Chapter 4 - Another Man

"Shadow, no!" Keisha shouted as the maid following them shrieked. She immediately covered her mouth and bowed her head as Keisha stepped forward to stop Shadow's outburst. He was welcomed to the mansion to visit Keisha but after he arrived, he immediately attacked Eros. He's in dangerous territory but he did not care. 

"What did you do to her?!" Shadow shouted profusely as he pinned Eros to the ground. He breathed with fury seen in his eyes. His fist and jaw clenched in anger. Eros, on the other hand, was calm. Too calm for his own well-being. 

"Shadow, stop it." Keisha bent over and grabbed his shoulder. She leaned next to his ear and whispered, "Do you want us killed? I'm incapable of combat right now." Irritated, she lightly slapped his head. He breathed heavily before letting go of Eros and standing up. 

He turned to Keisha with a concerned face before hugging her. "I regret ignoring your calls. I should've been there and this wouldn't have happened…" he whispered with a sigh of relief that she was okay. He stroked her hair and hugged her tighter. 

Keisha felt weirded out by how Eros was staring at her while this was happening. He's standing behind Shadow and staring deeply into Keisha's eyes and emotions plastered on his face. What is Shadow's role in her life that he's this concerned for her? 

"He kept you secluded in this place, a fucking dangerous man did. How the fuck can I not get worried?" he whispered with deep sighs and hugged her tightly. Eros is unpredictable and calculates his moves. If he dared to hurt Keisha, no one would have been able to stop him since she was locked here. 

"You have nothing to worry about." Her spoken words were the softest melodies to his ears as she caressed his hair. His worries turned to relief. Eros, whose blood was starting to boil, cleared his throat. Keisha gulped and looked away before letting go of her friend. 

"I'll get you out of here, you don't need to marry a man like him," he declared before rubbing her shoulders with his hands. "Continue touching her and I'll cut off your fingers," Eros whispered but the depth of his voice, only made it sound more terrifying. 

"Shadow–" She wanted to warn him but Eros stared at her. 

"If I was someone else, I would've thought the two of you were lovers." As he stepped closer, he towered over Shadow like he was a king looking down on a lowly peasant. His gaze was menacing, and his jaw was clenched. But Shadow would not back down. They are like wolves and Keisha is what they want to dominate. 

"You practically kidnapped her, you prick!" Shadow exclaimed in anger, making the mafia boss chuckle. 

"Her mother was more than delighted that she was staying here in my mansion." That woman is no mother to Keisha and hearing this from Eros does not surprise her. Of course, that bitch wants her here, she's treating Keisha as a minion that is easily disposed of. 

"You have no right"-- Shadow grabbed his collar but Keisha pushed the two men away from one another. Eros was surprised at how she easily separated them despite being bedridden for a week.

"I have no right?" Eros scoffed. "Why not tell him the news, darling?" The word 'darling' sends shivers down her spine but she can do nothing but oblige. He grinned widely while staring at the troubled woman. He knows she will struggle, he knows she would hurt him. More the reason why he wants her to tell him now. 

"Shadow– I–" She closed her eyes, trying to get the words out of her mouth. "I can explain the situation…" Shadow's heart rate increased as he anticipated what she had to say. 

Eros grew impatient and bored. He grabbed Keisha's waist and pulled her closer to him. Her eyes widened and she stared at his face. She tried pushing him away to no avail. "You shouldn't dare to touch someone else's fiancée. Especially if it's mine," he warned Shadow before looking at Keisha with such a soft gaze.  

"You're mine, darling. Don't let any other man try and take you away," he murmured sweetly as his hand traveled to her chin as he held it up to keep her gaze to only him alone. How selfish can a man be?

“She did not agree to marry you,” Shadow tried to correct him. He looked at Keisha who was unable to move. “You don’t have to do this Keisha, I already told you.” It’s as if it will be easy to refuse. Eros did save her life after all. It’s a debt that cannot be easily paid. 

“I have already signed the agreement. I will be wed to this man, the mafia boss.” She forced the words out of her mouth. He laughed with dominance before staring at Shadow’s face filled with horror and guilt. She looked down at the ground and Eros softened his grip on her. 

(If only I had stopped her, if only I had answered her calls, if only– It’s all what ifs now!) he thought to himself. 

“He saved my life, it’s a debt I can’t repay. You need not worry.” She breathed heavily. Her gaze slowly rose, meeting Shadow’s. “Please attend our wedding,” she requested with the smile of a sad bride. Eros was satisfied and the pain around him excited him more. 

“Then it’s decided, you’ll be my best man. We’ll be seeing you soon… Shadow,” Eros announced with a smirk. Eros and the woman Shadow is longing for turned around as he stood there defeated. This is all his fault, he blames himself for this mess. 

He knows she has a plan but Eros has the upper hand. She’s in his territory, eyes are all on her. A single assassin in a mansion filled with the mafia’s minions is facing death itself. For now, she needs to keep her identity concealed and not make a move. 

As they were walking away, Shadow extended her hand to reach and grab for her. She’s so near yet so far and in the hands of another man. How can the gods be so cruel? “If I was born in another life, I would want to live as a normal man.” 

This way, the people he loves wouldn’t need to suffer. 

A HARD slap across the face is what he needed to endure once he returned to the headquarters. Eros has threatened Keisha’s stepmother to take Shadow out if he dared to cross the line again. “I apologize.” He bowed his head. 

“Remember your place, Shadow. Now that she’s in their hands, one wrong move on our part is what will kill her. Create the slightest trouble and you’ll be indirectly killing Keisha.” He hates how she is right. He moved too harshly. 

“It won’t happen again.” 

“Get ready, we are invited to eat at the mansion. He specifically asked for you to be there.” She left the room and slammed the door behind her.