Chapter 18

***Levi***.

She opened the door to her apartment and flicked on the lights. There on her sofa I sat, my eyes fiercely locked with hers. Glaring, unwavering. She stifled a yelp, her eyes darting for refuge. She turned back to open the door, so she could run out, but my next words stilled her.

"One step out that door, Kenya and your whole world will come crashing down." I promised, my voice unrecognizable to me.

Somehow it wasn't the threat I guess, that chilled her and stopped her. Rather, the tone I said it. I had been all sweet and cuddly. But this time, I was *me*.

Kenya turned to face me, very slowly, and stood there. *Good girl*. I felt her tremble, as I closed the distance between us. Our eye contact, unwavering.

I loomed over her, staring down at her. Cold. Expressionless. Menacing. I could smell her tremble. I liked it. My hair and body still felt wet from the rain, which I braced coming here. But I didn't mind all that. My only thought was getting this over and done with. I am sure she wondered how I got into her apartment? *Well, I had my ways.* I smiled darkly.

"You weren't supposed to hear what Blake said about Hank. That was carelessness on his part." I explained, my voice shaky. She stared awkwardly at me. Then impulsively, she asked.

"Are you going to kill him too?" She put her palm over her mouth, instantly. Her eyes held fear. Perhaps chiding herself for speaking her thoughts. I didn't answer, I only stared deeply at her. My silence was unnerving, even to me. But at this rate, I couldn't determine my next actions. I needed to cool down. I couldn't lose her. That was out of the fucking question.

"There was never a fire, was there?" She asked, holding my gaze. I silently watched her, battling within herself. Decrypting things. Tears rolled down her eyes, as realization hit her. But I only watched. Listened.

"And all those images I told you I continued to have after the surgery They weren't dreams, like you convinced me to believe, were they? You knew all along about HankYou" She trailed off, afraid to speak the next words that lingered on the tip of her tongue. I could sense it. I read it in her. Her body language said it all.

"You paid a place for me. You paid Dave for me to dance tonight." She revealed. I was startled a little at those words, but my eyes remained on her. *Who had told her that? That Dave? I knew he was all balls and no brains. S*ilence ensued. She broke it first, her voice firm.

"You aren't who you claim to beI want you gone. Away from me. Here. This is the gift you sent tonight." She scrambled in her bag and provided the red, velvet box I had sent out to her earlier. I shifted my eyes to the box and back to her. It was hers to keep. Complete with the certificate of ownership. Something dark crossed my features, as we locked gazes and I think she noticed it.

"I am afraid I can't let you go, Kenya." I confessed, coldly. I chuckled bitterly, ignoring her frightened expression.

"You see, I am never letting you go, Kenya. You are mine."

"I do not belong to you, Levi." She retorted, sharply, her eyes wide.

"Oh but you do, Darling. And, in regard to this," I shifted closer, my eyes boring into her. Grinning devilishly. "I have put on hold the renovations concerning Claudine's dance school." I smiled. She looked at me, confused. Fear gripped her.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because until you are fully mine, I won't conclude the project, and you will be out of work You and your other colleagues there."

"Butthat's horrible. You can't do that." She cried, horrified. I chuckled bitterly.

"Oh I can, baby. And I have."

"Please, Levi. You can't Please don't do thispeople will suffer" She scrambled to say, desperately.

"Oh, not only them. I also intend to have every dance establishment bluff you, and everyone that works in that little dance school. And Claudine, I have evidence against her with the authorities." I smirked.

"What evidence?" She asked, puzzled.

"Evidence about how she blackmailed her husband into giving her that generous alimony. Conning her insurance company." I watched her and smirked. Horror etched on her face.

"You can't LeviYou would ruin her." Tears spilled down her beautiful eyes. I could and I would. But she didn't know that. The hurt look in her eyes, killed me. But I ignored the nudging ache. Desperation driving me to the brink.

"I can. I have. Even your brother in law, Alan Preston; the movie producer and his wife, Amanda; the Beverly Hills jewelry designer. I have evidence of their gross, business misconduct. All their tax evasions. Every, damned, dirty detail."

She gasped. "Levi, please...Please. My mum would be"

"Heart broken. Shattered. You are correct. She'd be crushed." I finished.

She stifled a sob, tears rolling down.

I knew what she thought. A despicable, black guard. But I had my reasons. I was no saint. No one was. But I had long embraced my darkness. An undeniable truth. This was me that I had tried to shield her from. But she forced my hand. She stared into my eyes. Watching me, her heart wrenched. I wasn't as kind.

"What can I do to stop you?" She muttered, helplessly. Her breath shaky. I leaned down, dangerously, my breath so close to her.

My tone foreboding, I whispered. "You have from now till next Saturday to meet me at my chosen location, or I would make a call and everything would happen as I have said."

Kenya stared, perplexed. She searched my eyes, anxiously. "Meet you for what?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I smiled, devilishly. She shook her head.

"Marry me and I would make the big bad wolf, disappear."