He got her again.

She clenched her jaw.

She knew she wasn't as quick-witted as him, but must he flaunt his superior intellect in front of her every time?

Kira refused to be drawn into his trap.

'It's your own health. If you don't care, why should I?'

She turned around. 'I really need to get back to the dorm.'

'Kai, get a cab.'

'No thanks, I can take the bus-

'Tell the driver he has two passengers to pick up,' Austyn said to Kai.

Kira paused.

Why was the man acting so stubborn as a mule?

Kai alternated his glance between his boss and his boss's wife.

The couple seemed to have reached an impasse.

It fell to him to offer a solution.

Kai cleared his throat. 'Sorry, Young Madam. I can't stay here with Boss tonight. I have, um, plans.

'What plans?' Kira was sceptical.

'D-dinner plans.'

'With whom?'

'With, uh, with...with a girlfriend!'

'I thought you were single.' Kira crossed her arms.

'I was, but I started seeing this girl about a month ago. I was away for ten days. She's pissed. I really need to make it to dinner tonight.' Kai put both palms together, pleading. 'Please, Young Madam, will you stay with Boss for tonight? It's just one night.' "This girlfriend of yours, what's her name?'

'Celeste!'

Kira scoffed. 'Nice try. That's the name of the nurse who came in earlier. I saw her name tag.'

Kai's shoulders slumped.

He looked at Austyn and offered an apologetic shrug.

'Sorry, Boss, I tried,' he thought.

'Don't you have to visit your mom?' Austyn said.

Kai smacked a palm to his forehead. 'Oh, that's right! My mom!'

He turned to Kira. 'Young Madam, I need to go home to my mother. She's getting on in years and a bit forgetful these days. I can't leave her alone at home.

Kira wasn't a hundred per cent convinced, but she didn't think Kai would stoop so low as to use his mother as an excuse.

So she nodded. 'Okay.'

She turned back to Austyn. 'Kai can't stay here tonight.'

The corners of his lips curved upwards, but before they could form a smile, Kira added, 'I'll get you a private nurse. They are more professional, and, surely, you can afford to pay.' The smile vanished.

Kai improvised. 'But Young Madam, this hospital has a policy against private nurses.'

'Really?"

'Really.' Kai nodded. 'They don't allow nurses from outside."

'Then why will they allow me to stay?'

'You're not a nurse. You're a family member. Kai had to think on his feet.

Kira gave up.

Whatever solution she came up with, Austyn or Kai had a way to shoot it down.

It was two against one.

Bland And Brain Matter Everywhere

She was too tired to argue with them. 'Fine. I'll stay. For tonight only.'

Kai breathed out, relieved.

Austyn sat back on the bed.

Kita reached for the doorknob.

Where are you going? Austyn shot to his feet and saw floaters in his eyes at once.

Kita paused.

She turned around so Austyn could see her eye roll. 'It's past nine pm. I haven't had a drop of water or a bite of food for nine hours. I'm just heading to the cafetería.' 'Kai, go with her.'

'I can find my way. I don't need a guide.'

'Young Madam, I haven't had dinner either. May I go with you?' Kai rubbed his stomach.

Kira gave him another eye roll. 'Didn't you say you have to go home to your mother?'

'Well, I...'

'Kai, give me your tablet.' Austyn rescued his assistant. 'Be back in thirty minutes, or I'll come and find you.'

Kira knew the last sentence was directed at her.

She just snorted and marched out.

Austyn took the tablet from Kai, set a timer for thirty minutes and started going over work email.

Kai followed Kira to the cafeteria.

Most of the stalls were still open.

Kira was famished.

She felt like she could eat a horse.

She was too wound up to have much of an appetite in the past ten days.

But now that Austyn was back-not exactly safe and sound, but at least still breathing-the weight was off her shoulders.

She opted for a beef casserole but started her meal with a bread pudding and a chocolate raspberry torte.

She almost moaned when the sweet taste of chocolate hit her taste buds.

'Kai, aren't going to order anything?'

'I'm not hungry.'

'Then you didn't need to come here with me.'

Kai just smiled awkwardly.

Kira wasn't the only one who didn't dare defy Austyn's orders.

The assistant kept an eye on the time.

When it was five minutes before the deadline, he reminded Kira, 'Young Madam, we should head back.

Kira was slumped in the chair and sipping at a strawberry banana yoghurt drink.

She stood up reluctantly. 'Fine.'

When they were waiting for the lift, Kira asked, 'Were you with Austyn the entire time he was in Trinidonia?' 'Yes.' 'Did he tell you not to answer my calls?'

Kai stared at the floor. 'Yes.'

'Humph!'

'Sorry, Young Madam.'

'Never mind, not your fault. Kira recalled the silvery-grey colour of Austyn's phone. 'Did he lose his old phone?'

'Yes. I looked for it everywhere but couldn't find it. I had to get Boss a new one.'

'Do you know who shot Austyn?'

'No. I was with Mr Matthews' team that day. Boss moved too fast. I couldn't catch up.'

In fact, Austyn had ordered Kai to stay on the tour bus because there weren't enough weapons to go around.

"Then... Santoro. Is he really dead?'

Kira retched.

'Yes, Mr Matthews made sure of it. The bullet struck Santoro right in the middle of his forehead. I saw his body later. There was blood and brain matter everywhere.

Her hand flew to her mouth.

Than Help

More Hindrance Than Help

'Stop!' Kira said. 'That's disgusting.'

'Sorry, 'Kai said.

Kira dry-heaved a few more times.

Young Madam, are you all right?'

Kira straightened up. 'I'm fine. I probably ate too much too fast. Plus, your gory description didn't help.'

'Sorry. I'll stop.

Not your fault. I was the one who asked.'

Kira waited for the wave of nausea to pass.

The lift stopped on their floor but it was already filled to capacity.

They had to wait for the next one.

Kira couldn't contain her curiosity.

She knew she couldn't get Austyn to tell her everything.

But Kai was different.

He was feeling guilty over dodging her calls.

Maybe she could use that.

"Can you tell me more? About how you guys took down Santoro? Not the grisly details, though. Just in broad strokes.'

'Well, there isn't really much left to tell. We arrived in Blumore on a Tuesday. Santoro was shot dead on Wednesday. Then Boss was in the hospital for the better part of a week'Material © of .

Kira wrung her hands.

Kai, oblivious, continued, "The doctors called it a penetrating injury. Luckily, the bullet missed his lungs, heart and spine. It nicked a major artery, though. If we arrived just twenty minutes late, Boss would have bled out.' Kira swayed on her feet.

Her face grew paler.

'They had to do a thoracotomy, which is cutting open the chest to reach the organs inside. Then two separate vascular surgeries, and another to suture a peripheral nerve...'

Kira's face was drained of all colour.

Kai sighed. "The doctors wanted Boss to stay in the ICU for another week in case of complications, you know, like a rupture or an infection. But Boss insisted on checking out the moment he woke up.' When he didn't hear anything from Kira, he looked to his right and noticed the deathlike pallor of her face.

Oops.

Kai realised, belatedly, that he'd been too blunt.