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  The night came so fast and I was beaten. I was so tired. I took a shower and put my pajamas on. Said my prayers and headed for bed. It felt nice to finally be home at a decent hour. To be home. I actually missed it. Just being at my house. Some people take it for granted but I actually enjoyed it. I felt good. Tomorrow I have plans to work on my recipe. I'm thinking my favorite lasagna recipe I created on my own. But maybe I should go with something new for the sample I have to present for the scholarship.

  I didn't realize when I fell asleep. It just happened that hadn't happened in a while. But I did know what woke me up and the realization that it wasn't a dream that it was real was scarier than anything I had ever experienced even with Ross. What woke me up was the smell of...

  Smoke.

  Chapter 5.

  Eden POV

  Smoke!!!

  What the hell was going on around here? I thought to myself.

  Maybe it was nothing. Maybe mom or dad left something burning in the kitchen. But when I opened the door, I realized it wasn't something small. The huge blaze of smoke came rushing inside my room like a force of nature. Making me cough instantly.

  My first thought was my family. I rushed past the smoke and went inside the first room I found. My brother's room. I couldn't see much but I did see his bed was empty. Thank goodness!

  "EDEN!" I heard my name from the distance.

  "EDEN GET OUT OF THERE!" again I heard someone shout. But I couldn't move. The smoke was making my eyes hurt and my head pound. I couldn't see anymore. I couldn't hear anymore. I couldn't stand anymore...

  ROSS POV

  I watched how Earl carried her fainted body out of the house. And my heart stopped for a minute. Was she dead? The fire wasn't supposed to be this big. It was supposed to be something small to scare them, but Rock and the boys made many mistakes. I would kill them for it.

  "Bossman we're sorry we didn't mean for the fire to get that big...we was just..."

  "If anything happens to her is your life! And your family's life" I didn't let Rock finish. He was like my brother one of the only men I trusted with my life but if anything, bad happened to my Eden he will pay.

  I couldn't go near there, or it would become too suspicious but that be damned I needed to hold her and make sure that she was okay. I rushed out of the black van and ran to her as fast as I could. Her beautiful face was covered in black smoke. She had inhaled a lot. Finally, the ambulance got there. I was getting ready to take her to the hospital myself. Her family came rushing to her side. All of them okay.

  "Why didn't you get out of there Eden?" Her brother asked.

  "Maybe she was looking for you guys knowing her. Always putting herself last" I said furiously.

  Why the fuck didn't she climb out her window and forget about everyone else. They all made it out as soon as they smelled the smoke but not her! No, she had to run after them. Like a fool!

  I held her close. The paramedics took her from me, and I didn't want to let her go. I made to go in with them, but they told me to stay. Her whole family got in the ambulance and off it went. I got in the van and told one of my men to get to the hospital as soon as possible there was only one in our town. So, I knew where they were taking her. My heart outside of my chest. I've done many bad things in my life hurt many people, but this was the first time I gave a fuck this was the first time I went too far!

  If anything happened to her, I would never live with myself. But what really scared me besides that was that I didn't know how to live without her. Before she came into my life, I was an empty loner. Sure, I had people and women constantly around me but no one who really understood me. I got tired of people like I get tired of the weather at times and it scared me. Seeing her helpless beautiful eyes and face that day I saved her life. She felt like she owed me, and I took advantage of all of that to keep her by my side. I didn't feel bad about it. I was an evil person. I know I went too far by sending Rock to start a fire at her house so that she won't have anywhere else to go too but stay with me. Her parents were not rich by any means. All of their money was invested in that house. I will offer them my house to stay in that way I keep Eden by me still.

  We got to the hospital before the ambulance and I waited impatiently for her to be okay. They took her to the emergency room. I waited was all I could do. They took each of her family members to get them check as well. I was glad at least all her family was okay. The doctor came out and said that she was going to be okay. Thank GOD! She just had to rest. They were going to leave her for the night to make sure that she was 100%. My heart got back in my heart.

  I left because I had to have a talk with my men. I left Earl there to guard Eden and tell her parents and siblings that they were staying at my house. It wasn't a question.

  When I got to the "hell land" the place where we made all our business and got together to discuss illegal business deals such as this. It was mine in the south of town. I was the king around here. Everyone respected me. Rock was sitting on a rock with three of my other men. Rock was my brother from another mother. I trusted him with my life. He had always been there for me.

  "Ross I am so sorry, it got out of hand. I swear the fire was supposed to be small and we were supposed to stop it, but I was so drugged, and we were so drugged and..."

  "Shut up! Rock. what you did was very irresponsible. You are lucky that nothing happened to Eden. But what happened to the house?"

  "Is... gone boss everything burned to the ground."

  I couldn't hold back my smile. My intention was not for the whole house to get burned. I swear. I just wanted to scare Eden so that she will reach out to me and ask for my help. But with the house completely gone. She was definitely going to need me now. This turned out better than I had initially expected.

  "Eden can never ever know that I gave the order to burn down her parent's house. Even if was a small fire it eventually destroyed the whole house so she can never know is that understood to everyone!"

  "YES" all the men answered back in unison. They knew not to cross me. They all respected me. We were all family. My dad started this gang twenty years ago and it was still going strong. We did a lot of deals with local drug pins and I was becoming richer by the minute. I was a much better businessman than my dad ever was. We had rules under my leadership. we don't sell to minors and we don't murder anyone. We never had. We had left people in the hospital almost dead but never dead.

  "Tell Monique to keep her damn mouth shut too or else close it for her," I told Rock.

  "she knows?" he asked surprisingly.

  A stupid mistake I had made. I was with her last night when the idea came to my head and I gave the order right away without thinking about who was listening. Rock would shut her up though if she said anything. I knew she hated Eden, but she didn't want to cross me. She knew she will lose way more than her teeth.

  "Yeah, but she won't say anything make sure of it," I said.

  I headed back to the hospital to take my guests home.

  TWO WEEKS LATER

  EDEN POV

  I was still adjusting to this new arrangement. My room was huge and beautiful. My parents were in heaven living in such a big house everyone had their own huge room. This house was bigger than my school. I had seen it before, but I mainly stayed in his room and in the kitchen now that we were living here temporarily, I had seen it more. It was truly spectacular.

  "Doing well babe?" his voice startled me, and I shook upon hearing it. It was deep and profound.

  "I'm good Ross, thank you," I said.

  "Babe, this is your house too you know that anything and I mean anything you need you need only ask feel free to do whatever you want to the house and to your room, to anything. You can sleep with me too in my room as we used too." he got so close to me as he spoke.

  "Thank you, Ross, but we are only here temporarily" The look in his eye went from happy to fury in an instant. He backed away quickly and left. Did I say something wrong? it was true my dad would find a temporary plac
e for us to live until...I had no idea what we were going to do. I mean, the house wasn't insured so we had no money to fix it or restore it. It was just gone. what a nightmare. I still had nightmares about that night. What caused that fire? nobody left anything on. How did it happen? It was all too weird, and I couldn't process things good. My phone beeped a text message.

  "Dear Miss Alicante, we hope this message finds you well. Due to the awful circumstance with your house, we have decided to extend the offer. Please if you are still interested in applying for the scholarship to attend our school please have a sample of your chosen dish by the end of next week thank you and happy cooking we will send you further instructions on where the meeting will take place."

  Oh, my goodness! this was my chance! I was so down and depressed because I thought I had lost my chance to get this scholarship due to the fire that I was so down and depressed because of it. This was more motivation for me to get back to my life. I will become a successful chef and get my family out of this mess we were in having no money. I will open our own family restaurant and it will be so successful that we will be well of. Not rich but well of better than we are now. I couldn't believe this. This was truly my chance and cooking in Ross huge kitchen was a bonus. I was so happy I had to tell Ross. He will be a bit upset due to the potential of me leaving but he will understand is for the best. I had to tell him.

  I looked for him everywhere, but he wasn't in the house. I didn't check his room because he was never there. But I did hear noises when I walked past there. I just thought it was Carol cleaning but no. The noises sounded like a woman was there and it wasn't carol's voice. I didn't hear it anymore, so I thought it was my imagination. The door was semi-opened, so I walked in there like I always had.

  I wish I hadn't

  laid on his bed was a naked Monique along with two other naked girls.

  "Oh, my goodness" I closed my eyes immediately

  "want to join?" one of the girls asked

  "No way she is a prude and still a virgin," Monique said laughing. they all laughed. I backed away covering my eyes and with tears on my face. I backed into...him

  "You okay babe?" ugh that voice! he turned me around and cleaned the tears on my cheeks with his finger. He was completely naked. From up to down all of him was visible. I had never seen him naked before. I've seen him without a shirt many times and with briefs on but never completely naked and never his...manhood. It stood up so high and pointing at me. Looking at me. I couldn't take my eyes off it. I just stared at it. Mesmerize by it. I had never seen a guy naked before. I had pictured this moment forever, but I never thought it would happen. I looked up at him and the bastard was smiling.

  Chapter 6

  Eden POV

  I stormed out of there as fast as I could. Crying. Why was I crying?

  Maybe because it hurt seeing him naked with my enemy and two other girls. He had no shame! He was supposed to be my friend have my back. He knew how much Monique had tormented me in high school and he didn't care at all. He was showing her his...manness to her! Sharing intimate moments with her! I don't know how he felt about sex or intimacy but for me, it was something sacred something beautiful a special connection between two people. Sure, you didn't have to be married to enjoy each other’s company, but I would think it meant more.

  To Ross, nothing mattered though. He lived his life careless if the sky fell down on him, he would find a way to escape it and not worry about it falling on anyone else. Because he didn't care about anyone but himself. Maybe I was being childish, but it did hurt a lot. Any other girl wouldn't hurt as much. I mean it still would. But not as much as seeing him with her.

  He didn't come after me. He just went to do his dirty deeds with the most hateful woman in all of Queensland. I hate her. I wish I could kick her ass, but she would kick mine. She was 5-foot 10 long and lean. She had tons of friends that will no doubt beat me up just as fast as she would. My sister and I weren't fighters. I didn't have any other friends. I stood no chance. Ross could put an end to all of this, but he wouldn't. He had no fears. No man stood a chance against him. He was fighting on the streets since he was eight. He had people all over people who would beat or hurt anyone on his command. He had people I had no one.

  I went to my room and shut the door. To pour out all my hurt and frustration on my pillow.

  ROSS POV

  Monique was gorgeous blond, tall any man's dream woman. In bed, she was an animal. Almost as equally thirsty and hungry as me. We shared the same sexual passion. She could last with me all night. She didn't mind sharing me with her friends and I shared her with mine. It was an equal sexual understanding.

  Why did Eden react that way? Yes, she and Monique had disagreements. She would tell me how Monique always bothered and bullied her in school, but it was nothing too serious. Monique always said it was to toughen her up. Make her tougher and less sensible and vulnerable. I agreed. In this world vulnerable, sensible people like Eden stood no chance. They wouldn't make it.

  I will go and talk to her in a minute.

  "Ross" Rock came storming in the room. He had seen and done things with Monique already, so it didn't matter. If I was bedding Eden it will be totally different, I will cut off anyone's head that came in like that. She was only mine.

  "What is it Rock?"

  "Problems boss Stoner and his gang are back"

  "WHAT?!" Stoner knew better than to come back here. After he and I got into the biggest fight of my life and he went to jail for it for his life he was never to set foot here and return. I got out thanks to my dad having connections with the police. Stoner spent 10 years in prison he swore vengeance and now he was back.

  "Ross, I think we should call more of our boys for this one Stoner seems more dangerous than ever and more full of hate, he also recruited some other gang members from prison."

  "I don't give a shit Rock; I have never ever backed out of a fight of any sort and I am not going to start now!" I got up as fast as I could I got dressed and headed out. To find Stoner.

  I had forgotten all about Monique. I just left her there. Who cares she could fend for herself?

  I had way more important fish to fry up.

  EDEN POV

  He was gone. Ross just stormed out of the house with his bodyguard and left without a word. He didn't tell me anything. He didn't come after me to try and see how I was feeling, after all, he was the cause of my despair, but did he care? Of course not. Why would he?

  I had no idea what to do with the rest of my day. I usually went with Ross everywhere he went but lately since our house caught fire and I was living in his house he didn't take me anywhere he went anymore. My parents were out trying to talk to lawyers about what they could do but they had no money to afford a really good lawyer. So that was a waste. There was nothing that could be done. Or was there? Maybe Ross could let us borrow the money to fix our house. But he hadn't offered so I didn't dare to ask. As I was sitting there in the middle of the large curved staircase, I fell someone push me. I got up immediately and turned. Of course, I should've known.

  Monique!

  "What are you even doing here pest?"

  She was so evil.

  "I live here in case you have forgotten"

  "Don't you get embarrassed living off of Ross like a... pest waiting for him to notice you, to even give you a slight of kingdom to hold your hand through life"

  "What are you talking about Monique...?"

  "He feels sorry for you when we are making love every night and day, he sometimes says how he wishes that he could just throw you to the wind. Let it fly you away from his life. But he feels responsible for you because you can't do anything on your own you are just a waste"

  "Ross says all that?" I fell the tears starting to form coming down like waterfalls down a river.

  "Yup, we have heard it too"

  "Even we feel sorry for you and we don't even know you," two of Monique friends said. Maddie and Montana. The three Ms., Of course, they knew me. They al
ong with Monique made my life miserable.

  "How can you hear it if Monique said they say that when they are..." The words couldn't come out.

  "Making love" she laughed. They laughed.

  "She can't even say it. Bet she's never even said the word sex before"

  "Bet she has no idea what that is" hahaha hahaha laughter.

  I felt like I was back in high school being tormented over and over again. It was three against one. I couldn't fight her. I just couldn't. My brother and sister were not here either. I was alone.

  "To answer your pathetic question and this might be too much for your little virgin ears, but Maddie and Monty are there with us too. Ross takes turns with us one minute he's doing me the next he is doing Maddie and..."

  "ENOUGH!!" I couldn't take it anymore!

  This was too much!

  "Oh, what's the problem? Too dumb to understand how sex is?"

  "I don't care about that!" I said shouting.

  "Oh, my goodness Moann she is in love with Ross," Maddie said to Monique

  "She's right why didn't we see it before?" Monty said.

  "Maybe because she is too invisible for him to notice her as nothing more than his leach who is always tagging along with everything he does!" Monique said.

  "He asks me to go with him places that's why I go"

  "Oh, please pest! He only does it because he feels sorry for you! don't you understand that he feels sorry because you are nothing to him and he feels like you might do something crazy and then he's responsible"

  "He's not responsible for me! He is nothing to me just like I'm nothing to him!" I said running down the stairs and out the door.

  I don't know how, but I was going to get out of this house and out of Ross's life forever! Since I meant nothing to him, and he only felt responsible for me as if I was his child instead of his woman. But what was I thinking? I was never his woman! I was still a virgin for crying out loud. He saw me as a child. He didn't see me as a woman.