Chapter 33: Chapter 33
ESTRELA
That was my mother, Kian's words ring in my ears. Although I have had this suspicion before, it shocks and hurts me deeply. "I am sorry ..."
"No! Pity is the last thing I want." He presses his lips together and doesn't look at me. Just as I'm about to tell him it's not pity, he continues, "That woman you just met was no mother to me and never will be." Kian lowers his head and takes a deep breath. I give him the time he needs because I feel like he's ready to tell more. And this time not only with fragments from his past, with which I can do little. "She... She was a prostitute," he begins, grimacing slightly. "She accidentally got pregnant from one of her clients. She doesn't know who my father is. It could have been anyone she's fucked during that time..." I bow my head sadly. " It didn't change after I was born either. She continued to shag men for money,” he continues, looking up. His face is tense, as is his body.
"Is that why you're not so good with her?" I ask cautiously. His gaze wanders over the parking lot in front of the hospital, where we are still.
He snorts. "She was so focused on her clients and the money she was getting that at times I thought she didn't even know she had a son. The funny thing that still bothers me to this day is that we didn't even have too little money. We had a house - big enough for both of us and always had food on the table. Nevertheless, she continued to meet with complete strangers and let them fuck her - always with payment. As I got older, I lived with the thought that she liked it." He grimaces in disgust. "I've heard everything. The moans, sometimes saw the men who came to our house. "My grief towards Kian's mother turns to hatred. She has apparently never shown any consideration for Kian - her own son." Then this man came..." he continues. "He must have been a dealer and he paid her with drugs instead. She accepted it and thus became addicted to drugs. From there everything went down the drain. She saw him often—too often. As a result, we lost money and they couldn't pay for the house anymore. I had to put up with many things from their guests. I was too young and too weak to defend myself. She always looked away. She didn't give a damn..." My heart tightens painfully. Kian has previously told me that a friend of his mother's - who now turns out to be a customer - threw an ashtray at him in the head because Kian saw something that he shouldn't have seen, and his mother didn't do anything. How could she look away from something like that? Didn't she ever have a heart or love for Kian? Now I understand why Kian doesn't want to commit or love someone else. Because he himself has never experienced what it's like to be loved. And was most disappointed and hurt by the person who was supposed to love him. "When I was fifteen, I found a place of refuge – your father's boxing gym." He smiles wryly. "Your dad was my hero. He trained me and I was no longer afraid of the men my mother brought home because I knew I could finally defend myself." what it's like to be loved. And was most disappointed and hurt by the person who was supposed to love him. "When I was fifteen, I found a place of refuge – your father's boxing gym." He smiles wryly. "Your dad was my hero. He trained me and I was no longer afraid of the men my mother brought home because I knew I could finally defend myself." what it's like to be loved. And was most disappointed and hurt by the person who was supposed to love him. "When I was fifteen, I found a place of refuge – your father's boxing gym." He smiles wryly. "Your dad was my hero. He trained me and I was no longer afraid of the men my mother brought home because I knew I could finally defend myself."
"Did my father know what happened at your house back then?"
"No, not at first. But I think he always suspected something. When I was sixteen he came to see me unannounced. When he rang the bell and my mother answered the door, she thought he was a customer... Well, that's when he knew what was really going on, so I talked to him and he actually offered me to live with him until I started making my own money, and by the time I was eighteen I was so good at boxing that I could do it Made money. Well, and you can guess the rest." His lips curl into a faint smile.
"And she just let you go like that?" I ask him in amazement.
"Yes. I even think she was more than happy to get rid of me..." He gives a bitter laugh. "Three years ago, I heard from her for the first time. I was told that she was in the hospital and that she had been diagnosed with cancer. I didn't know how to deal with it at first and suppressed the news. Until it turned out that I was the only family she has left. So, I went to see her. Since then, I've been coming to her once a week and supporting her until she..." He lets the sentence hang in the air, but he has to don't say it out loud. I know what he means too. I knew Kian was a good person. As much as his mother disappointed and hurt him with her actions, he chose to look over her bad deeds,
"You're a good person, Kian," I whisper, gently laying my hand on his. He lets the touch happen and silently stares at our hands. "Thanks for telling me. It means a lot to me..." He manages a weak smile, which I return.
"How about a trip to Vegas to clear your head a little?" he suddenly distracts from the actual topic.
"Vegas?" I ask curiously. He nods.
"I know a great place where we can just forget a few hours for everything," he suggests. "You can also see it as a date". Now there is a smile on his lips and I have to laugh automatically.
"A date? That would be the first date between us. You know that?" I state.
"Yes, and not just the first between us, but also my first date." I stare at him with wide eyes.
"What? You've never had a date?" Kian chuckles lightly at my reaction. He shrugs and gives me a meaningful look. Yes, yes. He only slept with women before me...
"I know we've skipped a few things that come after the first date, but better late than never." I have to laugh about that.
"Okay, then let's drive into Las Vegas." He looks at me with satisfaction and starts the engine of his Mustang. The depressing mood from earlier has disappeared a little.
***
I would probably never get used to the city that is in the middle of the desert. Even if it is the party city par excellence, one must not forget its diversity. A lot of things in Vegas are only re-enacted, but she also tells her own story. "Have you ever wanted to get out of Nevada?" I ask Kian after a while. We are already in the middle of the city. Unfortunately, Kian didn't want to tell me exactly where it was going.
"No, no matter how much the bad memories linger here, I can't imagine life outside of it," he answers honestly. I look at him sideways. His eyes are focused on the road. "What about you, are you staying here for good?" he asks me curiously and his eyes wander briefly to me.
"I have no idea. I'll let it come to me. Especially how things are going with my book now, whether it will be accepted and if I have a chance. But I feel good here in Henderson – with my father..." and by you - I add in my mind. Kian gives me an intense look, as if he senses I have something else to say.
"So you sent it?"
"Yep, this morning." I smile happily.
"It'll be fine and if not, I'll put a little fire under Max's bottom."
"Kian!" I laugh. "Max probably has enough trauma from your party."
"What? After all, I invited him because of you," he says mischievously.
"Yes, I am aware of that." I roll my eyes
"We're here," he says and stops the car in front of... Caesar Palace? What's he doing here? "Don't worry, we're not going downstairs, we're going upstairs," he says quickly, as if noticing my displeasure. I get out, still hesitating, when a doorman opens the car door for me. Kian gives him the key to his car so he can park it, like expensive hotels do.
"Mr. Warren, everything is prepared," he tells him. I look at Kian in surprise. So he already planned it all out?
"Yeah, thanks," says Kian, stepping to my side. Suddenly I look down at myself. My outfit isn't exactly suitable for a date. Especially not now that I've found out we're going on a date in a luxury hotel.
"Are we even dressed appropriately?" After all, Kian wears nothing more than jeans and a shirt.
"Do you have to dress up for a date?" he says with a grin.
"No, of course not. But you're taking me out to the Caesar Palace - a luxury hotel," I say, puzzled.
"So what?" He smiles even wider. He seems to be amused by my concerns. "Hey, Estrela. It's fine. It doesn't matter what we're wearing."
"And why did you want me to dress up for the Dark Palace back then?"
"These are not my rules, they are Gabriel's." He frowns slightly." But that's not the point now." It's true, I'm really making too much drama out of this right now.
"Okay, let's go inside." Kian looks me over and then nods in satisfaction. Together with the porter in advance, we go to the elevators, where one of them will take us to the top floor. My heart is beating fast with excitement and starts beating even harder as I look at Kian, who is looking at me with a loving expression.
My jaw drops as I realize we're on the hotel's rooftop terrace, where we have a 360 degree view of Las Vegas. amazing! "Is that all for us?" I can't stop being amazed. I look at the pavilion, in ancient Greek style, which has white curtains on the sides and below it a large outdoor sofa that looks more like a bed, where there is also a tablet with small delicacies on it.
"Yes, all for us. And we are all alone up here." Kian's voice comes from close behind me and he wraps his arms around my waist to lead me to the pavilion. On the tablet is a white wine and tasty snacks such as spreads, fruit and sweet pastries. My stomach growls at the sight. Kian begins to open the wine as I settle onto the sunny island. I watch him pour a glass of wine and open a beer for himself. "I hope you like it. Retsina a Greek wine." He hands me the glass and I try the first sip.
"Hmm," I acknowledge. Satisfied, Kian also sits down, stretches his legs and leans back on his elbows, his eyes on the city. Almost all of Las Vegas can be admired from up here and the desert behind it. My gaze returns to Kian, whose attention is now on me again. My heart fills with love towards this man - who owns my heart.
KIAN
The sun is about to set, turning the sky into an orange-yellow gradient. The heat that usually prevails is finally decreasing, but it is still warm enough to spend the evening outside. I look at Estrela, who has made herself comfortable on my chest after a while. Her eyes are also fixed on the sunset. Never in my life could I have imagined that a woman would lie in my arms like that while we watched the sunset in silence. Absently I stroke her arm up and down again and again and enjoy the togetherness between us.
"Before you, I often felt alone..." I begin. My voice is just a soft whisper in her ear. She straightens up a bit, takes her eyes off the setting sun and directs her eyes to me. Her gaze is loving and concerned at the same time.
"All the women I fucked were just nothing to fill my loneliness. I never wanted to admit it to myself - thought it was just those brief, insignificant moments between the women and me that made me feel better. But then ", when I met you, when I kissed you for the first time, something was different. I wanted more. More of you. From then on I realized that you are the ones who make me feel whole. Except I'm an asshole and an idiot to have noticed that much sooner..." As a single tear rolls down her cheek, I wipe it away with a smirk.
"Kian..." Estrela mumbles softly and her eyes fill with tears again. "Everything you've been through is unimaginable, but you've grown into a wonderful person. Yes, you've been an idiot at times. But everyone makes mistakes, nobody's perfect... Which doesn't mean you should continue to punch everyone or sleep with other women," she warns at the end. I grin and pinch her cheek.
"I only miss the ones that really deserve it. And you're the only one I want," I say honestly, leaning forward and lowering my lips to hers so she can feel that my life revolves around her and I'm always ready to put my hand in the fire for her. Yes, I would even give my life for her.
The kiss gets deeper. My hands grip her small waist, pulling her onto my lap. Then I let myself fall backwards so that she now lies on top of me. I sigh, enjoying the passionate kiss between us until she breaks it just as my hand tries to slip under her shirt.
"And are we sure we're alone up here?" she asks me uncertainly, her eyes sweeping over the wide roof terrace, which makes me grin. I lean towards her, getting closer to her full lips again.
"Yeah, sure. I can fuck you under the Vegas night sky."
"Kian!" she admonishes, presumably because of my diction, before softening her gaze. "Can we just cuddle?" Laughing, I grab her around the waist, causing her to yelp in surprise, roll her over and bury my face in the crook of her neck before lying down close to her and wrapping my arms around her.
"Whatever my kitty wants," I whisper in her ear, pleased with the slight goosebumps forming on her skin.
"You're such an idiot sometimes!" she laughs, but snuggles closer to me. At a moment like this, I wish it could always be like this. Only my life is not destined for endless happiness. I'm haunted by demons from the past and I feel like they're about to catch up to me. It was your father – my mother's words can't get out of my head. But how much, can I believe her words?
"Kian, I can't keep this motherfucker down there forever. My Palace isn't a boarding house for the mentally ill!" Gabriel says in a stern and annoyed voice at the same time.
"I know you have to keep him there for a few more days. I'll take care of it," I say quietly, looking behind me to where Estrela is still sleeping. We fell asleep up here yesterday. Despite the noises coming from below, we fell asleep quickly. The sun is just rising now and I assume that will wake her up soon.
"You take care of it? Kian, I know you'd like to put a bullet in his head." I growl, clenching my hands into fists. I want to see that fucker death, yeah But without Gabriel's consent, I can buckle and the decision ultimately rests with Estrela. Though I don't think she would ever agree to that.
"Then we'll just do it as planned." Gabriel laughs. "Tell me what else should we do with him. I'm not allowed to kill him. Should I torture him then?"
"No. If we send him back, there shouldn't be any evidence." His voice sounds annoyed. "I'll give you a few more days. I don't want the scum in my Palace any longer! I've got enough problems of my own to take care of," he says authoritatively and very irritably before hanging up.
"bitch!" With a sigh, I put my phone back in my back pocket, braced my arms on the railing, and looked out at the city. "Fuck!" I murmur under my breath, running my hand over my face. Gabriel is probably not quite as reliable as before. A gentle touch makes me look behind me. Estrela is now standing in front of me and looks at me sleepily. As soon as I look into her eyes, my worries are swept away for a moment. "Morning," I greet her.
"Hi." She smiles and snuggles into my chest. I wrap her in my arms and rest my chin on her head, close my eyes and inhale her scent deeply.
"Did you sleep well?" I ask her.
"Mhm," she says muffled as she's buried her face in my shirt. I laugh.
"Good. Let's go slowly, surely you want to put on some fresh clothes?" I say softly to her. She raises her head and nods. So let's head back down.
With Estrela's hand in mine, we walk through the hotel's large lobby to the front of the exit. Suddenly a guy dressed in black bumps into my shoulder. "Hey! Watch where you're walking!" I growl and look at him, almost as if he did it on purpose. His expression is emotionless and his dark eyes scrutinize me in a way I don't like before walking on without saying anything. Asshole! I frown as I watch him pull out his phone and start a conversation in Spanish, which I don't understand. After his appearance, I first assessed him as Gabriel's men. But I usually know each of Gabe's henchmen.
"The guy was weird," says Estrela, and I agree. Outside, my beloved Ford Mustang is already waiting for me, which is announced in front of the hotel, so that we can get in immediately and drive back to Henderson.
***
UNKNOWN
"Lo vi en el hotel, boss. I spotted him at the hotel."
"Bien. ¿Estaba acompañado por Gabriel Callahan? Good. Was he with Gabriel Callahan?" my boss asks me.
"No, pero con una señorita. Parecían muy íntimos el uno con el otro, boss. No, but with a young lady. They seemed very familiar with each other.", I reply
"Muy interesante. Very interesting," says my boss. "I want you to keep watching him and find out more about this Chica!" he orders.
"Sí, Boss!" We hang up and I retire to one of the hotel rooms where I sit at the computer and duck into the security cameras and replay the scene where I met Kian Warren and his little girlfriend. Then I zoom in on her pretty face and run it through face recognition. I sit back and relax until the program is done with it and shows me the information about the little one. It quickly shows a direct hit. "Hermosa, there you are," I murmur contentedly. She is identified as Estrela Clark, I scan the information briefly, then forward the information to my boss.
MUY BIEN. VERY GOOD. YOU CAN ALWAYS BE RELIED ON.
My boss responds with a message to my quick finding.
"Yo también soy el mejor! I'm the best too!" I grin.
"Self-praise stinks, Amigo!", says my comrade Pito, who is just entering the room.
"¿Qué? What? It's true, idiota", I smirk and look at him smugly. He just rolls his eyes, sits on the bed, takes out his gun and discharges it.
"You're just jealous because the boss compliments me so much and doesn't even really notice you," I laugh.
"Don't talk mierda shit, Amigo!," he says grumpily, which makes me laugh again.
"Solo estoy diciendo la verdad, idiota. I'm just telling the truth, idiot."
"Any news on Kian Warren?" he asks me.
"En efecto Indeed. Just met him in the hotel lobby. Has a big la boca mouth just like the boss!" I laugh.
"Don't surprise me," says Pito.
"Heard anything from our princesa?" I change the subject.
"No, nada. No, nothing." He laughs.
"Oh, me gusta Heaven I like Heaven. How I want to fuck her," I say dreamily.
"If the boss sees you just getting too close to her, you'll be muerte! dead in no time!"
"Losse, Idiota. I know, idiot," I growl in annoyance. The boss hides his beautiful daughter like Rapunzel. More specifically, since she grew into a beautiful woman. And we, as his H ombres, have glimpsed the B elleza several times. But when the boss shot one of my comrades for hitting on her, no one dared to speak to her, let alone look at her. Only I, as the boss's favorito, can get closer than five steps to her and yes, I can even exchange a few words with her. Only I think as soon as I touch his santa hija holy daughter he too would shoot me like his best man without batting an eyelid. Nobody will be good enough for her. At least that's what the boss thinks.
"You're lucky, at least you can talk to P rincesa."
"No mas. But nothing more."
"That would be enough for me, amigo," he says and gives me a promising look.
"I hope the Misión is over soon, then I can see our P rincesa again as soon as possible." That makes my comrade laugh.