Reina's point of view

"Oof," I let out a quick breath when Andrew threw me over his shoulder for the umpteenth time already. Gosh, why was he so damn strong?!

I swear I defeated my father the last time we had a duel, right? A-ha! How was I such a fool! That sly old man intentionally went easy on me! Seriously, was he helping me or bringing me down! He now pampered me in training?

Maybe, I should consider Emerald being my trainer, oh no, not Emerald, I'll rather be thrown over the shoulder by Andrew than challenge that fierce, sturdy giant. Though the good news is that I have defeated him once in a fight - with trickery of course - after five hundred and three trials; I mark all my failures.

"We've been going at this for two hours already, can't we go for a break?" I pleaded, pouting my lips, and fluttered my eyelashes at Andrew.

I prayed this tactic worked- it had been effective on my father so far. I was so damn tired and my muscles were aching - my butt, to be precise. The downside of being a part of the Armani Family or falcon Gang or Sakuzi clan or whatever else they referred to, was that you get to train like a superhuman.

As a crime family, we often stepped on the toes of other powerful factions which made dirty altercations the norm of the day. Thanks to that, we had to be physically and mentally prepared for any attack and that included proficiency in hand-to-hand combat; incorporating techniques from martial arts, and swift handling of weapons.

Yes, we were served and protected by the gang members but what if they're taken out and we found ourselves to be the last one standing? Of course, fight to the death.

These people had this stupid mental conception that if they had to die, they should die alongside their enemies. So in conclusion, we all had to be able to protect ourselves in times of danger hence the strict training.

"Stand up!" Andrew, my current cold-hearted trainer boomed at me.

"No, you better kill me first " I sprawled out fully on the ground, he should do his worst. Why was he so cold-hearted?

"Please, let's just take a break," I pouted my lips more. Why couldn't he find me irresistible? A lot of men had been won over by my wiles, he wouldn't be any different, right?

"What have you been doing over the past months to have fallen to this level? Playing away your time when you should be stringent with practicing your skills?" he asked, literally shooting fire from his eyes.

"I had just been behind a desk planning the ultimate revenge" I groaned, refusing to be on my feet to his annoyance.

"That's no excuse. Get to your feet this instant, Reina," the heartless man said, walking over to me.

"No, don't come over," I crawled away from him but he didn't stop until he was within physical reach and tried to grasp onto me.

Like an agile cat, I grab his arms and put him in submission hold before he could retaliate.

"Haa!" I laughed, "Who's the winner now?" Andrew went red in the face from the extreme pain.

I applied a kind of grappling technique called the joint lock which involves manipulating Andrew's joint in such a way that they reach their maximal degree of motion and hyperextension.

"Give up now!" I increased the tension. His face was extremely red yet he shook his head stubbornly, indicating that he wouldn't summit.

However, I began to worry when Andrew rose gradually to his feet with a primal grunt amid the pressure, bringing me up with him. He successfully stood and grabbed my arm to inflict the same pain yet I slipped out of his arms or so I thought cause he grasped me by my wrist.

I tried to trip Andrew but miscalculated hence brought his whole weight on me, we fell to the ground with a thud.

Gosh, he was so heavy.

With a pained moan, I lifted my head to see that Andrew's face had been squished in between my chest. I wanted to sock him on the jaw but a memory flashed in my head.

"You?" My mouth fell open after a memory of the both of us playing In the background at night resurfaced.

For the first time since I've known Andrew, he blushed from embarrassment and tried to leave my body but I wrapped my hand around his neck, stopping him from moving.

My gaze searched his face and for the first time, realized he looked strangely familiar; as if we've met before - and did more than just conversation.

"Hey, did we by chance know each other previously ?" I asked him, just to ensure it wasn't a false memory.

Gazing at his flushed expression shift to one of shock, finally followed by anxiety, told me something was wrong. This was the first time Andrew was showing emotions other than his signature stoic face.

The man flung off my arm, "Have a nice day," he said with a harsh yet hurried voice which made me all the more suspicious.

Andrew was my personal trainer my father had assigned to me many years after that incident and reported directly to Sakuzi, unlike other gang members that had hierarchy hence followed the rules set.

I've known him for close to a year and yet we haven't even conversed like normal humans would, just greetings and all. I had thought nothing of it when I found out he avoided me especially, but now? Something was on; there wasn't smoke without a fire. I would find out the truth - but that would be after party time!

Yep, you heard me. I'm for the life of the party, what is life without a great party?

After showering off the stench of sweat on my body, I donned a white faux fur crop top - The club lighting would be reflected off it - coupled with a black leather skirt that reaches midthigh and of course my boots with a bit of heel - I hated heels.

Done with looking good, I grabbed my purse and was out of the door. No-one stopped me - not like years ago where I had to sneak out - Father didn't mind as far as I returned home, not runoff. But then, I was sure the man already had an idea of my movement and must have someone following me.

I didn't have to stay in the queue like the other people at the entrance of that picky club since it was owned by my father's old friend, so I went through the Vip door that brought me inside the venue without much exertion.

The sounds of electric music and the cheering from the crowd made my blood throb, this was what I wanted. So after downing a few shots at my lonely private booth, I went to the dance floor and began to rock my body.

I was the only uncoupled female dancing like a monkey on the dance floor which attracted those sex-starved alpha males.

"Hey," I heard a guy say above the loud music, causing me to glance up at him.

My eyes scanned him from his head to his toes. Facial appearance: Twenty percent - he's a lost cause. However, I would have let him the honor of just the dance floor if he wasn't tall.

I hated guys who were as ridiculously tall as Emerald, each time I tried glancing up at them, it was like staring up at Mount Everest. So, no.

"Find someone your height!" I shouted, still dancing - so the loud music doesn't drown up my voice.

The guy accepted his fate and left without making a face or swearing at me - Good for him. I would have hurt him if he had said any offensive word to me. I don't take bullshit from anybody.

And so, I continued my enthusiastic dance- jumping up and down with my hair whipping about - when I felt some hands on my butt. Christ, this groping idiot!

Before the idiot could vanish into the crowd of dancers after molesting me, I managed to grab onto his hand and twisted his wrist till he crumpled down to his knees in pain.

No one heard his cries due to the loud music nor did they care nor did the man make a complaint. So far this party was wonderful - If it means that I get to break more hands.

So, I continued my dance this time without disturbance or so I thought because, after a while, I felt an intense gaze watching me. I searched around yet couldn't find anybody until I heard a name that made me froze.

I turned around to see a face I wasn't expecting so soon nor here of all places. Niklaus.

I might not have seen him after my accident but this man was the cause of the whole revenge thingy - I could even recognize him in my sleep.

He was a few distances away from me due to the bodies on the dance floor but our eyes met and it sent a strange warmth that tingled my senses.

Gosh, I hated this! This player was trying to seduce me with his good looks - I was a sucker for good looks - and to crown it all, we weren't supposed to meet yet.

But wait a minute, everyone thought me dead, why was I panicking? I just had to get the hell out of here, I thought until I saw it was just a body separating us.

I was greatly alarmed and thinking of what to do when Niklaus was suddenly pushed to the ground and someone grabbed my arm, leading me out before he could stand.