CHAPTER 22

Each stroke of his fingers steals more of KY's sanity, more of KY's enjoyment. "ISAAC," KY pleads. "Please, I'm."

"I know you are." Still, ISAAC fucks KY with his fingers, breaking KY's will and control until KY's whimpering in his mouth.

His gaze locks with KY's as KY tightens KY's thighs around his hand.

He can grit out one word between his tight teeth as his burning stare sears KY. "Come!"

KY slams KY's face onto his neck and muffles the screams that erupt from KY's throat as KY breaks apart in his fingers. KY's cunt pulses, thrilling KY's entire body with spasms of bliss until KY falls against him, hanging on by sheer strength of remaining vertical.

KY clings to him like that until KY's eyes clear and KY is able to smooth down KY's dress. His head leans down to kiss KY deep again. And then he picks up KY's hand and sweeps KY inside through the MANCHESTER LED.

KY exhales a huff of air. How can he do that? Slide his fingers into KY and tell KY to come, then act like nothing's happened at all?

He's so damn cool, calm, and collected all the time.

Aside from the fact that KY knows he isn't.

Because KY's just seen a very different side to him.

KYOLINE DIEGO

By week's end, KY hasn't seen ISAAC again. Was everything just the other day because he wanted to verify whether KY's dress was stolen or not? Or was it simply because he's a little drawn to KY…? To be honest, KY just can't get his head and tail of it or of him.

Because KY has such a quick coffee with PELLA and NIKKI before KY's shift starts, KY looks at KY's manicure. It's completely sloppy, but KY's too tired after each day to even have enough energy to paint KY's nails. KY's relentless handwashing has gotten a bit out of control recently. KY keeps telling KYself just to focus on the kids. Seeing them smile is what motivates KY.

"Have you heard from ISAAC lately?" KY asks NIKKI. When KY initially told NIKKI what had happened between KY and ISAAC, believing him to be a police officer, NIKKI'd laughed and said that he had a dark sense of humor. KY'd been intrigued as to how NIKKI knew all about the elusive ISAAC. She'd informed him that her mom's people lived in SUDAN, and whenever she went to visit them there, ISAAC would simply drop in to ask her how she was doing.

In essence, VINCENT DANZA asked ISAAC to keep an eye on NIKKI when she was in SUDAN.

"No. He's gone back to Italy by what KY hears."

"How soon before he returns to the States?" KY has no idea why KY asks that.

"No idea. But from what VINCENT DANZA was telling me, it sounded like he's working and that it's an open-ended deal. Last time, he stayed in Italy for a few months."

KY's heart drops for some unexplainable reason. KY didn't expect something like that to have been going on between them and him to be gone all of a sudden. "How do you know him?" KY asks.

She scrunches her nose up. "Not that great. He's not the type of guy to let people in. But like I said, he checks in with KY when KY'm in SUDAN, and he has some of his guys keep an eye out on KY while KY'm in his city. He likes to take KY out for a catch up at lunch or coffee." She shrugs. "He knew my brother and dad." KY doesn't want to bring NIKKI down by talking about her parents, so KY changes the subject. KY tells them that KY's taking a distance learning course in bookkeeping. KY's committed to getting a better job and doing things better for KYself and the kids.

It may not be easy to get a decent job with KY's surname DIEGO and KY's clear connection to the Imperiosi by way of KY's dad, but New York is a big city, and there has to be something available for KY.

KY cannot help KY's thoughts wander back to what happened between KY and ISAAC. And excitement runs through KY as KY replays every look and inclination he offered KY. But when KY reaches the level at which his fingers picked up the security tag on KY's dress, a frown appears on KY's face. And KY tells KYself that what happened between them was nothing but a physical reaction of KY's body to his touch. Because that was just one of his tricks—making KY think that he liked KY just for the sake of coming close to check if KY's outfit was stolen. Sure, it was just a physical response—nothing more.

Because KY would never get duped by a stunning imposter like ISAAC VENETI.

KYOLINE DIEGO Today night is again one of looking at apartments. For real, it's like an actual part-time job now with the time it's taking. And when KY's working or out looking for other places that might be available to rent, KY has to have a sitter or a friend in there to help if the kids aren't in school.

Because no way in hell KY's going to let them stay with XENDER FISH again if KY'm not present to protect them. This is the fifth flat KY's seen today. All the previous viewings so far have been a waste of time. Flats that are not much bigger than a broom cupboard. Flats that come with a health warning. Deposits that are too expensive. And this one is worse than the other four. KY's dashing around on feet from work, flat viewing, and looking after the children, but KY'll persevere tomorrow.

KY's not quitting until KY's secured a home for the kids where they'll be safe and sound. Coming home, KY brings the kids from the sitter and gets them home and tucked into bed. Once they're all settled in for the evening, KY sits down to watch some TV and try to relax. KY must have fallen asleep on the couch because the next that KY knows is that XENDER FISH and KY's mom have come home. Both of them are drunk. Mom stomps right into their bedroom. KY pulls KYself to KY's feet and head to bed, but XENDER FISH gets in the way.

"Make me something to eat," he orders.

Alcohol fumes off his breath waft over KY and KY withdraws in distaste. "It's late," KY whispers. "I have to be up early in the morning. There's a loaf of bread if you want to make toast for yourself."

I don't know what gets you to act so superior," he snarls. "You're a snooty cow like your sister." He mocks with a wicked grin. "But I do know what would put that little cunt, DEBORAH, in her place or two." KY feels an icy shiver run down his spine. KY sees that he's still fuming about whatever DEBORAH had said to him before slapping him. "What do you mean, XENDER FISH?

"She's sixteen, isn't she? That means it's time someone opens that tight little pussy of hers. I prefer my whores as young as possible."

Jesus Christ. Horror and terror flood KY. KY listens to a clink. KY's gaze travels downward to realize he's already unbuckled his belt. And he starts to make his way towards the bedroom where she sleeps peacefully.

Oh my fucking God.

KY charges headlong and shoves KYself ahead of him to get in his way.

But he shoves KY with every ounce of strength he has, and KY crashes into the wall. "Get out of my way!"

And before KY can move again, he lashes at KY with his belt.

Agony spams through KY, and KY screams.

He takes one more step into KY and goes to raise the belt again. KY.

But before he can knock it down, KY pushes him hard.

Staggering along the edge of the coffee table, he falls backward on the floor and crashes heavily.

He looks dazed, so KY takes KY's chance. Running for the room KY has with DEBORAH, KY discovers the racket merely awakened her. KY grabs her elbow. "Come on!" KY yells. And KY drags her into DAMON and L'OREAL's bedroom. KY figures XENDER FISH won't target either of the youngest kids, but KY'm not taking any goddamn chances.

Slamming the door shut and clicking the lock in place, KY listens to XENDER FISH yelling. "You stupid bitch! You think some flimsy door is gonna keep me from fucking DEBORAH?"