I woke up to see a cast on my foot, Diesel sat beside me in bed, just staring at the wall."What happened?" I point to my foot, I can't remember going to a hospital."Dwayne got your doctor here. You seemed to sleep through everything. The baby is fine, here." He holds out the phone, a small video playing. I feel myself relax, the baby is fine, and that is all that I care about. "I'm sorry Diesel, for not telling you what was threatened. I thought I would be safe if you had known you wouldn't have left me alone." "This isn't your fault." How can she think it was?"Diesel, I should know not to pass it off as nothing. I watched my father lock this place down when there were threats. I just didn't want to lose our weekend together.""Let's leave it for now. Concentrate on getting better, that is all that is important right now. I have a replacement at my garage so I don't need to leave your side." "I need to get things sorted Diesel, yesterday, everything. I can't just leave everythin
I lose my week doing everything that Serena usually would be doing. I don’t mind though, I know while I am out doing these things she is safe, away from anyone who may want to cause her to hurt.Dwayne has been at my side constantly, I guess to ensure everything goes to plan. I have no idea how Serena ran this city, who she knew, trusted, or who the troublemakers were. So having Dwayne there was a benefit as he could guide me when I was lost.This week I have seen those who respect Serena, and then I have seen the other side, the ones who were just waiting for a chance to make her fall or wait for someone to come take over. Many expressed to me how they knew she would fail and hand over the city eventually.They were shocked when I explained it was her city, she simply was recovering. They will learn not to try to make Serena sound weak around me.I find my week mostly explaining the situation to people, that Serena is healing and I am merely a stand-in. I keep it quiet that she is pr
Diesel walks away, leaving me alone with Rooster."I'm here to apologise," I begin, my voice filled with remorse. "I considered trying to save her from Jake, but I couldn't risk myself and the baby."Rooster looks at me, a mixture of surprise and concern on his face. "You have nothing to apologise for," he says, his voice sincere."To you, I do," I reply, my words filled with conviction. "You did nothing to hurt me, Rooster. Leaving your daughter in his hands could have put her life in danger. Diesel sees you as family, and I don't want anything to jeopardise that. I don't want to be the cause of any friction either."He listens attentively as I explain my reasoning. "Me and Diesel will never truly fall out, Serena. Despite everything, you did for Jessie, I am disappointed in her behaviour, but I am also ashamed of everything she has done. Right now, she hates me, and I can't blame her because I caused all of this."His words catch me off guard. "You are an amazing father, Rooster. Je
I gaze down into the crib, watching Lilly-Bell sleep, and a sense of peace washes over me. Seeing her brings a sense of healing as if parts of me have been rebuilt. Suddenly, I feel Diesel's arms wrap around my body, and I lean back against him, seeking comfort in his presence. His words, claiming me for the night, offer reassurance, but I can't shake off my fears that someone might try to harm her. Sensing my worry, Diesel continues speaking."She will be the most protected princess in the world," he assures me. "She has her guards around her, and Rooster is here."I know he's right, but the anxiety lingers. "But what if Rooster gets distracted or too busy with Lucas?" I voice my concerns, looking up at Diesel."Rooster has been a father far longer than us. Trust him," Diesel responds calmly. "Both babies will be asleep in here together. Just trust him, Serena, like you trust me, and I trust him."I feel the urge to argue, to come up with another plan to ensure Lilly-Bell's safety. M
Standing by the window, I take in the city below me, my city. People think men rule, that men are the only ones to strike fear through people. They always underestimate me. I laugh to myself at the thought. I was brought up to rule, to take over. While my father wanted a son, everything was left to me, and I have done nothing but prove to him that a woman can rule and ensure everything goes well.My head falls forward, and this world isn't what it was before. My father retired, and things changed, but not as much as in the last few months with him gone entirely. Death took him, and for some reason, when people hear of his death, they fight me. They think I will crack and become weak; instead, I stood taller, stronger and fought back just as hard, if not harder.Yet, I can't stop the feeling of hate. I hate myself for how I am and for the things I have done. This world is a man's world, or at least a woman without remorse because every time I cause blood to drop, it bur
I throw down the spanner, annoyed, the smell of grease flooding through me. I quit for today. I can't do it. Sitting down, I lean against the car."Fancy a ride?"I laugh without even looking up to Rooster. "No. This shit needs sorting. You heard from him yet?" I look up now."Nothing, disappeared once you took care of that Graham dude. I guess he left the city." Rooster laughs."No one fucks with Roosters, daughter. At least now they will know." They don't! I have known Rooster since I left school. He is fifteen years older than me. His daughter is stunning, a beauty but dumb as shit and always going for those guys who use her."Cheers for that, by the way." He says while looking at me."No thanks needed." I did what was needed. He couldn't. One swipe of his leg, and he would have been a dead man. If it weren't for his prosthetic leg, I would have told him to deal with it. I couldn't, though. I watched as little Jessie ran throu
I sit waiting, and they seem to be taking a while, and I have to wonder if this Mr Lewis guy is putting up a fight? I open the file we have on him, and it seems like he stopped all payments once he realised my father had died.Yet he still used his immunity, killing a guy and walking free. So he uses the immunity I give and then refuses to pay? I sit and read his file. It is interesting. While his garage is legal, he does a lot that isn't legal. He needs us to keep him out of prison, to keep him having immunity.Hopefully, just the threat of removing that immunity will make him pay up and behave. He is only twenty-five, yet he has grown in his city a lot. He has connections, from what I can see, connections to many people and businesses.Why would he not pay? Was it simply because he believed now my father had died, no one would bother him? Did he know I took over and just sees me as a weak female? That is one belief I will need to destroy if he does
I stand looking at her waiting. She says it is to watch me, yet her eyes were clearly checking me out. Lingering all too long on my body as she straddled me with that damn blade pushed against my neck. As she forgot her plan, her body had pushed closer to mine, the blade digging deeper."I felt privileged Miss Pierce, for a moment there I thought you wanted to be around me more." I smile at her as I step forward. "Wanted more than just me to pay off what I owe." I step forward again, god she teased me."You have it wrong. Money by tomorrow, and check in every few days. It was nice to see you, Mr Lewis, hopefully, next time it is on better terms and not me having to get someone to drag you here." She stands looking at me like she is waiting for me to leave.I step forward until I am in front of her. "Something tells me you would enjoy dragging me back here. That you enjoy me pushing you until you feel like you have to go to the extreme to prove you're not w
I gaze down into the crib, watching Lilly-Bell sleep, and a sense of peace washes over me. Seeing her brings a sense of healing as if parts of me have been rebuilt. Suddenly, I feel Diesel's arms wrap around my body, and I lean back against him, seeking comfort in his presence. His words, claiming me for the night, offer reassurance, but I can't shake off my fears that someone might try to harm her. Sensing my worry, Diesel continues speaking."She will be the most protected princess in the world," he assures me. "She has her guards around her, and Rooster is here."I know he's right, but the anxiety lingers. "But what if Rooster gets distracted or too busy with Lucas?" I voice my concerns, looking up at Diesel."Rooster has been a father far longer than us. Trust him," Diesel responds calmly. "Both babies will be asleep in here together. Just trust him, Serena, like you trust me, and I trust him."I feel the urge to argue, to come up with another plan to ensure Lilly-Bell's safety. M
Diesel walks away, leaving me alone with Rooster."I'm here to apologise," I begin, my voice filled with remorse. "I considered trying to save her from Jake, but I couldn't risk myself and the baby."Rooster looks at me, a mixture of surprise and concern on his face. "You have nothing to apologise for," he says, his voice sincere."To you, I do," I reply, my words filled with conviction. "You did nothing to hurt me, Rooster. Leaving your daughter in his hands could have put her life in danger. Diesel sees you as family, and I don't want anything to jeopardise that. I don't want to be the cause of any friction either."He listens attentively as I explain my reasoning. "Me and Diesel will never truly fall out, Serena. Despite everything, you did for Jessie, I am disappointed in her behaviour, but I am also ashamed of everything she has done. Right now, she hates me, and I can't blame her because I caused all of this."His words catch me off guard. "You are an amazing father, Rooster. Je
I lose my week doing everything that Serena usually would be doing. I don’t mind though, I know while I am out doing these things she is safe, away from anyone who may want to cause her to hurt.Dwayne has been at my side constantly, I guess to ensure everything goes to plan. I have no idea how Serena ran this city, who she knew, trusted, or who the troublemakers were. So having Dwayne there was a benefit as he could guide me when I was lost.This week I have seen those who respect Serena, and then I have seen the other side, the ones who were just waiting for a chance to make her fall or wait for someone to come take over. Many expressed to me how they knew she would fail and hand over the city eventually.They were shocked when I explained it was her city, she simply was recovering. They will learn not to try to make Serena sound weak around me.I find my week mostly explaining the situation to people, that Serena is healing and I am merely a stand-in. I keep it quiet that she is pr
I woke up to see a cast on my foot, Diesel sat beside me in bed, just staring at the wall."What happened?" I point to my foot, I can't remember going to a hospital."Dwayne got your doctor here. You seemed to sleep through everything. The baby is fine, here." He holds out the phone, a small video playing. I feel myself relax, the baby is fine, and that is all that I care about. "I'm sorry Diesel, for not telling you what was threatened. I thought I would be safe if you had known you wouldn't have left me alone." "This isn't your fault." How can she think it was?"Diesel, I should know not to pass it off as nothing. I watched my father lock this place down when there were threats. I just didn't want to lose our weekend together.""Let's leave it for now. Concentrate on getting better, that is all that is important right now. I have a replacement at my garage so I don't need to leave your side." "I need to get things sorted Diesel, yesterday, everything. I can't just leave everythin
The last few hours have been awful, Jake keeps hitting me because I refuse to leave Diesel and marry him. Maybe if I agreed I would be okay, but I can't. I can see Jessie is shocked, she didn't expect this, but it is her fault. She went along with him, all because he promised I would be gone and she would get Diesel. I don't even try and plead or beg him as I know from the past that won't work. Instead, I sit quietly, taking the hits when he gives them and acting like it is nothing. He seems to be getting more frustrated, his phone vibrating constantly."He is on the warpath!" He screams at Jessie. "You said he wouldn't, what the hell?" He turns back to me, and I get ready for the next hit but his phone vibrates again."He's taking over the city, fewer people are willing to stay quiet now." He turns to Jessie and hits her. "I thought he would just give up! I didn't know at that point she was pregnant!" She looks at me and then at him. "I'm getting a drink." I watch as he walks out
Waking, I move carefully trying not to wake her. The room now beginning to get chilly. I was meant to refill the alcove with wood. Grabbing my jacket I walk out and begin to gather more wood. The only downfall to this place, the fire needs wood constantly or it dies and the cold builds. Other than that though it is perfect. The silence and only sounds of wild animals can be heard. We needed this weekend, I learnt more about Serena, but I also learnt more about me, things I didn't know.I can't help but smile and feel happy, all I want now is peace, but I know peace for us will never happen, or if it does, it won't last long. Serena has the city, and nothing will make her give that up, not even a peaceful life with me. It is something I need to learn to live with.Walking back in I see the sofa empty, placing the wood on the alcove I call out to Jess, stopping as I see the backdoor open slightly, my eyes glance down and see her shoe. Panic builds as I rush out, calling her name but
I find myself trying to distract myself from everything. Diesel has messaged and said he will pick me up tomorrow. Apparently, he is giving me space until then.So, that means no Diesel tonight, which feels weird, we have spent every night together since we slept together almost. He is right though, we need a break from each other.We're the cause, the reason we fight so much. I use the time to work and plan what I want to say as I know if I don't nothing will get solved. After finishing work I go home, and just hide away. Trying not to think about the mess that no doubt is waiting for us.If Jessie is pregnant and Diesel is the dad, then what? Part of me hopes it is a lie, just so I can relax and know he isn't. How will it work? Jessie seems crazy, and that isn't something I want around me. I somehow manage to fall asleep.Waking a message from Diesel tells me to pack a weekend bag. I guess that means we're not staying here? As I get ready, I glance at the ring on my finger. That fee
I collapse into the bed. Frustrated at Diesel and how he reacts. I understand though, he was hurt over and over by everyone he loved. So his reaction is to expect the worst from people.All I wanted was a day without the shit, but it has come just as quickly as the morning sun rises. Part of me wants to hide away in here, just pretend the world doesn't exist.Actually, I feel like screaming and killing Diesel, he is so blinded by his own past, his own pain and fears he hasn't even realised or thought how I feel.Jake is still out there. Fear burns through me and has since the moment I thought I could be pregnant. Every day the past is on replay, and with how volatile Diesel is, I am afraid of the ending.Sure he wouldn't hurt me on purpose, but I have seen how quickly he loses control, how angry he gets and forgets to get all the information. Like today.He just assumed it was Jessies, assumed that it meant I knew and kept it hidd
I walk away, knowing that she needs time to calm down, I have my own plan this week and Jessie and her announcement have messed it up.Yet now I feel like I need to do it sooner rather than later. I reach into my pocket feeling the box, knowing that I will do it, tonight.I just need to figure out the situation with Jessie first. Getting to Roosters I walk in, his head turns and he looks towards me."Didn't expect you so soon, only just saw you." He laughs and holds out a glass."You don't know, do you?" Hell if he doesn't know it is likely to be a lie."What now, seriously can I not have one fucking day?" He looks at me stressed and I wish I could take away the stress but I am just about to add to it."Jessie showed up this morning at the garage." I watch as he rolls his eyes at my words, going to speak I put my hand up. "Not to try and fuck me Rooster, she is pregnant.""She can't have a fucking baby! She can't even look