Hanna POVI woke up feeling a certain sense of loss when I rolled on the bed to realize that I was alone. Disoriented, I sat up and padded barefoot in the ensuite bathroom. Contrary to Rowan’s declaration that I will share his room, I refuse to use it in his absence. Sleeping in his quarters would only grip me in abject desolation, knowing he was not there. I did my morning ritual before taking a bath.Emerging from the bathroom, I dressed quickly and went out. At the foot of the stairs, I found Billie waiting for me. “Ms. Hanna, the table is ready.” The idea of eating alone was unpalatable. I shook my head to decline the invitation. “I have an early meeting at the office.” Billie looked concerned upon hearing my response that I had to retract and make a compromise instead of snubbing her preparation. I knew how hard she toiled every day to cook for us. “Can you make me a sandwich to-go that I can bring along? I really am in a hurry.” I told her before sitting down on a ch
Hanna POVShame filled me, especially when I noticed that there were people within earshot, and Hailey was not exactly discreet in venting out her dissatisfaction with the company. She was talking aloud as if she meant for everyone to hear what she had to say. I wanted the ground to gobble me whole. I wished to disappear and never come back to this earth forever.I really had a bad feeling about using Rowan’s car to work. And I was right, owing to this confrontation. People are bound to talk when they recognize that car. They would put two and two together, and like Hailey, they would come up with five. People are quick to judge without taking into consideration other people’s feelings. They see an image but not the whole picture. And they judge the picture without taking into consideration what goes with it. I wanted to blame Rowan, but should I take it against him when he only wanted to secure my convenience?Besides, can I stop people from talking, especially Hailey when
Rowan POVI wonder what she is doing right now.“Bro, you are spacing out,” Charles commented when he noticed my broodiness the whole time we were seated around the circular table in my basement study in Redwood.We are safe to discuss anything here because this place is heavily guarded.“Does it have anything to do with a girl you followed to Vegas?” Flint teased.I glared at Flint’s grinning face and straightened my back.We were in a secret meeting.Briana had no idea about this place or what took place here, and we intend to keep it that way.“Have you heard from Storm?” Marcus asked. He came in late because he was busy running Rosewood now that Noah guarded Briana like a hawk and forbade her from leaving the house.“Not yet. But Storm said they tracked down Britney. She is working for Bennett.”&l
Rowan POVI never got the chance to get back to Vegas because that same afternoon, Britney was arrested.It was unexpected.“Britney was under police custody after she almost hit Briana with her car,” Charles reported when I took his call.Briana’s safety drove me to a sense of urgency. Worry filled me.Instead of going to the airport as planned, I made a U-turn and changed lanes to go to Briana's house, wanting to ensure her safety.“How is Briana? Is our sister okay?" I don't want to think the worst.
Rowan POVThe next couple of days were a bit hectic.Noah charged Britney. He refused to leave Briana’s side unless we promised to watch over the children and her.“I wish we all lived in the same house,” Riley said when I was about to put him and his brothers to bed.I grinned. “Do you miss us when we are not around?”He nodded vigorously. “Of course. You are my favorite.” He told me.I hugged him and kissed the top of his head.“You are
Rowan POVI called Storm. Having Linda as the subject of my assignment is too much of a coincidence. “Why didn’t you tell me her name when we were discussing the job?” I asked when he answered my call. “You did not ask.” Came Storm’s calm reply.“Still, you should have told me!” I said indignantly. I wanted to wring Storm’s neck when he suddenly laughed at my expense.He may think this is funny, but not me. For me, it will only complicate my relationship.“You don’t know what you are asking me to do, man,” I said, seriously rethinking my decision-making capability. It was only now that I became hesitant about taking on a job. Nothing can faze me, but this one would seriously blow out of proportion.I can predict what is going to happen next. “You can’t back out now. Besides, the organization thinks you were the right man for the job, given that you dated her before. She won’t question your motives. Hanna already thinks that Linda is my girlfriend.“My girlfriend would kill
Hanna POVEyes closed, I swatted the mosquito that bit me with my bare hands and felt irritated that my sleep got disturbed.I am still sleepy.The mosquito changed course and bit the skin around my shoulder. This time, it stings, and I cried out in pain at the same time I bolted out of bed, but was prevented by a massive frame.“Rowan?” I asked.I could not be sure.The room was dark, but a whiff gave off that distinct smell that only Rowan had.Arms circled my waist to draw me close to a hard che
Hanna POVRowan lifted me, arms clamped securely around my waist, while his hands supported my bottom. He slowly walked to the nearest room, which in this case, was the room I was staying at. “Open the door.” He told me, pausing our kiss, but not our lips. He talked while his lips were pressed to mine, and I inhaled his minty breath, intoxicating my blood to a fever pitch. With my back to the door, I groped for the knob and twisted it open. Rowan kicked it with his feet, leaving it wide open so we could enter. He walked slowly and steadily toward the bed before he laid me gently on it with his body pressing heavily on me. “I miss you.” What he said sent strange vibrations to my chest, crawling my skin and resting on my toes. In response, I pulled his head back to continue our kiss. Rowan angled his head to deepen the kiss while he ground his lower body to mine, igniting another kind of tension within me. “Rowan!” I gasped. My mouth parted open to take in huge gulps of air.
Flint POV“I don’t know what to think anymore,” I admitted to Brent while drinking vodka in a private room inside the Blue Canyon, a country club in Redwood where we both enjoyed VIP memberships.“Why don’t you ask her? Instead of overthinking and suspecting your brother, go to your wife and seek the answers to all the questions crowding your head.”“I really love talking to you, Brent. You are like a cold bath - scary but necessary.” I told him bluntly.Brent chuckled.“You needed it.”I clapped Brent on the back.“Thanks.”“Let’s go. It’s two in the morning, and the manager had been giving us deadly looks already. I think this club is closing for the day.”After Brent settled the bill, we rose from our seats and ambled back to his car.I left my c
Briana POVAfter the police officers took my three brothers, I got back on my desk and sat morosely there.“Where are your brothers? I thought you had an emergency meeting?” Noah asked, disrupting my solitude.I looked at him sharply. “They were at the police station.”Noah opened the door wider and walked in.He loosened his tie and slumped on the couch. He looked tired, but he was looking at me with love in his eyes.It had been four years since I took a chance on him, and his love never wavered. In truth, it had intensified through the years.
Flint POVI could not believe it.Brinaa had us arrested! The f*ck!After the police handcuffed the three of us, Briana took our phones.“Why are you confiscating our phones? I need that!” Marcus cried.Between the three of us, he was the most uncooperative and talkative.Briana ignored him. “You will get your phones later. For now, I am going to keep it.” She promised before the police officers led us out of her study.Downstairs, I saw the household staff gathered in
Flint POVRowan’s question, asking me about fathering Anna’s baby, hangs in the air.It wrapped around us like an elephant in the room.I took in my brothers’ look, feeling like the odd man out.Can’t I be man enough to take on my responsibility? Can I not be trusted to care for my own family?The dam inside me burst, and I lashed out at my brother, Rowan.“Yes, so don’t cross my line and stop meddling in my wife’s life. They don’t need you.”Rowan stared m
Flint POV“I am not talking to you, Flint. You embarrassed me in front of Linda, and that was unforgivable.”I winced, feeling guilty.In my eagerness to defend my family, I had forgotten that Briana was never an enemy.She was my sister.“I am sorry.”“I am just looking out for you. Haven’t you forgotten how hard women tried to trap you into marriage, not because they loved you but because they loved what you represented?” She lashed out at me.I chuckled. &ldqu
Anna/Linda POV“Hey, sis! ” Flint walked toward his sister with a wriggling Penelope in his arms.When he reached her, he stooped to kiss her cheeks.Penelope saw what he did and did the same. She kissed Briana’s cheek.Briana was left stunned, especially when Penelope showed her natural cuteness.She bounced in Flint’s arms, raising her hands to clap."Yay! Kwin ver gud!" Penelope said in a stilted manner.On the other hand, Flint looked like he was ready to burst into pride. He puffed
Anna/Linda POVWe spent three days secluded in the exclusive villa Flint rented for us. It was nothing short of idyllic. Penelope had a wonderful time. “Dad-dy!” She squealed and jumped on her little feet to evade the coming waves. “Bubbles!” She would cry in gibberish, pointing at the sea foam that crowded her feet and ankles. Then she would run to Flint, and Flint would swoop down to capture her and put her to dry sand. Then, she would stroll toward the waves again, repeating the same actions until Flint rescues her.“You are silent,” Flint said when he deposited Penelope beside me. I was sitting on the sand with my legs stretched out in front of me. He quickly worked on the sand, digging with his hands and throwing them to cover my legs. It attracted Penelope, and she mimicked her father. She took clumps of sand in her hands and threw them to my legs. “You need a spade, my little Queen,” Flint said.He looked around our surroundings before his eyes focused on something no
Flint POVAfter dinner, I was excited to put Penelope to sleep, but to my chagrin, she wouldn’t sleep however hard I coaxed her.She was too busy playing with the rose petals. She kept stepping on them while she walked around our rented villa.“Maybe she loved the downy feel of the rose petals on her soles.” Anna offered a likely explanation for our daughter’s seeming propensity for the flowers.She even pulled her shoes off before she jumped, skipped, and kicked on the petals covering the floor.I dropped my head playfully in response, but inside, I was dying for Penelope to lay her head on the bed so t
Flint POVI saw a myriad of emotions playing on Anna’s face and it made me want to crush her to my chest to offer assurance. I am a Ford.I have everything, but when it comes to Anna, I felt lacking as a man. Of course, it was different with our daughter.Would it be selfish of me if I wanted to be the only man for her, not just the father of her daughter? I wanted to be the best man for them both. “One day, I will make you fall in love with me,” I told her and saw her taken aback. I wanted to add that I will erase every feeling she has for my brother.I will be the only man she would need. The wedding ended. “Congratulations.” The priest held out his hand to send us his best wishes. He even patted Penelope’s head, making her giggle. “You have a lovely daughter.” He told us.Anna and I exchanged a look. She smiled, feeling proud of our daughter. I was, too. We did not linger. Our group left the church and ended up in the parking lot, where we went in separate directions.