DAWN.
I stare at the mansion before me with s smile on my face.
Ryder moves beside me; his arm going around my waist, and I lean into his embrace, his masculine cologne swirling around me, and engulfing me.
"Are you happy to be back?" He asks, his lips grazing over my forehead, and I nod; my hand gripping his chest.
"So happy. " I whisper, and Ryder chuckles before pulling away from me.
He grabs hold of our hand, entwining our fingers before walking towards the door.
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I let go of Ryder's hand as he opens the door, while I open the new text message from Elijah.
My heart skips a beat as my gaze moves over the two small words that display over the screen, yet quite heavy.
'You lied. '
I gulp down as my palms turn sweaty, my fi
DAWN.Shooting up from the bed, I gasp for breath with the heavy rise and fall of my chest as sweats covers my forehead.What in the hell of a fucking dream was that?Why will I dream of Elijah being here? And Ryder... Ryder!Glancing to my left; Ryder's side is empty with the imprints of his body which means it hasn't been long since he got up.I let out a sigh, resting back against the mattress with my eyes trained on the ceiling.Elijah is getting into my head, and I'm starting to get fucking annoyed.Stretching my hand to grab my phone from the lamp stand; I scroll through the his text messages— my eyes on the last message he sent. The reason why I probably had that stupid dream.Tossing my phone to the side, I swipe my hand down my fave, and raise from the bed; striding t
DAWN. "I think I'm ready to talk about it. " Ryder says, pulling me back as his eyes zeroes on me, and I nod; taking the seat next to him. He takes his seat from earlier with a sigh, his eyes focused on the view before him, rather than on me. "Do you think what that man said is possible? Do you think he could be my father?" He questions, lifting his head to meet my gaze, and I smooch closer to him, resting a hand on his lap. "To be honest; I don't know, Ryder. But there are the proofs everywhere. He knows about your real name, Ryder. The one you bore at the orphanage, and he knows about the orphanage. He knew where to find you, and he did. That kind of gives it away. " "If he's my father, then why now?" He shakes his head, the pain in his eyes too much for me to hear. "Why not all those years? Why does it have to be now? After ev
DAWN.I stare at Ryder with a confused expression, and he shakes his head; his body trembling with laughter."Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, " he says amidst laughing, and I roll my eyes; wondering why the fuck he finds this funny, when I freaked out seeing that message. "It's just so fucking funny he threatened you with something like that, and you believed him. Babe, it's me. Do you forget the kind of guy you're dating? I'm a fucking CEO, and I've got security around me always. " And there's that. "And I can protect myself, sweetheart. If he thinks he can get me, then he should go ahead and try. He has no fucking idea who he's dealing with, and it seems you're forgetting too. " He ends with a lift of his brows, and I shake my head, wrapping my arms around his neck."I did for a second there. It's just, " I sigh, the memory of how worried I had been when he threatened to kill him running through my mi
DAWN. "Why the fuck didn't you tell me you were back?" Kira snaps as she walks inside, and I chuckle with a shake of my head; closing the door behind me. Ryder went to the company to take care of things according to him, and he won't be back until late at night. It seem like a pretty good time to call Kira, because I was so fucking bored. "It was so sudden, and I didn't have time to call," that was a total lie. I could have called, but I know Kira would want to see me instantly, and that was far from being possible. "Plus, I came here for something important so I had to attend to that first. " "So you mean I'm not important? Your aunt isn't important, Dawn? You mean we are not important?" She lifts her brows, crossing her arms against her chest, and I let out a soft chuckle; side-stepping her to walk towards the couch. "I n
DAWN."You know him?" Kira questions besides me, but I give her no response as my gaze remains on a frowning Elijah who's trying to make her way past the security guard."Dawn! Fucking hell! Are you okay? You're fucking trembling!" Kira exclaims, pulling me away from the door, and I shake my head; so many troubled thoughts running through my mind.He's here.Elijah is here! He's fucking here!How? How did he know here? How the hell... What the fuck is he doing here?!Oh my God! Ryder!"I need to call Ryder. I need to talk to him. " I tell Kira, not allowing her to utter another word as I stride towards the room with my echoes of my heart pounding against my chest, loud in my ears.Grabbing my phone off the bed, I pace across the room as I bite down on my lips, the phone vibrating against
DAWN.I'm quick to raise to my feet as my frightened gaze meets with a smirking Elijah.He chuckles before walking himself inside, shutting the door behind him."How did you get in?" I question, peeking behind him in search of a security guard that might have followed him, but no one appears."So you knew of my coming?" He lifts his brows, crossing his arms against his chest, and I shake my head as my mind suddenly goes blank.I've got no idea what to say to him, and judging by that annoying smirk on his face; he enjoys seeing me this way."What do you want, Elijah? Why are you here?" I finally say, composing myself, and he shrugs, taking slow strides towards me, and my gaze moves down to each movement he takes."Common, kitty. Won't you introduce me to your friend?" He says, his gaze moving to a
DAWN.Elijah settles on the space beside me with his hands on his laps, and I give him a smile when he meets my gaze, but he's quick to look away."Elijah, " I sigh, moving closer to him. "I didn't mean to hurt you that way, Elijah. You should know that I would never hurt you unintentionally. ""But you did, Dawn. You left. You used me, got fed up of me, then you left. " He meets my gaze again, the pain in his voice too hard to miss, and my chest clenches at his words."That's not true, Elijah. You made me leave. You turned into someone else, someone that hurt a fellow being because of his selfish desires. ""When you put it that way, then you and I are both same, " he says gently, catching me by surprise, though I know he's saying the truth.I hurt him, because of my own personal reasons, and it's only reasonable that he thinks he's n
RYDER."Thank you for staying with her, Kira,"I smile at the woman that stands before me who shrugs me off with a wave of her hand as she grabs her purse from the couch."I'm just glad I was here with her. I don't know what would have happened if I wasn't. " She says with a sigh, referring to the earlier incident of Elijah, and I hum, trailing behind her as she walks towards the door.She steps out, and turn around in her stand with a smile on her face, "I don't know the full story of what went down between them, but they don't seem to be in a good place. " That's because he's fucking psychotic. I don't understand why the hell Dawn ever thought to be friends with him. Or why she ever liked him. I just don't understand that woman at times, and it fucking drives me insane. "But I trust you to keep her safe, Ryder. " She says, and I nod with s smile, grabbing onto the doorknob.
DAWN. "You shouldn't be scared. " Ryder states beside me and I glare at him, "Easy for you to say. You're not the one meeting your man's parents for the first time. ""I don't remember you being nervous when you met Miranda and the rest. " He teases and I nudge him with my shoulder, earning a laugh from him. "Just joking, babe. You'll be fine. They're not scary. ""Are you sure about that?" I cast him a side glance as I rub my palms against each other and he hums, "Not to that extent. ""Ryder, " I whine as I slap his thigh. "Stop teasing me. You're not helping. ""I know, " he chuckles. "I just can't help it when you're this worried. Come on, you'll be fine, baby. " He presses a hand to my face and I push more of my skin into his touch, letting out a breath at the feeling of calmness that comes with it. It's been a month since I graduated and left college, and today; I'll be meeting Ryder's family. His second family that's come to be a part of the big one. We haven't met because I
√THREE YEARS LATER. √BOSTON. DAWN. "He isn't picking the calls, still?" I drop the phone from my ear and lift my gaze to Bryan, a frown covering my expression as I shake my head in a response to his words. "He isn't. I have no idea what's happening. ""When last did you two speak?" He asks as he steps closer and I say, "He's been busy so we haven't been speaking much. Probably last two days if I remember correctly. ""And he knows your graduation is today?" He lifts his brow and I hum, "He knows. He couldn't have forgotten. He isn't the type to forget these sorts of things. ""Then he should be here. Maybe he's planning a surprise for you?" He suggests and I let out a chuckle, "I don't think so, Bryan. Maybe he truly isn't coming. "I stare down at the screen of my phone, like I've been doing for hours, waiting patiently for Ryder's text or call to inform me he's somewhere around here for one of the important moments of my life— my graduation, but there's been nothing from him. "Y
DAWN. "She didn't give me a chance to refuse when she overheard me talking to Ryder. " Miranda snickers as she nudges Emily towards me and I chuckle, wrapping my arms around the little one's body. "Hey, sweetheart. Will you miss me?" I raise my brows and she bobs her head slowly, her lips pushed forward in a small, cute pout. I smile and press my fingers to it, "Is that right? You never asked of sister Dawn since you left with your mom. " "She does, " Miranda groans behind me and I take my eyes back to her with raised brows. "Every single day. Trust me. " "Good girl. " I ruffle her hair and she smiles brightly at me. I move her to my side, and look towards Ryder who has a sad look on his face. No matter how much he tells me he's alright with this, I know he isn't. I know he doesn't want me to go, and I wish there was another way but this is something I have to do. This is something I st
DAWN."Your Aunt seems so nice. " Ryder comments as I get into bed with him, moving to his chest with his arm going around my waist and I chuckle with a small nod, saying, "She is. That's why I love her so much. ""I can tell by the way you gazed at her and that smile you had on your face. " He says."It's been so long since I last saw her, Ryder. It felt too good to be in her presence again. I honestly feel bad for leaving her alone for so long. " I tell him and he hums, "It wasn't your fault. Everything is falling back to place at least. " He smiles and I nod.Everything truly is. Rider reconciled with his family, and I did the same with my Aunt. Elijah is off my back, and there's no need to worry any longer. No challenges gnawing at us, threatening to pull us apart, and that calms my heart. Except for that one thought that stays at the back of my mind.
DAWN."You look so nervous, " Ryder chuckles as we stand before my aunt's door, and I laugh rubbing my palms against each other."That, I definitely am. What if she's mad at me, and doesn't want to see me? It's been so long since I checked on him. I mean, I know I do call, but I've been in Washington for days, and I didn't check on her, Ryder. What if she sends me out?""Okay, babe. You really need to be calm. You're freaking out. " Ryder says with a shake of his head, grabbing hold of my shoulders to still my movement, and I let out a low breath as I raise my gaze to meet his. "She will be more than happy to see you, Dawn. You're her family, and even if she might get mad that this took you so long; nothing will stop her from embracing you. " He assures, his palm cupping my face, and I shut my eyes to the warmth of his touch against my skin, before nodding."Okay. Here we go. " I mo
DAWN."And you're okay with everything?" I ask Ryder who have a wide smile on his face as his hands graze over my thighs, while the other controls the steering wheel."Yes, I am, babe, " he responds with a laugh, and it warms my heart to hear that beautiful sound fall off his lips. He's happy. Genuinely happy, just like I always want him to be, and I don't think I want anything else than what I have right now."I'm glad you agreed to go there. " I tell him, holding my hand over the one that rests over my thigh, and he hums, nodding."I'm glad I did too. I have a fucking twin sister! Can you believe that?" He laughs with a shake of his head as he stops at the green light, and I can't help the laugh that slips through my parted lips at the sight of an excited Ryder Smith."I do now that you say it. How was she like? How was everyone like?" I turn to hi
DAWN.I lean back against my seat as I wait for Ryder's arrival. My phone vibrates against the skin of my leg; bringing me out of my daze, and I push forward, grabbing it as my eyes widen at the name across my screen.Elijah.He's calling me.With a nervous sigh, I push the mobile against my ear, and wait for his voice."Dawn?" He says, and I hum, leaning back against the car seat, saying, "Hey, Elijah. ""I'm glad you picked. I had doubts. " He laughs, the sound booming through the device, and my body visibly relaxes at that; knowing he isn't here for trouble."Why wouldn't I?" I chuckle, and there's a sigh from his end, before he says, "The things I did to you. They weren't right, Dawn. I said, and did terrible things. I was so obsessed with the idea of having you that I didn't even realize you were h
RYDER.I stare at the woman that walks inside the room; her eyes scanning across the room, till it lands on my gaze, and her eyes drink me in, moving down my length.I'm in awe, and my eyes are wide as I stare at the woman that stands before me. Damn! She could be mistaken as my twin. Who is this woman?"Ryder, " the man says, drawing my attention back to him, and I move my eyes from the lady back to the man, who calls for the lady with a smile on his face as he says, "This is Delilah. Your sister. " You've got to be fucking kidding me! My sister? I have a sister?"He's my brother? Ryder Smith is my brother?" Brother. That word. I've not known that word outside the Smith's family, and to be called that by a girl that's the other version of me makes my heart warm, as much as it aches.I move my gaze to the family before me. Am an old man, with a beautiful old wom
DAWN."Are you sure you're ready to do this?" I raise my brows at Ryder who leans against his seat with his head raised, and his hand over his forehead.He snaps his gaze to mine, with a small smile gracing his lips as he slowly bobs his head. "I think I deserve to know why my parents thought I was useless enough to be abandoned. " The pain is evident in his voice, and I shake my head, grabbing hold of his shoulder, and squeezing the skin slightly."I don't want you to ever think like that again, babe. You're not useless, and their answers will prove that. " I tell him with a wide smile, and he pulls me flush against his side; his lips melting against my forehead, and I shut my eyes at the warmth that spread over the skin."I love you, Dawn. Really fucking much. " He whispers, and I smile; raising my head to meet his gaze, before saying, "I love you too, Ryder. Really fucking