CHAPTER 25

KY puts the glass down and leans back on the counter, closing KY's eyes tightly for a moment. KY takes some deep breaths a few times, hoping the painkillers work fast.

When the pain starts easing a little, KY goes downstairs. When KY steps back through the deserted kitchen, KY meets Calcedonio Cicconi. He's an underboss, and KY doesn't know him, but KY's noticed him lurking around the KASH MANCHESTER lot.

"Well, well, well." He takes a few steps towards KY. "Looks like we got a lost little lamb here."

"I'm not lost," KY answers as KY looks away from him quickly. He takes a swig off the beer bottle he is holding. "It isn't safe for a nice-looking girl like you to be here by yourself."

KY swallows hard and edges around him carefully. KY should be fine here, but drunk men are crazy, so KY knows KY needs to tiptoe.

Calcedonio's huge compared to KY is, more than six foot tall and wide with muscle. KY's gaze is glued to the scar on his temple that serves as a warning of the danger that is inside him. KY'm not sure what he can do—and KY does not want to know.

KY just need to get KY outside as quickly as KY can without agitating him.

KY dodges around him, attempting to insert as much distance between us as possible.

But his hand shoots out and seizes KY's arm.

Revulsion sweeps over KY at his touch alone.

"Don't be in such a hurry," He's standing too close to KY, his huge hand clamped around KY's arm.

KY tries to spring away from him.

But he's too quick for KY. "I'm sure that your slut of a mother taught you better manners than to walk away from me when I'm talking to you."

KY's heart thuds in KY's chest as KY's eyes dart wildly between him and the door that is KY's escape.

He tugs KY closer to him. "There's something about fear that I love so much." His hand inches ominously close to KY's breasts.

Stay away from me!" KY pushes him back and flees.

"I'm sick to death of you fucking whores playing hard to get," his angry voice growls behind KY. "You tease and flirt, and you think that you can do whatever you like and get away with it."

He shoves KY into the wall, grabbing KY.

"Why don't you just pretend I'M TENZ JER'SEY, okay? Or ISAAC, for that matter? I've seen the way he stares at you. I can make you feel a whole lot better than he ever could."

KY hits him as hard as KY can.

"I may not be richer than some of them, but my dick is big and can take you the same ride. And there are gold diggers like you who don't care as long as there's ten bucks in it for you at the end, right…?"

KY's punch to his chest barely registers.

"I enjoy it rough," he snarls. "I won't mind if you scream…"

He fist's KY's hair in a tight grip to restrain KY.

With the other, he takes his gun out of the waistband and places it on the counter with a clank before starting to unbuckle his belt.

"You know, your mom doesn't fight this hard."

KY might be able to get the gun…

Since KY'm not going to take this lying down. KY'm sick of men thinking that it's okay to treat KY or even DEBORAH like this because of KY's family name. KY'm out to put an end to this, and KY have to make it absolutely clear.

"Be a fucking good slut and?"

KY grabs it and holds it on him.

Pop!

"Fuck!" he screams.

He staggers back as the blood pours from his hand. ISAAC comes running into the kitchen, followed by a couple of the other men. They must have heard the shot. His head flicking between Calcedonio and KY, he tells the other guys he'll handle it. "Leave! I've got this."

Calcedonio takes another step toward KY.

"Get away from her," ISAAC hisses in a dark tone.

Ah, come on now," Calcedonio goads. "I'm sure she won't double charge us. Prostitutes like that like to be double penetrated, right?"

"Get the fuck out. Right now. Before I kill your miserable little life!" ISAAC bellows as he reaches for his gun.

Calcedonio's eyes flit as he realizes he's skating on very thin ice now. "Stupid bitch," he swears between his pitiful whimpers as he holds onto his bloodied hand and stumbles back outdoors.

KY puts down the gun.