The Place Where

by Rodion Pretis

  “I can come to an agreement with Kayden,” the woman crouched over the armrest of her brother's chair. “I have something to offer him.”

  “Sai, no,” the man shook his head, trying to get rid of the effects of alcohol. “I will never be ready to pay such a price.” I love you too much, sister. Don't worry, it will pass.

  “Symi, don't lie to yourself,” Sai hugged Brother.

  “I'll think of something, petty,” Simeon encouraged.

  - Maybe if you help the team get it back, then you will have some chance.

  “I'll think about it,” neon promised, “but not today.” First I need a good night's sleep. Such things are better to think soberly.

  Having achieved the promise of her brother to go to bed, the woman went to her room. And the man once again thanked all the gods for having such a wonderful sister. After their conversation, he had a strange feeling that it could still work out well for him. “So, what is hope,” Simeon chuckled in surprise, instantly moving into his own bedroom ...

  * * *

  Alexei slowly drifted on the waves of dreams, basking in such a familiar embrace ... But it dawned on her that it was really strong male arms that embraced her, and she opened her eyes sharply meeting Kayden's witching gaze.

  “Hi,” he smiled and touched her lips with a light kiss.

  “Hi,” the girl was slightly confused by his pressure.

  - How did you sleep? - Neon's eyes radiated warmth and tenderness.

  - Good ...

  “I'm glad,” the man smiled slyly and began to slowly kiss her palm.

  “Kai, stop it,” Alex asked, not knowing how to behave with him, because he had recently nearly died in her arms. - Stop it, please.

  “You like it ...”

  - Kayden.

  “Make me,” he grinned, and returned to the momentarily interrupted occupation.

  “I barely saved you,” the girl tensed, wondering what to do in order not to harm him. “Please stop.”

  “I'm already fine.”

  - Sure?

  “Yes,” he smiled dazzlingly and tried to kiss her, but she twisted out of his arms and quickly slipped out of bed.

  “That's how it is,” the cheekbones sharply appeared on the neon's face, and his eyes went out: he impetuously sat down and turned pale - the wounds were still vexing.

  “God, what are you doing?” Alexei sighed heavily and sat down on the bed next to the man. “You can't get up yet.”

  - Alyosha ...

  “My name is Alexei,” she corrected mechanically, carefully checking the dressings. - Heals well, but we need to do a dressing.

  “That's how it is,” he breathed and froze, literally turning into a statue.

  - Does it hurt? - the girl was alarmed.

  - Yes ...

  “I'll bring the pills now,” she wanted to get up, but he held her hand.

  “They will not help,” the neon raised her eyes, full of pain and despair. “It hurts me,” he pressed her hand to his chest across from his heart.

  “Kayden,” Alexei felt her heart skip a beat under her arm.

  “Not even Kai ... And when she kissed, she called Kai ... and asked to call Alyoshka.”

  “Kayden, don't.”

  - After all, only a little more than a day has passed. Was everything pretense then? I don't believe ... I don't want to believe ... - the man jerked her to him, not paying attention to the sharp pain, lightning reminiscent of serious injuries, and clung to her lips in a kiss .. .

  Chapter 26

  As soon as their lips met, the whole world disappeared ... a kiss ... a gentle, passionate ... hot ... light moan and a kiss again ... her fingers were lost in his hair ... his hands seemed to be everywhere ... her body pressed against his ... groan ...

  “Alyosha,” a hot breath burned his neck ... “say yes,” the man prayed, showering the girl with kisses, “please, say yes ...”

  “Stop,” she could barely whisper to Alexei, returning to reality with difficulty. “Please, Kai, stop.”

  He allowed himself another kiss, and then, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth, released her from his arms. A few moments passed, and he heard her get up.

  “Don’t leave,” he breathed, opening his eyes and catching her gaze.

  “Kai, this cannot go on,” the girl sank into a chair with a sigh. - It is not right ...

  “Why,” the neon was surprised. - We are drawn to each other. So why could this be wrong?

  “You know, pulling for me is not an argument,” Alexey firmly met his gaze and added. - I was drawn to Simeon.

  - What? He shuddered, as if she had hit him. “But then ... why?”

  “Why didn't you give in to him?” - the girl smiled sadly. “So I hate self-confident impudent people who think that they can do anything, and just wave the girl with a finger, and she's ready for anything.” It infuriates me! - Kayden prudently said nothing, realizing that he himself behaved no better at their first meeting. “Why did I let you kiss you for the first time?” I was tired, exhausted, and I was expecting Simeon, and you ... you just overwhelmed me ... And about the fact that I kissed you - she blushed slightly and momentarily faltered - when I came to your senses, it wasn't I'm completely ... I don't even know how to explain it ...

  “I understand,” his eyes looked like mirrors, behind which a carefully hidden storm of emotions was raging. - Answer me, only honestly. Is that what you told me before you asked me to kiss - is that true?

  “Yes,” she breathed out after a little hesitation and lowered her eyes. “I really like your kisses,” the man felt a glimpse of happiness, but then she looked up at him and finished him off. “But that does not mean that I will let you kiss myself.”

  - What ?! - to say that he had a shock - to say nothing. “But it's ... inconsistent ...”

  “Women are generally inconsistent,” the girl shrugged lightly.

  “You want to say that you like my kisses, and you feel the attraction between us,” he tried to put in her head what she said, neon, “but at the same time you will tell me each time not?”

  - Exactly.

  “Even if it is a very small kiss?” - just in case, he decided to clarify.

  - Yes, you understood everything correctly.

  - Daden! - Kayden with a force hit his hand on the bed and froze: a sharp pain in his chest caught his breath.

  “Kai,” she pulled toward him to help.

  - No! He jerked away from her hands. - Do not touch.

  “You're hurt ...”

  “I will survive it,” he grinned grimly, “but your touch ...”

  “Kai, don't be a child,” Alexey frowned, opening her large medicine cabinet. “You have blood and you need help.”

  “Alyosha, can you even imagine what your touches are doing to me,” the man whispered faintly, clenching his hands into fists and forcing herself to remain motionless when she started dressing.

  The girl raised her head for a moment, looked into his eyes and, without saying a word, returned to his wounds.

  “I imagine ...” her answer was heard, “the same as yours with me ...”

  * * *

  Alexei quietly left the bedroom and literally instantly ended up in the arms of the Destroyer.

  - Something happened, Shi? - the girl was perplexed.

  “I'm so glad ...” He hugged her even more tightly for a moment, and then he let go with a sigh. “I'm so glad you came back.” Are you all right?

  “It's all right, Shi,” Alex smiled softly at her friend. “I'm really fine.” Do not worry so much.

  - We didn't find a place for ourselves ...

  “Especially the Destroyer,” the Player slightly pricked, entering the room and also hugging the girl. - Welcome back.

  “Don’t listen to him,” the guys pulled themselves up to the sound of her voice, joining their arms with smiles.

  “We were all crazy,” the Wolf forced himself to let go of Alexei. “Don't scare us like that anymore.”

&
nbsp; “I will try,” she answered honestly, and suddenly she was raised by someone's strong hands into the air, and this someone quickly swirled her.

  “Put where you took it,” the girl asked, but they did not obey her, and then she moaned. - My head is spinning ... I feel bad ...

  “Sorry,” Anastas instantly put the slyly smiling girl on the floor. - How are you?

  “It worked,” her lips spread uncontrollably into a broad smile. - I bought it.

  - Uh ...

  “Good to see you, Anastas,” the laughter still sparkled in Alexey's eyes.

  “Is she always like that?” - He slammed his eyes, watching the attempts of dei to restrain laughter and clearly realizing that he was simply played out.

  - Yeah. Yeah. And then ... - that was all that the men who were already frankly laughing in a voice could tell him in response.

  - Well, feel better? - bowing her head to one shoulder, the girl asked.

  “Yes ...” said the Wolf thoughtfully. - But how?

  “Everything is simple,” she shrugged, “laughter relieves tension.” This is a proven fact.

  Alexei watched the men and realized that they somehow stepped over the usual framework of a team formed for some kind of game. Now these were partners who understood each other perfectly, ready at any moment to cover their friend's back. It was already a team, and the team with a capital letter ... In addition, she felt that in her absence, the Wolf moved away from the role of the second commander, and the Destroyer took his place. And the team has become more than one person. But the most interesting was that so far Alex has remained its leader.

  - Well, note the infusion of Anastas in our team? - the girl suggested easily.

  “Easy,” her men said.

  “Only better in the evening?” - the Destroyer tried to make adjustments. - Today is another reception at the hotel. And we are all invited.

  “Dancing ...” Her eyes flashed dreamily. “So who will go with me for the dress?”

  And after this phrase, she hardly restrained the laughter tearing out at the sight of men who had suddenly turned pale from the prospect of a long shopping, who suddenly had urgent business. But the Destroyer was not so modest and had fun from the heart, listening to the confused explanations of friends who looked imploringly at him and trying to quickly retreat. When only Alexei and the Destroyer remained in the living room, she turned and looked at him questioningly.

  “Of course I will go with you, kitten,” he answered through her laughter to her unspoken question.

  “Thank you, Shi,” she was so sincerely glad of his company, that impulsively hugged him and smacked him on the cheek, “you're perfect.”

  * * *

  The shopping trip did not take much time. Alex insisted on visiting Kiryak's salon, where she chose another dress for herself, in which she looked like a completely ethereal creature.

  “How glad I am to see you, my dear,” Kiryak literally glowed with happiness, touching the girl's fingertips with a kiss. “I have already begun to fear that something happened to you ...” His gaze suddenly became firm and penetrating, and his voice was absolutely serious. “I'm glad I was wrong ... very happy ..."

  The instant transition from his frivolous behavior and constant easy flirting to absolute seriousness and vice versa gave rise to a sea of questions and posed the fact that Kiryak was not at all what she was trying to look like.

  - Kiryak ... - the girl tried to ask a question.

  “My dear, accept this dress from me as a gift,” the man continued to behave as if nothing had happened, as if there was not that moment of truth, “you are a real angel in him ...”

  “Kiryak,” Alex grabbed by the forearm, trying to get out of the man and looked into his eyes.

  “Nothing will be hidden from you, Alexei,” he sighed fatefully and discarded the game: now it was not a sweet fashion designer, but a warrior. And this could not be changed either by exotic slanting eyes with long eyelashes, nor by high chiseled cheekbones, nor by long luxurious hair ...

  “I have not found a place for several days,” his eyes turned almost black, “since I felt that the jumpsuit that was supposed to protect you was dead ...”

  “I don't understand ...” the girl's surprise knew no bounds.

  “It's good that they didn't run away after my words,” his open smile was incredibly charming. “Let's talk over a cup of coffee and I think it's worth calling your friend.” By the way, here he is.

  “What, Daden, take me, is this happening?!” - The destroyer resolutely stepped into the fitting room, completely ignoring the assistant fashion designer trying to prevent this, and froze at the sight of the “new Kiryak”, and his hand instinctively reached for the gun ...

  Chapter 27

  Kayden, still not fully awake, slowly reached for Alexei, but his hand stumbled upon the void, and he abruptly opened his eyes. There was no girl in the room. He carefully sat on the bed - the wounds only ached slightly, which could not but rejoice. Trying not to make sudden movements, the man stood up and walked slowly around the room, thoughtfully touching either one or another subject. Suppressing his insistent desire to peek into the closet, he went to a small writing table, comfortably located by a carefully curtained window. Kayden lifted the heavy fabric: it was raining on the street with a dense wall, somewhere below cars and hybrids scurried about. It was obviously the afternoon.He ruffled his hair with his hand and turned to the table, in the middle of which lay a note: “I left behind the dress. Have a rest. Alyosha. " The man smiled at his thoughts and gently ran his fingers over a small leaf - she was worried about him, she was attracted to him ... well, this is a good start. He took a blank sheet and pen, marveled that the hotel had such old-fashioned things, and quickly wrote: “See you in the evening, lagoons. Kai.” Another warm smile lit up his face, but then he noticed the communicator clock casually thrown at the edge of the table and froze. He was familiar with things that seemed harmless at first glance, but in fact turned out to be something creepy.Kayden carefully lifted the device disguised as a communicator watch and frowned even harder. This product belonged to Alexander and was very similar to ... Fury sharply highlighted the cheekbones of a man and unkindly lit his narrowed eyes. “No, Alexander, you won't get it!” He thought, he resolutely put his watch in his trouser pocket and stepped towards the door ... froze for a moment, returned and, picking up Alexey's note, carefully put it in another pocket. He sighed and teleported to himself.

  The landing was tough - Kayden barely had the energy to move. After waiting until the top and bottom ceased to change places, he hardly rose from the floor of his bedroom and dragged himself to a personal cyber doctor. Although Aleksey somehow managed to save him by some miracle, but not all the processes of his body were restored. However, he could wait, and everything would return to normal by itself, but the man absolutely did not want to waste time. The cyberdoc did not become popular, despite the almost limitless possibilities of use and only two drawbacks. If it was still possible to put up with the bulkiness of the system itself, then the complete absence of anesthesia in the process of diagnosis and treatment outweighed all its advantages. Atthe testing stage, many people died from pain shock, then from painkillers, toxins ... In general, it was not possible to solve the problem of pain relief. But Kayden didn't scare the pain, he knew firsthand what it was, and therefore, taking a few deep breaths, he resolutely entered the cyber doctor's cell and launched the body restoration program ...

  * * *

  Alexander nervously paced the huge living room of his new country mansion, trying to figure out where he had miscalculated. Having collected a team of earthlings for Simeon, the man decided to leave the city, so that no one would even think that he exerts influence on the team commander. But time passed, and Alexei was in no hurry to call him, although according to his calculations this should have happened a long time ago. He regularly received information from his informants regarding the actions of dei. He even called Xander and “congratula
ted him” on losing to some girl, at the same time mentally applauding her. He was also pleased with the first successfully executed contracts.But the information about the fact that the dugout carries the works of Kiryak, the man was extremely alert. Another unpleasant surprise for him was the loss of Simeon's bet, as a result of which he lost the ownership of the team's contract, and to understand who the current owner of the team did not come out of. This unnerved, and even more unnerved, the assumption that Kayden now owns the contract of earthlings. For Alexander, Kayden was the worst option. Previously, they had already collided several times, and Alexander could hardly survive after that. They talked a lot about Kayden, but there was practically nothing concrete, nevertheless, everyone agreed that he was strong, ruthless, tough, calculating and forgiving nothing.At the mere thought that his particular communicator watch might end up with Kayden, Alexander felt sick. Then his secret communicator squeaked, notifying of the message. The man impatiently uploaded a strange advertising photo, which, after being processed by a decoder, was transformed into one word “Kayden”. Alexander went cold, his worst fears were confirmed. Now you could forget about Alexei, Kayden is very greedy for everything unusual, and the girl is unique in this regard. The man nervously ran through his hair and laughed hoarsely, he had an idea how not only to survive, but also to finally get rid of the hated enemy. His calculating brain immediately began to calculate options, in each of which the dugout played a key role ...