I clean the dishes, then hear the phone ring down the hall, making my body flinch and the plate in my hand almost slip.
"Hello?" Effie answered the phone. I listen. "Hi, Tita Helen. I'm good; the baby is good too. I just had a check-up the other day. Yes, he's with me 24/7. Don't worry." She chuckles. I can sense she is annoyed by my mother not liking the idea of her niece pregnant and eighteen, not ready for the real world. That is so like my mother.
So judgmental.
"Claire? Tita, I told you she isn't here. If she were, she would have called us. Yes, I will. Thea, Ares and I are out looking for them. Yes, yes, I will. Okay, yes, bye, Tita."
I peer my head and see Effie sigh. She brushes her hair back and then finds me standing as she smiles. "Your mom called...again."
"Just keep telling her that Leo and I aren't here."
"She's going to keep calling."
I lean against the wall and cross my arms. "I know."
Since my escape, my mother quickly realized Leo and I were gone and probably had everyone looking for me. After a month of freedom, she finally called the Reids' house.
Every day she talked to everybody here asking about my whereabouts, and I had them all lied for my sake and my son's. My mother is going bonkers and demands to know where we are. She will never give up.
I told my mother everything about Eddie, how he hit me and Leo. My mother has pride in herself and her money. She taught me not to anger him again so he wouldn't hit me. In her eyes is money, and not purple and black bruises.
My mother adores Eddie. Even before he and I dated, she wanted him to be part of our family just because his family was wealthy. His grandfather owns the bank where my father works, which is why my mother is fond of him. She will never take my side and tell me to brush it off and be a good woman to my fiancé.
"CJ, what's going on?" Effie suddenly asks. She and her sister have been interrogating me upon our arrival, and I always give them the same answer.
"Nothing is going on," I say, returning to the kitchen. Effie, follow me.
"Something is going on. You didn't contact your parents, and avoiding your mom. You won't even tell us why you canceled the wedding two weeks before."
I scrub the plate with a soapy sponge while the water runs.
"And I remember you saying that he would hurt you." She continues. "Who's he?"
I stopped everything I was doing and felt my chest tighten. I didn't explain much that day. She doesn't need me to explain. Effie and her siblings need to know because they are the people who I trust in my life. I can tell them anything. They are family. But in this situation, I wish they weren't involved with my affairs.
Tears are already sliding down my eyes. I wipe my hands dry. I keep my back facing Effie.
"I met Eddie six years ago," I begin with a brief history with my ex-fiancé. "His grandfather owns a bank in London where my father works. He was sweet, generous, and funny. He is very sophisticated in his job as an investment banker. I would bring lunch for my father daily from the food I made, and Eddie and I would get to know each other. Then, we fell in love and started to date. My parents loved him and already considered him their son-in-law. I had never met a man like Eddie and fell too deep for him. After a year of dating, I was pregnant with Leo, and Eddie wanted me to live with him which I reluctantly agreed."
I begin to bring up happy memories with Eddie. I somewhat curve a smile just thinking of them.
"Everything was a dream living with the man I loved until after Leo was born, everything changed. He made me quit my job at the restaurant where I was training to make me stay home because he could provide us with a good life and have nothing to worry about. His true colors were revealed when I argued that I wanted to return to work."
I let out a shaky breath and grip the edge of the sink tight.
"I just wanted to work, and he..." I bit my lower lip. Pinching it with my teeth as I recall Eddie's fist making contact with my face. I cover my face preventing the sobs from being heard by Effie.
"CJ?" My cousin came to my side. "Is he...hurting you?"
I whimper and look away.
"Oh fuck no! Logan!" She called her boyfriend, and Logan appeared in panic mode before I could stop her.
"What happens, babe?" He breathed and checked Effie out to ensure she and the baby were okay. "You okay? Is the baby okay?"
"I'm fine," gently push his arm away. "I'm going to London tonight. Drive me to the airport so I can take Grandpa's jet."
Logan needs clarification on Effie's declaration. "Why?"
"To shoot someone."
Logan rubs his face and yawn. He was sleeping upstairs with Zara taking a nap from working late at their gym.
With the help of Lily's dad and his company and the financial from Odin, Effie's grandfather. The Wolfe boys had built a large gym not for them to work more on their abs and muscles but for others to work out. They are still renovating and incomplete at the time. But Logan and his brothers, Donovan and Liam, ensure everything is as designed from the blueprint before they have their grand opening next year.
"Babe, why would you fly to London to shoot someone?"
I nudge Effie not to answer. But she did anyways. "I'm doing this for her." Pointing to me. "I can put my aiming practice to good use."
"Babe."
"No, Logan," she shushes Logan. "Take me, or I will go there myself."
While she's pregnant?
She is dead serious. Even with a baby inside of her, she will do it. It's the hormones talking. I understand completely; I had Leo for nine months. I know the mood swings.
"Effie," I tug her arm and beg. "Please don't."
"No, CJ. He hurt you." She pauses, and she gasps after realizing something. "Does he hurt Leo too?"
I didn't say anything, and it gave away. Effie read my face like a book. Her nose flared, and her eyes squint to a glare. "I'm going to shoot him twice. One in the face and one in the crotch."
Logan let out a low wince and put his hands between his crotch. I held back a laugh, but I didn't proceed.
"Effie, please." I sigh and grip her arm, not too hard or soft. "Don't say anything. Not to Ace, and not Thea. She will destroy the whole country to get to him."
"If she doesn't, then I will," Effie states. I can tell how serious she is. Before, she was the sweet and quiet girl I knew who loved to sing and dance, but now, I feel she is a whole other person.
"Please," I beg. I plead with her and Logan to give Effie the sense that I don't want any trouble for my son and me.
"Ro, just listen to her."
Effie stay quiet, closes her eyes, and exhales. She takes my hand and lets out a wry smile. "Okay, I won't say anything."
I sigh of relief. "Thank you."
"But I can't guarantee of keeping it a secret. You know Thea has a sharp sense. One hint from you, and it's over. You will have to come clean."
I nod. "I understand."
"And your mom," Effie continues, looking distraught about bringing up my mother. "You need to call her so she won't be worried and call here daily. I'm sorry, CJ. She's my aunt and family, but your mom's voice sounds like Fran Drescher. I love her and her shows like The Nanny and Living With Fran, but I do not want to be related to one."
Now I laugh. I crack up and hold my hand over my heart. I wipe the tear from my eye. "That's a good one. No one dares make fun of my mother's voice. Even my father doesn't say anything. He has earplugs as his secret weapon when she nags at him most of the time."
Effie and Logan laugh.
"Thanks, Effie." She hugs me and rubs my back.
"Everything is going to be okay. We will protect you and Leo. Your family. We got your back."
I say nothing and hug her back. I look at Logan and smile at him. He reaches and pats my head as if I were a child. I'm older than him, but his gesture comforts me.
"But I still want to shoot him." She announces.
"Babe," Logan groan, and I scoff a laugh.
The next few days, avoiding my mother's calls, I finally dared to call her, and boy, she was wailing on the other side of the line that I could practically hear her from the other side of the world. She asked if Leo and I were okay. I reassured her everything was fine and that my cousins treated me with love and kindness. I didn't tell her I was also living with five other boys. She will send her ass here in a few minutes to bring me back home. After making her not worry, I told my mother why I left. The reason the engagement party didn't happen. I told my mother what Eddie did to me and Leo. For once, she stayed quiet on the line listening to me. She apologized and cried for the first time in my life. She blamed herself for not being a mother who was blinded by her high status. I couldn't agree more. Growing up with a helicopter mom wasn't easy. I attended pageants, went to good schools, graduated with honors in college, and; had a bachelor's in business, and my first choice was ope
"Hi, what can I get you, gentlemen?" "How about that sweet ass sitting on my lap or have your beautiful British mouth sucking my cock," a college guy and his friends snicker. I groan and roll my eyes in disgust. This wasn't the first time I got hit on. The moment I started working at B&M bar in downtown Long Beach last night - waitressing. Yesterday, I took orders from these two drunks who tried to hit me until Big Mac had them kicked out. Then another, with a married man, slapped my ass when his wife wasn't looking until I slipped her a note telling her what her husband was doing. They got into a heated argument the whole night. Just one day of working, I got hit on, slapped in the ass, and wolf-whistled. I should quit or complain to Billie or Big Mac, but the tips are great. "Are you a bit young to be working at a bar?" Says the other. Here we go again. That's not the first, either. I started working at Nay Nay's restaurant when I was sixteen; people who didn't know me alwa
I can feel my back aching as I lean and roll my neck, returning to wiping the tables. Once they are done, I gather the dirty glass cups and plates, heading to the kitchen to wash. It has been two weeks since I've worked here at B&M bar things are working great, and the money is good. Although I work every night, I also work in the daytime too. Doing laundry, cleaning dishes, cleaning each room, and grocery shopping. I don't mind the hard labor in my cousins' home. Back in Wellington, London, we have maids and one butler, Reuben. Old man Reuben has been with the family since his father served my grandfather, my father's dad. Reuben is loyal to my father and the family. While my parents have always been busy, he took care of me. He lost his wife and daughter in a car accident, so he's very cautious about me. He's always there for me. Reuben has also helped me escape the biggest mistake of marrying Eddie. He protected me more than my father. I miss Reuben. I hope he isn't punis
"CJ, can you come here, please?""Be there in a minute."After brushing my hair and tying it up in a neat ponytail, Leo was with Auntie Effie, Uncle Logan, and Zara at Chuckie Cheese thirty minutes ago, so I got time for myself. With my new phone in hand, I run downstairs to Thea's room, where I find her changing Jacob's diaper."Do you need help?" I ask."No, I got it. There, who's my big boy." She cooed, her son planting kisses. "That isn't why I called you.""Oh, okay." I was sure she needed help since she was still a new mother, and I had experience, but she got it. I can't help but smile to see Thea as a mother. She and Effie would come to me sometimes and ask for parenting advice. Not all parents are perfect at raising a kid. Look at me, My relationship with Leo's father isn't what it used to be, but I raised Leo the best I could.Watching Thea and Rex with their son made me wish we would be like them if Eddie weren't violent.Thea raised Effie after their parents passed away, s
The music is bumping, and the party is crazy. Everyone came to celebrate Rex's birthday. He was surprised to come home to see everybody joining his special event. I look out the window to observe the guests.There are some I don't recognize, one who Effie invited. Her name was easy to remember, it's where Eddie proposed to me - Paris.Paris is with Effie, Logan, and two of Effie's best friends. They were chatting and having a blast. I heard the story about Paris. She was Clark's ex-girlfriend and Effie's best friend when they were kids turned bully because of popularity. But I guess they understand because Paris has a shitty life.Don't we all?Continuing my observation, everyone wore an attire for the luau; ladies wore either coconut bras or bathing suit tops, wrapped a sarong around their waist or grass skirts, and had Leis around their necks. The men had their Hawaii shirts open or closed; Clark had his shirt open while Sam, his fiancé, had his closed. Lily's parents, Wayne and Nic
I follow Effie behind as a shield to cover myself from all the curious eyes. Looking to my left, then to my right.It's hard to conceal something embarrassing when too many people are around. I hug my naked stomach with one arm while Effie drags the other as she pulls me to the group.I was too afraid to look up, but without hesitation, I did and caught Don's eyes on me and wasn't sure what the blank expression he had on meant.Somehow I feel disappointed he looks at me that way.Get a grip, Claire; it's obvious he doesn't have that sort of unusual feeling as you do towards him.Effie let go of my hand and went to Logan with Zara in his arms, giving each other a passionate kiss, then planting a motherly kiss on their daughter."Ate CJ is here!" Effie announces to the group."Wow, CJ, you look hot," says Jordan. "For someone who hides that body, sure missing out, especially who is a mom.""There are lots of hot moms out there, Jo," Liam says, and chugs on his cup, then pulls Lily close
"Mommy, can I ask you something?"I look down at Leo as I scheme through clothes in H&M for him on my phone. Yesterday, Thea had decided to all go camping at Lake Tahoe as a continuation of Rex's birthday—just a family outing and to spend time with one another. So, I had Leo, and I went to the mall to shop for camping-related things, not since I finally had money from working at the bar. Be spoiled for once.Never with my parent's money, I shop. There was nothing for me to buy. Mother always buys me expensive brands, and I sell them secretly, and Dad would give me a three hundred allowance every day since I started preschool.With that, I put that money into my secret piggy bank then as I grew older, it turned into my life savings. But when Leo was born, I decided to put it into his name, becoming his trust fund, which can be used until he is eighteen. I never told Eddie about it because I didn't know what he would do if he knew I had almost a million dollars. He's already rich, and s
"Mommy, look at this place!" Leo screamed with excitement in his voice and the sparkling in his eyes as we finally arrived at Lake Tahoe.It was almost an eight-hour drive from Long Beach to get here, and we took two rest spots. Leo slept throughout the ride, but once on the road, he would watch movies on the phone or play friendly card games with his Uncle Ares. Always beat him in every game.I follow Leo walking to the other side of the house and stop to admire the beautiful nature view.I've never seen such a fantastic sight. It's my first time camping. I never got the chance to experience it back in London. I've always wanted to take an adventure like this without any stress and fancy parties buying each dress for each occasion. I get frustrated and tired of dressing up."Mommy, look! A large lake!"I approach my son and back hug him looking in the same direction at the lake. "It's beautiful.""Seth said we can go swimming later.""Is it safe?""Yeah, it looks safe. Plus, this pla
Half a year later It's months since the death of Sarah. After her death, Don brought her back to California for a proper funeral. Everyone was there, even those who did not know Sarah came to give them their condolences. Mourning and grieving about the death of a loved one, a mother who raised Don and his friends. To make things depressing, it also rained. I remember Leo tugging on me, his arms around my waist, unsure how to express myself. I told him after coming home that Sarah was his grandmother. He wanted to meet her, but she told him she would be in God's palace with his great-grandmother. Before the funeral, Don couldn't accept Sarah's death. He would be his usual self, but everyone in the house knows how much he is grieving. He would in his room not interact with his family and friends. I would take his food to him and bathe him even though he's a big man, even though he is acting like a manchild. I would occasionally wash with him, but I had no sexual desires, only closenes
"Then that means," I look at Sarah, sleeping in my arms. "Sarah, is your mom too?""Right again, my dear Claire.""But I thought Vera is your mom?""That bitch is no mother of mine. She had to treat me like one because she was infertile. My dad had raped Sarah when she was his nurse, my old man still can shoot his little army, but Sarah didn't love my father. A month after I was born, Sarah left me. She joined the army to be their nurse and soon had an affair with Don's father as she was later pregnant with Don. But because Don's father was already married, she had to let go of the man she loves and live with her brutal boyfriend raising Don."I continue to listen to this side story of Don's life mixed in with Eddie. "Don had all the attention with Sarah to the point where she had forgotten about me. At the age of eight, I hired someone to look for Sarah. Vera never loved me; I already knew she was not my birth mother. So I sought out my biological mother." Eddie let out a chuckle an
Solomon ran fast but needed to be faster.Carrying two women weighing at least two hundred pounds is weighing him down. He may be built, but he isn't Superman. After thirty minutes of running through the woods, Eddie's men caught up to us. Solomon had to do whatever it takes to lose track of us. He had us in hiding behind a tree big enough for this oversized man while Eddie's men and dogs sniffed us out."Solomon, what are we going to do?" I whisper to him as I see moving lights from a distance and dogs barking as they close in on us. "We are about 5 miles away from our pinpoint location. The twins should be there waiting for us.""What about Don?" Worries kicked in my stomach as I touched my baby bump protectively. "I'm worried that he is already fighting with Petrov."I don't doubt Don can win against the most cunning and lustrous man on the planet. I worry that he will be killed."Don't worry about the boss," he says with a confident grin. "Petrov may be a monster, but no one me
"CJ. CJ. CJ? Where are you, my cute apo*?"I giggle softly while I hide under the table as Naynay searches around the kitchen. She looks at her feet and walks around, hearing her opening cabinets. I giggled some more until she stopped, and I covered my mouth from laughing."Where could that little one be?" She says in playful confusion. "Could she be in the closet? Or in this bag of rice?""I'm here!" I announced to her in a loud voice."Oh! I hear her but don't see her."I crawled out of the table and peered at her as she opened the upper cabinet. "I'm over here, Nay nay!"Naynay turns and looks down with a surprising look. "Oh! There you are. I didn't see you there."I ran to her from under the table, and she picked me up. The feeling of love coming from her always warms my heart. Although his skin was wrinkly and she smelled like crushed roses, it didn't matter that her warmth would be the same forever. I miss this feeling.Suddenly, the feeling of my grandmother's warmth turns we
Entering the large vault inside, what an ordinary bedroom would look like. It was tidy enough for a woman in her late 40s or early 50s to tidy enough to fit her personality. On the walls are paintings that show off her creativity."M-Mom," Don stuttered, too shocked.I hear her call out to her in a sorrowful tone as my eyes travel to the woman sitting on the chair leaning forward, making her hand gently stroke moments with her brush as she paints on the unfinished canvas. This woman's poster shows off how elegant and refined she is, her long dark brown hair in a long braid draped over her shoulder as her eyes are focused on the painting, unaware of our presence.In the corner of my eyes, I see the heart monitor and the IV drip with the wire and tubes connected to her.After she leans back to check her painting, she suddenly notices us and flashes us with a smile. Her dark, soft eyes met mine. "Hello, may I help you? Are you the new nurses?"I glance at Don and find him grinning; his e
Upon entering the house through the kitchen door, Don and I made our way to the door that leads to the basement. We ran to the bottom until we found the apparent vault door."Is this it?" Don approaches the door and touches it."Yes, I heard one of Eddie's men talking about a woman staying here and figured she could be your mom." I stand next to him. "Eddie got mad at me for asking about this and figured that his reaction tells me he is telling the truth."I advert my eyes on Don and see his jaws clench and his eyes darken. "Don, why does Eddie have your mother? All I know is he only has her to take leverage on you, but this has gone too far to use a mentally unstable woman."His hand was then made into a fist. He put down his hand and turned to face me with a worried expression. I'm not too fond of how he looks at me like that because I feel he has something to tell me—something else he has not told me about."Is this another secret?" I ask.Don nods and says, "Yes.""Should I be wor
"Don?" What is he doing here? "What are you doing here?" In the dark, I could see his blue eyes darken as he asked me that question. Before I can open my mouth, we both hear the guards coming from inside the house. Don put me down and grabbed my hand, leading us somewhere to hide. He found the shed and had us both inside. He pulls me close against his chest as my ear is pressed to hear the sound of his beating heart. "Have you seen her?" Says one guard as they are close to the shed. Don and I stay quiet. I feel his movement, grabbing something behind him, positioning himself to shoot anyone who finds us here. "No, but if Mr. Petrograd finds out we lost her, he will kill us all." "I don't see why he is obsessed with her even before she was the boss' fiancé." "Shhh...shut your damn mouth." Says a second guard. "There are stories about Mr. Petrov before coming here to America." "Like what?" "These are just rumors, whether true or not, but he once blackmailed his country's govern
I shift to the right side of the bed and then, in seconds, turn to the left. I kept at it for a few minutes until I rose from the bed, shaking my leg and biting my lower lip."How long do I have to wait here?" I mumble to myself. Solomon and the others had only left thirty minutes ago and half an hour before the deadline.I glanced at the square device that Solomon gave me in case one hour was up, and I pressed the button to contact Tech.The nervousness and restlessness are more considerable than waiting patiently for them to return. They are professional, but what if something happened? I can't just sit here and be worried. These are Don's most trusted friends, like brothers from another family. Since all of this has happened because of me, I'm doubting that I make things right.But how do I do it?I can't take down one of Eddie's men. I'm familiar with handling a gun, but if I were to go up against one, I would be fucked.I shake my head. "No time to be a wuss, Claire."I approache
"Come on, Solomon, let me go with you guys," I whine and beg Solomon for the hundredth time. We had arrived hours ago, and Tech had rented us a house across the street from Eddie's summer home. Solomon, the twins, and Tech are on the tablet screen discussing the plan to save Sarah while I make food for them. Tech had Someone deliver groceries early on enough for a few days. He had everything prepared before we even arrived.He wants to tell me I can't join him and the twins to rescue Sarah. I wanted to take part in this mission. I felt guilty towards Don because he accepted working for Eddie because of his mother, who is held captive. I never knew Eddie could stoop down low like that, using a human being as a person's weakness. That lets me know how much of a monster he is.Leo.My mind thought of my son, who shares the same blood as Eddie running through his veins. Calling Eddie a monster means Leo is a spawn of a monster. I never see Leo that way because he is also a part of me. My