Althea

04

I had a huge-ass idiotic grin on my by the time I reached the kitchen.

Where are you, baby girl?

Pushing open the huge doors, I step in just to crash into someone. A loud piercing noise breaks through the air as I stumble back.

I look down at my expensive suit drenched in some weird cream. This f*****g i***t!

"Are you f*****g blind? Do you have any idea how much this costs?" I roar at the girl who is struggling on the floor.

She looks back at me fiercely, her eyes blazing in rage. Her messy dark brown locks, matted against her sweaty face. Her lips, parted as she struggles to catch her breath.

"Are you f*****g blind? Who walks into the kitchen like it's a runway? You ruined all the buttercream!" She screams at me, pouting down at the damaged goods.

Did she just-f**k NO!

"How dare you speak to me like that? You have no idea what I can do to you." I kneel in front of her, grabbing her hair, twisting it in my fist until she's wincing.

"You better before I kill you." She spits, glaring at me with tears filled in her eyes.

What the f**k! Who the f**k has the audacity to talk to me like that?

"Are you insane? I'm the f*****g Capo, this is how you're speaking to me?" I look at her curiously.

"I don't even care who you-What! You're the Capo. . .You're Khaos?" She gasps.

"Yeah-No! Low lives like you aren't allowed to say my name. You got me?" I growl as she looks at me with teary eyes.

I couldn't even comprehend it when she threw herself at me, wrapping her arms tightly around my torso. Her face pressed against my chest, her breathing quick and shallow.

"Let go, you f*****g i***t!" I snap, trying to push her away.

She pushes her face into my chest, her fingers clenching onto my shirt as she presses herself against me. I'm the f*****g Capo of this place, I came here to prove that I'm the most ruthless man this city will ever see and here, I'm struggling on the floor to get a girl off me.

"If you don't get off me, I will shoot you and I'm not kidding!" I scream, trying to push her off but she clings to me, wrapping her legs around my waist.

"Khaos. Khaos, it's me. Me, your Althea." she whispers, cupping my cheeks.

"You will die a very brutal death if you don't get off me righ- Althea! Althea." My breath gets stuck in my throat, time freezing as I look down at her.

The same emerald eyes, the same beautiful hair and lips. Oh my god.

She presses her face against the crook of my neck, crying softly as her grip on me loosens. My hands grow cold as I just sit on the floor, soaking her presence in. My Althea. My stupid Althea.

"You're finally here! Why did you take so long?" she screams, banging her fist against my chest.

I cradle her delicate face, gently lifting it until I find myself gazing deeply into those captivating eyes.

"I'm sorry, Althea." I choke out a whisper.

She lets out a sob,"Say my name again."

"Althea."

"Again . . . please."

"Althea. My Althea." I caress her hair.

"I've waited so long for you," she whispers.

"I'm sorry," I wrap my arms around her until I'm pulling her tightly against me.

She smelled like butter and bread, her clothes were covered in flour and god knows what all, but it felt so damn comforting.

"Khaos!" Kai barged into the kitchen.

You're so dead, motherfucker.

"Okay. . . am I interrupting something?" he smirks down at me.

"Get the f**k out." I snap, caressing Althea's back.

Fuck, I missed this girl. I missed her so much.

Kai chuckles, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. "Man, I've seen you in a lot of situations, but this? This is a first."

I glare at him, my grip on Althea tightening protectively. "I swear to God, Kai, if you don't walk your ass out of here—"

Althea pulls back slightly, looking up at me with those damn eyes that make my chest ache. Her fingers lightly graze my jaw, her touch hesitant yet familiar. "Khaos... is this real? You're really here?" she whispers, her voice trembling.

I run my thumb along her cheek, wiping away the tears staining her soft skin. "Yeah, baby, it's real. I'm here."

A broken laugh escapes her lips before she buries her face in my neck again, holding onto me like I might disappear. I let her. I let her cry, let her hold me, let myself feel the way my body reacts to hers like no time has passed at all.

Then, I remember. The promise. The duty. The weight of my name.

My hands stiffen, and I force myself to pull away. The warmth of her disappears, leaving behind a cold, empty space. My expression hardens as I step back.

"Enough." My voice is sharp, controlled. "This—whatever this is—it can't happen."

Althea freezes, confusion flashing across her face. "Khaos... what?"

I inhale deeply, shoving my emotions down. "You belong to my brother. This was a mistake."

She flinches like I slapped her. Her eyes widen, hurt and betrayal written all over her face. "You don't mean that."

I steel myself, turning away. "I do. Forget this ever happened."

Kai watches silently as I brush past him, walking out of the kitchen without looking back. Every step away from her feels like I'm tearing myself apart, but I don't stop. I can't.

The moment I step outside, the cool night air does nothing to numb the ache in my chest. Kai follows me, his footsteps deliberate.

"You're an i***t," he mutters.

I exhale sharply, not in the mood for his s**t. "Not now, Kai."

"No, now. Right now." He steps in front of me, forcing me to stop. "You love her. I've seen you kill for less. So why the f**k are you walking away?"

I clench my jaw. "Because my reputation matters more."

Kai scoffs, shaking his head. "You're lying to yourself, man. One day, you're gonna regret this. And when that day comes, she won't be waiting for you."

Fuck.

I should be proud. I should be untouchable. Instead, I feel like I'm drowning.

Reputation. Power. Control. That's all that matters. Not love. Not her.

But f**k—

The scent of butter and vanilla still lingers on my shirt, the warmth of her body still burned into my skin.

I want to turn around. I want to claim what's mine.

But I can't. Not without tearing my world apart.

And I'm not throwing away all that I've built, with sweat, blood and tears for Althea.

Stupid Althea.