...Kevin POV...My plan was going perfectly. Over the past several months, I had been working hard to get Hunter to trust me. I did everything I could, even taking him under my wing, so to speak, in hopes that he would gain my trust. I knew if I acted like a father figure that it was only a matter of time until he began to confide in me. It's part of our genetics to lean toward those that act as a mother or father figure. I just needed to use his genetics against him.I knew by dangling his family in front of him like a carrot; he would immediately grow interested. I planned to exploit this curiosity. I was using it as a way to sink my proverbial fangs into him. Without him realizing it, I was suddenly the one with all the answers. If he wanted to learn more, then he would have to come to me to get those answers. He was already aware that no one else knew the answers. So his only chance to learn more about his family was through me. Val was right with both the painting and Brio. Th
...Sienna POV...It's been over a year since Rylee was killed. There isn't a moment that goes by that I don't blame myself for what happened. The treatment centre has really helped me; I'm slowly becoming my old self. But even with their tactics, I still can't stop blaming myself for Rylee's death. I close my eyes, not allowing myself to go down that path once again. My focus is on today and planning for my future. With the help of the center, I was able to transfer my pain and torment into something constructive. We soon realized that I had blamed myself for taking a prodigy surgeon from our world. While it wasn't their goal, I decided to take it upon myself to fulfill Rylee's shoes. If Rylee wasn't able to achieve her dreams, then I would do it for her. Soon my mission to follow in her footsteps became my reason for living. Rylee was gone; there wasn't anything I could do to change that. But I could change my impact on the world. I didn't want to be known as the Stone Princess or r
In just under an hour, Maverick had already arrived, curious as to why I had asked him to come. "Hey, Half Pint. How are you doing?" Maverick asks, pulling me into a firm hug.I let myself relax in his embrace, feeling myself calm down. The familiar feeling of home washed over me as I let myself be held by my brother. Maverick seemed to understand, as he didn't push me away or try to hurry the process up. Rather it was almost as though he needed this hug as much as I did, and from the look in his eyes, I could tell he did.We stay like that for a while as we both seem unwilling to let each other go. I hadn't realized how much I had missed Maverick until now. It was as if everything that had happened in the past year finally caught up to me as I crumbled in his embrace.To my surprise, Maverick doesn't say anything. Rather, he continues to hold me. I wrap my arms around him tighter as if feeling that if I let him go, I won't see him again. I feel Maverick softly stroke my back in a re
...Three Years Later......Sienna POV...So much has happened in such a short amount of time. I was released from the rehabilitation centre a week after I got my acceptance letter from Harvard. With Maverick's help, I moved to Massachusetts, where I studied my ass off in order to fast-track my way into becoming a general surgeon. In order to fast-track the program, I had to take double the course load. It was difficult, but it was worth it. If Rylee was here, I know she would be impressed.After my year at Harvard, I managed to apply for a residency at Johns Hopkins Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. I chose this one in particular as I was closer to home. After being away from my family for so long, I started to miss them. However, I couldn't deny how powerful it felt to be independent. Being away from my family gave me the chance I needed to find my own identity. With my residency in full swing, I had begun to get back into some of the activities I had enjoyed prior to the accident. I s
...Kevin POV...I couldn't believe it. It's been nearly three years since I first managed to get Hunter on my side to go against the Stones. I was running out of patience. Why was this taking so long? Hunter had managed to take down the entire Triad in a manner of months. So why couldn't he take down one stupid family? I found myself pacing my office as I went through all the reasonable explanations as to why this was taking so long. This must have to do with the girl. What was it about her that made the infamous Reaper cower before her? "Val!" I shout, interrupting my thoughts.The familiar clacking of Val's heels as she rushes into my office, alerts me of her presence."Sir?" Val responds, wondering why I called her into my office."What's the update?" I ask, referring to the Stone Empire. I had Val filling me in on a regular basis, waiting to find out when their stocks had finally taken a hit.Val remains silent, and I can hear her fidgeting behind me. I turn around, annoyed by h
...Sienna POV...A few months have gone by, and I haven't heard a word about my application for the International Surgical Residency Program. I'd given up hope on getting in, not that I thought I would in the first place. I was mainly obliging Maverick. Though I couldn't deny that I had started to think of what my life would be like if I did get into the program. Maverick's words had gotten to me. I soon found myself dreaming of completing my residency with no hurdles like the bullying I was constantly having to endure. I would be able to become a surgeon without any hassles. It was an absolute dream of mine, but one that was short-lived as I would never get into the program anyways. So why dwell on what could be?I was thankful to have Maverick in my corner. He believes in me far more than I believe in myself. But he also doesn't understand how hard it is to get into programs like this. This program is extremely prestigious. They don't just let anyone in. You have to be the best of t
...Sienna POV..."Wait a minute... Colombia?" My dad asks, grabbing our attention."As in the most dangerous country in the world, Colombia?" My dad asks before we even have a chance to respond to his previous question."Ya. Why? I thought you knew about the program. The purpose of the program is to train surgical residents in third-world countries where we won't have everything at our disposal. It allows us to become better surgeons and learn to find other solutions to the problems." I say, not sure why my dad wasn't aware of this."I know that. But why Colombia? Why not somewhere safer?" My dad asks, visibly worried. I walk over to my dad and hug him. I know he's worried about me, but I need to do this. Even though it wasn't something I had planned on doing, didn't mean I didn't want to do it. Rather, I just never thought I would even be considered. But now that I was, I was over the moon ecstatic."I know you're worried. But I'm a big girl. I know how to protect myself. I'll be fin
...Two Months Later...Today was the day. I finished saying my hour-long goodbyes to my family before boarding the plane to Colombia. As promised, my dad hired a new security guard for me. I had only just met him and hadn't had a chance to learn much about him. I know my dad said I couldn't lose my tail, but that didn't mean I wouldn't try. I just needed to spend some time with him and get to know him to see what his weaknesses were. That's how I managed to evade each of my other guards in the past. Once I learned more about them, I could use their lifestyle and habits to find a way to escape. For example, my first guard was when I was five. He hated waiting for me whenever I would go to the bathroom. Said I took too long. So he would often frequent coffee shops or nearby newsstands to pass the time. I had gone into the bathroom and kept watch for when he would leave. Once his back was to me, I ran off to the playground nearby. I had seen some kids from my school and wanted to play w