"I'm 18."

My mouth moved on its own.

I call that shock. 

Shock that I was in the VG's lair. I had heard about them on the news a while back. They were a drug cartel that spread throughout most of East Asia, and their leader was known as the Kingpin of the East. Hell, I should've known the second I saw Ray. There was something about him, even something about this place that was just too grand to be legitimate. They had to be laundering money or doing whatever to produce clean money in the eyes of the law.

The craziest part was, even knowing all this and honestly fearing for my life at that very moment, I still stood firm.

Yahiko smiled at my answer, "Good, I'm not in the business of working with juveniles. It gets too messy."

Messy...what did he mean by that? However, my nerves got the best of me and my mouth didn't react with my mind.

Yahiko began to light a cigar, eyeing me. "Ray tells me you're going to college soon."

He put the cigar in his mouth, inhaling and closing his eyes. He exhaled as the sweet cedar aroma caught in my nostrils. I wasn't a fan of smoke, but I wasn't against it either. However, the longer I stood in his snare, the more unsettled I became.

"How much is your tuition?"

"Uh...what?"

This time my mouth responded with my thoughts.

Ray folded his arms, eyeing me. "Your tuition, how much will it cost you? I'm sure you can't afford it on your own."

I laughed, throwing them both off guard. It wasn't intentional, instead it was more out of fear. Why would mobsters want to employ me? A nobody artist? What's their game?

"What are you going to do? Pay it off for me?"

Yahiko didn't seem thrilled with my response. The irritation was there but it didn't show in his voice.

"We're not a charity, Niko," his eyes latching onto me once more, "what I'm offering you is a job. Five paintings a week, the sizes will vary, and that information will be provided to you on a weekly basis. If you agree to that, I'll compensate you."

Five paintings a week? My heart began to slow as I looked into his mesmerizing gaze. He was offering me a job. He wanted me to work for him?! Yea, I needed the money...no I absolutely needed it. But, to work for the mob? And...

"Why five paintings a week? I mean...what are you going to do with them?"

"You don't get to ask those kinds of questions," Ray said, sticking his hands in his pockets, "at least not yet. I'd say it's a pretty generous offer, wouldn't you?"

"Well...I..."

I didn't want to get involved with anything nefarious. I had already lived through the sinking hellhole of a life that my parents created for me. So, why would I even agree to go back into a dog-eat-dog world. I promised myself I wouldn't fight for my life anymore. Sure, life wasn't great...but...

"Don't worry," Ray added, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder, "you won't be involved in anything. The cash is clean, so you won't be breaking any rules, and most of all...you can get out of that shitty apartment. Maybe live in the dorms like a normal kid...am I right?"

Shitty apartment...he did his research. What else...what else about me did he know? Hell, if I refused...would they...kill me?!

I shook my head for a second, taking my dark thoughts out of it. Yahiko's offer was generous. If Ray said I wouldn't be in danger and that the money was clean...I suppose there was no harm in it. And he was right, I could live in the dorms or get an apartment closer to the campus. That would be a lot nicer than where I was living now.

"Yea...ok, I'll do it."

Yahiko smiled, which was oddly nice to look at. 

"Great," he said, digging in his pocket and throwing me a burner phone, "when this rings, you answer it. When you get a text, you reply. Simple as that."

"Right." I said, looking at the black Nokia phone in my hand.

"Also, you'll be working with Kizuna from now on." Yahiko continued.

I saw Ray look over at his brother, darkness clouding his features. He looked angry but I was unsure why.

"Kizuna?!" He spat.

I didn't know the guy, but a gangster is a gangster. So, I honestly didn't care who I worked with as long as I got what I was owed and was kept out of the drama.

Yahiko sat back behind his desk, puffing on his cigar. "Yes, you've got enough on your plate. You don't need to be looking after a..."

Surprisingly, and without any notice, Ray pulled me to him and without any hesitation, his lips were on mine. My eyes flared open in confusion as his tongue inched into my mouth. I wanted to push him off, but when his cool hand slid under my shirt, I felt a tingle of satisfaction. It was almost as if he was trying to sooth me and stop me from acting out in front of his brother.

"Ah., I heard Yahiko say, unfazed, "It's like that."

As if by command, Ray let go of me. His eyes were glued to mine, they seemed serious but also intrigued. I didn't know what to make out of them...or the situation. I'd never kissed a guy in my life. I've always dated girls, but for some strange reason, the more he touched me...the more I liked it. And I was beyond dumbfounded in that moment to do or say anything else.

"Yes," Ray said, putting an arm around my shoulder, "it is."

Yahiko sighed, tapping his cigar butt on his temple. "Fine, but don't make me regret this."

Ray smiled, releasing his hold from me. "You got it, boss!"

Ray turned to me then, my mind racing so fast that I couldn't grab hold of the situation. "Time to go."

I looked from Ray to Yahiko, who seemed occupied with papers in front of him. I didn't know whether I should say bye or not, so I just bowed and left. When we got outside, the large door closed behind us as we walked towards the elevator. It was at that time that I finally felt my heart throb in my chest. 

What...what the hell was that!?

Ray suddenly stopped and I almost bumped into him. He turned to me, his expression a bit different. He wasn't smiling but he wasn't frowning either.

"Don't make a big deal of what happened back there. I only did what I did so my brother wouldn't pair you with that animal."

"Huh?"

Was he trying to say he just kissed me on a whim in order to save me?

Ray sighed, combing back his hair. "There's a lot I'll have to teach you, but first and foremost stay away from Kizuna."

Ray turned his back to me, yet again: just like the day he left me at the museum.

"He likes pretty things, and he doesn't treat them nicely."