vii

J O L I E N

Malio's words echoed in my head.

I had to watch, I had to watch...

The cruelty that lay within them was hard to grasp and yet so palpable. It was reflected in every inch of his face. In every fiber of his body. The loss had always been there, buried in the depths of his dark soul. Covered by the arrogance and brutal self-confidence he had trained over the years.

His body trembled, his hands were clenched into fists, and tears glistened in his eyes, clouded with sorrow. He had dropped the mask he had worn like a shield for years.

I puked off, ignoring the fact that the man across from me seemed just as broken at the moment as the house we were in. My arms wrapped around him in a comforting hug and for an agonizingly long moment he just stood there, muscles tense and I already feared I'd lost him to the darkness and the sadness raging inside him - but then he returned mine Hug. His face buried itself in the crook of my neck. Left wet patches on the skin there while his body suddenly trembled.

Malio cried.

This statement broke my heart even more and all the resentment about his behavior that had been building up in the last few weeks dissolved into thin air. "I'm so sorry," I whispered softly, failing miserably to offer him the comfort he needed to bear this loss. A loss that was impossible to bear.

I didn't know how long we stayed in this position, at some point his heartbeat calmed down and the tight hug he was holding me in relaxed noticeably.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I offered cautiously. "We don't have time for that," Malio replied after a while. I felt my heart grow heavier. A part of me was hoping he would have the confidence to tell me about it, but I also knew that in this case my disappointment was unfair.

He gently broke away from the hug to look me straight in the face. Malio ran the back of his hand down my cheek and it wasn't until he whispered softly, "Shh, calm down babe." I realized I was crying too.

He tenderly wiped the tears from my face and leaned his forehead against mine. "I promise I'll tell you everything when we have time. There shouldn't be any more secrets, but we really have something important to do now. Look at this." He took my hand, wrapped it in his warm fingers and led me straight into the living room.

"What's that?" I stared in horror at the characters written in bright red paint directly above the couch. "Is that Chinese?" I couldn't figure out what Chinese writing was doing on our living room wall.

"Don't stand against us." Malio said and I gaped at him.

Did he speak Chinese?

"You can read that?" I pointed to the signs. He nodded, the familiar grin of hubris tugging at his lips. "Are you surprised?" "A little – I didn't know you spoke Chinese," I admitted with a shrug. I was genuinely surprised. But even more than that, I was impressed. "You don't know a lot about me, Jolien," his smirk became even broader, "But rest assured, you will have time to discover all my hidden talents because I will not let you go again. Never, do you hear?" I nodded and let him pull me into my arms. I inhaled his incomparable scent and almost didn't hear his next statement. "But there is someone you should talk to."

I looked up in surprise. His cheeky grin was gone and he looked past me with a serious expression, straight at the message on the wall.

A message that I had absolutely nothing to do with. I had no idea what they meant, much less who they were or what they wanted from us.

"What do you mean?" I searched his gaze, but his eyes were still fixed on the wall. The expression on his face was still unreadable I'm afraid it's too late for that now - because if what this message suggests is confirmed, your ignorance will be even more dangerous." I felt myself starting to tremble and it seemed like something supernatural was sucking the oxygen out of the room. I gasped involuntarily as I barely murmured, "You think my father's in trouble?"

"No Jolien." Malio paused auspiciously and fixed his gaze directly on my face again. Our eyes met and after a moment's pause he said, "I don't think your father is in trouble." I let out a breath of relief, having stopped so excited. "I know he's in trouble and it's not trouble as you know it, Jolien. We're talking about difficulties that could cost lives." I swallowed hard, shattering any hopes I had with that statement.

"You need to speak to Lynn." "Lynn?" I felt my voice start to tremble. "He's Han Xing's right hand man and..." He paused again, giving me a moment to fully follow the conversation. "...he's my prisoner." Malio finally finished . I stared at him in disbelief, and he didn't even wait for a reaction from me, but was about to push me out of the living room.

"He is what? your prisoner? Malio, what did you do?" "Possibly a mistake," he openly admitted.

I spotted the black Lamborghini parked right in front of the driveway. The expensive car, which, as on previous occasions, looked completely out of place, was half parked on the road and the driver's door was open - apparently he'd stormed straight out of the car without bothering to close it properly park or close the door behind you.

"How did you chase those guys away anyway?" I asked quietly, not really wanting an answer, but there were so many thoughts swirling around in my head right now that I just had to say them all out loud.

"First to your first question," he pointed to the passenger door. "Get in," he added unnecessarily.

What else did he think I was up to? Walk all the way? Not to mention that I didn't even know where a hotel was here, let alone how to get there.

"I've spent the last few weeks questioning his men. When I got no answers, I kidnapped Lynn. He's Han Xing's right-hand man, if anyone knows anything about Elena's hit job, it's him. "What? Are you crazy Malio?" I looked at him indignantly as I collapsed onto the seat. "Don't interrupt me, Jolien," he said sharply. "That does not matter. The problem is that he knows your father and he only wants to give you the information he has about him. "

"You mean..." He nodded and met my eyes briefly before averting his eyes and turning to the ignition switch. "He wants to speak to you and given this message, you should do the same." "But he's definitely dangerous." His laughter filled the cab and he leaned over to me.

"Yes he is, but you know what Jolien? I'm even more dangerous when it comes to your well-being." He put his hand on my cheek. "And you don't think I'll leave you alone with him for a single second, do you?" Malio's hand went to my neck, grabbed roughly and brought my face closer to his. "I'll be there. Every second. By your side. Right where I should have been for the last few weeks." His lips pressed against mine hard and I knew he meant business. Malio would be there - and he would be this time.

M A L I O

"Are you really sure you want this?" I looked at Jolien intently one last time before putting my hand on the door handle of the basement room. She stared at me with her emerald green eyes, hesitated for a moment and finally nodded. "Yes, that's me Malio!"

For a moment I thought she might back down after all, but she probably wasn't as fragile as I used to think. As if in confirmation, her uncertain expression changed and the features of her face became harder. more confident. more confident.

"I finally want to know what my father is hiding from me." Her voice was firm and there was a confident undertone. I raised my eyebrows appreciatively. "What is it?" she asked confused.

Damn, I just couldn't hide my feelings from her! But did I even want that? Hide my insides from her?

"You surprise me," I finally admitted, brushing a strand of blonde hair away from her face. Her bright eyes met my gaze with the same gentleness. After a while, she leaned forward, bringing our faces so close together I found it hard to resist the impulse not to lower my lips to hers. She whispered softly, "Because I'm not the damsel in distress?" "Sort of."

My bottom lip gently brushed hers. "If the brave damsel allows, I'd still like to be by her side." Before I could kiss her lips, Rash cleared his throat in annoyance. "Are you finally done?"

I pulled away from Jolien and mentally slapped myself for putting on such a show next to him.

"Fine," I heard Jolien say out loud. As always, she had a sixth sense for human emotions. She felt the uneasiness that Rash's words had triggered. The oppressive mood that suddenly, like a thick black cloud, hung over our heads moved in. While Rash always wanted Jolien and I to reconcile, he'd always pushed aside the fact that reconciliation was never an option for him.

I nodded and pushed the door open, unsure if this decision was the right one. But Lynn already knew who Jolien was. He knew her father, so how bad could it be to give her name the image to go with it? Hopefully it would be worth the effort.

Lynn looked up as I entered the room and when his gaze fell on Jolien, a triumphant grin spread across his ugly face. The impulse to smack that grin off his face right now swelled into an endless urge. And the only reason that stopped me from doing this was Jolien.

"Malio, I see you complied with my request." Without waiting for an answer from me, Lynn turned to Jolien, beaming with joy. "I am very pleased to meet you, Jolien. I know your father very well.", he fixed Jolien with his good eye and I felt her cling to my arm.

I don't know if it was due to fear of this man or his physical appearance. The sight was nothing new to me, it must have been disturbing to her.

"You know my father?" I nevertheless heard her whisper behind me and the fact that she also addressed this motherfucker in her first name testified once again to her good heart. The purity that she carried in front of her like a protective shield.

"Oh yes I do." "Where from?" Jolien took a step forward and half pushed past me, I grabbed her waist just before she could stand in front of Lynn. There was nothing left of the uncertainty that had just lingered in her question. At that moment she looked anything but helpless. Maybe I had the wrong impression of her all along. I always thought Jolien was weak and needed protection, but maybe she was the opposite? Was strong and didn't need to be protected. For the first time I didn't see the need to intervene.

"I'll tell you anything you want to know," he said calmly. Jolien's face lit up as she realized how close she was to the answer she was longing for. The answer to that one question she was so painfully nagging about seemed to tear her apart more and more inside.

The laughter on Lynn's face grew even wider. Even more dangerous.

"I'm only telling you, Jolien. Tell you what exactly your father does for us. How close he is to me!" Her features slipped away. Just for a second, but long enough to realize that he was confronting her with a truth she might not be ready for. "Anything you have to do for it , is to send him away!" Lynn nodded her head at me and all restraint left my body and all that was left was the feeling of punching this outrageous guy.

I rushed towards him and grabbed his bloodied collar. "Never," I rumbled angrily, punching him square in the face. Blood spattered the table, smearing his already dirty shirt with additional stains.

"Malio!" I felt Jolien tug at my arm. Unsuccessful. Of course. She was far too weak to pull me even a millimeter away from that bastard.

"Rash, Rash!", her cries echoing through the soundproof room. He wouldn't hear her. Anything that would happen here now depended entirely on my self-control. I grabbed a knife, held it right to his throat, and was just a blink of an eye away from turning off the light on this guy. "MALIO, stop it!"

Jolien's voice pulled me out of my raging anger and out of the darkness that had totally overwhelmed me for a brief moment. I took a step back, breathing heavily, the knife clattering to the floor. Her small, delicate hands wrapped themselves around my face and only seconds later I looked into her shining eyes. They reassured me - they always did.

"Sorry." Although I'd calmed down, my voice still sounded strained. "I want it, Malio. I want to talk to him." I knew it wasn't my place to deny her that wish, no matter how much I wished it. When I made no move to answer, leave, or move even a millimeter, she continued, "He's tied up, what can I do? And you're outside the door all the time, aren't you?" I nodded, knowing that standing outside the door wouldn't do any good. The room was soundproof - it would swallow all of her screams, but for some reason , I didn't tell her that.

"Please." She gave me a stern look. "You know how much I want to know what my father is hiding from me. It drives me crazy not knowing what's going on. I'm afraid that he, the way he is. I'm scared he killed someone." Jolien's voice trembled and her eyes filled with tears. I capitulated with a sigh, because I couldn't refuse anything anyway. So I took a step towards her and whispered, "I know, babe." before pressing my lips to her forehead.

I glanced at Lynn. Put all my hatred into the following threat: "If you harm her a hair or even look at her the wrong way, I will kill you. Without further ado, now and here. Understand?" Lynn smiled. "Of course, Malio. Still, I can assure you that her death is not something I aspire to." My gaze lingered on this pile of shit for a moment and reluctantly I turned and left the basement room without another word.

J O L I E N

I gave Malio an encouraging nod and patiently waited for him to leave the room before turning back to Lynn. "A bit overprotective, the good one," he chuckled, amused. I ignored the sarcastic undertone in his voice and rolled my eyes in annoyance. "This isn't going to be a nice conversation. I just want to know what you know about my father?"

The smell of old sweat, blood and urine was in the air and I fought the rising nausea that was already raging in my stomach from the sight of this man. I tried desperately to remember whether to breathe through my nose or mouth when I was nauseous. But no matter how hard I tried to remember, the answer to that question just wouldn't stick in my mind - so I decided to just keep my mouth closed and breathe through my nose for as long as possible.

As if he could read my mind, he leaned over the old table that stood between us as far as his arms would allow, chained to the chair, and said with a grin, "Does the sight startle you, little Jolien?" Reluctantly, I let go My gaze wandered over the hand with the severed fingers. He followed my gaze and his grin widened even further. "Every injury you see on my body is his fault. He either approved it or inflicted it on me. And all for something that neither I nor my people did."

"That's not why I'm here," I averted my eyes, trying to get the image of the inflamed finger stumps out of my head - but every time I closed my eyes, the image flickered in my mind. Maybe that was him The price you paid when you were with someone like Malio, that the cruelty wouldn't leave you - it was just there all the time and you started living with it, started accepting it.

"But tell me, how can such a normal girl love such a person? A person who tortures and even kills others? Because he has, many times. He took so many lives my dear Jolien." Lynn pulled me out of my thoughts.

My gaze darted back to him. Eyed the wound on his forehead, its dark and already dried blood covering half his face.

He was really badly beaten up. His left eye was completely swollen shut and his lips were split open. His teeth were almost completely knocked out or pulled out - something that was difficult to tell from the gaping holes in his mouth. It was a question I didn't want an answer to anyway. Open burns adorned the pale skin of his arms and neck, and the fingernails on the respective fingers, which were still present, were missing. The sight was awful!

But what was even more frightening than the sight of this tortured man was the fact that I still loved his tormentor. While I was shown in the most brutal of ways what Malio was capable of, I still saw the man I had fallen in love with. The man who, a few hours ago, had been crying in my arms because the memory of his dead sister had knocked the ground out from under him.

"I don't think they are as innocent as they are pretending to be. I have no sympathy for them." That wasn't entirely true, but I knew it was better not to let Lynn see inside me. Malio's words were still echoing in my head. The group, around this man, was more dangerous than the Dakarias more dangerous than the La Cruels and those two families were already more than I could take I didn't want to fall victim to that family too all I wanted were answers.

"I'm here because you know my father." I could tell right away that he was clearly enjoying having something in my hands, information I wanted so badly. "That's right. I know Derek very well." I couldn't hide the surprise that crossed my face at the first name. Derek was my father's name. As if in confirmation, Lynn nodded and grinned, "Yes, Jolien, I know your father's first name. I told you I know your father very well." I could feel him absorbing the power he had over me at that moment. He acted it out and enjoyed my emotional chaos, halfway between fear and curiosity alternated.

"Why?" My voice was a whisper and I wasn't sure if he could even understand the question. "Your father worked for us." Again his words hit me like punches. Hard and merciless. They ate into my soul and left nothing but emptiness.

He worked for such people?

"Don't worry, little Jolien." He smiled before continuing, "I'd pat your hand to give you the comfort you need, but unfortunately I'm tied up and I don't have a finger or two to do it." He chuckled at his own bad joke while I snorted derisively at his feigned niceness.

"Quit the theatre, why is he working for you? What does he do?" "Of course you want to know. Oh man, didn't Malio ever teach you to know when it's enough? When it's time to stop digging? "I decide when I've had enough. Answer you my questions."

The grin that had been on Lynn's face the whole time grew even wider. Even scarier. "I see what Malio sees in you. You're a fighter, but you have something that will destroy you in this world." I raised an eyebrow, daring him to get to the point. "You have heart. It's in our business, in Malio's business, guaranteed to fail." "Fine, but I'm not interested in any of that. I want to know what my father does for you!"

"He sells us real estate and makes sure it stays under the radar." "Real estate?" "Warehouses, houses..." "I know what real estate is!" I interrupted harshly, the relief in my voice clearly audible. "You're relieved?" I nodded, and this time Lynn did something that shattered all hope in me. He laughed, loud and hearty. "You're such a stupid kid, little Jolien."

With every second that his laughter got louder and more hysterical - my world got darker.

"What do you think?" "Do you think knowing about the drug business, the trafficking in women, and the arms smuggling makes him a better person? Does it make him better when he's checking the halls and apartments day after day and nothing does than bring in the money? Does that make him more innocent than us?"

Drugs, women, guns? His words shook me to the core.

I shook my head and bit my tongue to fight back the tears. I didn't want to cry in front of this man. "Now you know," he grinned. Yes, and I didn't know anymore if it was the right decision. I got up and approached the door.

"Jolien, I have something else that might interest you," Lynn's voice stopped me just as my hand placed on the doorknob. I paused. "You'll have to meet me for that." "Excuse me?" I turned angrily and glared at him. "Oh no. Nothing like that," he deflected. "What is it then?" "Untie my bonds!"

I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at him in disbelief. "Why should I do that?" "Because I have another piece of information that might interest you." "What else is there that I don't know yet." I shook my head and turned away again. "Untie my bonds! Only those on my arms. I long for some movement. Just very briefly and the information it's definitely worth it." I turned to him again.

"Why should I do that? So that they attack me and flee? Did you forget that Malio is at the door? Ready to kick your ass anytime." "Don't be silly, how am I supposed to escape when my legs are still tied, I just want to move a little. My arms have been asleep for hours. Numb. You know the feeling?" For some reason I felt sorry for him, but I wasn't supposed to do that. I had to go now!

"Not interested." I lifted my chin before turning away and gripping the door handle in my shaking hand. "Are you sure? It's about the alleged death of your mother."

I suspected that the price for the answer Lynn promised me was perhaps too high. Because it was not only dangerous to untie this man, it was also stupid. I knew it and still I took a step towards him.

"My mother was ill!" I replied firmly. I didn't want to let this man lull me any longer. "If you're so sure, there's the door! Go away and you'll never know the whole truth," Lynn saw piercing me and again he made me hesitate. Made me think about taking up his offer.

I scrutinized his bonds. His wrists were tied to the back of the chair and his ankles to the legs of the chair. The knots looked stable. And what could he do to me with his feet tied to the chair? However, to be on the safe side, I collected the knives, tongs, and utensils from the table and put them aside.

"I don't want to push, but can you go a little faster? Before your loved one wonders why it's taking so long and maybe it's still snowing in here." I rolled my eyes and meanwhile worked on the knot. But when it couldn't be untied after a few attempts, I got up and grabbed one the knife - which probably wasn't the smartest idea as the rope would be cut and I'd have to call someone to get him tied up again, willy-nilly, but I wasn't worrying about that at the moment.

"You should hurry!" Lynn urged. His face grew serious as I approached with the knife in my left hand "Just be careful not to cut my hand." A silly request considering the injuries that already adorned his body. My hands However, they were shaking so badly that I quickly realized his concerns were justified: the rope was wrapped tightly around his wrists and it didn't seem so far off that the blade could actually hurt him.

I didn't like Lynn, but that didn't give me the right to harm him in any way, no matter how much he deserved it.

As the rope fell to the ground, he sighed with relief and rubbed his bloody wrists where the rope had chafed them raw. "So? What do you know that's so important?" I slid back in the chair a little, afraid he would suddenly and unexpectedly grab me, but all he did was stretch extensively and rub his neck. "Free at last. ' he murmured softly as I silently placed the knife on the tabletop. After clearing my throat impatiently, Lynn's gaze finally settled on me.

"I want some answers, or I'll call Malio back in," I said, annoyed. A mocking grin curled his lips. "I don't think so." "Oh and why not?" I rolled my eyes annoyed and drummed my fingers impatiently on the table.

"What do you know about your mother's death, Jolien?" "She died of cancer." "That's only half the truth," Lynn replied, and his cryptic statements were slowly driving me insane. Did he want to tell me anything about it now, or was he just playing on my ignorance? Suddenly, I decided to take him from silly to free himself from his bonds, I glanced at the door and considered just leaving.

"I wouldn't." My eyes drifted back to Lynn, who was leaning across the table and looking at me triumphantly. The sudden uneasiness hit me with such force that I had to gasp for air. "Thank you for that you set me free,” he confirmed my worst suspicions.

With a single movement, the chair tipped backwards and crashed onto the stone arch. I jumped up in surprise, but by then it was too late, because Lynn had reached for the knife that had slipped from Malio's hands.

Shit, I totally forgot about that!

Within seconds he had cut through the bonds at his ankles.

"Malio!" I yelled his name in panic and sprinted to the door. Lynn Faust buried himself in my hair, pulling me tightly against his chest. Roughly he placed the other over my mouth and nose. The smell of sweat, burned Flesh and blood rushed relentlessly into my lungs and I fought the recurring nausea that swept over me like a wave.

"Where are you going, my love?" His hand slipped out of my hair and wrapped itself around my stomach, fixing me even tighter to his body.

"Help!" I frantically struggled to free myself, but even in his battered state, he was still far superior to me. In that moment, I hated being weak...

"Shhh, be quiet. I have one more piece of information for you!” His words came straight to my ear and the uncomfortable closeness he was forcing me into sent chills down my spine. My screams, which constantly escaped from my lungs, were muffled by his hand and after a while my eyes went black, I fell silent completely.

"Well finally. I'll tell you what really happened." Lynn's foul breath brushed my skin as he brought his face closer to mine. "Your father is responsible for her death!" Black. All of a sudden, everything went black around me and I wasn't sure if it was a sign of the lack of oxygen or of the words, the meaning of which didn't want to sink into my head. He slowly pushed his hand away from my mouth. Let it travel to my throat, silently threatening to squeeze at the slightest peep.

"My mother died of cancer!" I said emphatically. His hysterical laughter made me wince in shyness. "Poor little Jolien." There was no comfort in his words, no pity, just sheer amusement. "Who do you think injected her with the cancer virus?"

What he was telling me was completely absurd and even though I knew that this man I was in the clutches of seemed completely insane, my eyes filled with tears. Inexplicably, a part of me believed his words - no matter how crazy and outlandish that statement might sound.

"Nobody leaves the family, Jolien. We already repay the threat with death." Tears ran down my cheeks. I felt my knees buckle and I slowly sag onto the hard stone floor.

Lynn didn't even bother to break the fall - on the contrary, he took a step to the side and grabbed the knife again. "Ask your father! Ask him about us, the Xing family!" "You're crazy!" He leaned over my face one last time, grinning, swung the silver knife menacingly in the air, and chuckled, "I'll let you get away with it this time. So you can see how we're going to kill him." His words barely got through to me - all I could think about was the information that utterly destroyed the basic trust in my father.