was a cold-blooded killer. I'd never be able to come to terms with that. "I'm sorry I didn't intervene sooner."

"How did you even know I was here?" I snapped, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear self-consciously. "Did he send you?"

"Mr. Kline, ah..." He smiled. "He asked me to keep an eye out for you."

"Tonight?" I demanded. By his smile, I knew that wasn't the case. "How long have you been following me around?"

"Since you left the penthouse," he finally admitted.

"That's sick," I muttered, even though I was secretly grateful. "Leave me alone."

I walked past him to the door of my building, feeling his gaze on my back as I unlocked the door.

"Miss Romano?"

I turned over my shoulder reluctantly to look at Kai. "What?"

"Mr. Kline cares about you very much," he said. "Please do try not to get hurt and avoid dubious characters like this one."

"Fine," I hissed, narrowing my eyes at him before grumbling, "And thanks. I guess."

"You're welcome, Miss Romano."

The sight of Kai's sparkling dark eyes followed me as I went upstairs to my apartment. He'd just saved me, and I had Grayson to thank for that. Despite my annoyance, I couldn't fight the tell-tale smile off my lips.Chapter 18

Grayson

I had never taken my eyes off the prize. I wanted her back, and ever since she left my penthouse that crisp Christmas morning, I knew I had to get her back no matter the cost.

Despite my best intentions, I'd fallen in love with Amicia Romano. I'd tried fighting it for a long time. The weeks she spent at my penthouse apartment were spent with my eyes closed, vehemently telling myself I didn't feel what I felt. But the moment she left, she left a hole behind, and I knew no other woman could ever fill that hole again.

I had trained myself not to love. Had spent years proving to myself I didn't need anyone else to be happy. But when Amicia left, I realized that didn't matter. I could be reasonably happy without her, but it wasn't enough. I wanted her, needed her. And I wasn't giving up until she was back in my arms where she belonged.

"Mr. Kline?"

"Yes, I'm sorry." I smiled at the girl sitting in front of my desk. "My mind drifted for a moment."

"It's okay." The girl smiled nervously. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you tonight."

"Of course," I nodded. She was always so very polite.

I liked the girl. Her name was Georgina, and she was one of the first students we'd accepted into our scholarship program. I'd invented it to commemorate Amicia, and I hoped she would be as proud as I was of our budding talents. Georgina was one of them, a talented singer from the wrong side of the tracks who'd spent her life in foster care just like the other children. I hoped that, with the help of my program, she'd be able to find success in the world of music, like she'd dreamed of her whole life.

She was a cute kid, with her red hair perpetually in pigtails with ribbons at the ends and freckles all over her upturned nose. She was eleven, but seemed wiser beyond her years. She reminded me of Amicia in a lot of ways. She had a certain kind of wisdom about her, perhaps from being let down by the system which had done nothing but pass her around.

I'd first met her a few months ago. She was the reason I started planning the scholarship program. My business was sponsoring a talent show at a local public school, and I was forced to go to the show. I dreaded going for weeks, but that stopped the moment I heard Gerogina's angelic voice. She hit every note and impressed me with her talents at such a tender age. From the moment I saw her on stage, I saw that certain je ne sais quoi Amicia had as well. This girl was born for the stage—to perform and to be a star.