I don't even know what I was thinking when I got into his car. How stupid do I have to be to do something like that?

"Killian, where the hell are you taking me?" I asked when I saw a sign that said harbor.

"So you do know my name."

"You think this is a good time for your jokes?" I frowned at him.

It's been a few minutes since we've been trying to lose the black car shooting at us. I cannot shoot back because I value my life. The moment I'd stuck my head out, I would catch a bullet.

We lost our taillights a long time ago and it's only a matter of time before the rear glass shatters. The wheels are still untouched, which seems strange to me, because if you want to stop some car, you shoot the wheels first. Amateurs.

"We're almost there."

"Where is 'there' exactly? Where are you taking me?" I repeated my question, but again got no answer.

We turned onto another road and drove through the fence that was supposed to keep people from going behind it.

We passed huge metal containers and tankers. I don't like this.

"Killian." There was a warning in my voice.

I noticed that we are heading towards the edge, between two containers, behind which there is no road.

"We'll have to jump before we hit the water. You open the door as soon as..."

"What do you mean before we hit the water? Are you planning to turn this car into a submarine?"

This is probably the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I will die in the presence of an idiot.

"You open the door and jump into the water. Then swim down, away from the surface, they'll try to shoot us in the water."

"Why does it sound like you've done this before?"

God, I never wanted anything from you. Only now. Only once. Don't let me die like this. Please.

"Ready?" I felt the car start to accelerate even more and we were approaching the end of the road.

"No!" I screamed.

"Too late."

Before I could say anything else to him, the road disappeared from under the car. I reached for the handle and opened the door, jumping out of the car and falling into the cold water.

The cold spread over my body and I lost all orientation for a moment. I didn't know if I was swimming towards the surface or away from it.

The air I was trying to keep in my body was running out and I felt a burning pain in my eyes.

Even with water in my ears, I heard gunshots that just missed me. The water slowed them down a bit, but even if they hit me, it would be a nasty hit.

I finally found myself and noticed the car I jumped out of. It was sinking slowly and I wondered where Killian was and if he had time to jump out.

If he died, at least I'm going to survive.

I started to swim towards the wooden posts that were not so far from me. I assume that's the pier. I can breathe in there without being seen.

The moment I floated to the surface, I realized how much I love oxygen. I took a deep breath.

The cold that I felt a while ago seemed insignificant. I looked at the surface of the water, trying to find any sign of Killian, but nothing yet.

On the ramp we took off from, there were two men with guns pointed at the surface. They didn't shoot, they just watched the surface of the water and waited for someone to emerge.

In the distance I heard the hum of a walkie-talkie as one of them picked it up and said something before they both turned and walked away.

"Come on Killian." I said to myself. "Where are you?" Only bubbles were visible on the surface, which represented the remaining air from the car.

It would be a stupid idea to go looking for him. I don't owe him anything. He drove us both into the water. With a car!

No. I'm not going to save him.

No. I'm not going anywhere.

No. I won't help him.

No way.

Ugggggh. Screw this.

Somebody shot me in the head because I can't leave him like that.

Ready to dive back in to find him, I was stopped by a hand on my wrist.

I turned around only to find Killian right next to me.

I opened my mouth to say something to him, but he put his hand over my mouth, silencing me.

And he doesn't like physical contact, huh? I can't touch him but he can touch me?

He has three seconds before I bite him.

With the other hand that he used to hold me a moment ago, he put a finger to his lips as a sign for me to be quiet. He then pointed to the wooden platform above us.

I looked up in the direction where his finger was pointing and noticed two pairs of black shoes almost directly above us.

Killian removed his hand from my mouth. "We'll wait." He whispered so that I could barely hear him.

I just nodded and looked at the pair of shoes again. How long will they stand there? I'm getting cold again. My lips are surely blue already.

Killian's are. They have a subtle hint of blue. His hair was stuck all over his face, I couldn't look any different.

He slowly ran his hand through his hair and brushed it away from his face. I noticed how his muscles tightened under his shirt.

Wait. When did he take off his jacket?

I shook my head as I realized I was staring at his body for far too long.

"They probably drowned." Someone said above us.

"If not, we definitely hit them. They won't get far." The other said and they started walking away. Their footsteps were getting further and less loud.

"I think we're good now." Killian finally said.

"Good observation." I snorted.

"Did it seem to me or did you want to go look for me?" He frowned. There was curiosity in his eyes.

"Are you crazy? I wanted to get out of here." I rolled my eyes. "Just so I don't forget, you owe me chocolate." I pointed my finger at him.

"Chocolate?" He laughed.

I think this is the first time he really laughed. A real genuine laugh.

"Do you have anything against chocolate?" I raised an eyebrow.

"It's unhealthy."

"I'm not surprised you're on pins and needles 24/7 when you can't enjoy chocolate." I faked a smile and started swimming away from him. More precisely, to the ladder next to the pier.

When I got to it, I immediately started climbing. I stopped just before the end and peeked to see if anyone was around.

Not even a living soul.

I climbed the last "stair" and shivered from the cold.

I haven't been this cold in a long time. I've been on many missions, but this is probably the first time I've experienced something like this. It never occurred to me to drive the car directly into the water. Maybe because I'm smart, and I also have a driver's license.

"Where are you going?" Killian yelled at me as I started walking away from the pier.

"Back?" I looked at him confused. "You expect me to stand here all night?" I looked at the sky, which was already changing colors, and at the sun, which had almost completely set.

"By foot?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, you're right, I'll take the car I used to get here." I said sarcastically. "Oh wait, I can't." I pointed to the water in which the car is located.

"There's a building not far from here where we'll be safe for the night."

"You think I'm going anywhere with you after what just happened?" I crossed my arms over my breasts.

"Help yourself. Walk back those few miles in the cold night while you're soaked. Good luck. I'll visit you in the hospital or maybe the cemetery." He smiled at me and started walking in the completely opposite direction that I wanted to go.

I wrapped my arms around myself and started walking behind him.

I hate that he's right. I hate it.

"So you have a brain after all." He said when I caught up with him.

"Shut up."

*****

"Is this your safe place?" I looked around the completely empty building. It was like someone looted it in here. Apart from the front door, there were no others. If there were no windows, I would think some homeless were sleeping here.

"Do you always complain this much?"

"Are we looking at the same place?" He didn't answer, just rolled his eyes and walked into the next room with me on his heels.

So in the end it has something after all. Fireplace. And then we have the walls and the floor. There is so much here that I can't list everything.

Killian walked over to the fireplace and took the matches that were on it. He lit the newspaper that was next to the fireplace and threw it on the wood, which immediately caught fire.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he started to take his clothes off.

"I don't plan on ending up in the hospital because I caught a cold. What about you?" He didn't even look at me, he just continued undressing.

I can say with certainty that I have probably never seen a more beautiful back. Every muscle of his looked as if it had been sculpted. Every part of his body was perfect.

Stop it, Eris. What the hell are you saying?

Ew.

I shook my head and tried to organize my thoughts.

Already confident, I looked up at him, but that was a big mistake. When he turned around and stood in front of me in nothing but his boxers, I lost the ability to speak.

Drops of water,from his still wet hair, landed on his exposed chest and began to drip all over his toned stomach.

I didn't notice a single tattoo on his body. That's weird. I thought all mafia people had one. That is, unless he has it where the sun doesn't shine.

I cleared my throat before speaking. "Any chance there are blankets around here?" I tried not to look at any part of his body.

"I'll have to disappoint you, there's nothing here but the fireplace." He hung his clothes over the fireplace and sat down in front of it, warming his hands and body. "Also, I'm going to have to disappoint you if you think you won't freeze in here like this."

I'll say it again, I hate it when he's right.

I slowly started to take off my wet clothes and felt even more cold which made me shiver. I had chills all over my body. I placed my black jeans next to Killian's things and started to take off my shirt. I stood in front of him only in my underwear. I felt his gaze on my body. I would have said something to him, but I wasn't any better a few seconds ago.

As I put the shirt on the fireplace, I noticed my bare hand.

Where is my bandana?

"No, no, no." I grabbed my pants and turned the pockets inside out. Maybe I put it in them somehow. "Shit."

"You alright?"

"I have to go back."

"What? Why?"

"I lost my bandana." I slowly started to put my soaked t-shirt back on.

"You mean this piece of cloth?"

I shifted my gaze to Killian and to my bandana, which he was holding in his hand.

"Give it to me." I reached for her but Killian grabbed it and pulled it away from me. "It's mine." I said between my teeth.

There is a line that must not be crossed. Killian is crossing that line right now.

"It's just a piece of fabric. Why is it so important?" He stood up and examined it in his hands. "Quite ordinary."

"Why do you care? Just give it back to me." I tried to take it from his hands, but he dodged. "I'm not kidding. Give. It. Back." I said irritated.

"On one condition."

"Kill you and take it from your dead hand? That's fine with me."

"No." He laughed. "You will work for me again."

"I told you I was leaving. Do you ever listen to me at all?"

I haven't told Luna yet, but after what happened today, how can I do anything else? She only got into trouble because of me. She wanted to help me and almost paid for it with her life. I'm not going to play with her life like it doesn't matter.

"You can leave after."

"You don't understand. Sooner or later, someone will die if I don't leave. And I really don't want to risk that."

"Why? I'm sure you've gambled with the lives of others before. After all, once a white snake, always a white snake."

"What did you just say?"

Let's stop here for a moment. What did he say again? How the hell does he know I'm one of the white snakes.

How...

How does...

"I guess I know more than you think. So are you going to help me or not?" He waved my bandana in front of my face.

He knew he won.

It was enough to look at me and everyone would see how desperate I am. And all this because of a small piece of fabric that originally does not even belong to me.

But it is the last thing left of my life before the white snakes. Also the only memory of Lukas.

"Fine. I'll help you. Satisfied? Now give it back." I reached for the bandana and this time he didn't budge. I held it in my hand and pulled it out of his grip.

The last person I want to spend the night with in my underwear?

A. Killian

B. Owner of Odin

C. Killy

D. Biggest idiot on the planet

*****

Hope you enjoyed. <3