“I wish I could keep you,” I said. “People like me don’t get what they want, though. They earn what they need to survive, and even if there weren’t so many secrets between us, I don’t fit in your world, Kai.”

“My world?” he said, looking down at me. “Wanna see my world?”

And he stepped away from me, walking into the master bedroom.

Huh? What did that mean?

I took a deep breath, feeling like I was going to fall without him there to hold me up, but I forced myself to straighten and follow him.

I suddenly heard a scraping sound matched with a dull thunder, and I snapped my head up, walking into the bedroom and seeing Kai pull out an entire panel of the wall.

What the hell?

The fireplace—or fake fireplace, I guessed—was attached to a section of flooring that swerved outward, opening the wall from floor to ceiling.

There was a secret passageway.

Without looking back at me, he disappeared through the hole and left the entrance open.

Where was he going?

This house was starting to make a little more sense. I knew there had to be a reason he bought it.

Carefully stepping up to the opening, I peeked in, my eyes falling on the only thing in there. A staircase. It led down, with lighting strung along the wall, and I tuned my ear, listening for noises. But I heard nothing. Not even the sound of his steps.

“Kai?” I called. “Where are you?”

But my words just fell into the void. How deep did this go?

I tucked my hair behind my ear and tightened my jacket against the chilly draft as I walked in. And descended. I left the door open, though, just in case.

The steps were sandstone, and the walls were lined with wiring connecting the lighting installed in small intervals. I continued down the spiral staircase, hugging the wall for support and feeling the air getting crisper the farther I went. Circle after circle after circle, I had to blink several times to keep from getting dizzy.

What was all this for?

After what seemed like forever, I finally reached the bottom, and I looked ahead, seeing a tunnel. Moonlight streamed in from above, and I knew I shouldn’t be scared, but I was a little. If Kai was hiding this, what else was he hiding? Just go, Banks. The less you know, the more you fear, so go learn more.

I walked along, keeping my eyes and ears alert as I stepped over the steel grate flooring and looked down to see a stream of water. Looking up, I saw another grate and the black sky with stars above. It was a sewer for rain run-off. The rock walls and tunnel had been constructed several decades ago, most likely. There were arches to my right, and I could tell the tunnel used to veer off to provide access to other areas of the city, but the passageways had been bricked off. There was only one way to go. Straight.

“Kai?” I called again, looking ahead. “Kai, are you down there?”

Of course, he didn’t answer. Maybe he couldn’t hear me anymore.

I sped up my steps and headed down the tunnel, coming to another stairwell. I looked up, unable to see the top. It just kept going.

I swallowed, my throat so dry. I hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for hours.

Well, up was good, at least. The top must come out on ground level.

I jogged up, repeatedly glancing behind me to make sure no creepy things were on my tail. My muscles began to burn, and I slowed a little, not used to such a steep incline. Where did this go?

Reaching the top, I spotted a door opening into a room, just like the one I came through.

I reached out and pushed the wall open a little more to get a better look, the partition easily sliding away. What the hell was this?

I stepped into a massive room with vaulted ceilings and furnishings. Hardwood floors gleamed in the light coming from the burning fireplace, and a long, Persian rug laid under the black leather couches and fancy wooden tables. Art adorned the walls, a silver lamp sat on a desk strewn with papers, and I heard music coming from somewhere outside the study.

My pulse raced.

I followed the sound through the room and stepped into a large foyer, my head falling back and my eyes taking in the empty space above me as I turned in a circle.

“Oh, my God.” I trembled.

Another room, a living room, I think, sat across the hall, a wide staircase rose behind me, and two other hallways stretched on either side of the stairs, leading to the back of the…

House.

This was a house.

His house.

Everything I expected Kai’s house to be and more.

I could smell the fresh paint as I took in the ornate frames that adorned the pictures on the walls, and the beautiful tables, chairs, and sofas spread out throughout the study and living room. A crystal chandelier hung above me, tinkling with the slight breeze coming in from the tunnel.

It was a house designed by a man who cared about detail, reflecting both his Japanese and Italian heritages. Sleek, balanced, and uncluttered, but also ornate, rich in detail, and lush like a European manor.

I walked up the black staircase, following the music as my body flooded with adrenaline. Did his friends know about this place?

It was large and spacious, but also dark and cozy. Like a hidden chamber shrouded from the outside world.

Like he’d created his own personal confessional right here.

Or…his own Bell Tower, grave, The Pope…

Upstairs, I trailed down hallways, following the soft voice singing a song I finally recognized to be some version of Paint It, Black, and I passed a bedroom with the door open and stopped.

The black, four-poster bed was perfectly made, white sheets, comforter, and pillows, and I stepped in, seeing a framed picture on the wall. A black night with a red sun, rain, cranes flying…

And there was that Japanese symbol in the center again. The same one from Sensou’s sign.

War. That’s what it meant. Just like the name of the place.

I heard the shower shut off, and I walked toward the doorway, turning a corner toward the en suite.

Kai stood at the large, round mirror with a towel wrapped around his waist, combing his hands through his hair. Droplets of water glistened on his back, and steam filled the room.

“Kai.”

He paused, fixing his eyes on me through the mirror.

“What is this?” I asked, slowly entering.

“The house on the hill.”

“And this is your house?” I clarified. “Your real house?”

I knew it was—his scent was everywhere—but I wasn’t sure what I knew and didn’t know anymore, and I needed to hear him say it.

He nodded, smirking. “You didn’t actually think I lived in that dump, did you?”

I snorted, but I was so damn ready to cry, too. I was so exhausted. “Kai, Jesus—”

I started to protest, wanting to question him about what the hell was going on and why he hid this place, but he turned, shaking his head.

“Just give me ten minutes, okay?” he said, looking just as weary as I was. “Just give me ten minutes with you, and then we can get serious.”

Walking over to me, he peeled off my jacket and set it down on a bench near the tub.

Which was running with water. Bubbles rose higher as the fountain faucet poured water into the deep, white basin, and it was my instinct to fight him, but he spoke up, cutting me off.

“I’ll explain everything in ten minutes.”

My eyelids drooped, and I didn’t know what time it was, but it had to be late. I let him undress me.

Everything came off, and he didn’t try to grope or kiss me, although I wouldn’t have really minded if I weren’t so tired.

“Get in the tub,” he told me.

I stepped in, immediately feeling delicious chills spread up my legs as the heat of the water soaked my skin.

Slowly, I sat down, submerging myself up to my chest and brought my knees up, hugging them. Kai pulled off his towel, and I thought he was getting in, but he grabbed some lounge pants and slipped them on.

Something under my skin jolted at the sight of his nakedness, and I bit my lip. He looked up, and I looked away, but I could feel his stupid smile at catching me stare.

Moving my clothes to the counter, he sat down on the bench and grabbed a bath sponge, dipping it into the water.

Then he pushed all of my hair over my shoulder, and began soaping my back.