Chapter 5 KITO

KITO.

I leaned against the dark corner of Renee's apartment, lying in wait. I let the shadows cloak me as the muffled sound of running water came from the bathroom. My mind, though, was a different story altogether.

How had she known it was me?

I replayed the moment over and over, unable to make sense of it. The black mask had been perfect. My voice hasn't betrayed me. There had been no slip-ups, nothing to give her reason to suspect. Yet, the second her eyes locked onto mine, she knew.

Seb had managed to get away-typical of the spineless bastard. Not that I had planned to kill him tonight. Injuring him just enough to send a message had been the goal. But Seb had run like the coward he was, leaving Renee behind without a second thought. I wasn't surprised.

Once the scene cleared, I'd made my way here to Renee's new apartment. Picking the locks was laughably easy, and as I worked, I made a mental note to either get her better locks or do it myself. I couldn't have her this vulnerable-not when I couldn't be here to protect her every second. At least, in Seb's mansion, there was ample security.

The water shut off, and I straightened, folding my arms as he waited. Soon, Renee emerged from the bathroom, her damp hair framing her face. She was dressed in pajama pants and a tank top, her soft figure illuminated by the kitchen light. I tsked internally as she moved toward the fridge, completely oblivious to her surroundings.

No awareness. No survival instincts.

She made herself a sandwich with mechanical precision, her mind clearly elsewhere. When she finally turned and spotted me, her reaction was visceral. The fear in her wide eyes, the way her plate clattered onto the table as she raised her hands in surrender-it twisted something inside me that I didn't want to acknowledge.

"I-I didn't do anything," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I don't know anything, I swear. Please, I won't say a word!"

She looked ready to bolt, her chest rising and falling with quick, shallow breaths.

I slowly approached them, tossed the envelope and keys onto the table with a flick of my wrist. Her eyes darted to the items, recognition flashing across her face. But when I reached up and yanked off my mask, I saw something else-something that made my chest tighten.

She wasn't shocked. Surprised, yes, but not completely.

"Kito," she whispered, the name hanging between us like a fragile thread.

I ignored the way her voice sounded when she said my fake name, choosing instead to focus on finding the first-aid kit. I needed a distraction-something to pull my attention away from how her tank top clung to her, the faint outline of her nipples visible through the thin fabric.

Once I found the kit, I grabbed a chair and sat beside her. Not waiting for her response, I began cleaning the shallow bullet grazes on her arm.

Renee hissed at the sting but didn't pull away. Instead, she stared at me, her gaze intense and searching.

I was annoyed with myself for letting it happen. I should've been faster, should've ensured she was safe before focusing on Seb.

Her scent filled the air-soft and alluring-and I clenched my jaw to keep my focus. "What were you doing down there tonight, Renee?"

She blinked, startled by the question. "The theater belongs to my family...," she began, but I cut her off.

"I know that," I snapped, my eyes locking onto hers. "However ,you haven't visited in years. Why tonight?"

She hesitated, glancing at the envelope and keys on the table. "Seb was handing it over to me," she said finally. "As a parting gift." I paused, his hands stilling as anger bubbled beneath the surface. "A divorce gift," she added, her tone bitter.

My gaze darkened. "So why," I asked, his voice low and lethal. "the hell, didn't you run to save yourself and abandon him?"

Her lips parted, but no words came out. I watched her struggle, her brows furrowing as she looked down at her lap in shame.

Finally, she whispered, "I couldn't just let him die." Her voice cracked, but she continued. "Even though he had no problem doing the opposite to me..."

Her words struck something deep within me. I stared at her, wondering how someone like her-someone so pure and kind-could survive in a world as dark and cruel as this.

"You're too good for this world," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. I finished wrapping the bandage around my arm and leaned back in my chair.

Renee bit her bottom lip, her teeth tugging at the soft flesh. "How?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Why? Why are you doing this, Kito?"

I exhaled sharply, standing to my full height. "You need to keep your mouth shut," I said, my tone hard. "Say nothing about what you saw tonight. Not to anyone."

She flinched at the harshness of my words, curling in on herself. But then, to my surprise, she straightened her spine and looked me in the eye. "I'm not a mindless toy," she said shakily. "If you want me to keep quiet, then answer me. Tell me the truth."

Despite the boldness of her words, I could see the slight tremble in her hands. A wave of anger rose in me-not at her, but at Seb. That bastard had reduced this magnificent woman to someone who doubted her own strength.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Fine," I said, my voice softening slightly. "I'm an agent. I've been working undercover for years to bring Seb down. His entire operation is rotten to the core."

Her eyes widened. "You're a spy?"

I shrugged. "Essentially."

Her gaze shifted, her expression conflicted. "Are you... are you going to kill him?"

"Most probably," I said coldly, not sugarcoating the truth.

She looked disturbed, her brows knitting together as she processed my words. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then she took a deep breath and said, "I'll keep this a secret. With my life."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's the catch?"

Renee hesitated, her fingers twisting together nervously. Then she tilted her chin and said with determination, "You'll help me bring Westbridge Theatre back to life."