TWO
Aliya
PRESENT
I hate people.
That’s why the Shane Enterprises Holding awards ceremony is the last place I want to spend my peaceful Sunday.
My mom wouldn’t understand that I wasn’t created to go to such events, but of course she had to force me to come here to keep up the reputation of a perfect family.
“Smile. People are looking.” She nudges me under the table with her foot as she greets a woman with a cramped grin.
I roll my eyes and continue to look around grimly despite her request.
Emily Hawkins and Lidia Vance walk past us, giving me a wry sideways glance before giggling and whispering something to each other. Ever since we’ve been taking the same classes, they’ve been a thorn in my side.
While everyone around me has forced themselves into pompous clothes, I feel quite comfortable in my simple jeans and a white blazer.
My mother has spent at least two hours trying to persuade me to wear the new dress she and my stepfather got me for my birthday.
The fact that half of the Stoneview High is attending this awards ceremony is not surprising, but still nerve-wracking.
The IT company Shane Enterprises Holding is a very important investor and always provides our school with the latest technology.
The Stoneview High is a private school.
An elite of snooty teenagers who would be nothing without their parents’ money.
Since my stepfather’s small company, Wilson Engineering, works for the Shanes, I was also able to visit this school.
The CEO of the IT company, Mr. Shane, ensures that the children of his business partners are guaranteed a spot at the elite school through his substantial investments, securing our future.
“Fix your clothes. I told you it would be more appropriate to wear the dress. Do you always have to be so stubborn?”
I don’t give my mother a second glance and block out her voice. After all these years, I find it easier to act as if I don’t hear her. All she says are just unnecessary comments anyway.
My stepfather Robert returns to our table and sits down next to her.
As if on cue, I reach for my phone and stand up.
“Where are you going? The speech is about to start.”
“Are you going to lecture me now about how it’s inappropriate for me to go to the bathroom, Mother?”
She falls silent, but I can see that she is anything but pleased about my rebuttals.
“Leave her alone. She’s going through puberty, dear,” Robert tells her.
Screw them.
As I walk through the crowd, my eyes fall on the door that leads out into the cool night.
Of course, the awards ceremony is taking place in the Masonic Temple – a location that impresses and intimidates with its pompous, massive construction.
I’m only a few steps away from the exit door when I’m suddenly rammed by a broad body.
Not a second later, I feel my blazer soaking up liquid. I draw in a sharp breath as the cold fluid hits my skin.
Angrily, I look up to grumble at the person but fall silent when I see who is in front of me.
The sinister aura that surrounds him casts a spell over me so that I am no longer able to move.
My anger dies out instantly.
He doesn’t seem to give me a glance, even though he has spread his red wine all over my upper body. Instead, he presses the empty glass into my hand as if I were a servant.
His black suit, which clings elegantly to his body, combined with his jet-black hair and equally dark eyes, makes him look much more intimidating than he already is. High, pronounced cheekbones frame a narrow nose that ends just above a pair of lips drawn together in a distant expression.
“Shall we get the fuck out of here?” His dark-haired and blue-eyed friend stands right next to him, ignoring my presence.
“Aren’t we at least going to wait until your father finishes his speech?” The third member of the group keeps the other two company while I’m still staring at the glass in my hand, stunned.
“Don’t be a pussy, Shin. We have nothing to do here.”
Damian Reynolds, Shin Masuda – I let my gaze wander to the most feared one – and Milan Shane.
The infamous trio of Stoneview High – the so-called Legions.
They are the three richest, most dangerous and problematic sons of Palmer Wood.
With a composed attitude, Milan makes his way out while his two friends follow him.
“By the way, the girl just now wasn’t a servant,” Shin explains.
“Who cares what she is, Shinichiro?”
“Stop calling me that!”
Milan, the head of the trio, remains silent until all three of them have finally left the venue.
I stare after them, speechless. My gaze wanders from the glass in my hand to the wine on my blazer.
What the hell was that?
Embarrassed, I look around while some people eye me critically and others laugh at me – including many of my classmates.
I place Milan’s glass on a table and move toward the toilets to wash the red stain off my blazer.
The anger inside me starts to boil again, but I’m far more furious about the fact that I kept quiet instead of speaking my mind to his face.
How can you embarrass someone like that and then just leave without apologizing?
I scrub at the spot in a rage, ignoring all the people coming in. As if all this wasn’t enough, now my phone starts ringing. I groan in frustration, mute it and grab my blazer before sneaking out of the location.
My mother can forget about me sitting with her in a soiled blazer after this incident and listening to an hour of boring thank-you speeches.
Freed from the large crowd, I exhale with relief as cool air blows toward me. The towering building darkens the sky and casts a long shadow on the sidewalk.
Although I hold an incredible grudge, I have to bury my anger. After all, I already know the three of them very well and have a good idea of what they’re capable of. Drawing their attention is the last thing I need in my last year of high school.
My fingers dig into the fabric of my blazer.
Still, it would be good if someone had the guts to pay them back.
I make my way to the back of the building to find a place to spend my time until my mother and stepfather decide to head back home.
I’m not in Midtown often, so I don’t really know my way around here.
Walking past the parking lot, I wonder if I should just wait in the car until the ceremony is over. But I quickly push this thought to the back of my mind, because otherwise I’d have to go back back and get the keys.
Instead, my gaze falls on a familiar black sports car.
A glance at the license plate confirms my suspicion that it is his Audi RS7.
The resentment boils up in my stomach again.
This arrogant idiot is the reason for my bad mood and the fact that I now have to walk around with a wine stain.
I look around but don’t see anyone on the street. Although they left the Masonic Temple before me, they are not here.
The corners of my mouth pull up as I come up with an idea that will most likely cost me my life if I get caught, but so what? If no one dares to teach the trio a lesson, then I suppose I’ll have to.
I hold the stone firmly between my fingers and aim for the car door. Before I change my mind, I put all my strength into the movement and let the stone run over the black paintwork.
The sound of the stone and the deep, visible scratch it leaves behind are surprisingly satisfying. The thought of this asshole’s face when he sees his wrecked car makes me smile in victory.
Why didn’t I think of this before?
Milan Shane has been getting on my nerves ever since I started attending the SVH. His arrogant, narcissistic and manipulative way of wrapping the girls around his finger, just to throw them away like a piece of trash afterwards, is just pissing me off. Nevertheless, everyone falls for his charm and lets him have his way without considering the consequences.
“You’ll see what you gain from this.”
The deep voice of a man snaps me out of my thoughts. I instinctively duck and press myself against Milan’s Audi. My heart beats faster as I peer in the direction from which I heard the noise.
A scowling man enters the parking lot, several men follow him.
Fuck.
I have to sneak out of here before someone finds out what I’ve done. The scratch on Milan’s car is impossible to miss, and the stone that did the deed is still in my hand. I hastily toss it aside and press myself deeper into the shadow of the car.
But the men stop in the middle of the parking lot as if they know I’m here.
I scream inwardly.
If I had disappeared just ten seconds earlier, I could have saved myself the trouble.
At least there’s no sign of Milan, Shin and Damian anywhere, so there’s not much chance of them catching me.
“Call your friends, come on!”
“I’m alone here.”
A familiar voice pierces the night air, and my eyes widen. Inconspicuously, I rise a little to make sure I haven’t misheard.
Damian Reynolds is standing there casually with his hands in his pockets, confronted by five broad men.
He’d left the event with Milan and Shin, so why is he here and where are the others?
A loud bang breaks the silence, followed by an angry roar. “Don’t you dare lie to us!”
My breath catches as I picture them punching Damian in the face.
Do I have to be in the wrong place at the wrong time every damn time?
“Call Shane here.”
“He’s not here anymore. He already left.” Damian sounds calm, almost bored.
I flinch as another dull thud and a stifled cry of pain echo through the night. “Do you want to lose your fucking life to protect this bitch? Call him here now, for fuck’s sake! We won’t let you go without him.”
My fingers press desperately against the cold asphalt.
Although I can’t stand Damian just as much as Milan, I feel a painful pity with every hit he takes. Flashes of thoughts run through my head – should I call the police? But the fear that my own crime could be revealed makes me hesitate.
I shake off the pity and the feelings of guilt that arise.
Damian is not a saint, perhaps he even deserves this beating.
The many cars in the parking lot allow me to move around undetected. I creep out from behind Milan’s car and carefully crawl toward a silver van.
The sounds of knocks and Damian’s suppressed noises accompany me, but I force myself to ignore them. Just as I’m about to make my way to the blue SUV, I freeze.
Two figures huddle between the van and the SUV, seemingly trying to hide from the men as well.
My heart skips a beat when Shin’s and my eyes cross.
Unlike me, he doesn’t seem surprised by my presence. He leans against the SUV in his dark blue suit, surveying me with a cool composure.
I don’t dare look at the person sitting on the ground, leaning against the van, because I know exactly who it is.
A chill envelops my body as I feel Milan’s piercing gaze on me.
My instinct tells me I should be afraid.
An evil premonition grips me, causing a huge lump to form in my throat.
How long have they been here?
By now I couldn’t care less about the men beating Damian, because the black-haired guy, whose gaze feels like fire on my skin, scares me far more.
Before I can get up and run away, he grabs my wrist and pulls me onto his lap.
He presses his rough hand over my mouth and pushes the back of my head against his chest.
I feel Milan lean in and get dangerously close to my ear. “If you don’t want me to kill you here and now, be a good girl and don’t move.”
All my hair stands up and goosebumps cover my whole body as I feel his warm breath on the back of my neck. His full head of black hair tickles my skin, and the pressure of his palm takes my breath away.
He knows.
He knows what I did to his car.
He was here the whole time. He’s seen everything.
I can’t move, I can’t speak, I can’t even breathe without feeling the danger he poses.
There are many reasons why no one dares to mess with the Legions – especially with Milan Shane. So where did I get the idea that I could get away unnoticed?
If only I’d stayed seated next to my mother.
“We have to do something.” Shin rises a little to check on Damian.
I feel Milan’s hand loosen on my mouth. “I’ll face them. They want me, not Damian.”
Even though he’s let go of me by now, I make no move to get away from him and reluctantly remain seated.
His words echo in my head and I’m far too afraid of him making his threat real.
I can officially say goodbye to my peaceful school life after tonight, because he’s going to make my life a living hell.
“Are you sure about this, Milan?”
“Do we have another choice?”
“And what do we do with her?” Shin looks at me now and I tense up.
“We’ll deal with her after we get rid of the Tyrrells.”
I swallow. What does that mean?
“By the way …” I flinch as I feel his voice right next to my ear. “How long are you planning to sit on my lap?”
My face flushes with embarrassment, and I immediately scramble away from him. Wasn’t he the one who told me not to move?
His dark gaze is still on me as a hint of amusement flashes through him.
Just like Shin, I’m now leaning against the SUV.
Milan’s suit fits perfectly even though he’s squatting behind a car. Although I’d like to punch him, I can’t deny that he’s handsome. Even his scruffy personality can’t hide his good looks.
“And what am I supposed to do?”
“Make sure she doesn’t run away. I’m not done with her yet.” Milan’s gaze wanders from me to Shin, who nods only half-convinced.
I look back and forth between the two of them, feeling like a piece of meat being passed around among the boys.
Before I can react, Milan disappears behind the parked cars.
I don’t even try to run away. It would be useless anyway.
“You fucked with the wrong guy.” Shin looks at me, his dark eyes reflecting the hatred he feels toward me.
Maybe I actually did.
“Finally doing us the honor, Shane?” comes the voice of the man who hit Damian.
“You know me, Tyrrell. I like to keep others waiting.” Milan’s voice drips with mischief.
“You seem in a good mood for someone whose pretty face is about to get messed up.”
I glance nervously in the direction they’re standing and try to catch a glimpse of them.
“Oh, by now you should know that a few scratches on my face won’t stop your sister from spreading her legs for me. On the opposite, it just makes her wilder. She’s into it. A naughty girl, isn’t she?”
Shin laughs quietly as I wonder what he’s trying to achieve with the provocation.
“You son of a bitch!”
And it gets louder.
The streets are still empty, probably because Milan’s father is still inside giving his speech and there are no other people in Midtown on a Sunday this late.
“Why don’t we just call the police? The men are outnumbered. Two of them won’t be able to fight them.”
Shin looks at me as if I’ve asked him in which state we live. “The police? Do you want to get us in more trouble?”
I don’t know what the argument is about, but I can’t imagine the trio being at any disadvantage. They have a clear advantage since their fathers are some of the wealthiest men in Detroit.
“We have-” Just as Shin is about to explain the situation to me, he breaks off, shakes his head and speaks to himself. “Just shut up, Shin.”
He peers over before running a stressed hand through his hair. “Fuck.”
I sigh as I think about another way out. Maybe if I help them, my punishment for the scratch won’t be so bad.
“Is your car here?”
“Why?”
“Answer the question.”
He furrows his eyebrows in annoyance. “Milan’s keys are with me.”
I nod and gesture for him to follow me. But before I can move, he grabs my arm and glares at me. “You stay here.”
I roll my eyes and pull my arm out of his grip.
Shin Masuda is the only one of the three who can’t intimidate me. Unlike Milan and Damian, I’ve known him for a long time because we went to the same middle school.
“Let go of me. I’m just trying to help.”
“Why would you do that?”
Because I’m trying to get a lighter punishment for the scratch.
When a loud bang sounds, he finally gives in. “If you try anything, you’ll see what you get.”
I crawl ahead, back to Milan’s car, while Shin follows me. His eyes widen in disbelief as he spots the large scratch on the car.
He moves closer to take a better look and carefully runs his fingers over the deep scrape.
“Jesus Christ, what the fuck have you done to his car?” he says incredulously. “He’s going to kill you.”
I wonder why they didn’t stop me when I was doing the damage. But I have more important things to deal with now.
“Can you drive?”
“Of course.”
My plan might work, even if it’s not the best idea.
“Get in.”
Shin gives me a confused look but obeys as I get in the back.
I never thought I’d be sitting in Milan Shane’s car willingly.
“Turn off the lights. They can’t notice us.”
Shin turns off the headlights and plunges the area into a deeper darkness. He glances at me in the rearview mirror and waits for my next instructions. “Now what?”
I’m looking for a specific video. “I need to connect to the PA system.”
Without a word, Shin helps me to establish a connection via Bluetooth. His expression remains skeptical as I order him to open all the windows.
“That’s stupid,” he comments, but his fingers are already on the buttons and the windows slide down silently.
I lean forward to use the loudspeaker.
Milan’s car is hidden between the van and an SUV, almost invisible to the men.
I find the video I’m looking for on my phone and start it. The loudspeakers play the sound of a distant siren. Quietly at first, almost imperceptibly, but I slowly turn up the volume. The sound swells, as if the siren is approaching.
“Drive,” I command, my voice barely audible through the wailing sirens.
“What?”
“Drive! If it worked, they’re probably backing off now,” I explain.
Shin finally seems to understand me. He starts the engine, and the car begins to roll. The noise continues to fill the air, a booming sound that spreads across the darkness.
“Drive past them!” I shout and prepare to open the door so that Milan and Damian can get in.
Through the windshield, I can see the men in front of us looking around in confusion and staring in our direction. Shin accelerates and the men hastily jump to the side.
I catch sight of Milan, who quickly realizes the situation, even though he looks confused. He grabs Damian, who is lying on the ground, and pulls him to his feet.
As we move toward the men, Shin slows the car down. I open the right door and slide to the side so the two of them can get in quickly.
But one of the Tyrrells has obviously seen through what we’re up to. He pulls open the door on my side and grabs me. I hiss as he reaches for my hair and tries to pull me out of the car. A sharp pain runs through my scalp, and I struggle against it.
Damian fights too, being held by another man who prevents him from getting in.
In a desperate attempt, I kick the man in the stomach. He groans, staggers back and finally falls to the ground. I slam the door shut with a loud bang, my heart beating wildly with adrenaline.
Damian also frees himself from the man’s grip and slams the door shut.
“Lock the doors and drive out of the parking lot,” Milan orders, who is sitting right next to me in the middle.
Shin speeds up and hastily steers the car away from the scene. It’s dark inside the car, with only a faint light filtering through the windows, making the faces of the others only dimly visible. But their injuries are clearly evident.
Some of the men run after the car, but they can’t keep up the pace.
Milan’s face remains expressionless, his cold glare resting on me, which makes me even more nervous. I turn my gaze to the front, while the rest of the group is shrouded in a hushed, tense silence.
Damian breaks the stillness after a few minutes with a shrill laugh. “Fuck, what was that? I thought for a moment the cops were going to catch us.”
Shin looks at me through the interior mirror. “That was her idea.”
Now I feel all the stares like a hot burn on my skin.
“Huh? The servant?”
“She’s not a servant, Damian.”
“Shut up, Shinichiro.”
“How many times do I have to tell you not to call me like that?”
Milan turns away from me and addresses Shin. “Pull over.”
“You sure? They could still be behind us.”
“Pull over, Shin.” His voice doesn’t tolerate any backtalk.
The car moves slowly to the side of a quiet road. Without anyone having to tell me I open the door and get out of the car.
The three of them also get out while I increase the distance between us. The headlights are the only source of light we have.
Shin leans against the car with his arms crossed, while Milan stands right in front of me and looks at me with fresh amusement in his eyes.
“What’s going on? Did Servant do something?” Damian looks back and forth between his friends until his gaze falls on the scratch.
“Fuck me, what’s that?” He runs his hand over the scratch mark while Shin points his head in my direction.
“She did that?”
I don’t take my eyes off Milan because he’s putting me in an even greater state of fear with his silence. His clothes are now a little rumpled and his lip is chapped, but he still looks elegant and perfect.
“How are you going to fix this?” His gaze slides down my body and he smirks. “Do you have anything to offer?”
Reflexively, I take a few steps back.
At the same time, a devilish grin forms on Damian’s bloody face as he lets his eyes wander over my body.
“A little fun doesn’t hurt, right?” His inky blue eyes look anything but peaceful at the moment.
While Milan terrifies everyone with his calm and somber manner, Damian does it in an entirely different way.
I hold my breath as I look around, hoping to come across a soul.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be very gentle.” Damian’s filthy grin and lying words disgust me. “I’m always gentle.”
“I … I’ve helped you. We’re even now!” Instead, I look at Milan, who still hasn’t moved from the spot.
“Come on. I’m not going to hurt you.” Damian grabs my arm and pulls me to him.
“Don’t touch me.” I try to shake him off me.
“Damian.”
He pauses when Milan mentions his name. “What’s going on, Shane? She scratched your car. To pay for that scratch, she’d have to give us all a blow job.”
I wince as his words reach me.
“Besides, I’m still pretty wiped out from just now, so let me have my fun with her.”
The alarm bells in my head start ringing and I yank myself out of Damian’s grip before shoving him off me with a hard thrust. “I said don’t touch me!”
He staggers back a few steps but doesn’t appear to be hurt by my shove.
My thoughts are like trapped birds in a cage, fluttering in search of a way out.
“How sweet.” Damian’s lips twist into a teasing smile. “Did you think you had anything to say here?” He clicks his tongue as he takes slow steps toward me again. “Such a naive little servant. But don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to behave around us.”
“That’s enough, D.” Milan interrupts him again, causing him to groan in annoyance and turn to him. “You’re such a bore, Shane.”
“She scratched my car, so I’ll be the one to punish her.”
Damian rolls his eyes as Milan approaches me with strong steps. Every movement makes my heart beat faster and my breathing becomes shallower.
The wind howls like an eerie echo of my fears. A cold wave of panic overcomes me as he stops in front of me.
“You think we’re even because you helped us? You call that help?”
Seeing him up close, his eyelashes are thick and as black as his hair. His shadowy eyes stare down at me with a deep coldness.
“It was my idea. Without me, you’d still be stuck in the parking lot!”
“Oh yeah?” Milan grins as he wipes away the blood on his lip with his thumb. “Is that so?”
“Let me go.” I return his gaze, though they drag me into an infinite darkness.
Damian’s laughter sounds in the background, so I let my eyes drift to him. Milan uses this distraction to his advantage and grabs me by the collar of my blazer. I’m jerkily pulled toward him. A startled gasp escapes my lips.
“You thought you could get away from me so easily?” Each word is like an icy breath in my ear, and I feel my muscles tense. “I will destroy you. Mark my words.”
His gaze pierces me like a poisonous arrow.
I’m at his mercy.
At this moment, I feel like a mouse caught in the claws of a predatory cat, ready to devour me alive.
He will destroy me.
With a push, he lets go of me, leaving me staggering back, perplexed.
“You heard her.” He turns to his friends. “She wants us to let her go.”
A gleam of merriment sparkles in Damian’s eyes. “Then let’s do her the favor, what do you say?”
The blockage in my throat loosens as I realize what they’re about to do.
“Wait,” I start as Milan turns his back to me and makes his way to his car. “You can’t leave me here!”
He ignores me and gets into the driver’s seat. Damian chuckles and makes his way to the passenger seat while Shin gets in the back.
“Shin!” I call for him.
He won’t let this happen.
He can’t let this happen.
“She’s calling you, Shinichiro.”
“Don’t Shinichiro me,” he ignores my terrified cries for help.
My eyes fall on Milan again, as he starts his car’s engine. “You wanted us to let you go, didn’t you? Stand by your wishes.”
I grimace as all the fear in my body is replaced by fury.
“See you around, sweetheart .” He winks at me before accelerating and driving down the road.
The night is gloomy and starless as I’m left behind on Detroit’s lonely street. The muffled roar of the car gets quieter and quieter as they pull away from me at blistering speed.
“Assholes!” I shout after them.
Next time it won’t just be a scratch. I’ll break his wing mirrors and windshield wipers and beat this fucking grin off his face.
“Goddamn bastards!”
I scream out in frustration amidst the endless darkness and silence, forgotten like a star in a strange universe.