xv

J O L I E N

"Why did it take so long?" Silia hissed when I stopped at the station three minutes late. "Sorry, the traffic," I replied curtly.

"Whose car is that?" she asked in irritation before the answer dawned on her, "Oh god, Jolien!" She yanked open the door angrily and peeked into the driver's compartment with a punishing look: "You're not there for once and you go straight back to bed with this complete idiot? Are you serious? You must have lost your mind."

I rolled my eyes in annoyance and pointed to the passenger seat: "Could you please sit down so we can go?" "No!" "Why not?" I asked confused, ignoring the car behind us, whose driver was drumming impatiently on the steering wheel and was probably only seconds away from banging his horn like a madman.

"Get in the car! I'll tell you all about it later." Sighing, she settled into the seat and slammed the door with such force that the car shook for a moment. I wondered what Dakarias-san would say if one of his expensive cars Even if it was Malio's car, surely his father would have paid for it.

Since I didn't like the idea at all and I was still terribly afraid of this man, I hissed: "Don't slam the door like that!" "Wonder that your lover could freak out?" Silia countered while she fastened the belt grabbed to buckle up.

"Do not make a fool of yourself! The car is just insanely expensive!" I ignored her amused look and floored the accelerator to drive into town.

We didn't exchange a word for the entire journey and I feverishly thought about how best to address the subject. But before I had an idea, I maneuvered the car into a nearby underground garage and switched off the engine after parking on the top floor.

I didn't know where it came from, but since I got my driver's license I've had to park my car in the highest places. That has always been a whim of mine.

"How was the class trip?", I decided after a while to start in a relaxed manner one of the most difficult conversations that would ever lead. "Good. I would have stayed longer straight away. You know how much I like being in nature .", I followed Silia out of the underground car park, straight into the hustle and bustle of the city.

"Yes I know. Then you come to mum. She's always loved nature, too," I replied, swallowing down the rising sadness that I felt every time I thought about our mother.

"You should have followed my example. Then maybe you wouldn't be in this guy's clutches now!" I stifled a grin and walked past her to push open the cafe's door, giving her a look over my shoulder as I did so. "Yeah, then I might be in now the claws of Tarzan. That's much more reassuring." She rolled her eyes in annoyance, but bit back any further comment.

"Latte macchiato with vanilla syrup and cinnamon topping?" I asked with a grin, which made her smile as well. She was probably also thinking about the countless times we sat in our local café and talked about everything. "You know there?" "Clear. And it's about time we brought that tradition to Silverside. Find a place. I'll get the drinks." Silia nodded and rushed to the farthest corner of the café, as if she already knew that there was something to talk about that was only intended for her ears.

"What can I- Jolien?" Surprised, I turned back to the waiter and looked at Gray's beaming face. "You work here?" I asked, puzzled, and it relieved me a little not to be completely stoned see.

"The cafe belongs to a friend. Sometimes, when there's a lot going on, I help out." "Oh, how cool. I discovered it while driving past and thought it was great! All those books, really amazing.", I said cheerfully.

I looked around the café, which reminded me a lot of a library. Huge bookshelves were attached to the old, wood-clad walls, whose colorful bindings invited you to linger.

"Yeah, it's a cool concept. You should meet my friend. Hey Marek, come over." "It really doesn't have to be-" but a tall, slim man had already turned to us.

With a friendly smile on his lips, he put his book on the table and hurried over to us. Marek only had to be a few years older than me, but I've never been good at guessing people's ages.

"Marek, this is Jolien, a friend of mine. Jolien, that's Marek, my boss and really good friend.", Gray introduced us to each other. I didn't miss the languid looks he kept throwing at Marek. He smiled friendly, stroked his dark hair and held it for me Hand out: "Then we have the same suffering or luck to be able to call Gray our friend." His eyes, which were almost as black as his hair, darted alternately to Gray and me.

I snorted and said, "Sometimes he's a real blessing and other times you want to sink him with a stone at your foot in the nearest lake." Marek's loud and bright laugh filled the cafe where a low whisper reigned.

"Your girlfriend has style, I like that, the coffee is on the house," he turned to Gray. "No, that's not necessary." But Marek dismissed my objection with a wave of his hand as if he wanted to chase away a fly: "I don't accept any arguments!" "Okay, okay.", I gave in and grabbed the hot glasses.

I hurriedly meandered past the occupied tables and put the drink down in front of Silia's nose. I pushed my own a few feet away as the scent of cinnamon and vanilla triggered another wave of nausea in me.

"What's that about?" Silia asked confused when she noticed it. "Too hot." I lied quickly, hoping my stomach would get used to the smell.

"So why are we here, Jolien? I'm not stupid. I know you want to discuss something with me." "I need to talk to me about Dad. And I'm asking you not to interrupt me and listen carefully, okay?" Before answering, she took her glass in her hands and blew on the frothed milk: "Okay, I'm all ears."

I took a deep breath, pushing away any doubts as I exhaled, and began telling Silia what I had found

M A L I O

"How long are you going to wait here?" I heard Rash ask. I paced impatiently, glancing at my watch from time to time. He was late, and had been several hours.

"Malio?" Rash inquired more urgently. "Yeah man. I know. Let me think." "This is the delivery for the Devils. You know how they are..." I gave Rash an annoyed look that shut him up immediately. I already knew everything he was trying to say to me. I knew what trouble we were in when this stupid delivery of arms would not reach its destination in time.

"How long do we have to deliver the guns?" I asked Rash, because while he wasn't skilled with guns, he was a top dog when it came to organization.

"A week," he replied. "We're going." "Are you sure?" Rash asked. "He won't be coming. We're driving." As I made my way to the entrance of the hall, Rash stayed put. I glanced over my shoulder at him, but when that didn't get him to move, I turned to him again, "Rash, what are you waiting for?"

"I've been thinking about what you want to do next. You're going to see them, aren't you?" "Possibly. I have to discuss this with my father. Are you coming now, finally?" “I don't like the way you're being put back into business. You were going to get out." Apparently, Rash had no intention of getting out of this warehouse, which made me pause as well.

"I do not have another choice. Maybe it's not the right moment to leave the family." "You know that one_ a_ family can't just be left?" "Ne Rash, I didn't know that, thanks for the information. Of course I know. I'll think of something. This family and all the blood on their hands is not for Jolien. If she stays by my side, she will perish."

Finally Rash started to move. "You're risking a lot for her. I've never seen you like this." "I love her." "Maybe this is love, but your own downfall."

I rolled my eyes in annoyance and said, "Rash, it's very nice that you're concerned about me, but that's not necessary." I pointed to the black car that was parked in front of the warehouse drive."

"Malio?" Sighing, I turned my head to Rash, who had now reached my level. "You are like a brother to me. You saved me when nobody believed in me and I was closer to death than life . Don't blame me if I worry about you." I punched his upper arm gently, "You don't have to worry about me, little brother." "Don't make fun of me!" "I never would," I defended myself as I reached the car and braced myself against the roof. "Now let's finally drive."

****

Exhausted, I opened the door to my room to find Jolien sitting on my bed. "How was meeting your sister?"

She slowly raised her head and I saw the sadness in her emerald green eyes, which made me think that this meeting was anything but good. "Not very well. She doesn't believe me." Jolien confirmed my suspicions.

I watched her for a moment as she waved the cat rod in front of Blue's nose, but he didn't seem particularly interested. With his head cocked to one side, he stared at the swaying owl dangling from the end of the string.

"Come here!" I urged after a few failed attempts to get the cat to play, rolling up the sleeves of my shirt. Jolien gave me a questioning look, but got out of bed and walked toward me.

I pulled her hips towards me and buried my face in the crook of her neck. "Do not worry. She just needs time to process it. leave it to her."

"I was just hoping that she would believe me. But she freaked out and left me at the café." I could tell by the sound of her voice that she was on the verge of tears. I gently stroked her blond hair and whispered, "I know, but there are things you have to do digest first."

My hands cupped Jolien's face and lifted it slightly so I could look her straight in the eyes. "She will believe it. There comes a point when you can't ignore the truth, no matter how hard you try." I kissed her softly, but returned her demanding kiss directly, pushing her back toward the bed.

"I want you now." I whispered to her lips and pulled the sweater over her head. Jolien smiled softly and worked on my button placket.

"I missed you," she whispered as she pulled my shirt off my shoulders. "Would you like me to show you how much I missed you?"

As her calves bumped against the bed and she fell laughing onto the mattress, I pushed myself between her legs to free her from the annoying pair of jeans. But before I could open them, Jolien pushed me aside with a force I didn't expect from her and tumbled into the adjoining bathroom.

"Jolien?" I followed her, but I could already hear her throwing up. "Jolien, you're on the pill, aren't you?" I asked indecisively. Stunned, she rubbed her hand across her mouth and said. :"Of course I'm on the pill." "You'd tell me if something was wrong, wouldn't you?"

She got to her feet and flushed the toilet before grabbing hold of the heater. I took a step towards her, but she held out her arm defensively: "It's alright. I'm just a little dizzy."

"Jolien, are you overdue? Could it be that you-" "Pregnant?" Jolien finished my sentence. I noticed right away that something was wrong. It was the way she said it.

"No, Malio, I'm not pregnant." "Are you sure?" "Naturally! I'd rather cut off my hand than bring a child into this family," she snarled angrily, going to the sink to rinse her mouth.

I stood in the doorway for a moment, unable to grasp the meaning of her words. "Are you serious?" I could hardly contain the anger in my voice.

"What do you mean?" Jolien asked confused as she took her eyes off the mirror and dried her hands. "That you don't want to put a child in this family. What if you were pregnant now?" She hesitated and kneaded her hands nervously, which was answer enough for me at that moment.

I angrily dragged her off the sink and yelled, "You would abort it? Our kid? My child? Are you fucking serious?” “Malio, let go of me,” she squirmed under my grip, but I tightened it, forcing her to stay put and look straight at me.

"Say it!" "Yes, but not because it's from you, but-" Stunned, I pushed her aside. "Malio, what are you doing?" she exclaimed, aghast, as I started tossing my stuff into the black toiletry bag.

"Malio!" I shook off her arm angrily: "Don't touch me." I rushed back into the room and dug my gym bag out of the closet. "What are you doing?" Jolien had followed me, trying to stop me from tossing some clothes in the bag. "I'm leaving." "What? No Please not. Listen to me." She pleaded, tears rolling down her face.

"I have business to attend to." "Malio wait!" She tugged at my arm again. "I'll be gone for a few days." "No, please. Listen to me," Jolien sobbed while constantly tugging at my arm. With a violent tug, I freed myself from her grip and, without another word, stormed out of the room.

J O L I E N

It didn't surprise me that Malio didn't show up that night or the next day. While Rash had assured me he did have some business to sort out, it still felt like he was using it specifically to distance himself from me.

But the worst part was that I couldn't even blame him. I had totally screwed up with my statement, and he hadn't even given me the chance to explain that this decision had nothing to do with him, but rather with the current circumstances. It wasn't that I didn't want to have children with him, but I didn't want them now, at seventeen and in a complete crisis of my life.

"Jolien, don't worry so much. You can talk when he gets back." Rash's words pulled me out of my murky thoughts. "_When_ he comes back," I answered dejectedly, pressing the elevator button impatiently. "He will. He loves you, but you know how he is."

I nodded and glanced at Rash. "Have you heard from him? He ignores my calls and texts." Our eyes met for a moment and he smiled slightly. "It's always been a bad habit of his. He ignores you until he can sort things out face-to-face."

Finally the elevator doors opened. "Is the matter he needs to clear up dangerous?" I asked quietly. Ever since he got involved in the family business again, I've worried even more than I ever had. The danger, always It was almost as if I expected to slide into a life-threatening situation at any moment.

"Do not worry. Ivan followed yesterday. Malio knows what he's doing. Nothing's going to happen." Rash tried to reassure me, but I didn't miss the worry line on his forehead. "You're worried about him too!" I stated before hitting the button marked _-U2 - Underground car park_ was titled.

"I always worry about Malio." I glanced at Rash again. I'd never understood why they were so close and what connected the two, making their friendship far beyond normal.

"You like him very much," I concluded from his words. "I love him like a brother. Malio is the most honest person I know." "Rash, can I ask you something?" He nodded and strode down the short, dark hallway that led to the underground car park.

"What did Malio do that you-" but the rest of my question was lost the moment the door swung open and Alex faced us. "Hello," he greeted us with a sly grin. For some reason I knew this wasn't a friendly greeting.

"Jolien," he addressed me directly, which only confirmed my foreboding. I tried to push past him, as my nerves were already on edge from the argument with Malio and there was no way I wanted to get into an argument with wanted to break the fence.

"Hey, hey, hey. Where are you going? Let's chat." Rash pushed protectively in front of me and crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't think Jolien wants to chat with you. Besides, she has to go to the Academy now." "And of course you accompany her! How exemplary." Alex retorted amused, after which he looked past Rash.

"It's rumored that you had a heated argument with Malio and that he took advantage of the opportunity to use this '_business meeting_' to get him away from you." I bit back my anger and the impulse to smack him in the face, because it would probably make Malio even angrier. "Leave her," Rash said menacingly.

"Oh Rashi-lein, you're so cute when you try to be naughty. Cute, like a little puppy who tries to growl at you, but everyone around him knows he'd never snap." He jerked his gun in a flash. "Not like a bloodhound who senses fear and just waits for the next throat to shreds. You should be careful if you try to pee here."

"Rash, let's go." I intervened quickly, as I was increasingly afraid that this argument would catapult to the next higher authority and thus amounted to a complete escalation.

"I'm warning you, Alex, if you step too close to her, you'll regret it." "Uhhh, I'm scared!"

Alex strutted past Rash, grabbing my wrist and pulling my back against his chest. Before either of us could react, he removed his hand from my wrist and wrapped it around my throat instead.

"I would never hurt her!" Alex said with a crooked grin before laughing softly and licking my neck while squeezing my air supply with his hand. Rash took a step toward us, but Alex had long since pushed me away to go to the elevator whistling happily.

"You okay?" Rash asked worriedly. I wiped my wet neck in disgust and nodded. "He'll regret that."

"Please don't say anything to Malio. He's just looking for an escalation. I don't want any trouble." "Jolien, you can't let this get away with you." "Please Rash."

I couldn't help but think back to the night Malio almost killed Brandon. I didn't want to know what he would do to Alex if he found out about this. Besides, having the cousins ​​butt heads over me wouldn't do me any favors with the family.

"You know how he is, Rash. I'm trying to settle in somehow, and it certainly wouldn't help if Malio messed with Alex." I tried to convince him. He cocked his head for a moment, seeming to consider my words.

Finally he nodded and said, "You could be right. But if he gets too close to you again, you come to me. Okay?” I nodded and walked past Rash. “Come on, I'm already late. I'll probably have to do another detention because of that.” I feared, remembering the condescending grin of Enrico La Cruel, who just pointed it out waited to choke me in.

The fact that he and Soela continued to teach at the Academy didn't make my life there any easier. They seemed to watch over my actions with eagle eyes - always careful to punish the smallest rule violation with detention.

We got to the silver BMW I've been driving lately when Rash grabbed my arm. "Would you like me to drive?" I looked at him confused. "Why?" "Can you drive?" A worried look came over his face and I mentally cursed Malio for apparently telling him about his suspicion.

"I'm fine," I replied, annoyed, and opened the driver's door. "It's okay to ask for help. We're here for you," Rash replied after settling into the passenger seat. "I know Rash. But I'm really fine." I didn't know who I wanted to reassure more with these words, him or me.

From the Dakarias' estate it took what seemed like forever to reach the Academy. The road along the cliffs alone was uncomfortably long.

"Damn," I blurted out quietly as, out of nowhere, another attack of vertigo hit me, blurring the road.

I felt the car pull to the right. First a little bit, then, with the looming veil of darkness pulling me inexorably into its clutches, more and more.

Rash's panicked words and his firm grip on my shoulder was only slightly noticeable.

Everything around me dissolved into nothing, and the last thing I heard before drifting completely into darkness was the deafening thud of metal striking stone.

M A L I O

I paced impatiently behind the chair. "Why didn't you deliver to us?" I turned to the dark-haired man behind the desk, whose hair was already graying at the temples.

"I don't know what you mean," he replied, unimpressed. It seemed he still hadn't understood the seriousness of the situation.

"You don't know what I mean?" I repeated angrily. "Would you like me to help you a bit?" Without waiting for an answer, I put my pistol to the back of the head of the younger of the two, the one sitting in the chair directly in front of me.

"You have three seconds to open your disgusting face or your son is dead." "I don't know-" the older man started mumbling excitedly, but the shot that was fired from my gun at that moment was interrupted his sentence and his own son's blood spattered across his face.

"Too late," I replied with a shrug. "Now answer my question or the next person to die is your bitch daughter."

Dumbfounded, he stared at the blood spatter and brain mass that had spread across the desk.

Apparently, he finally realized the trouble he was in because, lifting his panicked gaze from his dead son, whose torso had fallen on the desk, he said, "Malio, I don't know how this could have happened."

He swallowed hard before continuing. "Can't we agree on something? We're going down the price." He stuttered, completely perplexed, while his gaze kept switching back and forth between me and the corpses.

"Wrong answer. Ivan, bring the bitch in." "No, please. I'll give you what you want, but spare my daughter." I waved the gun back and forth and said, "No. You make no demands here. Answer my question, why didn't we receive the delivery?"

As the door opened and Ivan ushered the young lady into the darkened room, he frantically replied, "The Chinese!" "The Chinese?" I repeated his words, scratching my head with the barrel of the pistol. "Why would they do that?" "You're really in trouble, Malio. In big trouble," he retorted before casting a nervous glance at his daughter.

"I think the only one in trouble is you, my friend. And your daughter." I gave the brunette a meaningful look and called her over to me, whereupon she timidly broke from Ivan's arms.

She wasn't much older than Jolien, but I couldn't think about that. I'd killed a lot of people in my life, including some women, but something was different since I started dating Jolien.

It was becoming increasingly difficult for me to keep the necessary distance from the victims. Jolien brought out the human side in me, the guilt and the regret. Emotions and feelings that were anything but welcome in my family.

"Kneel down!" I thoughtlessly kicked aside the chair with the dead guy on it and pointed to the light colored carpet, which also had blood and half his brains dripping on it.

"Don't go there." Gun in hand, I pointed to the huge pool of blood that had oozed from her brother's head wound. "Kneel in your brother's blood."

I pushed her to the ground by her long hair and put the barrel of the gun to her temple. "Look at your father," I commanded, and when she ignored my request and instead kept her eyes on the floor, I wrapped her hair around my fist and yelled, "Look at your father, I said!"

"Malio, you don't have to do this! Please! We can somehow agree. It was a mistake that will never happen again." This motherfucker begged for his daughter's life.

"You knew what you were getting into when you did business with us. _Loyalty_ is our number one priority," I replied, curling my finger around the trigger.

He jumped up in panic, but a single glance from me was enough to completely shatter his brief spurt of heroism. "Did I tell you to get up?" I asked defiantly, before pulling the trigger again without warning.

His bloodcurdling scream was drowned out by the loud bang of the shot as her body sagged limply to the side and hit the ground hard.

Tears streamed down the man's face as he fell to his knees in prayer. But even every prayer in the world would not be able to save him, because once you had abused the trust of the family, your fate was sealed.

"How can you be so ruthless at nineteen? So upfucked? You are worse than your father. Worse than anyone I know. You are a monster, Malio Dakarias. She was innocent!" he yelled in exasperation.

I gave a cold laugh before replying, “No one in _our_ families is innocent. Neither I, nor you, nor any of your children. And now, sit in your damn chair." I put the gun down on one of the filing cabinets and took my knife out of my pocket instead. "We still have some things to talk about."

I watched in silence as this prankster awkwardly got to his feet and then lowered himself back into the chair. With a single swinging motion, I flipped out the blade of the knife and sat on the edge of the desk. "What do you know about the Chinese?" "Nothing," he answered promptly.

I raised an inquiring eyebrow and repeated my question more forcefully, "What do you know about the Chinese?" ' he stuttered, unable to take his eyes off the knife, which I was playfully spinning around on the desk, point first.

"And then you thought, you don't agree with me, you don't agree with yourself and you're betraying us," I concluded and stopped turning the knife. The point had bored a fine hole in the expensive wood of the table.

He shrugged and I snorted at the filthy swine who risked his children's lives just like that. Just for a little more money. Unlike them, he deserved to die.

Thoughtfully, I let my gaze wander over the lifeless bodies. "Her death was senseless and provoked by you. I'll make you suffer for that." I decided and gave him a devilish smile.

I felt the need to slowly and painfully eliminate this bastard because his greed had robbed them of a future. Another emotion that I only noticed after I knew Jolien. I wouldn't have cared about that before.

"Hold out your hand.", I was already thinking about how I could make him suffer in the most excruciating way when Ivan's cell phone beeped. I had completely forgotten his presence.

"Malio, we have to go," I suddenly heard him say. "You can see that I still have work to do here." I replied angrily. "Malio, we have to go now." I sighed annoyed and replied: "You know where the door is, Ivan." "Malio, we really have to go. Rash and Jolien were in a car accident..."

In a split second, I swung back and threw the knife straight down the man's throat, who had already exhaled in relief, apparently assuming I would spare his miserable life after all.

He slid out of his chair, wheezing, and then crashed to the floor. I stalked around the desk and pulled the knife out of his neck, causing a huge gush of blood to spill over the light-colored bristles of the carpet.

I turned to Ivan in a hurry: “What are you waiting for, Ivan? Come on!" "Are you okay? I've been trying to explain that to you for minutes!" he snapped at me angrily, but I had long since stormed out the door.

There was no more anger. no hate only fear.

An all-consuming fear that swept across my insides like a tornado, leaving nothing but sheer destruction.

It was a feeling I had never felt before. A feeling that took your breath away and threw the world into a void darker than the darkest night.