Why do I want to lick them?
“Ugh.” I pull myself out of it sternly. I can’t allow Reuben Taiga to distract me. I’m only attracted to him now because I saw that scene. This is entirely his fault…
But would the real Christian even have been attracted to him?
My blood cools at the thought and a wave of panic begins to spread through my body.
Am I… deviating from ‘Christian’ by being like this? Am I ruining Christian’s legacy again?
“Christian?” Kai’s sleepy voice is waking me from the sudden torrent of thoughts and I look up from where I’m crouched on the floor to see him rubbing his eyes. “I’m hungry.”
Me too, bud. But there’s a dangerous man on the other side of this door.
I make no motion to move and Kai’s eyes become worried as he sits up.
“You okay?”
I smile, but I think the bitterness leaks onto my face before I can stop it, “You care about me already?”
I’m lucky that Kai’s eyelids are still too heavy for him, he lies back down to close his eyes with a mumble, “You have no manners… But I like you. You’re a good subordinate.”
“Pfft.” The bitterness inside me can’t possibly contend with such an honest appraisal.
I rise from my crouch and walk over to run my hands through his hair affectionately, “I like you too, bud. You’ll make a good boss one day.”
“Of course I will dummy,” he mumbles. “I’m a Taiga.”
Now I’d feel bad if I didn’t get him something to eat. Never a better day to face your worst enemy.
My fears become unwarranted though, because Reuben is nowhere to be seen, and there are takeout boxes for the team in the fridge. One of them has my name on it, a box filled with a bit too much pasta for one person.
I wince when I realize Reuben could’ve brought it back, that he might’ve thought about us while he was out, only for me to run from him without an explanation.
I’m going to need a really,reallysolid explanation if I want to successfully avoid him. At least until I figure out how to… fix me.
I portion the meal into two for me and the kid, warm it up and make sure he eats all of it. His mom will be on her way to collect him soon, so when 6 pm comes around, I’m making sure he’s got everything he came with.
“If you get tired working for Reuben you can always come work for me,” Kai grins and I flick him on the forehead, earning another yelp and a scowl.
“Learning to poach already? You’re gonna grow up to be a scary guy you know.”
“Mamacan pay you a lot more than Reuben can.” There’s an earnestness in his eyes and even though he’s softening it, I think for a moment he’s actually serious.
I hum, pretending to consider it. “I have to make a name for myself first before I can switch employers. You wouldn’t want to be seen hiring a nobody wouldn’t you?”
“But you’re notnobody,” Kai’s brows furrow. “You’re Christian Adler.”
The world shifts for one jarring moment, like the sound of glass shattering through my skull.
What?
I can barely breathe.
“Christian Adler of the Adler Squad.Baachantold me about you.” I don’t miss the curiosity and admiration in his eyes, “That you’re the best of the best.”
My heart squeezes.
The best of the best, huh.
