.

When I walked into the hallway, a different car was waiting outside. Sleek. Armored. Two new guards stood near it, nodding silently as I approached.

Vicious wasn’t in sight.

The driver opened the back door, and I slid in. Before I could ask where we were going, my phone vibrated.

Leah.

My chest tightened.

I hadn’t spoken to her since the club. Since everything changed.

I hesitated, then answered.

“Hello?”

“Anna,” Her voice cracked with relief.

“God, where have you been? I’ve been calling nonstop!”

I swallowed. I've not been able to use my phone yesterday.

“Leah, I'm safe… I'm okay.”

“Safe? Safe with who?”

She paused. “Is it that guy from the club? The one who came out of nowhere and made those creeps back off like trained dogs?”

I didn’t answer.

“Arianna, talk to me. You just disappeared.”

“Leah…” I sighed. “You wouldn’t understand. I'm in a different world now okay, I'll let you know what's up when I'm back cause we're headed somewhere.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Anna please let me know what's going on okay. Don’t shut me out please.”

Guilt crawled up my throat. She didn’t deserve this silence. She was my only real friend.

“I’ll call you later. I promise,” I said.

“Anna,” her voice dropped, “you sound… different.”

“I know.” With that, I hung up. I felt guilty…

The door of the car opened and vicious got in. He was very handsome in his black suit… I couldn't take my eyes off this man.

“Your eye balls are gonna pop out of you keep staring at me.”

Gosh. I regained my composure.

“Where are we headed?” I asked for the second time.

He sighed . “We're going to a conference.”

“Conference? What conference”

“You'll know when we get there.”

There he go again shutting me out and leaving me thinking.

“Move.” He said to the guard on the driver's seat.

“Noted boss.” With that, he sped off.

After about an hour, we arrived at a very large gate. Then the gate was opened by a huge man and we drove in. The guard on the front seat got down to open the door for vicious and came round to open mine.

When we got down, Vicious went inside and I followed suit. We got in, and the sight of the large room left me in awe. The whole place was covered with dull lights… like who in their right mind would put these dull lights in a large room as this.

“Vicious.” A man called vicious.

“Ben what's up.” Vicious said sitting on a chair close to the table.

“It's been a long time since I've seen you with a banny.” The guy said giving me once-over.

“Take your eyes off her and back off.” Vicious said, his eyes turning dark.

“Hahaha, you must really cherish this one I must say… but that doesn't mean that I'll not come close right.” He said with a sly smile.

Vicious remained silent. I sat close to him.

Later, different young men and women started walking into the room all wearing black. Vicious wasn't the only one with a lady, it seems most of them came with their women and some single ladies walked in alone. The look on their faces was no good at all.

“You are welcome everyone.” The man at the head of the table said. He had a cold look and a look from him could melt you.

“Thank you master.” Everyone said.

He continued, “I called for this meeting because it seems most of you now choose to betray us and your consequences are awaiting you.

The whole room was silent.

“Vicious, how was the last mission you took on?” The master said, looking at Vicious then me.

“It went well father.”

Wait father? I looked at Vicious who had an expressionless face.

“Who is she?”

“She's none of your business.”

“You don't talk to the master like that.” Ben said to Vicious, looking angrily at him

“That's what I'm doing.”

Ben brought out a gun and cocked it pointing it directly at Vicious. “I've been wanting to blow your head off. If you want me to do that I'll do it now.”

“You're free.” Vicious said looking unbothered.

Fear crept up to my throat. I stared at Vicious.

“Now stop this nonsense, battering the both of you.” The master said. “Well, I see you've got another toy right, Vicious?”

“You don't dare talk about her in that manner?” Vicious stared at his father with a deadly look and the father returned the look.

“I'll keep calm for now. Because you are my son doesn't mean you'll do whatever you want or disrespect me”.

All of a sudden we heard a loud gun shot in the room. Fear got hold of me instantly.

.