Black Shot: Trapping The King

chapter 4

Kairo's POV

The next morning, Lia woke us up earlier than usual.

Before taking us home, she prepared breakfast for us and carefully treated our wounds one last time. Levi and Eddy thanked her over and over again, even calling her "Ate Lia" as though they had known her for years.

As for me...

I still wasn't sure what to call her.

Lia...

Or Ate Lia.

After everything she had shared with me the night before, something inside me had changed.

For the first time in years, I felt like someone genuinely cared about me—not because of my family name, but because they wanted to.

When we arrived at the Montes Mansion, I reached for the door handle but paused before getting out.

I turned toward her.

"Thank you... Lia."

She looked slightly surprised before giving me a warm smile.

"You're welcome."

Then her expression became serious.

"And one more thing, Kairo."

I looked at her.

"If you ever decide to go out at night again, call me first. You already have my number."

I gave her a small nod.

"I will."

She smiled before starting the engine and driving away.

I stood there for a moment, watching her car disappear through the mansion gates.

Then I took a deep breath and walked inside.

The moment I entered the living room, I saw my older brother, King, sitting on one of the sofas with several of his closest friends.

The atmosphere immediately turned tense.

King slowly lifted his gaze.

"Kairo."

His cold voice echoed throughout the room.

I stopped walking.

"I heard you almost got stabbed last night."

His expression remained unreadable.

"What happened?"

I looked away.

"That's none of your business."

Without waiting for his reply, I turned and started walking toward the staircase.

One of his friends scoffed.

"Looks like your little brother doesn't respect you anymore, King."

Another one smirked.

"Well, you spoiled him."

I ignored their comments and continued upstairs.

Before I could reach the second floor...

Someone grabbed my shoulder.

I turned around.

Bang!

A powerful punch landed directly on my face.

The force sent me stumbling backward.

It was King.

His friends immediately rushed forward to stop him.

"King! That's enough!"

"Calm down!"

But King never looked away from me.

His icy stare was enough to send chills down anyone's spine.

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and glared back at him.

"What the hell is your problem?"

King took another step toward me.

His fists remained tightly clenched.

Before either of us could make another move—

"What is going on here?!"

Mom's voice echoed through the mansion.

Everyone turned toward her.

She looked at King, then at me, before letting out an exhausted sigh.

"You two are always fighting!"

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"Then ask your precious son what happened."

"Kairo!" she snapped.

"Mind your manners!"

Before I could say another word—

Slap!

Her palm struck my face.

The entire mansion fell silent.

Even King looked surprised.

Slowly, I touched my burning cheek.

I couldn't even remember the last time either of my parents had hit me.

Tears slowly gathered in my eyes, but I refused to wipe them away.

Instead, I looked directly at my mother.

"So... you finally remembered you have a son."

Silence.

"I never even felt like I had parents while growing up."

Her eyes widened.

I continued speaking.

"You keep asking why I've become like this."

"But have you ever asked yourselves why?"

"You don't know my favorite food."

"You don't know what I hate."

"You don't know what makes me happy."

"You don't even know your own son."

The room fell deathly silent.

Every word I spoke echoed through the mansion.

Before I could finish—

Slap!

She hit me again.

Harder this time.

But I didn't move.

I simply stood there, staring into her eyes as tears rolled down my face.

At that exact moment, Dad walked into the mansion.

The moment I saw him...

I gave up.

I was too tired to explain.

Too tired to argue.

Too tired to care.

Without saying another word, I walked upstairs to my room.

I grabbed a backpack and packed a few clothes, some cash, and my important belongings.

I knew they would probably freeze my bank accounts and cut off my allowance.

But that didn't matter.

They had no idea...

I had been earning my own money for years.

With one last look at the room I had grown up in, I slung the backpack over my shoulder.

Without saying goodbye...

I walked out of the Montes Mansion.

I had no destination.

I only knew one thing.

I didn't want to stay there anymore.

As soon as I stepped outside the mansion, I took one last look at the place I had called home for seventeen years.

It was beautiful.

Grand.

Luxurious.

Yet, somehow...

It had never truly felt like home.

I let out a quiet sigh and walked toward the main gate.

The security guards greeted me with respectful nods, but none of them dared to stop me. Perhaps they had already noticed the bruise on my face.

Or maybe...

They simply knew better than to interfere.

Once I reached the roadside, I hailed a taxi.

The driver rolled down the window.

"Where to, young man?"

I froze.

For the first time since leaving the mansion, I realized I had nowhere to go.

I couldn't stay with my friends.

The media would eventually find me.

Hotels were out of the question because my family owned most of the luxury hotels in the city.

I stared out the window, trying to think.

Then, without warning, one person came to mind.

Lia.

Without realizing it, I smiled faintly.

"Sir?"

The driver's voice pulled me back to reality.

I quickly gave him Lia's address.

The taxi pulled away from the curb, and silence filled the car.

I rested my head against the window, watching the city lights blur past.

Everything that had happened today replayed in my mind.

King punching me.

Mom slapping me.

Dad arriving too late to hear my side.

I closed my eyes.

Maybe...

Just maybe...

Leaving was the right decision.

About thirty minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of a modest apartment building.

I paid the driver and stepped out.

Unlike the mansion, this place was quiet.

Simple.

Peaceful.

I looked up at the building before making my way to the sixth floor.

When I finally reached Lia's apartment, I stood in front of the door.

I raised my hand to knock.

But...

I couldn't do it.

What if she was busy?

What if she didn't want me there?

What if I was only causing her trouble?

Slowly, I lowered my hand.

Instead of knocking, I sat down beside the door with my backpack resting at my feet.

"I'll just wait..."

I didn't even know if she was home.

Minutes passed.

Then an hour.

The hallway grew quieter as the other residents returned to their apartments.

I remained where I was.

My stomach growled, but I ignored it.

I wasn't sure how long I had been sitting there.

All I knew was that I didn't want to go anywhere else.

For some reason...

The only place where I felt safe...

Was outside Lia's door.

Little did I know...

In just a few moments, my life was about to change once again.

Lia POV

It had been a long day.

After finishing my work at Black Shot, I drove back to my apartment while reviewing the information Theo had sent me about my next investigation.

The city was still alive despite the late hour. Cars filled the streets, and the bright lights of Manila reflected on the windows of my car.

I was tired, but my mind was still busy.

There were still so many unanswered questions about my parents' death.

The Montenegro family.

The people who betrayed them.

The scorpion tattoo that had never left my memory.

I wouldn't stop until I discovered the truth.

A few minutes later, I arrived at my apartment building.

I parked my car and walked toward the elevator.

But before I could press the button, something caught my attention.

Someone was sitting near my door.

At first, I thought it was just another resident.

But when I looked closer...

I froze.

"Kairo?"

The person sitting on the floor slowly lifted his head.

His eyes were tired, and his face still showed the bruises from last night's fight.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

"What are you doing here?"

He looked away.

"I..."

His voice was quiet.

"I didn't know where else to go."

I stared at him.

Kairo Montes.

The arrogant, stubborn, and rebellious teenager who always acted like he didn't need anyone.

But right now...

He looked completely lost.

I noticed the backpack beside him.

That was when I understood.

"You left the mansion?"

He didn't answer.

But his silence was enough.

I sighed softly.

"Get up."

He looked at me.

"What?"

"You heard me. Stand up."

He slowly stood.

I unlocked my apartment door and stepped inside.

Then I looked back at him.

"Come in."

His eyes widened slightly.

"Are you sure?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"If I wasn't, I wouldn't have invited you."

For a moment, he hesitated.

Then he quietly followed me inside.

My apartment was simple compared to the Montes Mansion, but it was comfortable. Everything had its own place, and the atmosphere was peaceful.

Kairo looked around.

"This is where you live?"

"Yes."

He nodded slowly.

"It's... nice."

A small smile appeared on my face.

"Sit down. I'll prepare something to eat."

"You don't have to."

I looked at him.

"Kairo."

He stopped.

"You look like you haven't eaten anything all day."

He didn't argue anymore.

While I prepared dinner, he sat quietly at the table.

For some reason, the apartment felt different that night.

Usually, I ate alone.

I came home to silence.

But tonight...

Someone was waiting for me.

After a few minutes, I placed the food on the table.

"Eat."

He stared at the meal before picking up his spoon.

The moment he tasted it, his expression changed.

"This is good."

I smiled.

"Of course it is."

A small laugh escaped from him.

It was quiet.

But genuine.

I sat across from him and watched him eat.

There was something different about Kairo.

Behind the attitude and stubbornness...

There was a lonely kid who only wanted to be noticed.

After dinner, I cleaned the table while he remained silent.

Finally, he spoke.

"Lia."

I looked at him.

"Thank you."

I paused.

"For what?"

He lowered his gaze.

"For letting me stay."

I smiled softly.

"You're welcome."

Then I pointed at him.

"But remember, this is temporary."

He nodded.

"I know."

"And don't cause trouble."

A small smirk appeared on his face.

"No promises."

I rolled my eyes.

"Still stubborn."

For the first time in a long time...

The apartment didn't feel empty.

Neither of us knew it yet.

But that night was the beginning of something neither of us expected.

A bond.

A friendship.

And eventually...

A story that would change both of our lives forever.