1 Chapter One

Just a mere glimpse and he caught my attention. My attention is never a good thing to have on a person. Though he caught my attention for a way different reason from what others usually do. I caught sight of him my breath had hitched in my throat. My heart was contesting from the irresistible sensation of his presence being in the same vicinity. My body purrs for reasons that should not be told. His cold and sinister demeanor did nothing to discourage me from staring bluntly at his flawlessness in a tuxedo. Oh the darkness oozing from him was undoubtedly made for me. That same darkness inside of me is calling to him as well. I love and loathe it but want to explore it.

Tonight is an event my father pull some strings to attend to further his career in the crime world. It started out being a dreadful day. Just because one of these handsy old bastards tried to fondle me when I sat near the bar. Told him to go away but he wouldn't listen. So I did what I do best. Hurt. I skillfully slit his wrist without him not noticing. Just as I thought when someone will notice his prim ash bleached blonde stick model wife came up beside me screaming and crying, I walked.

Daddy dearest scolds me for miss behave during 'his' moment to shine to recruit other criminals.

Daddy always drags me to these bullshit events even though I told him countless times I despise it. He's trying to expand his 'businesses' to the mafias of all ethnicity and underground business owners. To give him a bonus he wants me to marry one of them he picks out. The thing is that it's not going through his thick incapable of thinking head pass his self-centeredness is that; he would realize that over my wintry corpse before I do a prearranged marriage he sets up.

I'm stuck wearing a fucking dress. A dress. I hate dresses and he knows this. I always wanted to be a boy but this perky ass and tits say differently. I guess those come in handy to draw out prey for so no more complaints from me. Most times I'm wearing baggy jeans and tight crop-tops or baggy all the way when I'm running runs and hats help since I just cornrow my hair in four braids. That gives the illusion of a boy when I'm working and doing my rounds.

I've been sipping on my champagne in a corner wanting to die from boredom and uncomfortableness. Since he doesn't want me to cause a scene again, I stay put there scanning the area. I can feel men's eyes on me scrutinizing the shit out of me taking in all my curves and angles of my head, shoulders, knees, and toes.

This is why I don't date; they stare too much and with the reputation I established myself is not a good-looking one. I can never have a normal life. Every guy I talk to runs away when they found out who my dad is or who I'm supposed to be.

Never need my father's name to back me, ever. I can protect me. He paid all that money where I am insuperable and I never plan to lose a thing.

Not much black enforcer in this type of business much less black female enforcers. I'm changing the game and things like that It's rare where I come from, but I wouldn't change a thing. My father wants to rule the underworld and with me, by his side, he surely will. I'm never going to be a trophy wife or a crime boss wife. I grew up on ruthlessness and I famine for that shit in this life. I try my best to do right by one person.

I get the shit beat out of me all the time until I got it right and started fighting back. I fought back tenfold on my attackers. Turning sixteen I started fighting back harder at the blows that I was receiving. I would get my ass kicked but nothing stopped my grit of win. I'm not mouthy I'm a born killer, I would say. My father is a bastard so his paws are always itching to put a few blows alongside my face or ribs. Wherever his fist or kick lands.

Good times! I snorted eyes roaming the place for probable threats. I check my watch camera where I hacked into the build camera feed trying to find my newfound interest for the night.

I was struck in utter shock from the man that had his back to me a few feet away. I stare in awe and astonishment but someone who I deride with all my being obstructed my line of vision of the man with dark eyes and cocoa skin dressed Stuart Hughes Diamond Edition hair in waves and that sexy slim black tie around his neck made him delectable. His coffee skin was ageless that medium broad nose complimented his plump reddish lips very well. Damn, he was tall even in my heels I can tell. Hmm just a little above his chin my head reach.

I don't know what that suit is called but I know it would be nice to sell the thing and get hefty about cashback. Just then my phone dings and I open it to see some weird suggestions of what type of suits I'm looking for.

First off, I never said a word out loud for my phone to go off with these kinds of suggestions. Google stop with the foolishness.

"Need you to fucking socialize not to be an uncomfortable teen," he snaps.

"You do know you just point out facts. I will rather be killing someone than wear this bullshit. I told you I'm not sleeping with any of these fuckers so…" I trailed off.

"Yuh fucking Mada couldn't push out a bwoy instead? (Your mom couldn't have had a boy?)" he said glaring at me. "Gyal pickney just born fi backchat (Girls just meant to catch an attitude)," he spoke in our native tongue.

Too bad he didn't pay for gender picking his kid so why he's complaining about having a girl that talks back.

"You shoulda find some odda idiat woman den (You should've married another fool)," I glare up at him. "Mi nah marry nuhbody yuh pick fi mi so nuh badda try dat (There is no way I'm marrying anyone you choose for me)," I warned.

He's trying to make me marry somebody from his peers to make his links in the underworld further global than it is now. He has little talk over me and it gripes him knowing he cannot control me to his full capacity.

"Mi will deal wid yuh lata (I'll deal with you later)," he storms off dragging me to meet the boring uptight bastards.

He introduced me as his daughter and all eyes on me as if I'm their new favorite toy. Oh, they have no idea I love to play, rough and audacious. Everyone was a big shot here. Lawyers, doctors, and CEO of some sort but some were into the illegal shit as I am. I did my research except for that one guy who made my heart omitted a few beats. I shouldn't make that out as anything because people like him don't date or marry out of their social circle. Maybe I'll end up killing him.

They all stared at me as they talked business with my dad and I would add a sentence or two to make my dad look reliable and pass off enough to be trustworthy. I was pulling the crowd around us and the men stared as if I'm fresh meat. Nothing new I can uphold myself from them, but I still felt like I'm on display by these people. Their wives were conspicuously glaring at me with cynicism as if I want their half-dead husband. Please, no money in this world is enough for me to sleep with one of them.

There is a big plus side for me. My mom left me a hefty sum when she died and daddy almost had a heart-a-fit for it. He set up a few ambushes to get rid of me. To tell you I was is not enough to describe it. Seriously I wasn't hurt by his action. I knew that was going to happen. I'm not stupid I did a lot of taking downs for my father and set up when betrayed.

Turns out he betrayed me and the loyalty I had for him had dimmed to nothing right now. He's this close of me killing him for fun. Turns out my mom had an oversea account in my name and says I will receive it when I'm eighteen. I don't need to work or anything like that but I gave him my word I'll do it until he conquers the underworld.

I'm still in high school about to graduate and applying for colleges and universities. Far, far away because of my best friend.

Around ten-thirty I absolved myself when I know that dad had their best interest in mind. He scarcely acknowledges me at this point which I was glad for. I call an Uber to pick me up from this function. It was a bit chilly outside for the Brooklyn weather and the busy city traffic outside was shit. Well damn, my legs were cold and my arms had goosebumps all over. My Uber will be here in fifteen minutes. I don't want to wait inside because someone might want to converse and I'm sure I would cut someone's tongue out at this moment out of annoyance.

While in deep thoughts someone came next to me and I look over to see the guy who had locked eyes with me earlier. A shiver ran over my skin as if sensing something sinister and lethal about him but still found myself ready to take that risk.

Oh wow great Jesse, I thought to myself. You just love destruction and treachery.

This is just what I need in my fan-tabu-lous life. Well, it's not like anything is new I live for danger and work in peril.

Why not date it, I roll my eyes at the thought.

His hair was freshly wavy and lined up. His eyes are borderline strange yellow or orange maybe contacts. He wasn't too muscular his suit was well fitted and his height makes my heart flutters. He's making me feel the way I felt about Antony the night before father slaughtered him.

I shivered from the excitement my body felt and the man beside me believed it was from the cold as he took his jacket off and places it over my shoulders.

"Um, thank you, sir," I muttered politely with a smile on my lips.

"Call me Krane," he smiles holding out his hand for me to shake it.

"Jessica," I shook it and stiffen with a gasp at the contact.

Oh my. My body warms all over as my heart almost gave way. I found myself stepping towards him and towards me. We were inches apart to a point I can feel his breath against my cheek. He cups my cheek and I lean into it feeling comforted by his touch.

I felt safe and protected by his touch. I wanted to be like this forever. His orange eyes seeping warmth as he stares into my soul.

We came to a halt when the valet guy parks a 2020 dark gray Porsche with blood-red interior leather and I quickly came to my senses.

"It was a pleasure meeting you Jessica," clearing his throat walking off to his car.

I took a deep breath and glance down shaking my head at the weird feeling and later notice his jacket was still around me. Shit.

My Uber came ten minutes later and I went home to my dad's house. I need to move out. Too many people there and no such thing as personal space exist in that place.

*

The following Monday I was in school because of my best friend Joss. Her father is one of my father's trusted hombre that works for him.

Her dad, I had threatened if I found out she's in this life. I will make him disappear. I can make him disappear like the rest I gotten rid of myself. When I want something or someone disappears, I get it done myself so nothing can get traced back to me. There is no way I would let anyone come on an assassination with me when the body should go missing forever. Let's say he listened after I made him bloody, swollen, with his pinkies missing. Heartless pricks. She's my soft spot other than Antony who betrayed me. I touched my left shoulder in remembrance.

"I'm moving out and I want you to come live with me," I told her.

"Jesse," she sighs. "I can't afford what you're buying," she says.

"Did I ask you all of that? You're moving in with me. You can pay me back when you're on your feet and your business is popping. All you have to do is live with me and make your business happen," I told her at lunch. "Do that for me and you don't have to pay me back a dime."

"Geez I want to but I'm afraid I can't. Papi had me pledging my innocence to a fucking drug lord," she says.

"No he's not," I said in a matter of fact tone.

"Huh-huh! So you did have something to do with him changing his mind," she glares. "He came home bloody Jesse. What the fuck?" she said shakily.

I looked at her blankly.

"With fingers missing she whisper shouted.

"Yes and so what? You are not marrying in this life. You weren't pledged in so you aren't espousing any slimy bastard," I told her. "You will live your life free from all this. I made sure of that and if anyone and I mean anyone take that shit away from you I will personally kill them."

She shudders as she spoke, "You scare me sometimes you know?"

"I know and you should be. When it comes down to you there is nothing, I wouldn't do to protect you. You saved my damn soul from taking a darker path than I am right now," I whisper. "If you don't want to live with me at least let me buy you a place."

"No, I'll stay with you," she rubs her forehead, "I feel safe with you no matter how scary you are at times, until I get my shit together."

"That's all I want," I smile brightly.

"We need to plan what we are doing for your birthday this weekend," she said excitedly. "I'm just saying we should go to an uptown party just because," she said eagerly.

I didn't notify her I know every club in this region because I had relations with them through my dad. She didn't need to know that though.

"Can't wait," I grin at her.

I had a few errands to run tonight for my father, so I had to maintain my game face on.