22 : betting everything

—Kayo

I woke up with the most comforting aroma of cooked breakfast. It was different from anything I ever had in my apartment before.

I didn't go to sleep with a blanket on, but somehow I found myself covered with soft fabric that didn't reach high enough for my abdomen, all it did was cover my legs.

With a yawn, I opened my eyes to take in the delicious sight of Everleigh behind the counter, cooking. She seemed to notice my eyes because she quickly looked up with a small smile on her face.

"Goodmorning! I saw you had some bacon and eggs in the fridge, so I thought you'd appreciate a little breakfast," she explained. Sean bought it for me when he saw that my refrigerator was empty and all I ever ate was fast food. It was easier, seeing as I never had the time to go grocery shopping and cook.

I stood up, rubbing the sleepiness out of my eyes. I had an irritating crick in my neck from the small ass couch. Not to mention. I could feel the blood in my body slowly making its way further down to my feet since my feet being propped up on the arms of the couch made it too difficult to reach all night.

After a few steps, I was able to walk normally again, heading into my bathroom where I took a piss, washed my face, and brushed my teeth. While in there, I noticed she found a spare toothbrush I had in the cabinet. My toothbrush came with an extra when I bought it, I just hadn't got to use it yet.

When I exited the bathroom, I saw my bed had been made. She really didn't have to do that because right after breakfast I had plans on fucking it up again. My whole body was in pain from the couch. All I wanted was proper sleep.

I made my way out of my room and got the lovely sight of Everleigh bent over, grabbing a pan from the oven with a pair of oven mittens on. The only thing I could focus on was the round ass greeting me as she pulled it out and sat it down on the stove, behind the bacon and eggs.

It was tempting—no, instinctive—the way I wanted to get behind her and lean into her neck just to smell that sweet savory smell that always lingered on her skin. It was like I'd done it a thousand times before, and the way my body craved to be near her was the second part of my daily routine.

"It's almost ready," she told me.

No one had ever cooked for me except Angelia. In the past couple of years, it had always just been me. I wouldn't complain because I enjoyed being alone, yet the thought of waking up to breakfast being made for every single day wasn't as revolting as I thought it'd be.

"You didn't have to do this," I told her, making my way over to her. I shouldn't have done that. I should've stayed exactly where I was because being near her just did something to me every single time.

She turned to look at me with her beautiful almond shaped eyes. There was a small smile on her full lips as her brown skin glistened like caramel. "You let me stay here last night... it's the least I can do, Sasha."

I hadn't been called Sasha for so long. She brought that name back out of me along with thousands and thousands of memories that came along with it. She had her curls tucked away into a bun and one fell down in front of her face to touch her lips, and my eyes fell to her lips just to see it.

"There's other ways to repay me," I said huskily. The thoughts of all the dirty things I wanted to do to her came to mind, and just like that, I was turned on.

"Sasha..." she drawled out with an eye roll. I took a step closer to her, and instead of taking one step back, she placed her hand on my chest to push me away.

"You remember our first kiss?" I asked her with a smirk, placing my hand on either side of her waist. She became weak with her reluctance as she allowed me to pull her closer.

"Uh, yeah," she muttered shyly.

"We used to always kiss, Evie," I reminded her. "поцелуй."

"It was more innocent back then," she tried to justify. I could tell I was making her nervous, but I could also tell I was turning her on.

"Not to me." I chuckled darkly.

She looked me in my eye. They were far darker than before as she stared at me. I knew that look. I knew I had her exactly where I wanted her.

"Kiss me," I demanded. Her gaze dropped from my eyes to my lips. I wanted—no, needed—to feel her lips on mine again.

Before she could do anything, my phone began to ring from the couch. It wasn't getting a phone call that concerned me, it was the ringtone I specifically set up for my boss that did. There was also a loud sizzle coming from the food that she still had on the stove. I released her like she had just burned me and headed over to my phone. And just like that, as every bit of turned on that I was, it went away the moment I saw Siciliano's assistant calling me.

"What?" I barked into the phone.

"Kayo," the voice of my boss came through the line. It wasn't like him to call from his assistants phone, he always got his annoying ass assistant to speak on his behalf. The fact that it was him speaking to me was unsettling.

"Sir?" I said. Everleigh, turned to me, so I quickly made my way into my room where I shut and locked the door. I didn't need her listening in on the conversation.

"I've been getting some of my men to watch over you—making sure you're doing exactly as I asked with the girl. I was very pleased to have been informed she's staying with you," he said. I knew that son of a bitch was watching me. I also knew that they were watching her as well.

"Not for long. She only stayed last night, that's all," I explained. I needed her gone whether we found her a nice hotel, or she stayed with a fine relative—anything was better than here.

"No, that's not all. She stays with you until the fight. I've already informed Kyle's team and they're very riled up to get her. You don't take that girl out of your sight. Don't forget what we have riding on this, Kayo," Siciliano stated.

I sighed.

"I don't want to do it. I grew up with her, I'm not going to bet her life like she's nothing," I explained.

There was a loud chuckle on the other side of the phone. "Sure you will. For every week that she stays with you until the fight, I will personally pay you $5000."

That was more money I could give to my brothers. More resources I could provide for them.

"If she gets in Kyle's hands, he will keep her. Whether you want to bet the fight on her or not. I need her as a bet. There's too much money on the line here," Siciliano said. "I'll keep in touch, and don't forget that I'm always watching her, Kayo. If you don't do it, I'm not afraid to take it into my own hands."

With that, he hung up the phone.

"Fuck!" I yelled, slamming my phone down on the bed. I slammed my fist into the wall once before doing it again as my breathing grew heavy and my adrenaline went pumping.

There was a soft knock on the door that interrupted my fury.

"Sasha, are you okay?" she asked me. I unlocked the door and quickly pulled it open.

"Why the fuck did you have to go to that damn fight, Everleigh?" I yelled. She looked taken aback by my outburst as she wrapped her arms around herself as if she were cold and needed to keep herself warm.

Seconds turned into minutes with her just looking at me as if I were insane. Maybe I was, who the fuck knew?

"The food's ready, and I think I'm going to go. I asked my dad to stay over for the night, so I'll stay there and then get a hotel tomorrow. Thanks, again," she muttered.

I wanted her to leave, but at the same time, I didn't only Siciliano's words kept playing out in my mind. "No, you can stay here. I'm sorry, I just lost my temper."

"It's fine, really," she said. I watched as she began to walk out of my apartment, but before she could leave, I grabbed ahold of her wrist and pulled her closer to me.

"Evie, I'm sorry. Please, you can stay with me until you get back on your feet. I don't want you at a hotel," I explained. "Please."

She seemed to think about it. "I don't want to be a burden."

"I love having you here," I said. It was probably the most perfect string of words because a small smile came across her face.

"Okay, just for a week," she told me. I nodded my head.

It wasn't going to be a week. I had to make it three months of just me and her. No mistakes, or I would lose everything.

—

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