The Contract Keeper's (PLAYBOOK #4)

CHAPTER 11: Panic! At the disco.

BIANCA

I have seen many dead bodies because we have a morgue in Mexico but never of someone so close and familiar to me.

I wait for grief to come as I watch blood spill out from a head shot wound but only relief arrives like a warm blanket because I realize, I am free.

So yeah, f**k! KEVIN NEWTON.

Even if the Russians didn’t interfere tonight, Kevin was never going to leave me alone. This is why Meryl disappeared and dropped off the face of the earth, he does not stop.

He drugged me with truth serum to get the name of the person that took my virginity. I am the lucky one in this scenario. I was able to escape before things got bad.

Which is why when Ivan swears “Bianca…consider this asshole erased” that I hug him.

Maybe it is the shock but I feel no remorse for Kevin because if they didn’t do it today, I know I was going to kill him eventually especially after what he said regarding Felix.

“Thank you.” Ivan has no idea how grateful I am because the only way to remove a stain is to wipe it.

“Of course.” Ivan says so easily like it is a given he will do “anything for family.”

Me? The Russians?

Family?

I knew we would be in-laws one day but that is not what he said. I can tell from the way his eyes soften, that he really believes it.

Ivan Dominaka has only known me for 5minutes and he has already killed without hesitation. I am not naïve enough to believe it was all for me since it is clear Felix was the driving force.

Still, I can’t bear to look at him because Felix did tell me so, this is why I use the time to admire his cousin, who is—not surprising—handsome as sin.

Now that I am really looking, I see that Ivan sort of has a similar bone structure and features to Harry Styles. This is fitting considering his deep voice that is altered by his bold accent which I would like to point out is stronger than Felix led on.

But one does not need to hear him speak to know Ivan is a Russian man.

Though he has a bit of colour in his fair olive casing, everything about him gives away his Eurasian roots. His dark features though admirable, are obvious.

He is a tall and lean proud man who despite the rising temperature is decked out in a dark grey waistcoat with matching slacks and shiny dress shoes. With a light grey button up shirt folded at the arms, that makes his crystal blue eyes pop and expose his sleeve tattoe.

I won’t even start with the long field of wispy dark eyelashes like he wears extensions. I even spot a bit of green in the overpowering blue that makes it look slightly downturned like Ivan is always frowning.

But I keep my smile to myself because I was not kidding when I said the heat was kind to Ivan’s wolf cut black hair. It’s layered to show a bit of an undercut and a hidden tattoo behind his ear that is not clear in the dark.

“Do you need me to carry you?” I feel the ghost of Felix’s hand on my back as he directs me away from the clear gaze.

I try to look back but Felix strongly insists like he only wants my attention on him. I could be wrong but even Ivan smirks like he senses it too.

“But—wait?” I stammer confusedly because we are going back to the gate somehow.

All this time, I realize it wasn’t even that far so I could have run.

“You seem to be crashing down.” Felix helps me through the gate before turning around to crouch down. “Hop on.”

“Hop on where?” I step back because his small butt is sticking out in his dark jeans which is doing the job to cheer me up by the minute.

“On my back Bianca.” He looks over his shoulder to pop his dimple next “just trust me.”

“Fine, you are lucky these heels” though only 2 inches and a block “are killing me.”

A lie but I push my hands into the sleeve of the jacket, move the hem of my dress up to expose my legs and climb over his back to wrap my hands over his neck.

“There we go.” Felix moves up with ease and holds my legs over his stomach. “Isn’t that better?”

“So much better.” I rest my face against his firm back and finally—since everything with Kevin—breathe.

Feeling safe, I close my eyes for a second but when they open I am leaning on Felix’s shoulder and our hands are conjoined over his lap. The weird part is, we seem to be in the backseat of a moving car.

“What are you doing to me bruja?” Felix kisses my finger before mumbling something under his breath which is when I pass out because he says more in Russian.

My eyes open again because I feel my body being altered. I look around and realize I am upside down and we are moving again but this time on feet.

“Felix?” I hold on to his back as we walk through glass doors to entire a very bright lobby. “Wait, this is an apartment complex.” I notice the front desk doorman who smiles politely at us.

“Welcome back sunshine, this is our alibi.” Felix tightens his grip around my waist to move me to bride style as he walks towards the elevators, “it will be easier to alter the footage here than at a hotel.”

Don’t get me wrong, after waking up drugged in one I am glad not to be in another hotel “but—”

“We are almost there.” Felix presses the elevator button. “Just one more minute.”

“No bueno.” I caution so he puts me down but Felix holds on. “I am getting dizzy.” I tap his shoulder and he only gently puts me down once we are inside the moving box.

That is when I see it, the work of Kevin’s hands with me as his canvas on the mirror doors.

Reddening left eye, busted lip, swollen face and I won’t even start with the aching all over my body that will be filled with bruises. I realize now why Felix waited till we were alone, to put me down.

If we walked in with me like this in a place this fancy, someone would have no doubt called the police.

“My family.” I turn away because I cannot bare to look at myself anymore. “What am I going to say to my family.”

“You should probably let them know a work emergency came up, it will give you a few days for that to clear up.” He removes my cell from his pocket. “They know Ivan is in town so I told them not to expect me this weekend either.”

“Oh right.” I swipe the screen and text Lucille since she is faster than an email.

We stand in silence for a second before Felix throws his hand over my shoulder, when I look up he smiles lazily which does the job to ease me.

We separate quietly as we walk to what I am sure is the penthouse suite because it is on the highest floor in the building and there’s only two doors in the long hall.

I am nervous as Felix types in the password and I can’t help my gasp when we walk in because it is bigger than I expected. I remove my block heels when I see Felix discharge his shoes for slippers.

I try to contain myself as I move into the living area only for it to automatically light up to reveal all white furniture.

Moving to the glass wall that leads to a balcony, I smile because I forgot how breathtakingly serene the D.R is at night. It is like everyone wakes up and color explodes even in the darkest place.

“Kudo is into fancy things.” Felix walks in with a mug in his hand. “This is a Choi owned building so everything will be easier to manipulate.”

“Doesn’t the Choi’s bug everything?” I receive the mug in his hand when he stretches it over.

“Yes but it is still safer than a hotel.” Felix frowns at something on me. “Do you want me to run you a bath? I can step out to get you some food too, maybe something to help you sleep.”

I look down when his scowl deepens and realize the bright light is exposing the blood splatter on my feet and body.

“No more drugs but a bath I would love, thank you.” I sip my drink and realize it is tea with a bit of honey.

I move around the penthouse as Felix makes himself busy in the bathroom. In my attempt to snoop, I end up in the office where everything seems to be locked.

“Typical Choi.” I put the empty mug to lift a picture from the bookless shelf behind his seat.

Seven boys stare back at me with all different expressions but similar features that prove they are all related. I don’t know who is who but I admit, the 7 sons of Choi are one good looking bunch.

This is not surprising because most families in the crime table have attractive offspring’s but nothing beats the Dominakas chain. That family truly has a gift of creating perfect specimen.

I have known them since we were kids but even I was surprised to see how stunning they all grew up.

“Bianca?” Felix calls out the same time my phone buzzes.

“Coming.” I return the photo back in its place and pull out my phone as I grab the mug to walk out.

Cub (Sister): You are not coming home again? Did you leave because of our fight?

Cub (Sister): I didn’t mean what I said, please call me back.

Cub (Sister): Or just come home so we can talk. I love you bumble bee.

I tense because the messages are enough to remind me of the sword still dangling over my head.

Me: No, something came up at the school.

Me: We will talk when I return, I promise.

Me: I love you too, cub.

I toss the phone on the bed and shrug off the jacket. I am moving my arms to check for pain when I feel something cut behind me which loosens the dress the lower it continues.

“What are you doing?” I hold the dress against my chest before it drops to my feet.

“Helping.” Felix closes the pocket knife similar to the one he gave me and throws me a towel.

“What am I supposed to do with this?” I ask when his scowl returns like something is irritating him.

“It’s a towel Bianca,” Felix turns around in attempt to give me privacy. “For your bath.”

“No s**t,” I hiss in Spanish but I let the dress drop before I wrap the towel around my body.

“Were you in love with him?” Felix sounds like he is forcing himself to know, “were you in love with vice principal Kevin Newton?”

Ew.