chapter 3:fly on wheels

Achilles pov:

From the moment I stepped into this high school, I saw the spectrum of teenage lives unfold. There were the attention-seekers, obsessed with rumors and reputation, treating education as an afterthought. Then there were the overachievers, tirelessly chasing perfect grades to win their parents approval. And, of course, there were those from our world—the rebels, the ones who lived for chaos, dealing drugs, dabbling in petty crimes, trying to carve a name for themselves in all the wrong ways. And let's not forget the ones who treated school as nothing more than a playground for their ultimate prize: getting laid.

I thought I'd seen it all, thought I knew everything about people like her. But she proved me wrong in ways I never expected. I couldn't take my eyes off her not because of her striking eyes, sharp tongue, or the way her words seemed to hit all the right nerves. No, it was something deeper. For an entire week, I watched as she tried so hard to disappear. The hood she never removed, the baggy clothes, the quiet behavior she wore them like armor. Even when the rich bullies did their predictable routine, taunting her, she never fought back. She just smiled faintly and stayed silent. Not out of kindness, not because she was some meek little girl. No, she was hiding. I could see it the layers she'd carefully built to conceal the truth about herself. She might have fooled everyone else, but not me. Something in me, something I couldn't ignore, told me she wasn't the person she pretended to be.

It's Friday night, and the Kings are hosting one of their legendary race nights. These events are rare opportunities to see so many purebloods gathered in one place. America is like a shared battlefield for purebloods those tied to the Lower Court and those who aren't. But here, it's the Kings' territory, a place where fighting is forbidden under their rule. The peacekeepers answer to only one man: Arman Kings, the godfather of all pureblood families. He's the one with power over every single one of us, a man who knows every secret and every weakness. Crossing him is nothing short of suicide.

My brother Lucas is racing tonight, which is why I'm here. He's never lost a race, and I'm all in on betting for him. The scene around me is pure chaos mafia families mingling, music blasting, people hooking up in public but my mind isn't on any of that. Instead, I can't stop thinking about her, that quiet little girl who somehow managed to invade my thoughts in a place like this.

I may be new to the Lower World my coronation was only a year ago but there's not a person here who doesn't know who I am and what I'm capable of. I'm the Don now, but my roots in this world run much deeper. They're probably terrified by the fact that, before my rise to power, I slaughtered my own blood my mother's family for plotting to kill her in the Lower Court. No one could prove I killed a pureblood. To the outside world, it looked like self-defense. But in reality, I killed them all just for the thought of hurting her. Now, it's only me and my mother left from her side of the family.

Everyone here knows what I've done hell, Arman knows too. He knows I killed them on purpose, but he knows better than to say a word. That's why no one dares get too close to me except my brother and my right hand, Lion Alfaro. We grew up together. There's no difference between him and Lucas. His family was slaughtered then burned just three days before my coronation. He doesn't talk about it much, but I know that day cut deeper than he ever lets on.

But then there's him—Akira Yakuza. The one person who's not afraid of me. In fact, his idea of fun seems to be getting under my skin for no damn reason. The heir to the Yakuza family, he knows exactly how to piss me off, but I've never let him see that. I just keep my poker face locked in place.

'Hello, mate,' he grins, his voice dripping with mockery. 'My favorite Garcia is here. Time flies, huh? Ohhh!' He laughs maniacally, like a madman. 'Still hate me, mate?'

'More than you think, mate,' I shoot back, my tone flat.

He bursts into laughter again, louder this time, drawing a few curious glances. Lucas sighs, and I can see Lion's muscles tense, ready to rip Akira's throat out. I give a slight nod, signaling him to hold back.

Akira keeps at it, grinning and pushing every button for about ten minutes, until we hear the unmistakable roar of a motorcycle engine. Everyone else came in cars it's supposed to be a car race, for God's sake.

The motorcycle screeches to a stop beside us, and Akira, who had been laughing like a maniac, suddenly quiets. His eyes narrow, and a genuine smile tugs at his lips. He recognizes the rider.

I turn to look. It's a girl. Weird, considering the tight dress she's wearing, paired with a mini race jacket. And riding a motorcycle. Ironic.

She slowly removes her helmet, and that's when it hits me. The girl who's been haunting my thoughts.

Her body is... perfect. I've only ever seen her in baggy clothes, so this tight black dress that hugs every curve so beautifully throws me off. I can't tear my eyes away.

She looks... hot. And trust me, I've never had any interest in the other gender, but damn, she's something else. Her short black hair falls to her shoulders in soft waves, and when her sharp green eyes meet Akira's, it's like she's looking right through me. She's not even glancing in my direction.

(Her dress)

As she approached us, Akira glanced at her with wide, innocent eyes, resembling a little puppy. "Don't give me that look, Ivi," he said playfully. "It wasn't my idea. She'll probably claim it was, but it really wasn't." Then he flashed a charming smile, looking every bit the innocent pup.

How the fuck does she know him? Only purebloods are allowed here, and with the nickname "miller," she can't possibly belong to our world. I should have realized it sooner it's impossible to overlook her with those striking green eyes.

She fixed him with a piercing gaze, finally revealing a more genuine side of herself. "One question, Kira: where is she?" she asked, her voice calm yet laced with venom.

Kira chuckled and stepped closer, locking eyes with her. "You know the address, Ivi. You can't possibly be clueless about where that beautiful psycho would be." He often tried to get under my skin, but this time the bastard really hit a nerve. "Fuck him," I thought. She smiled at him, closing the distance until they were nose to nose. "Whether it's your idea or hers, you're in deep trouble for coming here, Kira," she warned.

In the blink of an eye, she turned away, revealing the keys to his car, then faced us, walking backward with a grin aimed at him. "By the way, nice car. Enjoy it while you can!" Kira froze beside me, his expression shifting as if he'd seen a ghost. "Fuck, Ivi! Don't you dare! That's my favorite!"

"I didn't miss your attitude or you being a bitch at all," he retorted. Still walking backward, she laughed, then turned around to say, "I missed you too, Kira." If she was calling him by a nickname, they must be close, because knowing the bastard, he was a bloody monster disguised as a charming gentleman.