Taming the Tiger: Chapter 5

"Well, this ship won't return to shore until next week, sir," the employee replied matter-of-factly, leaving Kit momentarily stunned.

Did I just get tricked into boarding this ship? Kit thought to himself, feeling a slight surge of irritation. Still, he held back from making a scene—after all, he was already aboard. He'd have to wait until he found Roman to get to the bottom of this.

"Ah, thank you," Kit responded, taking his drink to the deck where he could gaze out at the vast ocean and collect his thoughts. After a while, he pulled out his phone to study the ship's layout and various activity rooms.

Hmm, there's even a casino? Kit mused before finishing his drink in one swift motion.

"This could be interesting," he muttered to himself. After returning his glass to the staff, he headed straight for the casino, which had been open for business even before the ship left port. Inside, Kit noticed a considerable crowd—all ultra-wealthy individuals. He recognized some faces from his days working as a bodyguard for celebrities at various events. Kit took his time surveying the gaming options before making his way to the chip exchange counter to join in the gambling action.

***

"He used the card for 10,000 dollars?" Roman inquired when Nathan informed him of a single charge of that amount on his card aboard the ship. Truth be told, it wasn't much for Roman— rather trivial, actually.

"Yes, sir. There was a drink purchase earlier as well," Nathan reported, as he received notifications about all transactions made with Roman's shipboard expense card.

"What was it used for?" Roman pressed, knowing Kit was the one using the card.

"Casino chip exchange, about 20 minutes ago, sir," Nathan replied. Roman picked up his iPad and accessed the ship's surveillance system, navigating to the casino feed. He scanned through the cameras until he spotted a slim figure at the roulette table, surrounded by an excited crowd. Roman zoomed in and enabled audio to observe Kit. Judging by the pile of chips in front of him, Kit seemed to be on quite a winning streak, with other players following his bets.

"Heh," Roman chuckled softly at the sound of cheers from those copying Kit's bets. It seemed like Keith had quite a bit of luck in gambling.

"Our people report he's made nearly 10,000 dollars in profit in just 20 minutes, sir," Travis chimed in, relaying information from their staff in the casino.

"Our men suspect cheating and want to detain him, but they're asking for instructions first," Travis added, causing Roman's expression to instantly harden.

"Tell them Kit is my guest. No one is to lay a finger on him." Roman commanded firmly.

"Boss, are you really going to let him get money like this?" Nathan questioned.

“Isn’t it normal for a casino? If someone is able to play well, they should win money,” Roman said, glancing slightly at Nathan.  Nathan then became quiet, not saying anything further.

"Sir, Prince Casey is ready for the meeting now," Travis announced upon receiving a message. Roman nodded, taking one last look at Kit through the screen before rising from his desk.

"Have someone deliver a suit to Kit. Tell him I'm inviting him to tonight's party," Roman instructed. Travis bowed slightly to acknowledge the order before they proceeded to their business discussion.

***

Meanwhile, Kit decided to quit while he was ahead. He wasn't much of a gambling addict - just playing for fun since someone else was footing the bill. When he announced his departure, several players expressed disappointment, though no one tried to stop him. Several women approached to chat him up, attracted by his roulette winnings and assuming he must be from some wealthy family. They were eager to get to know him better. While Kit was conversing with one of these ladies, one of Roman's men approached.

"Mr. Kit," Roman's subordinate called out, prompting Kit to excuse himself from the woman. He could guess Roman had sent a message. The presence of the bodyguard only reinforced others' assumptions about Kit's supposed influence, though little did they know he was just a small tattoo shop owner.

"Yes?" Kit responded after stepping away.

"The boss invites you to tonight's party, sir. We've already had an outfit delivered to your room," Roman's man informed him, causing Kit to pause briefly.

"Heh, is your boss cornering me?" Kit chuckled, though slightly annoyed inside. Roman's subordinate offered no defense.

"Okay, what time?" Kit inquired, figuring he might as well attend since Roman had brought him aboard and provided such accommodations, even though he still didn't know what kind of party it was.

"Eight PM, sir. We'll escort you from your room," the man replied. Kit nodded before heading to cash in his roulette winnings. To kill time before the party, he explored the ship. Though he couldn't cover everything, he noted which zones were restricted to outsiders. Kit guessed some VIPs must be staying in those areas, given the bodyguards stationed around. After walking for a while, he returned to his room to shower and prepare.

"Perfect fit," Kit remarked, noting how the casual gray suit Roman had sent fit him impeccably, right down to the designer leather shoes.

"Wonder if they'll bill me for this later," Kit muttered to himself, knowing the suit brand must cost a fortune. He was adjusting his hair when he heard a knock. Through the peephole, he recognized Roman's man from the casino. While there, Kit recalled the casino security was about to confront him several times, but after receiving some command through their earpieces, they merely watched over him instead.

"It's time, sir," Roman's subordinate announced as Kit opened the door.

"Mm," Kit responded, grabbing his personal items and pocketing them before following Roman's man, with two others flanking him from behind.

Funny, I'm usually the one being the bodyguard for others. Having guards escort me feels weird, Kit mused to himself. He followed them to what was clearly no ordinary reception room. One glance at the guards stationed around the entrance told him everything he needed to know. When Roman's man opened the door, unfamiliar faces turned to study the newcomer, but Kit kept his cool, following his escort to a sofa in a quiet corner of the party.

"Please wait here, sir. Feel free to order drinks from the waitstaff," Roman's man instructed before leaving two guards to stay with Kit. Kit settled into the sofa, keeping his expression deliberately neutral. He could feel the other guests sizing him up, perhaps catching a glimpse of his own edge. Drink in hand, he took in the room, trying to puzzle out why Roman had really brought him to a gathering like this.

Soon enough, he spotted Roman's tall figure entering with bodyguards and two secretaries. People approached to greet Roman, who responded minimally while his sharp gaze found Kit, as if knowing exactly where he'd be. Kit returned the look naturally. Roman excused himself from his greeters and walked straight to Kit, making others even more curious about Kit's identity. He hadn't approached Roman, yet Roman came to him.

"Hello," Roman greeted, sitting on the single sofa next to Kit.

"Hello," Kit replied.

"I hope you're satisfied with the service aboard," Roman said. Kit gave a slight smirk.

"Satisfied? Yes, I am. Though there are some things I don't quite understand," Kit stated directly. People seemed eager to approach Roman but were held back by his staff.

"Like what?" Roman asked, crossing his legs casually, though Kit noted how his posture exuded authority.

"Why didn't you tell me I'd be on this ship for a week?" Kit asked immediately. Roman raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance.

"Hmm, odd, wasn't that detailed in the invitation?" 

"No, it wasn't," Kit answered, having read the card multiple times.

"Ah, then I must apologize for my staff's oversight in not including the details. I thought you already knew," Roman responded naturally. Kit furrowed his brow slightly - somehow he felt Roman was lying, but he couldn't bring himself to challenge it.

“It’s fine. I’m already here anyway,” Keith replied reluctantly.

"Your friend didn't come with you, did he?" Roman asked, making Kit pause and furrow his brows as something occurred to him.

"My friend had business to attend to, so I came alone," Kit answered, falling silent as he wondered if Roman had known in advance that he'd come solo. When he boarded, Roman's staff had only attended to him without asking about Logan who was supposed to share his room. All the amenities had been prepared for just one person, and only one party outfit had been delivered.

"Did you already know my friend wouldn't be coming?" Kit asked bluntly.

"I found out when my people reported someone missing from the passenger list," Roman replied casually, having prepared this answer knowing Kit would likely ask. Kit studied Roman's face for tells, but the other man maintained an inscrutable expression.

"I see,"

Travis glanced between his boss and Kit, knowing the truth—that Roman had deliberately arranged for Logan to be unavoidably detained, though nothing too severe.

“Oh, I’m returning this,” Keith said, placing a stack of money on the table. Roman raised an eyebrow slightly.

“I used some of your money for a small investment at the casino. Made a bit of profit, so I’m returning the original amount. I didn’t know how to transfer it back to your card, so I figured cash would do. Oh, and I even added interest,” Keith said, lifting his drink and taking a sip in a relaxed manner.

“What if I refuse to take it back?” Roman teased. Normally, he wasn’t one for small talk, but with Keith, he found himself wanting to engage in conversation more than he usually did.

Keith narrowed his eyes slightly. “I don’t like using other people’s money. Just the fact that you’re ‘repaying’ me with a week-long cruise already makes me uncomfortable enough.” His voice was laced with sarcasm, emphasizing the words one week.

"It's nothing," Roman dismissed, making no move to take the money.

"Boss," Nathan called out as Prince Casey entered the party.

"I'll be right back," Roman said, rising to greet Prince Casey. Kit hadn't expected to see the prince here, recognizing him from important events where he'd worked security detail.

He knows the prince? That’s huge. Maybe he really is as dangerous as Dad warned me… Kit thought to himself, his gaze shifting to Roman as he pondered why a man like him was so insistent on returning the favor—when it wasn’t necessary at all.

Just then, Kit felt the weight of someone’s stare. He turned to look and saw a man watching him. But the moment their eyes met, the man quickly shifted his gaze to someone else, pretending to be uninterested.

What kind of party is this? Kit thought, but his instincts kicked in, and he started subtly observing the other guests. After the prince finished socializing with his acquaintances on the other side of the room, Roman returned to Kit’s side.

Kit didn't pry about the prince, figuring it wasn't his business.

"Hey, have you been here long?" A voice called out again, making Keith turn to look. He saw a tall man approaching their table, accompanied by bodyguards—just like Roman.

"A little while. Have a seat," Roman replied. The newcomer glanced at Keith with curiosity before settling onto another sofa.

"Keith, this is Ivan, my close friend. Ivan, this is Keith," Roman introduced them after noticing his friend’s inquisitive stare.

"Nice to meet you," Keith extended his hand in greeting. Ivan shook it firmly in return.

Keith could tell right away that Ivan was most likely part of the same mafia circle as Roman. As he exchanged pleasantries, a thought crossed his mind—how had he ended up surrounded by such dangerous people?

"I just found out you have a new friend," Ivan remarked, scanning Keith with a scrutinizing gaze. He had heard whispers that Roman had taken an interest in someone. Now that he had met Keith, he could easily guess that this was the person in question—though he wasn’t sure in what way.

"He saved my life," Roman replied matter-of-factly. Ivan gave a slight smirk.

"So you're repaying him with this important cruise?" Ivan probed further. Kit glanced between the two men with mild annoyance. They were talking about him as if he weren’t even there. But the phrase "important cruise" caught his attention, making him wonder if this voyage was more than just a leisure trip. He'd recognized several VIPs he'd encountered before, like Prince Casey. Why had Roman brought him aboard?

"Yes, it is my ship after all," Roman responded. Ivan chuckled softly.

"I should probably take a walk, in case you two have business to discuss," Kit tried to excuse himself, but froze when Roman's strong hand suddenly gripped his knee, applying gentle pressure.

"Stay. We don't have any important business to discuss," Roman said, locking eyes with him. Kit raised an eyebrow.

Fine. I’ll stay, since you went through the trouble of inviting me," he said, meeting Roman’s gaze with equal intensity.

Was he intimidated? A little. Roman clearly had far more power than he did. But Keith wasn’t one to back down easily.

"Hah, I like his attitude, Roman," Ivan commented, amused. He understood the underlying message in Keith’s words—he was only staying because of Roman’s invitation, not because Roman could force him to. In a normal situation, Roman wouldn’t be able to make him stay like this.

Keith took another sip of his drink, remaining silent, though a faint irritation simmered beneath the surface.

"Ivan, bro."

A voice interrupted, drawing their attention.

A blond-haired young man approached, making Keith glance up.

Who's this now? Kit grumbled internally, though he had to admit the newcomer was quite handsome. And from just one look, Keith could tell this guy was far more interested in men than women.

"What is it?" Ivan’s tone shifted to a more neutral one, lacking the teasing edge he had used earlier.

"Hello, Roman," the young man greeted as he turned toward Roman and then sat down next to Ivan. Roman gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

"Bro, may I go to the casino?" the man asked.

"Sure, go ahead—but don’t cause any trouble," Ivan replied in a calm tone, prompting the man to nod in agreement immediately.

"Oh, who is this?" the man tilted his head slightly, looking at Keith with curiosity, as his face was unfamiliar.

"This is Keith, one of Roman’s people. And Keith, this is Danil—my younger brother," Ivan introduced. Danil immediately got up and sat on the armrest of the sofa where Keith was seated, causing Keith to raise his eyebrows in surprise.

"Hello," Danil extended his hand to Kit, who shook it politely, wondering why this person was getting so close.

"Hello," Kit returned the greeting.

"Danil," Ivan's stern voice rang out.

"What? I'm just saying hi to Kit," Danil replied, turning to give Kit a sweet smile.

"Hey Keith, are you interested in joining me at the casino, and then maybe grabbing a drink afterward?" Danil invited. Keith looked at him and felt as if Danil was trying to provoke someone's anger rather than making a genuine invitation.

"Danil," this time it was Roman's voice, making Danil pause briefly. When he looked at his brother's friend, who was like another brother to him, Danil moved back to sit beside Ivan. Kit realized Danil probably feared Roman more than his own brother.

"I just wanted someone to hang out with on the ship," Danil explained. Roman sighed softly, looking at Ivan, who seemed to be trying to keep his composure.

"I don’t mind, I could join you for a bit. I’d like to have some company on board as well," Keith said. This made Roman immediately frown and lean forward, but before Roman could object, Keith quickly added,

"Honestly, this party isn’t really my scene. I’d rather wander around and have some fun. You wouldn’t mind if a guest like me took a little stroll around the ship, would you?" Keith managed to say, seizing the opportunity—after all, he wasn’t keen on staying at a party where he didn’t even know whose event it was or what it was for. If he wanted to drink, he could always head to the ship’s bar. Roman regarded him for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"Suit yourself, then. I almost forgot you might feel a bit uncomfortable," Roman conceded, making Kit feel somewhat better.

"Ivan, let Keith go with Danil. Don’t worry, Kit knows what he is doing," Roman added in a tone that sounded almost like a warning to Keith, and Keith got the hint.

"Don't cause any trouble, Danil," Ivan warned again, making Danil purse his lips and give his brother a reproachful look. Kit noticed but stayed quiet, as it wasn't his business. Once both Roman and Ivan had given permission, Kit stood up.

"Shall we go? I was just thinking about getting a drink,"  Keith said to Danil. Was he fond of Danil? Somewhat. But he didn’t fully trust him yet. He felt that Danil was just as cunning as his brother and might be hiding something.

"Let's go. Excuse us," Danil said to Roman and his brother before walking with Kit toward the reception room's exit.

"Should we have your men or mine follow them?" Ivan asked once they'd left.

"Mine," Roman replied, nodding to his subordinate who understood the silent command.

"How much can you trust this Kit?" Ivan inquired, knowing that for someone to enter their circle, they needed to be more than completely trustworthy.

"Not sure," Roman answered casually.

"What do you mean 'not sure'? How could you let him get this close?" Ivan asked, puzzled.

"I'm still evaluating him," Roman replied normally, surprising his friend. Roman then briefly explained Kit's background that he'd had investigated.

"Kit's stepfather is no ordinary person. Aren't you worried Kit might be investigating you for his father?" Ivan pressed, amazed - he'd never seen his friend show such interest in anyone before.

"No, because truthfully, he didn't even want to board my ship. I had to do a bit of... persuading," Roman admitted frankly, leaving Ivan even more stunned.

"Okay, whatever you say. Let me know if you need any help," Ivan conceded, silently sympathizing with Kit. Roman's intense interest meant he definitely wouldn't let Kit go easily.

***

"Why did you come with Roman?" Danil asked as they headed toward the casino.

"He invited me," Kit replied briefly. Danil smiled slightly before placing his hand on Kit's chest, trailing his fingers.

"Want to come drink in my room tonight?" Danil propositioned. Kit gave a slight smirk.

"Nah. I know what I should and shouldn't eat," Kit responded casually. Danil's smile instantly vanished as he crossed his arms and glared at Kit.

"Are you saying I'm not good enough for you?" Danil challenged. Kit chuckled softly.

"Mr. Danil, I know you're just playing around. If I agreed, you'd find some excuse to back out anyway. Besides, I'd rather not get involved with an influential person's little brother. I value my life," Kit replied easily, showing no fear. Danil smiled again.

"I like you. So, how about we be friends?"

"Of course," Kit agreed, making Danil smile with satisfaction. They enjoyed themselves at the casino before heading to the poolside bar, where bikini-clad women and shirtless men were lounging.

"You really are a lucky charm," Danil remarked happily, having won every bet he'd followed Kit on.

"I'm worried I might be using up all my luck today," Kit replied. They sat at the bar with Roman's men standing nearby, drawing curious glances despite the many VIPs and celebrities aboard.

"Mmm, that guy has a hot body, look at that cum-gutter," Danil commented, eyeing a man in swim trunks chatting with friends by the pool. Kit nearly choked on his drink - while he'd guessed Danil's preferences, he hadn't expected such directness.

"Haha, what, surprised?" Danil asked, amused.

"A little," Kit admitted.

"And what about your taste? What are you into?"

"I go both ways," Kit replied just as directly.

"You know, I'm surprised Roman invited you aboard just because you helped him," Danil mentioned. In the casino earlier, Keith had briefly explained to Danil how he met Roman and ended up coming on the ship.

"He just wanted to repay me," Kit replied with what he thought, but Danil shook his head, giving him a teasing look.

"I think there's more to it," Danil suggested, making Kit pause and raise an eyebrow.

"More to it? What do you mean?" Kit asked for clarification, but Danil just shrugged slightly.

"Don't know, maybe I'm overthinking it," Danil replied. Kit could tell Danil was trying to bait his curiosity.

"Come to think of it, I wonder too. I'm just an ordinary person, yet he came to invite me at my shop, even though he initially wanted me as a bodyguard," Kit mused.

"Roman went to find you himself?" Danil asked. Kit nodded, growing more suspicious but trying not to overthink it.

"Oh, interesting, interesting," Danil chuckled softly. The bar area was dimly lit with pulsing club lights mixing with the music. At that moment, Kit noticed an unusual red dot on Danil's chest. His bodyguard instincts kicked in instantly, and he yanked Danil toward himself.

Bang... Crash!

A glass shattered on the bar counter as people turned to look in confusion.

"Sniper!" Kit called out quickly, pushing Danil behind a pillar. The bodyguards immediately moved to protect Danil. Kit traced the light's direction and spotted a man holding a briefcase and drink, trying to casually walk away. To Kit, it screamed suspicious. He immediately charged after him.

"Kit!" Danil called out in alarm. Seeing Kit approach, the stranger bolted toward the deck. Kit pursued rapidly amid the confusion and panic. Some bodyguards followed his lead.

The suspect pulled out a silenced pistol and fired at Kit to buy time for escape, but Kit managed to dodge behind pillars.

"Everyone, get down!" Keith shouted to the people standing along the gangway so they wouldn’t get hit by stray bullets. Many immediately crouched in shock. Keith then yanked a gun from one of the bodyguards who had come running and took aim at the fleeing man. With the gangway being a straight path and most people already down, he didn’t hesitate to fire.

BANG!