Tristan stored on the bed. His eyes were pressed against each other,his brows were knitted and his fingers rolled into fists.

It was a memory from years ago.

His parents had been killed, leaving only him and his sister to fend for themselves. “We'll be alright.” His sister assured. “Are you sure,rose?” He asked,his curious eyes looking up at her ghostly figure. “Yes,we will be.” She smiled.

Fast forward to years later. He heard she was lost in the ocean,never seen again. “No” he whispered against the howling wind.

“No!” He screamed back to life.

Outside,it was raining heavily. He felt cold and felt his dry throat needed water.

The hallway was silent, dimly lit by candles. Tristan walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

He opened the cap and gulped down its content. His heart raced a bit at the thought of his dead sister. He hated dreaming about her. He hated missing her. But,he couldn't help it.

“You're not here to raid my house,are you?”

A voice— Adrian's.

He was leaning against the door,still dressed in his suit and his hands in his pockets. “I…I just needed water.” Tristan felt his heart race against.

“Who are you again? Chris?” Adrian asked.

“I'm Tristan.” He corrected me.

“Yes,that's why I said.” Adrian gave him a look that said. Are you dumb?

“You clearly said… forget it.” Tristan sighed.

“Why are you still awake when everyone is sleeping?” Adrian walked closer.

“I…couldn't sleep.” Tristan answered truthfully. “Huh…you have insomnia. I guess I'm not alone.” Adrian laughed.

“Do you have insomnia?” Tristan was shocked. Adrian nodded.

Every step he took made Tristan's heart pound against his rib cage. He finally stopped when he had Tristan cornered.

“I don't trust you, young blood. You look…suspicious.” He whispered into his ear.

That voice,the way he whispered like it was a secret,ignited something in Tristan. Something he thought he had long buried. Desire.

“I…” but no words follow.

Adrian fixed the hair covering one of Tristan's eyes.

“Hmph,a pretty boy. Those don't last long.”

He withdrew his fingers and walked away.

Did Adrian Tyrell just call him pretty? Why was his heart racing so fast?

Tristan quickly left the kitchen and went back to bed. But still,sleep eluded him. He stared at the large chandAdrian er above the bed.

He remembered having one just like it when he was little. His parents had the best mansion in the city. They were beyond wealthy. They had all they needed.

Until one day when they went on a business trip and never came back. The police said they died in a plane crash. The plan was never found,it sank to the bottom of the ocean.

Tristan sighed. He was the only one left standing out of a happy family of four. He lived a hard life after his parents died. A harder one when his sister died.

No,he couldn't get distracted here.He would root out this mafia family and find out what really happened to his sister. His eyes finally closed and he found peace.

~~the next morning~~

Tristan stirred his cereal slowly,his mind gone elsewhere. “Are you okay?” Luca asked,his voice laced with concern.

“I'm okay.” Tristan smiled. “If it's about the interview then I'll beg my uncle to put in a good word for you.” Luca smiled heartily.

“For real? Thanks.” Tristan faked a smile.

Adrian walked down the stairs in his usual black suit and suitcase. “Good morning uncle.” Luca greeted.

Adrian nodded in response.

“Uncle, please could you drop Tristan off at bismart?” Luca asked. Adrian halted in his steps.

Luca gulped hard? Did he just cross the line?

“I'm sorry uncle I—”

“Okay.” Adrian answered.

Luca and Tristan were more than shocked. It seemed Adrian was in a good mood.

“Thanks.” Tristan smiled.

In the car, Tristan sat in the seat beside Adrian, his gaze was fixed outside while Adrian drove.

“You want a job at bismart?” Adrian asked. “Umm…yes. It's really reputable.” Tristan answered.

Adrian hummed,his gaze was fixed on the image of a car following them through the side mirror.

“Shit.” He cursed,realizing the car was one of the white coalk's property.

Adrian immediately increased his speed. The sudden movement caught Tristan by surprise, causing his head to leap forward. He'd almost hit the dashboard when Adrian placed his hand ahead. “Use your seatbelts.” He ordered.

He felt his stomach twist in knots and a disgusting feAdrian ng crawled up his throat.

Adrian raced down a side street, tires shrieking against wet road. Tristan’s fingers clenched the armrest, knuckles pale. “What’s happening?” he managed.

Adrian’s jaw clenched. “Nothing you need to worry about.”

But worry bloomed anyway. Tristan wasn’t sure if it was the car trailing them or the man beside him that made his heart pound louder.

Another sharp turn.

“White Cloaks,” Adrian muttered under his breath, as if speaking their name too loudly would summon more. “Persistent bastards.”

The car behind them raced too, matching speed. A gunshot rang in the air. Tristan ducked immediately as the windshield shattered into fragments.

“Down!” Adrian yelled, yanking open the glove compartment. A pistol dropped into his hand. With barely a glance, he shot twice through the shattered glass . It was precise, calculated.

The car drove off course, crashing into a streetlamp.

Adrian exhaled. “Stay here.”

He climbed out of the car with deadly calm and walked toward the wreck.

Tristan watched from the passenger seat, breath shaky. So much for blending in. He hadn't expected to witness Adrian kill someone on day two,though something deeper gnawed at him.

Adrian returned minutes later, rain dripping off his sleeves, eyes unreadable.

“Still want that job at Bismart?” he asked, sliding back in.

Tristan blinked. “I—yeah…”

“Good. Then put on your best smile and don’t speak of this to anyone.”

As they drove off, silence hung heavy. But something had shifted ,the illusion of everything being calm was gone.

And Tristan was starting to suspect he wasn’t the only one with secrets. It seemed Adrian trusted him enough not to kill him.

To be continued.....