Pretending to Be an Untouchable Crime Boss-Chapter 22: I feel safe...

"All units, respond to—"

Static filled the radio as the man suddenly snatched the officer radio.

"Dispatch, this is Wei Masua, agent of the ISD badge number 4242KI, I'm with Unit 3-1. There is no problem. Call back all units. Over."

A moment of silence. More static.

Then, a voice crackled through.

"Roger."

"Well, I doubt nobody will come here, so before this situation escalates, thank me, because I just saved your life, son." The man wiped the blood off his face. "That guy would've killed you without hesitation, got it? I actually care about you, brat."

He sighed, glancing at the officer. "I was speeding through traffic, praying you'd still be alive. Praying that your family wouldn't be mourning you by nightfall."

After cleaning the last traces of blood from his face, he clapped the officer on the shoulder.

"So now, drive back to the station. I'll make sure you get three days off. Spend time with your loved ones. Be happy, okay?"

He gave a small smile.

The officer swallowed, still shaken. "O... okay, sir."

"Nice. Now go...drive!"

He banged on the car door, and the officer quickly pulled away, driving off into the night.

I hope you're having a good day, James. I really do.

The words echoed in his mind, as he approached James' car.

But inside the car, they had no idea what happened.

The reinforced bulletproof doors were thick and they didn't hear a single sound from outside.

And they weren't even paying attention.

Bella was glued to her phone, completely absorbed in her game, not caring about anything happening beyond the screen. Meanwhile, Charlotte had dozed off, her soft breathing the only sign of life from the back seat.

And James was just fabricating a good story to tell the officer why he was driving without a license.

Then the man appeared with a polite smile.

"Hello, I'm Officer Barkley from the Highway Patrol." His words were smooth. "There's no problem, so you should go and have a beautiful night."

Fuck are you doing here...

"Thanks!" Answered James and the man turned and walked away.

"That was strange."

"What?" Bella asked with a smile, finally looking up from her phone.

"I'm pretty sure that was an ISD agent..."

Bella blinked, tilting her head. "ISD? Are you sure?"

James didn't answer right away. He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, staring at the car as it disappeared down the road.

"Yeah...Hector gave me detailed information about all of them some times ago, and I remember one with a scar on the face."

A soft snore interrupted him.

Bella glanced back and chuckled. "Well, Charlotte doesn't care. She's out."

"Well, me neither..." James said as he started driving away.

Bella raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah...the NSBI and the ISB hate each other, and they usually sabotage each other's investigations and raids. So, there are no worries."

"Why do they hate each other?" Bella asked, genuinely curious.

James smirked. "The NSBI and the local police force are corrupt, and the ISB hates them for it. But the ISB controls drug trafficking and makes a profit from it, so the NSBI hates them for that."

"What? They control drug trafficking?" Bella asked, surprised. She knew nothing about drugs, her field was human trafficking, or rather, destroying it.

James nodded. "Drug money is so massive that even controlling a small part of it brings extreme wealth. The ISB operates in four nations, and the money they make from drugs? They reinvest it into the economy, military or into the ISB itself.

Bella frowned. "Wait... so they control your trade too?"

James smirked. "They wanted to. But they found Hector at the worst possible time, and, well... he didn't take their demands too well."

"I can imagine that."

They laughed, and the rest of the drive was filled with small talk until they got close to the house.

"Since we're dating, are you sleeping with me?" James asked.

Bella acted like she didn't even hear it. She thought she was hallucinating.

"Bella...?" James asked again.

"Yeah?"

"Shall I take you home, or are you coming with me?"

She blinked, like her brain short-circuited. But it was already decided asJames took a left turn and arrived at the entrance of Billionaire's Hill.

She didn't say a word as they pulled up to a double-gated mansion with security everywhere. The house itself was massive, with tall columns.

"Ahh, finally." James sighed, stepping out and opening the back door. "Wake up, Charlotte."

She didn't respond.

"Wakey wakey." He shook her gently, but she was in a deep sleep, completely comfortable.

James smirked, then sighed as he unbuckled her and lifted her into his arms.

"Sir, should we help?" One of the guards stepped up, an automatic rifle slung over his shoulder.

"Uh, yeah, there are a lot of bags. Can you guys bring them inside?"

"Of course."

James watched as the guards moved with weapons almost like a special forces unit.

Then he turned at Bella, who was still sitting in the car, staring into space.

He knocked on the window. "Bella, are you having a stroke?"

She blinked and snapped out of it. "Oh, no. I'm fine."

She still looked confused, but she finally got out of the car, and together, they headed inside and it was stunning inside.

The house's interior was modern, marble everywhere, a grand chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and vast open spaces filled with fine furniture. Every detail screamed luxury.

They walked into one of the living rooms, where James' mother was sitting on the couch, casually watching a reality show.

But as soon as she saw James with a child on his shoulder, she shot up from the couch so fast it was as if she were in her twenties again.

"I said I wanted a grandchild, but this fast???" She screamed, jumping up and down.

Charlotte woke up at the sudden noise, rubbing her eyes as she looked around in confusion.

"Mom, I'm not a rabbit." James laughed as he gently put Charlotte down. "She is my friend—I mean, buddy... daughter... Ah, just forget it. She'll be staying with me for some time."

Charlotte blinked, still half-asleep, as she looked at the woman in front of her.

"Nice to meet you too...?" She mumbled, unsure of what was happening.

Erika's eyes sparkled with excitement as she gently held Charlotte's hands.

"Oh, your little hands are so soft! And look at those sleepy eyes."

She's adorable." She stood up, smoothing out her dress. "Well, if she's staying here, then we need to make sure she's comfortable! Charlotte, do you like sweets?"

Charlotte hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I... love?"

Erika clapped her hands. "Perfect I have a lot of them, James, take her to freshen up while I get all the sweets I got."

As he led Charlotte away, Erika turned to Bella with a knowing smirk. "And you, dear? Are you staying in James' room?"

Bella nearly choked. "W-What?! Yes...no actually—"

Erika just laughed. "I'm just teasing, sweetheart."

Meanwhile James went with Charlotte on a little adventure through the massive house, searching for the bathroom. Somehow, after taking a few wrong turns, they ended up in Rafel's room.

"Ey, Rafael! How are you?" James grinned as he walked in, immediately pulling his little brother into a hug.

Rafael groaned but hugged him back. "I'm good... but you got me a teacher who makes my life sheer hell." He laughed, then suddenly froze when he noticed Charlotte standing beside James. "Uh... and she is?"

Raising an eyebrow at his reaction, James patted Charlotte's head. "Oh, she's staying with us for a while. Charlotte, this is my little brother, Rafael. Rafael, meet Charlotte."

Charlotte gave a small wave. "Hi."

Rafael nodded. "Hello."

James sighed. "Now, tell me, where the hell is the bathroom? I couldn't find it."

Rafael smirked. "End of the hallway to the left."

As they stepped into the pure white marble bathroom—so large it was nearly the size of their old dining room, James handed Charlotte a towel and the shampoo they had bought for her.

"Alright, take a shower. I'll go get you some pajamas we bought." He said, turning to leave.

But before he could step away, Charlotte grabbed his sleeve. "I can't shower alone..." she mumbled.

James raised an eyebrow. "You're seven. Why not?"

Charlotte clutched the towel tightly, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I've never done it alone before...I had a maid to help me." she admitted softly.

A maid??

James exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, here's the deal. I'll stay right outside the door. If you need help, just call me, okay?"

She hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Okay..."

Not even a minute later, Charlotte was already opening the door.

"I don't know how to start the water." She said, looking frustrated.

James blinked. "What?"

"It's complicated."

Sighing, he stepped back inside, only to be met with the most overdesigned shower system he had ever seen.

"What the hell is this?" He muttered, staring at the sleek control panel, multiple knobs, and touchscreen. "Why does a shower need this many buttons?"

Charlotte just stood there, waiting.

James groaned. "Alright, let's figure this out..."

James pressed a button at random—

WHOOSH!

A jet of high-pressure water blasted straight at them like an industrial power washer.

"GAH—!" James barely had time to react before he was completely soaked. His shirt clung to him, water dripping from his hair.

Charlotte burst into laughter, doubling over as she clutched her stomach. "You look like a wet cat!" she wheezed between giggles.

Still laughing, Charlotte pointed at another button. "Try that one!"

James narrowed his eyes. "You sure?"

She nodded eagerly.

As James pressed the button, the overhead lights suddenly shut off.

A soft, ambient purple glow filled the bathroom, and tiny star-like lights twinkled across the ceiling.

"Whoa..." Charlotte stared up in awe, eyes wide with amazement.

James, on the other hand, sighed in relief as he finally spotted the right button. He pressed it, and warm water cascaded from the showerhead like it was supposed to.

"Okay, there. Shower time." He turned to leave.

As James stepped out and leaned against the door, he let out a slow breath.

What the fuck...

Read 𝓁at𝙚st chapters at ƒrēenovelkiss.com Only.

His mind replayed what he had just seen...the faint bruises covering Charlotte's arms, the fading marks on her legs. Some were old, turning yellowish, while others were fresh, deep purple against her pale skin.

"That's not from falling down... That's not from playing too rough... Someone did this to her."

His jaw clenched. A sick feeling twisted in his stomach. He had seen bruises like that before...on people who had been through hell.

"Get a grip, James. The kid's safe now. That's what matters." He slapped his own face.

But even as he told himself that, the anger didn't fade.

And after ten minutes passed the door was opened.

"I'm done." Charlotte said.

James nodded. "Okay, just go downstairs and sit in the living room. My mom will be there.

Charlotte ran down the stairs, her small footsteps echoing through the hall. James sighed as he turned back to take his own shower.

By the time he finished and made his way downstairs, Bella was already waiting for him, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

"You showered without me???"

"I can shower again." He said and Bella's face turned bright red.

"Not in front of a child!" James' mother screamed.

He laughed and grabbed a single gummy bear and said " I'm going to sleep see y'all tomorrow."

"It's only seven." Bella said.

James stretched his arms with a yawn. "I'm tired, especially after that long shopping trip today. So, good night."

I want to sleep with you..." Charlotte said, grabbing James' arm.

Before he could respond, Bella latched onto him too. "Me too."

James sighed, looking at both of them. "I bought a mansion with nine bedrooms... go use those."

Charlotte looked up with his big eyes and said "But I feel safe with you."

James froze for a moment.

Safe.

The word echoed in his mind, louder than it should have.

He glanced down at Charlotte, her small hands gripping his sleeve like he was her only anchor in the world. Her bruises, the way she barely reacted to pain, the way she followed him without question, it all clicked.

This kid had never felt safe before.

A strange tightness formed in his chest, something unfamiliar, something he didn't know how to deal with.

He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Alright, fine. "

Charlotte's face lit up, and Bella smirked like she'd just won something.

James sighed. He had a feeling this was going to be a long night.

And it was, indeed, a long night.

Bella snored like a giant.

Charlotte, on the other hand, was a relentless sleeper—kicking, rolling, and somehow taking up more space than should be physically possible for someone her size.

James endured it for as long as he could. But after the fortieth kick...one that landed straight in his ribs...he had enough.

With a tired sigh, he grabbed a pillow and moved to the floor.

A mansion with nine bedrooms, and yet here I am... sleeping on the floor.

James closed his eyes, accepting his fate.