Rei's tale still has a few surprises in store before she reaches her joyful conclusion. Thank you for taking the time to read. New updates will be published on Fridays through Mondays, typically around 11:30 p.m. EST.
Xavier’s Point of ViewThey’d killed the cop. I knew them, and being in prison hadn’t changed them for the better. It had made them more careful and calculated. They were sure they could get away with it if they had fired shots. That meant Lillianna had reconnected with them, and if that was the case, I needed to get Rei away from here as fast as possible.I told her we were going to her house but taking an extended route. We weren’t. It wouldn’t be safe there. Not only did I need to worry about Lillianna, but now I had to worry about her AND my old crew. Never had I regretted more my association with them. Because now it had put Rei and her children in danger. I squeezed her hand and sped up, racing to the only spot I could think of that Rei would be safe.Grace had the kids, and they were with Aamon. No one would mess with the Brzezinski family. My “old friends” would have a death wish if they did. But they didn’t know that Rei was the granddaughter of Kazimierz Brzezinski. But they
Xavier’s Point of View“I used to watch you. My friends called it stalking, and maybe it was. But when I met Lillianna, I didn't do it as much. She was a good distraction, but I still looked for you whenever I was out. The crush on you never really went away; it became an obsession in many ways.""I fell in with the wrong crowd. We made some bad choices, took things that didn't belong to us, and crossed paths with the wrong people. Eventually, we were caught. Because of my hacking skills, the government saw potential in me, so they offered me a deal: turn on my "friends" and work for them instead. And so, I did what I had to do to save myself while those guys ended up in jail for our crimes at the gas station,” I said.Rei remained silent, but her eyes held a new expression I couldn't quite decipher. It wasn't judgment or disdain but something else entirely, and not knowing what it was made me feel uneasy.This was the part I had been dreading. I needed to tell her about Lillianna.“Li
Lillianna’s Point of ViewI rummaged through Rei's drawers, sifting through her belongings. She was a rather dull woman, except for her impressive collection of vibrators. That caught my attention and garnered my admiration. It seemed like a hidden side to her was just waiting to be revealed. Maybe the bathroom incident with Xavier wasn't just a one-time wild experience; maybe there was more to this seemingly ordinary woman than I had initially thought.As I looked at my reflection in the mirror, a scowl formed on my face. I could see that I was losing my edge, which was unacceptable. Rei had to be removed from the equation; she couldn't have what rightfully belonged to me. I refused to be swayed by trivial things like her ability to please herself. It was a skill that many women lacked, and they resigned themselves to never experiencing the satisfaction of an orgasm or discovering what truly brought their body pleasure. They were convinced that only a partner could fulfill them, which
Lillianna’s Point of ViewI snatched up my bag and bolted out the back door, not caring where I was heading as long as it was far away from Rei's house. The thought of staying there any longer made me feel like I had a target on my back. How could I have been so foolish? Don Brzezinski had already agreed to let me go with minimal consequences, but now I wouldn't even have that when they inevitably caught me. And they would catch me - Kazimierz Brzezinski's influence stretched wide, with eyes everywhere. Despite his dangerous reputation, he was revered by all. A small group had attempted to overthrow him after his son's death, but their fate served as a warning never to challenge him again. And now I had just killed the man.Don Brzezinski's Point of ViewI hadn’t anticipated that, but I should have. I had been too trusting, thinking that Lillianna felt some kind of loyalty to me. That mistake was clearly going to cost me my life. My men had raced into the house in a panic, horrified to
Xavier's Point of ViewDon Brzezinski’s voice could be clearly heard on the other line. I’d had limited interaction with him, but each was etched into my mind. He was not one to cross. Why was Kazimierz Brzezinski calling Rei? Something must have happened.Before Rei could ask me, I grabbed my phone and called Grace. I knew she would answer if it were me. I would only call if there were concerns—we’d established that.Rei looked at me strangely as I dialled my phone frantically. I suppose I did look odd moving quickly to contact my girlfriend’s best friend. But I needed to make sure the kids were safe. I needed to know Lillianna wasn’t anywhere near them.Grace's voice was laced with amusement, but I could detect hints of worry in her tone. "Xavier, why are you calling me?"“The Don just called and left a very confusing voicemail message for Rei. Are the kids safe?” I asked."Don't be ridiculous, Xavier. This house is practically impenetrable. Aamon makes sure of that." Grace scoffed,
Rei’s Point of ViewThere have been numerous times in my life where I believed that I couldn't possibly be any angrier than I was at that moment. The first was when I discovered my ex-husband's infidelity. The second was when Greg made the decision to abandon me and our children, claiming we no longer fit into his life and he didn't love us anymore. But this... this consumed me with rage. I focused on taking deep breaths, attempting to reign in the intense anger that was ready to consume me.Xavier was handing me a helmet and gesturing for me to put it on. I wanted to throw it at him and run off. Scream, cry, rage at the insanity of my reality right now.Rei, listen to him. You are running out of time. If you don’t go to see your grandfather, you will never forgive yourself.X’s voice whispered in my head. But I was too angry. I didn’t care. How could they play with my life like this? With my children’s lives? How much of my life was a lie?Shiloh, Onyx and Salem are going to be there.
Shiloh’s Point of ViewAunt Grace had always been the calm and reliable one in our family, but now she appeared frazzled and fearful. Even her boyfriend, our uncle, seemed terrified. They were trying to hide their fear from us kids, but we were more perceptive than they realized. We could read their body language and hear the tension in their voices. Despite their attempts to shield us, Onyx, Salem, and I could sense that something was very wrong. We may have been young but we weren’t oblivious to the situation.My great-grandfather was shot and is currently hospitalized. We were on our way to meet him. Instead of riding in Aamon's vehicle, we were in a larger SUV with some intimidating men who seemed to be guards. At least, that's what we assumed, but none of us dared to ask. The tension in the vehicle was almost suffocating. Grace's eyes kept flicking towards Aamon as we raced towards the hospital. My brothers and I were squished onto the back seat while Grace sat in one of the seats
Don Brzezinski’s Point of ViewAs I savoured my coffee, I reclined in my chair and observed the young man before me, who professed his love for my granddaughter. X claimed that he was simply keeping me company until Rei could arrive to meet me. The coffee was good, and surprisingly, so was the conversation. X was a fascinating young man and, from what I could tell, a good match for my granddaughter. He told me they had been friends and then much more over the last ten years. X shared funny anecdotes of Rei’s life that I had not known otherwise, and I could tell from the sparkle in his eye as he spoke of her that my granddaughter was his world.Rei had never truly moved on from Greg Ravenscroft. That bastard wanted her for all the wrong reasons. I should have put my foot down and forbidden them to be married, but my granddaughter seemed so in love with the idiot. He did give her three beautiful, exceptional children, though. Shiloh, with her patience, keen observation, and gentle heart,
Rei's Point of ViewI yearned for the freedom and exhilaration of riding on the back of Xavier's motorcycle, but ever since we found out about my pregnancy, he insisted on taking the car whenever we went out together. While I understood his concern for my safety and that of our unborn child, I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss for the rush of wind in my hair and feeling like I was flying with him. This baby was a surprise blessing for us, one we both cherished deeply, yet I couldn't shake off the lingering longing for our carefree rides on his bike.Shiloh had kindly offered to take care of Onyx and Salem while Xavier took me out for a date. Life had been hectic with moving into a new house and the kids starting at a new school. Though we didn't live in our small hometown anymore, we were still close by. It was a chance to start fresh, something we all needed. The kids had finally found their place and made friends who often hung out at our house, enjoying bonfires and stargazing
Rei’s Point of ViewTwo weeks passed by in the blink of an eye. It was strange adapting to our new normal. The kids were pulled from school so that we could have a proper funeral for my grandfather and we could find new living arrangements. Saying farewell to a man who played such an influential role in my life yet remained unknown until his last moments was an incredibly surreal experience.As the casket was closed, Shiloh and Onyx remained silent as they said their final goodbyes. I couldn't help but notice Xavier, Aamon, and Salem standing together. Both men reached for one of Salem's hands, causing him to straighten his back and take a deep breath. It was almost as if he acknowledged someone or something only he could see. I tried to look in the same direction but saw nothing. However, recent events have taught me not to discount the possibility of there being something more beyond our physical world.Since our last moments together, I hadn't sensed X's presence. However, not long
Rei’s Point of ViewMy choice. This time, it would be my choice. The words echoed in my mind as I stared at my three sleeping children. I couldn’t recall a time except when Xavier came into my life when I was truly given a choice—when the decision was entirely my own.“You have a lot to think about. Why don’t I give you some space to do that?” my brother said as he patted my head and walked out of the room.My brother. I have a brother who is dating my best friend. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that. Wait, Aamon just patted my head as he walked out, much like Onyx would do to Salem. I smiled to myself at the thought.Honestly, I had no desire to return to the house. It held too many painful memories of my grandfather's death and Lillianna's betrayal. Every room felt haunted by the life I once shared with Greg. Starting fresh in a new place with Xavier and the children sounded like the best option.However, relocating my children from their current school and leaving behind th
Aamon’s Point of ViewAs Xavier left the room, the office fell into a heavy silence. Rei's nervous eyes darted around, taking in each of our faces."Chloe, were you paid to be my friend?" she asked hesitantly.All eyes turned to me, and I let out a sigh."I hired Chloe to protect you and Grace to become your friend. But Chloe, Grace, and Iris genuinely care about you, Rei. It may have started as a job for them, but their feelings for you are real," I explained."Ladies, Rei and I haven't had a chance to talk alone as siblings yet. Could you give us some privacy for a few minutes? Maybe check on Xavier and contact Sam to make sure she's okay. With our new circumstances, it would be best if Alex, Tom, and Matt knew what we were dealing with. If we're going to change how we operate, we'll need the support and understanding of our loved ones," I suggested.Grace squeezed my hand in support and kissed my cheek softly."I can stay if you need me to," she whispered discreetly.I smiled at her
Xavier’s Point of ViewOn my way back to the office, I passed by the kids playing in the game room. Salem noticed me and studied me intensely as if he was trying to figure something out. His face showed his frustration, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on. Then, he looked past me and gave me a disapproving look. I turned around, expecting to see something or someone that had caused Salem's reaction, but there was nothing there. Just as I was about to continue on my way, Salem spoke up and caught my attention.Salem looked at me seriously and asked, "Can I talk to you, Xavier?""Absolutely," I replied. I noticed him looking over my shoulder and then sticking his tongue out. It was strange behaviour, but considering all that Salem had been through recently, it could have been his way of coping. At least he felt comfortable enough to come to me when he needed to talk."Can we go to your room to talk? Unless you and Mom didn't clean up, and it's too messy in there," Salem aske
Grace’s Point of ViewAs I opened my eyes, I realized that the bed was empty. Aamon was not there, and I could feel the coldness of the sheets where he had been laying. He must have left a while ago. I sat up quickly, pulling the sheets closer to my body for warmth. I let out a sigh, hoping that everything was alright. This was something that I needed to get used to once again, especially now that Aamon was in charge of the organization.As I dressed, I realized Rei had no clothes to change into. I rummaged through the bag of unpacked clothing and found a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, underwear, and a bra that would fit her. This would suffice for now; we could find a more permanent solution for Rei and Xavier's clothing later. Xavier had left everything behind at his apartment to get Rei to the hospital on time, so he also needed some clothes. Fortunately, I found a T-shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants that should fit him well enough. Aamon and Xavier had similar builds, which worked out
Shiloh’s Point of ViewI rolled my eyes as Salem ranted about Mr. Shiny Light Pants being a real person and how we were too clueless to see him. Eventually, he quieted down and started playing the game with Onyx. I couldn't help but reflect on how Salem had always believed that someone was watching over us, even when we were younger. Maybe he was right all along. With everything going on and our world turned upside down, I had to admit that anything was possible now.I leaned back in my seat and let out a deep sigh. Onyx glanced at me with concern, but I shook my head slightly and silently mouthed, "I'm okay, just exhausted." He nodded in understanding and mouthed back, "Me too." Strangely, this experience had brought my brothers and me closer than ever before. I had a feeling we would need each other even more as we adapted to our new lives and identities.Would we end up at the same school? Would people talk about us? It was obvious Mom was going to marry Xavier. His love for her was
X’s Point of ViewJust as I had done with Kaz, I guided Lillianna toward the light. It was effortless with Kaz; I respected the Don and enjoyed his company. However, I couldn't stand Lillianna. Yet, there was a glimmer of something in her that I couldn't ignore. After she crossed over to the light completely, I turned to leave."You're not coming with me, are you?" she asked."No," I replied."Will we ever meet again?" Lillianna's voice trembled with emotion."Not if I have any say in it," I responded sharply.“I loved him, you know. In my own way, I loved Xavier. And maybe, just maybe, he could have loved me back,” Lillianna revealed.“But you knew his heart was devoted to someone else, yet you persisted in your pursuit of him. He was never yours to claim. While Xavier may have shared his body with you, his heart always belonged to Rei. And it always will,” I retorted.“You love Rei. I can't quite comprehend who or what you are, but I recognize that feeling of loving someone you can n
Lillianna’s Point of ViewThe audacity of Aamon was unfathomable. Without a second thought, he had given my hard-earned jobs to Chloe, someone who had no business taking them from me. My head spun with fury, drowning out any sounds around me until Iris appeared, her cold voice cutting through the chaos. Before I could react, a searing pain ripped through my abdomen as her bullet tore into me. I felt my insides lurch and knew she had hit vital organs. The shock was almost too much to bear as I gasped for air, realizing this was how I imagined my end. A scream rose in my throat, but was stifled by the shock and agony coursing through my body. All I could do was curse fate for this cruel and undeserved death as I bled out on the floor in front of the bathroom. Rage turned to despair as my last thoughts faded into darkness.Chloe’s Point of ViewI couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. Iris had made a grand entrance and delivered a deadly blow with precision and finality. As I stood t