Lily's POVI took a shuddering breath, my tears subsiding as I slowly pulled away from Aiden's comforting embrace. His presence alone felt like a balm that soothed me, and I found all the trauma I had carried around for years slowly ebbed away.I wiped my tear-stained cheeks with the back of my hand, managing a weak smile as I looked up at him. "Well, looks like I've managed to wet your shirt again," I noted, a snort of laughter coming out of my lips. "I should start carrying tissues around or something."Aiden chuckled softly, his eyes filled with warmth. "You know what, Lily? I'd gladly let you wet any of my clothes any day," he replied, his voice holding a hint of playfulness. "As long as I get to hold you tight like this, I am perfectly fine."His words caused a surge of emotion within me, and my heart skipped a beat. Despite the pain and darkness that had haunted my past, that I had just dug up from my memory, this man still loved me like no other.It made me feel extremely grate
Lily's POVSlowly, obeying his command, I began to strip, silently releasing the tiny buttons of my cotton dress from their constraints.I let the dress fall from my shoulders, exposing my lacy blue bra, the same colour of his eyes and the pool around us. Aiden stepped between my legs and made as if to hug me."Hold still." He whispered, then unhooked my bra as well. The cold rush of air made my nipples pull up in taut, almost painful buds. Instinctively, my fingers moved upwards to caress them.But he was already lifting me into his arms, holding me so that we were huddled together against the pool, my breasts crushed against his chest as he pulled me tightly against him.His lips found mine with such alacrity that I was left short of words. He kissed me with such all-consuming passion that I moaned, my own tenuous control shattering. Aiden's hands were all over me, molding me, arousing me. For the first time, I realized exactly why this man could make me respond as no one before.
Lily's POVThe eerie silence that followed the gunshot sent a jolt of fear coursing through my veins. My heart raced as I scanned the surrounding area, trying to pinpoint the origin of the alarming sound."Did you hear that?" I asked, my voice trembling with unease, as I turned to Aiden for reassurance. His expression mirrored my own apprehension, his eyes scanning the perimeter with furrowed brows."Yeah, I heard it," he replied, his tone tense as he surveyed the estate grounds for any sign of danger. "It's probably just... just..." He trailed off, his words faltering as he struggled to come up with a plausible explanation."Just what?" I pressed, my voice tinged with anxiety. "That sounded very dangerous."Aiden's gaze flickered towards the distant tree line, his jaw clenched with determination. "It's probably just my men doing some target practice," he finally offered, though his words lacked the conviction to fully ease my fears."But what if it's not?" I countered. My voice was b
Lily's POVAs I stood frozen in the doorway, my heart plummeted at the sight before me. Aiden's tear-streaked face moved upwards to meet mine, and his arms cradled Cook's lifeless form. Panic surged through me, my mind reeling at the sight of blood staining her clothes.The gunshot....had it met her?God!"Aiden, what happened?" I choked out, my voice trembling with fear and disbelief. "What the fuck happened? What the fuck happened to Cook? Tell me!"Aiden's gaze met mine, anguish etched into every line of his expression. "The bullet met her. She was in the kitchen when it happened."Waves upon waves of horror came crashing down on me. At first, I felt immobilized, like my feet had turned to marble, like I could not move even if I wanted to. And then I defrosted and melted into a heap of anguish beside the unmoving Cook.As I knelt by Cook's side, my heart clenched at the sight of her pale face and the blood staining her clothes. Desperation clawed at my chest as I reached out to tou
Ricardo's POVThe long pier overlooked the Hudson River, and the Statue of Liberty loomed in the distance like a silent guardian of the city. I was standing on the pier, trying to let the cool air from the river wash away my fears.Sighing loudly, I stared at the small fishing boats that floated lazily on the river's surface. But my thoughts were far from the iconic monument or the floating boats before me. Instead, they were consumed by one burning desire: to hear that Aiden was finally dead.The mere thought of his demise filled me with a vile sense of satisfaction, coursing through my veins like a toxic elixir. For years, I had plotted and schemed to rid myself of that pestilential thorn in my side, and now, it seemed, my efforts might finally bear fruit.Maybe....just maybe that Mitch man would be successful in killing my archenemy. Then I would kill Mitch and dump his body in this very river.But even as I relished the prospect of Aiden's demise, there was a nagging voice at the
Lily's POVAs Aiden and I sat in the waiting room of Doctor Youn's office, my heart raced with a mix of happiness and anxiety. It had been a week since Cook's tragic death, and the pain of losing her still lingered like a heavy cloud over our heads.Yet, amidst the sorrow, there was a tiny ray of hope as we waited to see Lucas. Even though Aiden and I had lost Cook to death, there was still the joy of knowing that my brother was alive and well.Aiden sat beside me, his hand clasping mine tightly, a silent reassurance that we were in this together. "It feels like forever since I last saw him," I whispered, my voice barely above a murmur as I stole a glance at Aiden. "Do you think my brother is okay?"Aiden's eyes softened with concern as he turned to me, his grip on my hand tightening ever so slightly. "He's a fighter, Estelle, at least from all you've told me about Lucas." He replied, his voice a low murmur. "He'll pull through, I know he will."I nodded, trying to push aside the nag
Lily's POV"I thought... I thought I was going to die," Lucas choked out between sobs. "When those men... when they shot me, all I could think about was how I would never see you again."My heart shattered into a million pieces as I listened to his anguished words. The realization of how close we had come to losing each other flooded my mind, and tears streamed down my face once again."Oh, Lucas," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. "I can't even begin to imagine what you went through. But you're here now, and I'm here. We made it through together."Lucas dried his tears, his gaze was wary as he looked at me. "I suppose you'd want to hear about how I got shot," he said, his voice tinged with hesitation. "You might have wondered..."I smiled gently, reaching out to hold his hand. "Lucas, I already know everything," I assured him. "I know about what happened, about your dealings with Ricardo. You don't need to explain anything to me."Confusion flickered across Lucas' face as
Aiden's POVAs I sat in the chair, observing Lily and Lucas sharing their tender, loving moments, a pang of realization hit me deep within. It was in that precious instant that I understood what had been missing from my own life—a real family.In their embrace, I witnessed a bond so strong, so unbreakable, that it touched a part of my heart I didn't know existed. Lily's strong love for her brother and the lengths she had to go through for him humbled me.Hell, they weren't even biological siblings!For most of my life, I had been living my life solo, lacking the warmth and unconditional love that a true family provides. I had built walls around my heart, protecting myself from the vulnerability that comes with opening up to others. But in that moment, those walls began to crumble.Seeing Lily willing to live with and surrender her body to a man she hated me, and seeing her endure everything just to make sure her brother's surgery was paid for, was the highest form of love I had ever s
EPILOGUEAiden's POVSeveral months later found me rushing down a corridor of Doctor Turner's hospital, my heart in my throat. Behind me, I could hear Lucas' hurried footsteps as well.We met Mira halfway down the corridor, and I stopped panting. "Where is she?" I asked. "Tell me!""I....she is....in the labor room right now!" Mira stammered. "Doctor Turner has assured us that she will be fine—""I don't bloody care!" I roared. "Take me to my wife now!"Mira nodded vigorously, then began to race down the corridor, Lucas and I closely behind her. She stopped before a door, from which I could hear labored wails and the soothing murmurs of the doctors.Without waiting, I pushed open the door and walked right in to see Lily on a bed with her knees up in the air. Her dress had been raised all the way up to her chest, and I could see about half a dozen doctors and nurses gather around her.Doctor Turner turned to me, and his eyes widened. "Mr Blackwood! What are you doing here?""What....wh
Aiden's POVAs I held the bullet in my hand, fury ignited within me like a blazing inferno. This was Ricardo's doing, I knew it in my bones. He was the only one brave enough to try to harm Lily so openly; the only one who was the thorn in my flesh.I turned to face Mira and Lucas, and I saw the curiosity in their eyes. Mira's voice cut through the tense silence, her concern evident. "What did the doctor say?" she asked.Without a word, I lifted the bullet, its engraved surface gleaming ominously in the dim light of the hospital. Their eyes widened in shock as they took in the sinister detail. "That bullet..." I began, my voice heavy. "It bears Lily's name. Ricardo's twisted way of sending a message. He wanted to kill her?""Why would he do that?" Lucas asked. "From what I know, he wanted her for himself.""I don't need to know why he wanted to kill her." I declared. "Because today, I will put an end to Ricardo's reign of terror. Once and for all.""You're not....going to Ricardo alon
Aiden's POVI turned away from Lily, walking to the corner beside the window of Lily's living room. I dialed Joe's number, my heart racing with urgency. The events of the evening replayed in my mind like a nightmare. Two beeps told me that Joe had picked up the phone. "Hello, boss." He called."Joe, listen carefully," I began, my voice urgent. "There's been a shooting at Lily's house. Mitch is dead, but there's a sniper outside. Send backup immediately!""Okay, wh...what?" Joe stammered; he sounded as though he was half asleep. "What's going on?""Wake the fuck up!" I snapped. "Come to Lily's house with six men. There's a body to clean up!"Before Joe could respond, a piercing scream cut through the air, freezing me in place. I whipped around just in time to witness another gunshot and a spray of blood. Lily crumpled to the ground, her body convulsing in agony.Time seemed to slow as I watched in horror. Lily lay bleeding before me, her body splayed on the ground. The phone slipped f
Lily's POVLucas nodded in agreement with my words. "You're all the family I need, Lily."A warmth spread through me, filling me with a sense of belonging and reassurance. He was all the family I needed too, especially in moments like these, when it seemed as though we were moving from problem to even bigger problem.With a wide smile, I stretched out my arms and pulled Lucas into a tight hug. At that moment, as we stood together in the dimly lit room, I felt a sense of peace settling on me like never before. Despite the scary things that had just happened, I felt calm and happy.But just as I began to relax into the embrace, the sound of banging on the door shattered the silence. My heart raced with fear as I ducked down, instinctively seeking cover from the unknown threat on the other side."Hey! Open the door!"Relief flooded through me when I heard Mira's familiar voice calling out from behind the door. With a shaky breath, I rose to my feet as Aiden crossed the room to open the d
Lily's POVAiden's eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, he seemed unable to speak. Then, a wide smile spread across his face, and he stepped forward, his arms outstretched as if to embrace me. "Lily, that's... that's incredible!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy and disbelief.I couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth at the sight of his genuine happiness. But beneath it all, a gnawing sense of uncertainty stayed inside me. "I... I know," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "But Aiden, I don't know if I can do this. Not now, not in this... this situation. With Ricardo, and all. If he knows about this, he will—"Aiden's smile faltered, and he reached out to gently take my hands in his. "Lily, I understand that this isn't ideal," he said softly, his voice tinged with concern. "But we'll figure it out together. We'll make it work, I promise. To hell with Ricardo!"Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked into his earnest gaze. "I want to believe you, Aiden," I whispe
Lily's POVThe rest of my day—and week—seemed to go by in a blur. I couldn't recollect the meals I had or the conversations I endured. All I could think of was this baby. My baby.Before slipping into bed on the very last night, I closed the bedroom shades against the New York moon. In the day, I hated the sunshine because It reminded me too much of Aiden and the time we'd spent in Pennsylvania, but this moonlight was almost as bad. It was so cold. And felt so strange. As odd and unfamiliar as this house, these people living with me and my own skin.Finally, I rolled onto my side and rubbed my stomach. When I found that I was pregnant, I had tried and failed to find some outward sign of my condition. But in only the past few days, I had detected a slight rounding of my belly. This child was growing.This child. My baby. A stranger, like its father had grown to be. How I yearned to know how this child had been conceived. Was it when Aiden and I had survived the battle with Ricardo? Wa
Lily's POVIt was exactly two weeks after I met with Ricardo, when I woke up one morning feeling unusually bloated and disoriented. Later I would remember that day and think about how suspicious it had been, how I should have known something was terribly wrong.My head throbbed with a dull ache, and a wave of nausea washed over me as I struggled to sit up in bed. The room spun around me, and I clutched my stomach, willing the queasiness to pass.Just then, a gentle knock echoed through the room, and I mustered the energy to call out. "Come in!""Good morning!" Mira chirped. She stepped in with her characteristic cheerful smile, carrying in her arms a tray of breakfast.She closed the door with her foot. "I noticed that you slept in today, so I decided to wake you up with your favorite.""Thank you, babe," I murmured. My voice sounded as though a whole pond of frogs had decided to nest in my throat.Mira's smile faltered as she observed my lack of energy."Lily, you don't look so good,
Ricardo's POVI placed the telephone on the polished wooden table, its weight settling with a resounding thud. Sliding into the leather-upholstered chair, I reached for the crystal decanter, pouring a generous measure of brandy into a crystal glass. The amber liquid swirled, casting an enticing glow in the low-lit room.With a flick of my wrist, I lifted the glass to my lips, savoring the rich, smoky aroma before taking a sip. The fiery warmth spread through my chest, momentarily killing the cold reality of my surroundings.I turned in my chair, and my gaze fell upon the lifeless form of Liam sprawled across the floor, spread-eagled and looking stupid. He was stupid. He had always been. I couldn't forget the first day he strutted in here, acting as though he owned the place. I didn't do well with men who thought they were better than they really were.I despised men who talked too much and pretended to have a confidence that they didn't truly possess. Liam had been a loose end, a nu
Ricardo's POV"Boss! Good afternoon!"Liam strolled into my office, a sly grin playing on his lips. I couldn't shake the feeling that his visit was laced with ulterior motives. I leaned back on my chair, watching the man as he strode over to me. Everything about him simply set me on edge. His curly, blond head of hair, baby blue eyes, and dimpled smile made him look like some innocent kid, but I could see through that facade.I knew exactly what he was. A con. I'd known from the first time my men had led him into my office, some three or four days ago.However, I pushed my angry thoughts aside and plastered a smile on my face. I extended my hand for a handshake, a customary greeting. "Good morning, Mr. Liam." I greeted.Liam ignored my outstretched hand as though it was the nearby file cabinet. I watched with mounting annoyance as he breezed past it as if my office were his domain. He slumped into one of the chairs in front of me with a great groan of satisfaction."I cannot say th