Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Adira’s POV

“What if I hire you as my personal bodyguard?” I asked, trying to make a great deal with Louis right here.

His brows arched before he quickly shook his head, declining my offer without even giving it a thought. I rolled my eyes at him and lost my hope.

“I'm the head of you people, Ms. Sanchez. Besides, your father won't agree, you know that well.”

My face crumpled as I frowned. “I just can't trust anyone,” yeah, I have trust issues now and they cannot blame me for that.

My father was betrayed and as a result, our clan is at its lowest point. Second, there have been a lot of spies lingering around us. It would be hard for me to hire someone and trust him. What if he is just acting up until he gets my trust and then, viola, he would eventually attack as, too.

“Adira, we will make sure that whoever you will hire is qualified and trustworthy. I got you,” he winked at me as if he was telling me that I can trust whoever he will find for me.

“Hey, the applicants are in the garden.” Ace said, standing in front of the door.

“Come on, Adira.”

For god's sake, if it is not for my father, I would not hire anyone. I can protect myself. I don't need anyone to protect me.

“What if none of them pass my standards?” I asked the two of them as we headed out of the mansion.

“I don't think one of them can reach your standards,” Ace commented. He knows me very well.

“Then we'll find more applicants,” I rolled my eyes at Louis. He won't really stop until I find one. He does whatever he's told to. I sometimes hate his loyalty towards our family, especially to my father.

“How many options do we have?” I sounded really forced with my voice.

“Five applicants,” Louis replied.

“You won't choose one, I swear.” Ace uttered as if he was so sure about it.

“Just check them,” Louis said, annoyed at the two of us.

“Everyone, Adira Dawn Sanchez is here.” Louis announced loudly as we arrived in the garden.

My eyes quickly landed on the five men who swiftly lined up in front of us. I glanced at each of them to scan them a bit with my keen eyes. I know how to read people. That's the first thing I do every time I meet a stranger.

In this Mafia world, you need that skill. You have to learn how to read someone and anticipate things that you are not expecting to happen. Your brain must think advanced.

They all have broad bodies, I could see that from their biceps and chest. I wouldn't deny that they look tough and scary, too—but I am not defending the capability of someone through appearance.

“Here is their information,” Louis handed me the papers with their photos, but I didn't accept it.

“I don't need that,” I muttered while I pinned my gaze to the five of them.

“I don't care who they are. I want to see if they can really fight and do the job,” besides, I trust Louis. I know that before he showed it to me, he already investigated each of them thoroughly.

“Should we fight with them?” Ace asked beside me.

I shook my head. “Choose one from the men, Louis. He will be the first test,” Louis quickly nodded at me as that sly smirk appeared on the side of his lips.

“Nathan, you test them.” He said and tapped Nathan’s arm as if he was very confident that they would have a hard time defeating him.

“Don't use anything to fight, use your strength and fists,” Ace commanded.

“You go first,” I pointed a finger to the first man on the line. I saw how he looked surprised when I said that. Fear ran through his eyes. I knew it, he's damn nervous.

“I would need popcorn,” Ace muttered as we sat on the chairs while watching them.

The other applicants waited beside and they all gave them a space in the middle.

Nathan stretched his arms, waiting for the man to do the first attack that would start the fight. He was not moving yet, but I could see right through his face that he was hesitant and damn scared.

“Reject him,” I mumbled.

“What? It's not even starting yet,” Louis glanced at me unbelievably.

“He's damn scared. I don't need a weak bodyguard,” I smirked.

He just has a built body, but he's acting like a kid.

The fight started when the man threw a kick to Nathan. He failed to hit him as Nathan just grabbed his feet before he could even follow it with another move.

Starting with a kick in a fight is not a good technique.

“This is boring,” Ace said.

As Nathan grabbed his feet, he quickly dragged him down, carried him like a piece of paper, and threw him on the ground.

They all started to shout, cheering Nathan. I shook my head when I saw the applicant who doesn't seem to be in a good condition anymore.

“Is that it? Nathan didn't even do a lot,” Louis commented.

“Next,” I said aloud.

“I need a bodyguard, not a damn baby to protect.” I shook my head disappointedly.

The test continued to the next applicants. The second applicant was able to defeat Nathan. Because of that, Ace went next as the second test of the application.

This man was moved. He has skills and he's good, I'm going to deny that. He's fiercer and looks fearless compared to the first applicant.

Ace kept dodging his attacks, and I knew that he was only doing that to get him tired; when he did, he would attack him. That is one of the techniques to win a battle like this.

I wasn't wrong when I noticed that he was getting tired already. He was covered with sweat and he was already panting. When Ace noticed that, he didn't waste time and quickly made his first attack, which was a punch on the man's face, followed it with a kick on his stomach until the man ended up lying on the ground, couldn't move anymore.

I shook my head with another disappointment.

“If you can't win against my brother, then you can't win against me.” I muttered.

Ace didn't even sweat from that. It was a piece of cake to him.

The next two applicants were able to defeat Nathan, too. They tried winning against Ace, but he was so good and sharp that they all failed to defeat him.

“You better find more. This is the last one,” I said to Louis. I'm getting bored already.

“This looks interesting,” Louis uttered as we both glued our eyes to the last applicant.

My head tilted while looking at him. His hair was clean cut. Those thick brows made him manly. His eyes were round, but exquisite. He has simple brown eyes, but his nose was perfectly shaped. Down to his lips, they were thick and red. He's also tall and his body looks perfectly built from working out.

My brows arched as I scanned him with my eyes. He's handsome. He looks like a damn model.

“I know what you're thinking,” Louis commented.

I knew that we were thinking the same. It would be hard to deny that he is not good looking with this expensive look he has.

The first test started with Nathan. He was able to make my lips part when he only had three moves and Nathan ended up on the ground, almost injured.

“AHHHH!” He screamed with pain.

Ace whistled beside me. “He's tough,” he mumbled.

Now, this man drew my interest.

My brother went towards him. The man’s fierce face, wearing his blank eyes, remained as he faced my brother. He was the first man who attacked Ace, who did the same thing earlier, dodging his moves. However, I saw that he was struggling with how fast the man moves.

“Shit,” I heard Ace cursed when he failed to dodge his kick and he was hit on the leg.

When I saw that Ace wouldn't be able to win against him, I quickly stood up and grabbed a dagger in my pocket.

“Adira,” Louis called, but I didn't look at him anymore.

The final test began with me. Let's see how good this man is.

Before he could even injured my brother I threw my sharp dagger in his direction as I walked towards him.

“Fuck,” I heard him say when I was able to leave a cut on his arm, where the red fluid started to show.

A small smile with satisfaction appeared on my lips when I saw that blood.

When he looked behind and our eyes crossed, I quickly gave him another cut—but this time, on his face. I witnessed how his eyes widened in surprise when I was able to do that in just a second.

He threw me punches and I dodged for a moment. When I got tired of doing that, I grabbed his fist with my hand. I wouldn't deny that I felt how strong he was.

I smirked as our gaze locked together. After that, I didn't hesitate to stretch his arm from behind before I kicked him on his back, the reason why he fell on the ground.

I thought I was about to end it and win over him. But then, before I could even corner him, he grabbed my arms.

Everything happened so fast. The next thing I knew, he was already on top of me and the dagger that I was holding earlier is now pointed at me.

He got me cornered.

They all clapped, which pulled me back together. He stood up and offered me a hand, wearing that tiny smile.

However, I refused to accept his hand and I pulled myself to the ground.

“Name,” I said coldly.

Who is he? I'm sure that he's not an ordinary man. His moves were like an assassin or perhaps, a gangster in this world.

“Chase Montereal,” he introduced.

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