KAI WAS SITTING IN front of her, something hanging in the air which she couldn't quite put a name on. It was a feeling between tension and curiosity, the both of them having moved a floor up. Kai had pulled the knife out of the wall, bending down to cut her ropes and telling her to follow. Ella had expected the others to protest, but to her surprise none of them had uttered a word. So here they were, alone, both of them sitting on the gray carpet, which Ella was fairly certain had been white once. The only other furniture in the room was a bed and a closet, both looking very unstable.
"So," Ella began," you're Levi's brother?"
"Yeah," Kai said, his gaze trained on her," I'm assuming this is the first time you've heard about me, seeing as Levi doesn't know I exist."
Well, that answered her question. Not like she thought Levi would hold something like that back, especially with how transparant he had been about his family. She supposed it wasn't a strange thought that Levi's dad did not care enough about his children to introduce them to each other. Seeing him now, knowing that he was Levi's brother, felt strange though. In a way they did look alike, their cold eyes and quiet confidence, but Kai carried something dangerous in his every movement, like he was a ticking time bomb ready to explode.
Kai parted his lips then, hesitant, as if the question he was about to ask was one he wasn't allowed the answer to.
"How is Levi?" he said.
"He was okay," Ella replied," that is, before one of these men whacked a brick at his head and told him to pay up a debt his father racked up. Now I imagine he's a bit angry."
Kai practically jumped upright, eyes flaming up.
"They hit him?"
"Did they tell you anything at all?" Ella asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I was... busy," Kai began," when they told me they'd find a way to make Vince pay I thought it best if I didn't meddle. Whenever I see him I am capable of committing murder after all and this is no time to escalate things."
"I'm a bit confused," Ella said," are you Levi's younger brother? How come he doesn't know you exist? Are you fully related? Normally I would apologize for all the questions, but you know, you did technically kidnap me, so the formalities are kind of out the window."
"Understandable," Kai nodded, lowering himself to the floor again," I'm Levi's older brother, by two years. We share the same parents, our mother gave me up for adoption at birth. I don't blame her, she couldn't take care of me." He breathed out, hand grazing across his arm. "Vince took me out of my most recent foster home when I was fourteen. I was naive and happy to finally have a father. I should have known better."
It was only then that Ella saw the faded scars on Kai's arms, like lightning slashing through a landscape. He didn't continue speaking, but he didn't have to. She wondered whether he knew that their mother was doing better, that she was recovering. It didn't feel like her place to tell him that though, but more than that, this also wasn't the time to have to ponder whether she was overstepping. Kai was her ticket out of here, after she was gone and had made sure Levi was okay, then she was ready to think about other things.
"Anyway," Kai said, interrupting her thoughts," things happened and we split up when I was sixteen. I've lived mostly on the streets and juvie, but it was when I met Vince again that he told me I had a brother. That his name was Levi and that he apparently was a good-for-nothing like me. I told him we must resemble him then and he suckerpunched me, so there's that."
"Did you look for him?" Ella said," Levi, I mean."
"I did," Kai smiled," and I found him. My little brother seems to have made a name for himself while fighting. I even gathered the courage to stand in front of his school one day, but when he walked out all I could do was stare at him. I guess I really do take after that man, because I too am a coward."
He sighed, leaning his head in his hands and glancing up at her. "You're the first person I've ever told this to, actually. Normally I wouldn't, but I've been wanting to tell this to Levi for so long - I suppose the words have been burning my tongue until now."
"Are you planning on speaking to him now?" Ella said," I know it would mean the world to Levi. He does care a lot about family, there's no way he wouldn't want you in his life if he knew he had a brother."
"I wonder," Kai murmured.
Before Ella could say something he got to his feet, extending a hand towards her. She allowed him to pull her up, searching his gaze for answers as she spoke.
"What now?" she said," I can't stay here."
"I'll make it so you can leave," Kai reassured her," I may be younger, but most of them don't even have the courage to do anything until they're with ten. An original thought has never crossed their mind."
"I'm not surprised," Ella commented," does it run in the family that everyone around you Petersons is terrified of you? They looked like they were afraid you were going to stab them."
"That's because I have," Kai said, quickly adding," only once though, don't tell Levi. I want him to like me."
"So you are going to introduce yourself?" Ella said, grabbing his sleeve before he could leave the room," I know it's none of my business, but I want the best for Levi. He truly deserves it, so much. Please don't leave without saying hello."
Kai paused for a moment, glancing from her hand back to her. After the air filled his lungs again he nodded, walking towards the door without another word. Ella followed him downstairs, all the men waiting tensely on the couch, their gazes snapping up towards them as soon as they came in view. It was clear they were gauging the situation, but to be honest Ella had quite some difficulty doing so herself. Would Kai really be able to get her out of here?
If not, she would do so herself.
"I knew you'd turn around," George said, standing up," we're talking about quite a large sum here, Kai, this isn't a game anymore."
"Who said I turned around?" Kai said, taking care to stand in front of Ella," you are not going to touch her. I told you not to come near my brother, but apparently you have suffered some hearing loss, because a brick to his head is not leaving him alone."
"Come on now," another man sighed," you're making this too big of a deal, Kai. What does it matter if someone gets hurt? It's not like you ever cared before."
"Who knew you were such a family man?" John chuckled," Kai Peterson being kindhearted, I wouldn't have guessed."
Kai moved so fast no one could react, his knife in one hand and John's neck in the other as he stood above him, voice a mere hiss.
"Do you want to see how far my kindheartedness reaches?" he said, head tilting to the right," watch out, it may cost you a tongue."
"Kai, what's going on?"
All of them froze at once, only Kai's gaze still cold as he slowly looked up. Ella recognized the man in the doorway immediately, a sour taste already lingering in her throat once she saw his wide smile. Seeing him on his knees as she threw his wedding ring away had been amusing, but now here he was again, five men standing behind him and new rings adorning his fingers. When he looked at her, the men behind him moved at once, grabbing her and holding her down.
"Carlo," Kai said, voice freezing over," let her go, or I will slit his throat and then yours."
"You can do that," Carlo shrugged," but I fund this house you and this other dirt live in. I've always told you, Kai, fighting only gets you so far. Money gets you everywhere."
As if on cue the other men on the couch jumped in action as well, pulling Kai off and forcing him on his knees. He didn't seem stressed, only annoyed, glancing at his knife, now in John's hands.
"Careful," he said," you might hurt yourself."
"Oh, shut up," John sneered, grabbing a fistful of Kai's hair and holding the knife to his throat," do you know how long I've been wanting to wipe that smug smirk of your face, Peterson? You think you're all that just because you can throw a punch? How do any of your skills help you now?"
"I guess we'll find out," Kai smiled.
"Don't cut him," Carlo ordered," Kai is always the quickest in getting my tasks done, I don't want to lose my favorite guard dog just yet." He crouched down in front of Ella then, lifting her chin up with his hand. "You, however... It'll be satisfying to see that arrogance gone when you are forced to apologize to me."
"You really think I'll apologize to you?" Ella spat.
In response Carlo slapped her in the face, gesturing for the guys to push her down and start hitting her. Ella could feel the dull pain spreading throughout her body, but still she didn't hesitate in making eye contact with Carlo, his smug smirk wavering as she slowly smiled.
He had forgotten her hands weren't tied.
She grabbed the foot of one of the guys who were kicking her, tugging hard to make him lose balance and roll away as he fell to the floor, taking someone else along in the process. With her elbow she hit the back of another man's knees, causing him to double over as well, before pushing herself up by his head and whirling around to punch someone in the face. Behind her Kai had gotten free as well, not rushing at all as he circled John like a predator his prey, dragging a guy by his collar along over the floor behind him.
"You bitch," Carlo spat.
"That's not how you apologize," Ella smiled," but it's okay, you'll learn."
Someone grabbed her hair then, pulling her back, her reflexes still slower thanks to whatever had knocked her out. Kai punched the man holding her in the face, pulling her closer to him by her wrist. She was about to turn around to kick Carlo so hard he could never reproduce again when the door slammed open, the light streaming in blinding for a moment.
"Eleanora," she heard someone breathe.
"Levi, wait," Ella began, but it was too late.
Within a moment Levi had pulled Kai off her, the temperature in the room dropping by the sound of his voice alone.
"I am going to kill you."