Breathing Fire

Adjustments

                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~Odette's POV~~~~~~~~~

Finally home but as I expected there will be no rest for me. I've been home for twenty minutes now, and instead of relax about to fall asleep for a bit. I have my darling best friend berating me over not informing him on going without him. I can feel myself nodding off as Massimo carries on in usual fashion. Something between concerned big brother and spurned lover. But I am too tired to care. "Odette! are you even listening to me? I was worried, and are you seriously falling asleep on me?!" Massimo's voice snapping me out of my forced slumber. "Sorry." I mumble I am usually better at this but I really haven't been sleeping and today err yesterday was very draining. I force my eyes open fluttering them occasionally to try and ward off the impending sleep. "Massimo I get it, you worry for me. You really don't need to. I appreciate all you have done for me. But I worked crazy hours lately and I just need the sleep. I am here I am safe and trust me I have been taking care of my self for a long time. Why don't you go call your "not girlfriend" Delilah and spend some time with her." I watch him sigh rubbing the sides of his temples like I am the most vexing creature he has ever met. His gold hawk like eyes setting on me clouded with a thought I know he works hard to conceal from me. "Ya know trying to read a persons thoughts like that. It is a real f*****g invasion of privacy. You wanna know what's on my mind, then ask. I already have plans with Delilah. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. After everything that happened I mean almost happened in the park with Casey I can't help but to worry about you. Now I am gonna go get mine. Get some sleep Salome wants you to help us plan my birthday party so you will need the rest." I smile as he rises from my only chair in the living room and rubs my head like I am 8 years old again. " Lock the door on your way out and please leave the key in the mail box. I don't like the idea of my spare key not being where I left it." He nods in agreement I watch as the heavy steel door slams behind. I rise from the couch stretching all my limbs like a cat in the jungle. Feeling all my bones crack at once like that I moaned out loud. Glad that I lived alone so no one would ask what I was doing. I slow walked from the barren living room. I left it like that on purpose, I never really enjoy hosting visitors, my apartment is clean but empty so no one feels comfortable enough to stay. My bedroom however was honestly the only part of the apartment that looked like I lived here. I put a ton of work into my bedroom, it was after the place I planned on spending the most time. I painted the room a soft gold color adorned with small pictures of nymphs and dragons from the fairytales my mom and dad used to tell me at bedtime. The windows really didn't much work but I did install shutters with the help of Massimo and Delilah. Otherwise the only thing decorating my windows were heavy black curtains. I work odd hours and sunlight needs not to be my friend most days. My bed was truly the piece de resistance was most certainly my bed. As my apartment is well modestly decorated to say the least. My queen size bed was my pride and joy, what made it so special to me was that as a welcome home gift Salome and Enoch installed my bed as one that is suspended from the ceiling. It was always amazing to look at in contrast to everything on land, my bed feels a bit like my dreams. Whimsical and locked in place. As I moved about my bedroom closing the shutters and pulling the curtains shut. I peeled out of my work clothes. Throwing every article of clothing on the floor. Standing there enjoying the freedom of my own nudity for a moment before grabbing my phone from the pocket of my discarded work shorts. I groaned loudly seeing a text from an unknown number. "f**k" I mutter loudly to no one. Ill just check it when I get in bed, climbing into my bed I lay on top of my comforter. To tired to really do anything but lay here I lift the phone from my hand to my face deciding I can just look at the message and answer after I've had some rest.  " 안녕 공주님, 나중에 문자를 보내겠다고 한 거 알아요. "하지만 조만간 서로를 많이 보게 될 거라고 생각했습니다. 서로를 더 잘 알아 가야합니다. 그래서 지금 무엇을하고 계십니까?"(Hey princess, I know you said to text you later. "But I figured we are going to be seeing a lot of each other soon enough. We should get to know each other better. So what are you doing right now." ) Ky-Ryu Lam  Staring into the abyss that is my cell phone I was torn. Go straight to sleep like the good girl I am or let my sleep deprived brain make my decisions and live a little. Hmmm decisions decisions, I know lets just see how I feel. One text wont hurt I thought, besides I can always fall asleep whenever I want. I type quickly "미안해 또 누구야? 나 같은 여자는 이상한 사람들에게 번호를주는 것만은 아니다.I am so sorry, who is this again?  A girl like me  doesn't just go around giving strange people her number."  I laugh loudly to myself, I hope this is Ky cause if not I am gonna have a big freaking problem. Maybe a moment passes as I start to doze for a moment as my phone buzzes alerting me to a new message. I grin so he's willing to play, this could be fun. I read the message " We met earlier,  you really don't remember me already?" Perhaps still will ring some bells for you. attached was a photo of him shirtless in bed. My jaw hit the floor, he was far more attractive then his attitude gave him credit for. His muscles were well hidden under the clothes he wore to the cemetery. I found myself drooling over the curves of his tattoo covered biceps. His pale skin was the perfect contrast to the tribal tattoos that encased his arms and collar bone. Imagining what it would be like to touch the perfectly sculpted chest he flaunted in the picture. Man do I really need to get some rest. I text him one last time before sleep fully took over me. " Call me at 3pm. We can talk then." without waiting for a reply I placed my phone under my pillow and fell into a thankfully dreamless sleep. 

                                        ~~~~~~~Ky POVs~~~~~~~~

I wait in bed wondering if she is gonna take the bait. Not really sure why I can't seem to get her out of my mind. But at least if she responds the way I suspect she going to. I will know what kind of girl she is and finally get her out of my system. This is all just business I sigh trying to remind myself mission first. I jump at the chirp from my phone. Expecting to see another nude photo to add to my collect. I smirk as I read the text. Not what I expect but I think I might be impressed at her ability to blow me off. I stare at the message a moment trying to decided whether to follow suit and sleep or start my day. When I hear a pounding followed by some very loud drunk cursing. "Hello brother" I call "I am taking a shower. come back later." More cursing as I grab a towel and my clothes heading towards the bathroom. As I enter the bathroom and turn on the shower I mull over the last few days. Why after coming so close to retirement did he find this sudden zeal. Solving the murder of his friends,  he has been searching for this girl for years with no leads. Suddenly everyone seems to have known her all this time? this must be something more than providence. Has he always known where she was biding his time? Why ruin his impending retirement for something that changes nothing. I am not sure how long I stood pondering all the possible how's of this situation to come up with nothing more than a headache. As I was pulled back to reality with a pounding at the bathroom door. " Hey Ky 넌 샤워에서 자위 했어?" (Hey Ky you done being a wank in the shower?) my abrasive twin called to me. Pausing under the water just letting the heat wash over me for a moment. My mind went back to the way she burned my hands. Still pink and tender from the magnitude of heat that seemed to emanate from her whole being. No one especially a girl has ever been able to damage me like that. I am getting too soft too soon or is she just a formidable adversary.  Taking in the heat while enjoying my brothers frustration at my silence. I let my mind wander once more just a little longer. Thinking on how her grey eyes glowered with unspoken rage at being called princess. I wonder why it bothered her so much. I mused as I finally turned off the water. Grabbing the towel I didn't bother to really dry off just wrap towel around what matters before I face Korin.  Waiting by the bathroom door with a smirk plastered on my face. I listened to him rage from behind the door cursing my name for taking an ungodly amount of time in here. Thoroughly amused I open the door watching as his realizes I have finally emerged from my shower. As the steam pools around me whilst escaping the bathroom. He gawks at me "빌어 먹을 옷을 입어주세요. 전 당신의 전리품이 아닙니다. ( Put some f*****g clothes on please I am not one of your booty calls.)  " 그럼 우리 모두가 술을 마시느라 시간을 허비하지는 않았으니 잠시만 기다려주세요. 어젯밤 당신의 엉망진창을 정리하고 아빠의 직업을 도왔습니다. 샤워가 필요해서 옷을 입는 동안 친절하게 꺼져. "(Then I suggest you give me a minute, not all of us spent our nigh out drinking. I cleaned up your mess last night and helped dad with a job. I needed the shower so kindly get the f**k out while I get dressed.) I grab the rest of my things from the bathroom as I watch Korin exit the room. I grab the towel from my waist and slow dry the rest of my body. Still unsure of what is really going on lately. Father expects me to take over this s**t show when my brother is as stable as both of the Kray brothers' and he is clearly hiding something from me. But I suppose if I have learned anything from him. It is to move in silence till I have the upper hand. Just one more thing to work on. Grabbing my tee shirt off the bed and pulling it over my head I hear my phone go off. My heart almost skipped a beat thinking it could finally be a message from Odette. I mean it has only been two hours but s**t. Maybe she is as anxious to get on with this as I am. Still only half dressed I reach for my phone to see it is a just a message from Violetta.  헤이 섹시 해 어젯밤보고 싶었어 나 한테 화를 내고 오늘 밤에 와라 뭐래? ( Hey there sexy, I missed you last night. What do you say you make it up to me and come over tonight?) I am not sure what I am more disturbed by. My disappointment that it was not a message from Odette or that I fully intend to decline my former on again off again booty call. She is great for a good time and well truly not much else. She thinks I am her ticket to rise above her station. Every once in a while I decide to remind her of her real place in life is.  I waste no time in writing back 어젯밤에 당신을 일으켜 세우려고했고 교제에 대한 진부한 제안을 거절 할 계획입니다. 내가 여자의 회사를 원한다면 나는 당신에게 전화하지 않을 것입니다. (I meant to stand you up last night and I plan to decline your trite offer for companionship. If I wanted the company of a woman I most certainly wouldn't call you.) I send the message  without a second thought. I finish getting dressed and open the door for my brother. " 엄마와 아빠가 또 그 일을하고 있는데, 매일보고하기 전에 그녀의 팬티가 무엇이라고 생각합니까?"( Mom and dad are at it again, what do you think has her panties in a bunch before the daily debrief? ) Korin asks with a disturbing lust of curiosity in his black eyes. " 두 사람 사이에 무슨 일이 일어나고 있는지 알 수있는 이유는 무엇입니까? 아니면 모든 상황을 악화시키기 위해 바로 계단을 올라갈 사람에게 말하는 것이 더 좋을까요? "(Why would I know what is going on between the two of them, or better still why would I tell the man who would march right up stairs to make everything worse?) We reman in my room sitting in silence for a moment just taking in the obvious sounds of there argument. I already know what it is about. She was always jealous of Agael. Always lusted after Ethan only settled for dad, she was never sorry Agael died, she only mourned the loss of Ethan. She didn't us looking for his daughter, felt it was none of our business. Secretly my father confided he suspected the real reason we could never find her before is she was paying people off. Reason being when Odette was born my mother thought the usual rules of our Mafia world would apply. Mafia stays Mafia, we get promised to someone who will help keep power build up the empire so to speak. Korin being the older twin she wanted Odette to be promised to him. Rumor has it that Ethan refused stating he was out of that life and moreover Agael and him wanted her to chose who to love. Mother did not take kindly to that response and well things happen. After about twenty minutes of fighting, we hear a loud crash from upstairs. Korin and I simply look at each other before bolting up the stairs. There room door is wide open we look in and see dad in a state I have rarely seen. The hate glowing in his eye made him an unrecognizable beast. I followed his eyes to see mother indignant holding what appeared to be a small safe deposit box. "이게 뭐야? 이걸 왜 숨기는거야?"  (What is this? Why are you hiding this?) She screeched He said nothing but moved faster than either of us could have processed. He yanked the box out of her hand. "내 일은 당신의 일이었고 결코 그런 적이 없었습니다. 다시 이런 식으로 행동하면 개인적으로 당신을 쫓아 낼 것입니다." ( My work is and has never been any of your business. Conduct yourself in this way again and I will personally throw you out.) He seethed at her before turning to face us. He composed himself as though nothing we have just witnessed occurred.  " Ky 저는 오늘 회의에 참석하지 않을 것입니다. 일이 원활하게 진행되는지 확인하십시오. 이전 행사를 반복하고 싶지 않습니다. 코린은 곤경에 처하지 않고 컬렉션을 처리해 주었으면합니다. ( Ky I will not be around for our meetings today, please make sure things go smoothly I have no wish for a repeat of earlier events. Korin stay out of trouble, I want you to handle collections.) I nod hurrying away from whatever it was I just saw, Korin following behind. I turn to my brother unsure if I should allow him to take collections. It did not go so well before. "  코린은 그냥 곤경에 빠지지 않도록하세요. 근육이 필요하면 전화하겠습니다. 브리 핀과 거기에서 컬렉션을 처리 할 것입니다. 오늘 내가 처리하는 다른 작업은 훨씬 늦어 질 것입니다. 알 겠어."( Korin just go keep yourself out of trouble, if I need some muscle I will call you. I'll handle the briefings and from there the collections. Whatever else I handle today wont be till much later. I got this.) I explain to him as we walk down the marble steps to the board room on the other side of the house. He smiles and nods in what I pray is agreement as he heads to his room and I get started on being the boss. Making my way through the house reminiscing on how I nearly became more than my fathers' successor. Although I suppose this is as good a career to apply my psychology degree than actually dealing with people like my brother. I mean I could have it worse I have money, power and the luxury of finishing my degree. We struck a bargain he gets to retire after I receive my degree. As he has kept good on his word I will remain a man of mine. I enter the board room soundlessly watching every single thug in the room sit at attention as though I were the police and they were caught in a raid. I wont lie it is a good feeling to watch grown men some of which are twice my size coward in fear at my presence. I drink in their fear as it comes off them in waves.  I take my seat at the head of the table as the last of the stragglers enter and sit down awaiting there orders for the day. I clear my throat wondering what they all must be thinking. Some I have grown up with and there fear and respect is expected at this point, but many of them are my fathers' men. Earning there respect is much harder, though with my brothers' help I long ago earned there fear and for now that is enough. I spare no second thoughts as I get straight to the point commanding a few men to patrol the grounds mostly for my mothers' benefit at this point Korin and I spend so much time away no one would find us there anyway. My fathers' men are assigned to go drop weapons as needed. Plowing through the rest of this pointless f*****g meeting. Barking orders to those who remained sitting clueless as the rest went about their duties. I rise from my seating remembering I told Korin I would handle the money drops. I run my hand through my hair other than a spot on torturer I am really starting to wonder what else my twin is good for besides his fists. Well as least the weather is nice I remind my self as I head to the car. As I put the car in gear I call Korin " 어차피 오늘은 몇 정거장이야"(Hey how many stops is it today anyway?) " "십사"(Fourteen) He laughs from his hang as he hangs up before I manage to curse his name. " 예수님 14!"(Jesus 14!) I scream to myself in the car "  똥! 14 플러스 나는 하루가 끝나기 전에이 빌어 먹을 소녀를 만나야 만합니다."(s**t! 14 plus I have to meet with this damn girl all before my day is done.) Only I few more months till I am back at school I repeat to myself. Because if I dwell on Korins' astounding levels of stupidity and laziness I may kill him.