Nico sat lazily on his armchair, legs spread like a king, the smoke from his cigarette curling in the air.
The heavy doors creaked open. Two guards dragged in the captured Massimo—bloody, bruised, and barely able to stand.
Kyan held his breath from behind the hallway wall, peeking through the side of the open space. His palms were sweaty, heart pounding in his chest.
Please don't be my brother…
Please don't let it be Dad…
He leaned in a little more, straining to get a clear look at the face.
His stomach twisted in knots. Everything felt like it stopped. Time. Air. Thought.
But the bruises on the man's face made it hard to tell.
Nico flicked ash from his cigarette without blinking. "You've got ten seconds to speak before I let my men have fun with you," he said coldly.
Kyan swallowed hard. This wasn't a dream. It was real.
And if that was someone from his family…
Then he was standing in the enemy's house.
The man raised his bloody face, weak and desperate.
"Please… let me go," he whispered. His voice cracked like dry wood.
Kyan froze.
That voice.
That soft, deep, broken voice—he knew it.
His heart dropped.
No… no, no, no… Papa?
That's… that's my father.
His legs went numb as the truth slammed into him. His papa. The man everyone feared… was now begging for his life.
And Nico?
He wasn't moved. Not even a blink.
The cigarette hung from his lips as he stepped forward, calmly, like this was just another Tuesday.
"You killed my grandfather," Nico said, his voice low, like ice sliding across skin. "And now I hear I'm your next target?"
He let out a small cruel smirk. "Funny. Guess I should return the favor."
Then he lifted the gun—cold black metal pointed straight at the man's forehead without hesitating.
"No!" Kyan gasped, his heart leaping into his throat.
His body moved before his brain could catch up. He stormed in, breath heavy, hands shaking. Nico looked at him in confusion—gun still raised.
Kyan had seconds.
And in those seconds, he did the only thing he could think of.
He grabbed Nico by the collar.
And kissed him.
Right on the lips.
Hard. Desperate. Shaky.
Everyone in the room froze.
Nico didn't move at first. His eyes widened just a little, but he didn't push Kyan off. The cigarette fell from his mouth, forgotten.
Then Kyan pulled back, heart pounding like a drum.
"I'm sorry, boss," he whispered quickly, eyes flickering with fake innocence, "I didn't get enough from the last kiss."
The room was silent.
Even the guards looked stunned.
Nico blinked. Slowly. His jaw clenched.
But the gun lowered.
Kyan's papa, still kneeling, looked up in shock, completely confused.
Kyan didn't dare look at him.
He just hoped… that kiss bought enough time to stop the bullet.
Nico wiped his lips slowly, still stunned, but quickly covered it up with his usual cold stare.
He turned to the guards, voice sharp like a blade.
"Take him," he pointed at Kyan's father, "Lock him up with the others. Maximum security. No food till I say so."
Kyan's papa didn't fight it. Just bowed his head, weak and broken. Two guards dragged him away like a sack of weight.
Kyan stood still, watching it all happen—his fists clenched, heart racing. But the kiss… it worked. For now.
Nico turned.
His eyes—burning with rage—landed on Kyan.
"How dare you—"
But before he could finish that sentence, Kyan stepped forward again, grabbed the lapel of his expensive shirt…
And kissed him.
Again.
Hard. Fast. Blinding.
His lips crashed into Nico's, cutting the words right off his tongue. Nico grabbed his wrist on instinct, like he wanted to stop him—
But he didn't.
For a second, the world stopped spinning.
Then Kyan pulled back, panting softly.
"That's twice now," he whispered with a smirk. "You still think I'm scared of you?"
Nico's eyes flared. He didn't speak. His chest rose and fell slowly, as if trying to calm the volcano burning inside.
Kyan didn't wait for permission.
He turned, walking off like the fire didn't just burn between them.
But they both knew it did.
Badly.
What the hell just happened?
Nico stood there, frozen. He could still feel the ghost of Kyan's lips on his. His jaw tightened as he wiped his mouth again with the back of his hand—hard.
"That was my first real kiss," he muttered under his breath.
Damn it.
What the hell was that stupid servant thinking?
Who does that?
Who kisses me—twice—and just walks away like that?
Nico paced the room once, then stopped, staring at the door Kyan had walked out of.
"That idiot," he growled.
"He better not start something he can't finish."
Back at the servant room…
Kyan sat on the tiny bed, staring at the floor. His mind was spinning.
That was my papa… The same man he hadn't seen in days—chained, bloody, and about to get a bullet to the head.
And what the hell did he do?
He kissed his cold, heartless boss. Again.
"Shit," he muttered, raking a shaky hand through his hair.
"I kissed that asshole just to save my papa…" His voice trailed off, more to himself than anyone. "Twice. I kissed him twice."
Before he could spiral deeper, the door slammed open.
Two guards barged in, faces twisted with disgust.
"You got some guts, huh?" one of them sneered.
The other cracked his knuckles. "You think you can just kiss the boss like that? You softie bastard."
Kyan stood up quickly, his back hitting the wall. "I didn't mean—"
A punch hit his stomach, knocking the breath out of him.
"You fucking softie. You deserve to be thrown into the sea!" one growled, grabbing his collar.
They raised their fists again—
"Leave him."
The room froze.
That voice.
Ice-cold. Sharp. Dangerous.
The guards turned instantly, fear flashing in their eyes.
Nico stood by the door, dark eyes burning. A lit cigarette between his fingers, smoke curling in the air around him.
"Get to work," he repeated, voice low and chilling.
They scrambled out like scared dogs.
Nico didn't move. He just stood there… watching Kyan. His jaw tight.
Kyan's heart pounded in his chest.
Was that a warning?
Or something worse?
Then Nico turned, slowly walking away.
Not saying another word.
And Kyan?
He didn't know if he should feel safe…