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ALAYNAI wake to a soft voice whispering in my ear. I’m not aware of the time, but I’m guessing it’s already late in the evening. I fell asleep on the couch with my head resting on Brandon’s lap. I gaze up and find Brandon’s beautiful face staring at me. He strokes my hair and kisses my forehead.“Alayna, let’s get you to the hotel,” he says. “You can come back tomorrow. Casey and Cassius will stay with Ollie until tomorrow morning.”I scan the room and find Cassius sitting next to Oliver with his eyes closed. Casey is asleep on the sofa by the door.“Okay.” I cling to Brandon’s waist and try to get up. Enveloping my arms around his neck, I press myself against him for a few more moments. “You should get some sleep too,” I breathe on his neck.He tenderly rubs my back and kisses my jaw. “I will. Come on.”I slip on my shoes, brush my fingers through my hair, and smooth the creases of my shirt. Brandon takes his scarf off his shoulders and wraps it around me. “It’s freezing outside.”I
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ALAYNAWhen we return to the hospital, Brandon and the twins visit Pauline’s ward, and I remain in Oliver’s room. I can’t complain about that, even though jealousy hits me every time. Pauline is a human being who needs another human to look after her. It’s only ethical that Brandon would visit her since she almost died, though fortunately, she already passed the critical stage. However, Oliver hasn’t regained consciousness yet, although his doctor has assured us he will wake up soon.I find my siblings in Oliver’s room with Casey and Cassius. I embrace Arianna as soon as I see her. She’s fine, but Jason has a bandage over his left bicep. He’s standing on his own two feet, though, which means he’s okay. His injury doesn’t look very serious, but I can’t help but worry.“I’m perfectly fine, Laynie. It’s just a scratch,” Jason says.I pat his uninjured arm. “We only just met up again, and you’re already jumping on bullets?” I pat him again and again. “Mom’s going to worry.”“Ouch. Your ja
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BRANDONCassius returns from the counter with two cups of Americano. We’re now sitting downstairs in the hospital’s coffee shop. He sits across from me and gives me the other cup. I grip the hot ceramic, not minding how it hurts my fingers. I wonder what’s wrong with me suddenly. The way Oliver called Alayna’s name and relaxed in her presence bothers me. It’s not jealousy. I refuse to entertain that feeling; it’s something else... It’s not the right time to be even thinking about that. But I witnessed his pain or heard it.“Not her. No, no, no, don’t, please. Don’t. Alayna!”What was he begging for?“Tell me. What are you thinking?” Cassius asks.“Nothing.” My answer is quicker than the speed of light.“I guess this is where both of us have to stand back. For Ollie.”I frown. “What do you mean?”“Oh, you don’t know.”“What do I not know?” It isn’t a question but an irony. I grit my teeth and drink my coffee. Its bitterness blends with my confusion. “Of course I know it,” I say. I felt
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ALAYNABrandon finds me in Ollie’s room when his cousin falls asleep. I am gently patting a damp towel on Ollie’s forehead. He exerted himself earlier while explaining things to me and got really tired.Brandon stands next to his cousin, crossing his arms. “Should I be jealous?” There is a ghost of a smile on the side of his lips.I want to laugh at his joke, but I can’t seem to get myself back in the right mood after everything Ollie told me.“Brandon, can I talk to you?” I say after I’m done taking care of Oliver.His eyes narrow. “I was expecting that.”“But can we talk outside? We might disturb Ollie. I’ll just ask a nurse to look after him.”“No, let me do that. Wait for me and wear this.” He shakes off his coat and wraps it over my shoulder. “It’s freezing outside.”I inhale the fragrance of his coat and sigh at the warmth he transferred to it. “Thank you.”Brandon kisses my temple like he always does, and I’m getting used to it. Now, how can I let this all go? He leaves the roo
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ALAYNANothing is more shocking for Mom than seeing me come home with Jason and Khal late at night after having spent vacation at home two months ago. I pull her into a bear hug the moment she opens the door.“Mom!”“Alayna?” her tone is almost questioning. “You’re here.” She looks back and forth from me to Jason. “And Jason? I’m glad you two found each other again,” her gaze shifts to Khal. “Khalid Turner, is that you?”“Hello, Mrs. Hart,” Khal smiles.“Hey, Mom.” My brother embraces her as well.“My darlings!” She grins. “I’m surprised! You didn’t tell me you were coming.”Jason releases Mom. “Yes, uh, Mom, listen to me. I don’t have much time to explain, but can you wake the kids?”Her smile fades, and she frowns. “What is going on? Oh, my goodness, J! Are you injured?” Mom’s eyes dart to Jason’s arm. The blood on his bandage is more visible now.“I’m okay. It’s just a scratch,” Jason says, using the same words as before. “But you have to listen to whatever Laynie’s going to say.”
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ALAYNAThe place where Jason brought us is a hotel they own, which has their initials displayed on the building—CAJA Hotel. The room he gives Mom and the kids is a family suite, so our mother already tucked the kids to bed, and she probably has fallen asleep. Pauline has woken up, but she’s still too weak to stand up, so she stays in a different suite. The rest of us are gathered in the living room.“This place is safe enough,” Jason says after Cassius’s question about the security. I can’t blame him for being cautious. We almost died yesterday.“Shouldn’t we talk about our next move?” Arianna suggests.“God!” Cassius grunts, resting his head against the luxurious black sofa. “I’m fucking restless.”“People still need to rest, A,” Jason says, staring out the window.I remember I haven’t spoken with them about the mob thing, but their involvement with Brandon makes sense now. It’s the missing piece.“We shouldn’t waste time. We have children with us. We have to move them somewhere else
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BRANDON“... How do you feel?”Pauline takes a sip of water after swallowing a capsule the doctor prescribed for her. It isn’t advisable for her to travel by plane with her wounds, so we have to wait a few more days.“I feel like I’m dying, Brandon,” she complains, then wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “But I want to go. I want to leave this place and go home.”“You can’t leave yet.” I sit on the edge of the bed.“Are you coming with me?” she says hoarsely.“Did you call your parents?” I ask instead.“They said the same thing. But they are more concerned with my engagement to Silvanus than my wellbeing. Dad’s always like that. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t born in that kind of family. Screw all these rules.”I smile. “I understand. I don’t agree with the rules either.”“So I told him,” she goes on. “That I wasn’t really pregnant and that I was only lying so that Silvanus would let me go. I’m happy because Dad’s so furious. I like making him angry.” She shakes her head and exhale
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ALAYNAI keep my distance from Brandon, but I’m too aware of his presence next door. Not even Casey or Arianna can console me. I just wanted to be alone to think. Then I remember Oliver’s proposition. He told me to come to him if I decided to hear him out.I send a text to Casey the following day to tell Oliver I need to see him. I can’t go out of the room because I’d rather stay with my family and not face Brandon. Casey tells me Oliver is coming. While I wait for him, I watch Jason and Arianna playing with our younger siblings in the living room, which makes me smile.Oliver then appears at the door and asks me to join him for coffee downstairs. I ask Jason if it’s safe to go out, and my brother assures me that it is since he owns the entire building.Oliver and I sit across from each other at the coffee shop nursing our lattes.“You look great,” I tell him. The bruises on his face have slightly faded.“I look almost normal, thank you.” He chuckles. “What’s up?”I let a beat pass be
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The Billionaire's Mask (A Dark Steamy Romance) 172
BRANDON They said nothing lasts forever, but that phrase might not be entirely true. Yes, I’ve lived a wretched life in the past. I was driven by guilt, anger, and revenge for as long as I could remember. I couldn’t do anything because I thought I was weak. I thought it was how I was going to die. Hopeless and a failure. Until she came into my life and changed everything. Alayna turned my world upside down and showed me a different side of reality I hadn’t yet seen. She made me realize it wasn’t too late to hope or win—the exact opposite of what I had lived for all along. For when I was hopeless, she showed me hope. I felt despair; she granted me peace. I thought I had more guilt than anyone else in the world, but she gave me her love. With her, my journey truly begins. Our marriage. My forever. We should enjoy every second of it now in a summer townhouse resort in Varkiza, one of the estates we owned in Athens. I am now tangling my wife’s hair as she devours my shaft by the
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I walk them to the end of the venue, greeting the guests as we pass. Then I meet up with Cary and Stan by the garden’s exit. The twins step aside to introduce me to a man of nearly sixty—who did his best to appear formal with the suit I sent him. I immediately recognize the features of his face.The man opens his arms. “Brandon, my favorite boy…”I approach him immediately and briefly drape my arm around his shoulder. “Uncle Basil, you came.”“Of course. I won’t miss your special day.”“Um, hello?” Casey steps forward and joins in.“Ah, it must be you now. You’re Elysia,” Uncle Basil says. I step back, giving them space.Casey blushes. “I go with a different name now, um… but…”“No, you are Elysia. Elga’s younger sister. I held you as a baby.” He smiles in awe. “You look so much like your brother and your father—Oh!”Casey instantly embraces him. “Brandon said you look like him too.”Our uncle nods, stroking her back. “I’m sorry for what happened to you, child.”She snivels. “I alread
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BRANDON“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride…”My wife selected a garden house by the beach in East Hampton for our wedding. Her dream wedding. She looked exceptionally royal in her white long trail wedding dress today. Omar did a remarkable job, as usual. I honestly can’t wait for this celebration to end, so I can finally have my wife for myself.Alayna wanted an intimate celebration with our families, but some press always finds a way to invite themselves. At least a hundred people are present today to witness our most awaited union compared to the five hundred who attended our engagement party.My beautiful wife is now in my arms, having our first dance as a married couple.“Hello, husband. You look very handsome.” She traces the line of my suit with her fingertips, and the diamond wrap around her finger flickers.“You look like I’m ready to eat you.”She giggles, and I always love the sound of it. “Behave,” she says, but her smile says otherwise.I raise a
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ALAYNAOne week later“Senator Donovan Mallory is arrested for child trafficking, distributing child pornography, and the murder of Dr. Richard Hart, the former chair of Lifeline Foundation. The trial for his case will begin in two weeks…”The report switches the frame over to a desperate old man being hauled by the cops.“Let me go! This is not over yet! The mayor of Seattle is mentally sick! Do you hear me? I cannot accept this! He is lying!” he yells over the reporters surrounding him in front of the courthouse.“This is Luis Crawford from AAC News, reporting.”Cassius shuts off the news. We are now gathered in the living room, silently waiting for someone to speak.Last week, Cassius and Carmelo visited the senator to let him know Drake abducted me, but he only chased them away and denied his son. He told them he had no business in Drake’s escapades. However, during Drake’s interview, he disclosed everything he knew about his father and apologized to me in public.“Drake didn’t me
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Brandon returns with a bare torso, flaunting his delicious abs and toned muscles. He’s changed into gray sweatpants. I watch him turn off some lights, raise the thermostat, and turn the stereo on.“Get onto the bed and lie down,” he says while heading toward me.We now have pleasant room temperature, dim, romantic lights, and a mellow piece of music.Okay. I’m not getting dressed then.I slide my buttocks along the bed’s cushion and move over the middle. I swallow dryly.Brandon crawls on the bed. Gradually, he positions himself on top of me and snatches off my robe.“Let me just remind you…” he whispers. “You asked for this. You’re too persistent that I have to do something about it.” He pushes himself up then yanks down his pants and boxers without breaking eye contact. His erect shaft swells up.No matter how many times I see him in this state, I just can’t get enough. Everything about him is just too beautiful. At times, I find him hard to handle.He lowers himself again. “Spread
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ALAYNAMy body aches everywhere, but I stiffen. It hurts too much to move.I’m still alive.Right, yes. I remembered being saved, and I saw Oliver’s face. He told me Brandon came.Around me, I smell antiseptic and undertones of the artificial fragrance. Judging by the scent of my surroundings, I’m aware of where I am. Bit by bit, I blink my eyes and try to open them.My beautiful man’s face is the first thing I see.“Hi…”He kisses my knuckles and brings my palm to his face. “Hey.”I force a smile. “I love you.”His eyes redden and start to swell. “I love you too.”“Oh, don’t cry. I can still feel my limbs—no broken bones. No sign of permanent damage,” I manage a joke, chuckling.“Don’t,” he says gruffly. “You scared me back there.”I grunt, adjusting my back. “But you saved me. Like always. What is it about restrooms? Dangerous place.”“Very.” He frowns hard, remembering the past. “Back then, it was different. Next time, you don’t leave alone, okay?”I nod. “Next time.” I brush away
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BRANDONReporters disperse in front of the hospital when I arrive after a call from Oliver, but I’m more anxious about Alayna’s state. What did this son of a bitch do to her? I still have no idea what happened because Ollie and Stan don’t have time to explain everything.I break through the crowd that won’t let us pass. Some reporters ask about me, that fucker Drake, and his crime, but most are random; I can’t understand them. My mind is somewhere else to even try to fucking understand, so I couldn’t care less. I need to see my fiancée right away.“Just keep going. I’m right behind you,” Jason instructs, then he and some security block the reporters and let me through.“We are not answering questions for now, please. Give my family some privacy!” he yells, and his voice trails off as I go further.Oliver is impatiently treading back and forth in front of the emergency room while on the phone. Stan, on the other hand, is sitting quietly on the bench as if in deep thought.“Oliver. Stan
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ALAYNAI have fallen asleep on the couch. It’s already morning. I’m not in my bed, nor Brandon’s penthouse, but in an unfamiliar room somewhere in Wichita. It turns out I’m not dreaming. The devil who’s asleep on the bed right now really kidnapped me.He’s sleeping! Maybe I can get away…I cover my mouth from squealing at the possible opportunity to get away from Drake.I take light steps toward the bed to make sure he’s unconscious. Drake’s forehead is wrinkled, and exhaustion is marked on the lines of his face. He must be unsettled with all this bullshit he got himself into, but he’s clearly tired because no matter how difficult the nightmares are, he doesn’t wake. I know because I’ve seen him in this state in the past. Whenever he was anxious, he’d just sleep it out.I instantly think of making a call, so I need a phone. Brandon has to know where I am. So bravely, I sneak back to the living room and open Drake’s stuff. I dig inside his suitcase to look for his phone and money. I ne
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I knock on the door of an old townhouse, then a dark-blonde-haired woman appears at the door. She smiles when she sees us, but the bliss on her face quickly fades and turns into confusion.“Jason?” she says.Jason frowns. “Mariel?”“You know her?” I ask him.“Yes, she’s in the gang with me. I mean, was. Mariel Miller. What are you doing here?”The woman’s face turns red. “I don’t know why you’re here, but you need to leave.” She glances at me but then attempts to shut the door. However, Jason is swift. He shoves himself to the door and steps inside.“Mariel. I am asking you a question. Why are you here?” Jason questions as he steps further. I follow him.“She’s his sister. The twins found out in the family records,” I say. I see quite a resemblance.Jason nods, then shifts his attention back to the woman. “Where is Drake, Mariel?”She steps back. “He’s not here.”“But you’re expecting him.”She doesn’t answer.“You vanished, and now you’re here? You’re Drake’s sister?”She nods.Jason
