Kip looks up and frowns, “I’m no hero, and honestly, I’d never want to aspire to be one. The weight of trying to save people and bring those to justice weighs me down enough. Occasionally, I get so caught up in a case it becomes near damn impossible to claw myself out of the hole I've dug myself into.” He places his utensils on the side of his plate and picks up his glass of water, taking a sip from it. “Is my job rewarding? Sure. But it entails a lot of backbone and most times I forget I have one,” he continues, placing his glass back down on the bench top, and he points to my plate of food that’s still untouched. “Are you going to eat that?”Looking down at my plate, which consists of a decent-sized lamb steak, smothered in a rich basil tomato sauce with a side of roasted potatoes and blanched beans. I bring my plate forward, excited to fill my belly with some decent food.Licking my lips, I lean forward and inhale the aromas of the food, only to regret it simultaneously. “As good
TWO WEEKs LATER:My eyes dance around the pristine office as I slink back into my chair, patiently waiting for the doctor to enter. I feverishly rub my clammy hands up and down my thighs. I’ve never felt so nervous in my life. You’d think your first kiss would take the first rank. Nope. This appointment outranks it.As the handle turns and the door opens, I turn around in my seat and watch as my doctor strolls into the room with her attention focused on the open folder in her hands.“Good day, Mrs. Landry, I hope you are feeling better after the nausea tablet, we gave you twenty minutes ago. I apologize for the wait, but as you know, we cannot put a rush on your medical files from New Zealand. But I have your results.”Doctor El Nazari sinks into the large leather office chair behind her desk, laying the file flat on her desk as her fingers begin to fly across her keyboard. Her gaze solely focuses on the computer screen in front of her.“Ah yes, thank you. My stomach seems to have s
TOBIAS:Leaning forward over my desk, I violently press my finger against the button on the intercom. “Melanie, can I see you in my office?”“Sure,” she responds, her voice trembling.I lean back in my chair, rubbing my chin as my gaze zones in on my office door. I’m in a foul mood. A mood that won’t lift, regardless of what I do.Ever since I found out that Keri left New Zealand and went to Australia with Kip… well, let’s just say that my hands have been twitching to pulverize something, preferably Kip Mason.I mean, who does that son of a bitch think he is?Tearing through our lives like a tornado and fucking everything up as it passes through.Not to mention, Keris’ lawyer has been calling my phone daily on the hour, following up on the divorce papers I was served. If Keri thinks that she can leave the country and file for a divorce without speaking to me first, in a civilised manner, then she has another thing coming.I know I stuffed up. I’m not denying that.But she just cann
“Hey, Keri. Is everything okay?” The sound of Kips' voice pulls me out of my deep thoughts, and I glance up to see him entering the kitchen with his phone in his hand.I move away from the fridge and sit down on one of the barstools, sighing as I look down at my fingers twisting in knots on my lap. I’m torn between telling him that I am pregnant or keeping the news to myself until I can find myself a place of my own – preferably somewhere a few states over. The shame of me being pregnant is savagely eating me up from the inside out.“Hey, yeah, nah… That sounds good, bro. I gotta hang up now. I’ll holler at you in a bit.” I vividly hear Kip say to the person on the receiving end of the call.Placing his phone on the bench top, he sits down beside me, turns his body to face me, and patiently waits for me to open up to him.We sit in silence for what seems like forever as I try to find the right words to tell him that I screwed up, and I’m pregnant. The deal he offered me before leaving
“If that’s your decision, sweet girl. I’ll support you all the way. I just hope you’ll have all the right answers when your children ask about their father.” Kip replies with no tone of judgment in his voice.As I process his words, a frown forms on my face, and my brows furrow. For the sake of my children, I will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. I also hope that I will have the appropriate answers to the questions they will have the right to pose. Currently, I have no intention of deceiving them, nor do I intend to disclose everything to them. Some secrets are best kept hidden.“I hope so too.” I sigh.Kip gets up from his stool, opens the fridge door, and closes it again. “Hmm, there isn’t much food in there for me to cook you a ‘Congratulation’ dinner. So how about we order some Turkish food?” He says as he leans against the door, folding his arms over his wide chest.“That sounds really good. But we don’t have to order in because I’m pregnant, Kip.” I chuckle.“Well, it’s n
TOBIAS:As I exit the elevator car, I loosen the knot on my tie and gently tilt my head from side to side. My neck is incredibly stiff from the tension that has been building up in my body recently. It's causing a persistent migraine that I just can't seem to shake off, adding to my discomfort.“Mr. Landry?” An unfamiliar male voice calls out to me as I make my way through the lobby of my business building. “Mr. Landry, please stop. There is a crucial matter that I must discuss with you.”I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face this man, who seems to be filled with enthusiasm to catch a minute of my time. “You have one minute. Sixty seconds and not a second more.” I mutter as my gaze takes in his appearance.He's a gentleman of modest stature, in the prime of his life, with a distinguished hairline. He has a physique that resembles a bouncy castle made from doughnuts, and his suit has a charmingly worn-in look. The man's briefcase appears to have weathered the test of time, much lik
Kip sits next to me as I lie down on the bed in the ultrasound room. Today is the day that we will be given the gender results of my twins. I’m not going to lie. I’ve been eagerly waiting for the appointment all week. Just as Kip had mentioned weeks ago. Time has flown by. It’s like I blinked, and I’m now twenty-six weeks pregnant.My belly is huge. But I guess that is normal considering that two little humans are growing inside of me. The morning sickness finally stopped about four weeks ago, and my cravings for oranges started days after. Poor Kip has been restocking the fruit bowl on a daily basis. He brings home a few kilos of oranges, thinking that they will last me at least three days.They barely make it through the night.He cracked me up when he asked Doctor El Nazari if there was a possibility that I may turn slightly orange or if my babies will be born orange due to all the oranges I’ve been eating. Doctor El Nazari stared at him with a blank expression on her face at first
“I’m going to get going, sweet girl.” Kip says softly and kisses my forehead. “You did so well today. Thank you for including me. It's an experience I'll never forget," he says as he looks lovingly down at the babies in their hospital crib beside my bed.“Thank you so much for being here with me.” I kiss him on the cheek as he leans over me. “I’m so grateful for you, the two of you. You and El.”“I’ll be back after my shift tomorrow.” Kip smiles as he adjusts the baby’s little pink bonnet. “El will be in shortly to see you. Now, you tiny little rug rats behave for your mother tonight. She needs her rest.” He tells them, and with one last smile, he disappears down the corridor.It’s just after midnight, and the maternity ward has fallen silent. The private room El insisted on paying for me is dark, with only a strip of light from the bathroom illuminating the room. I’m left alone with my two babies, a little boy and a little girl. Wrapped tightly in their little blankets and snuggled i
EPILOGUE: TOBIAS:The waves fiercely crash against the shoreline behind us as the sun rays beam upon us.“I do.”Tears of joy brim my eyes as she utters two small words that mean everything and so much more to me. She is officially mine. Again. This time by choice.“You may now kiss the bri-” Before the priest finishes his sentence, I reach for my wife, crushing my lips against hers as I seal the deal between us. Keri smiles against my lips. “How does it feel to be a married woman by choice, baby?”“Perfect. How does it feel to be married and a father of twins?” She has a mischievous glint lining her eyes.“Like the lost pieces to my life have finally pieced themselves back together,” I reply honestly.I turn around and look at my children sitting beside one another with a large grin on their faces as they sit on the white chairs in the sand. Sawyer is holding a small bouquet of flowers, and Ryan, an empty small pillow that not long ago held our wedding rings. My gaze shifts further i
TOBIAS:A persistent knock raps on the timber door, catching me off guard as I flip my steak over on the grill. Turning the BBQ off, I move my steak to the side, taking it off the heat so it won’t overcook. The banging on the door starts again, and my strides become larger until I reach the door and yank it open.“Why the fuck do you continue to bang on my-” The words fall from my lips when my gaze collides with Keris'.What the fuck is she doing here?How did she know I was here?Fuck… Fuck… Fuck…“Keri, I… Uh…”Slap!Before I can finish my sentence, her palm collides with the side of my face. Lifting my hand, I cradle my cheek, dampening the stinging sensation spreading across it. She looks pissed off. Like she could murder me, and I don’t blame her.“So, it’s true. You’ve been here for two months?” She hisses, enraged to find me here. In the same country and not behind bars like I should be.“Yes.” I state firmly, gritting my teeth.“You bastard!” She cries out, shaking her head. “
THREE MONTHS LATER:“We need to reschedule today's’ meeting,” Mel looks up at me from her desk, sounding a little strange. “I’m not feeling well, and I need to go over the new contract Adem sent through for a new deal he wants to cut with us. I aim to be on my A-game before facing him.”“I can get Davis to come in and go over it with you? Two sets of eyes are better than one, and unfortunately, I’m still trying to get up to speed with everything going on as it is.”“Davis is unavailable today. He is at the hospital with Ava.”I know I shouldn’t ask, and I don't understand why I give a rat’s ass about her after all the grief she has caused me in the past, but I can’t help myself. “What’s wrong with my sister?” My voice sounds harsher than I had intended.Gnawing on her inner cheek, Mels’ brows furrow as she raises her gaze to meet mine. “She was standing on a chair, screwing in a light bulb when their oldest girl came running into the living room, accidentally colliding with the chair.
“You need to stop being so hard on yourself, Keri,” El speaks softly, resting a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Under the circumstances, you have done a remarkable job with the twins, and one day, they will eventually realise that you have always had their best interest at heart. If there is one thing I know for certain, it’s that being a parent is a learning process, too. After you have given birth, you are not handed a parenting manual. You learn as you grow together as a family; sometimes, the road we pave isn’t easy. But it sure as hell is fulfilling when you reach the end of that bumpy road.”I take a moment to let her words sink in and wipe my eyes dry as I nod my head; agreeing with her. “You’re right,” I whisper, patting her hand that remains on my shoulder. “It’s been four years now, and I am still as clueless as I was yesterday on how to parent my children correctly.”“Everything that has transpired into this mess with Tobias and Coach Matty, isn’t your fault. I need you to hea
As the front door to Kip and Elz home opens, I glance at Officer Marcus and give him a small smile that falls short of reaching my eyes – a silent expression of gratitude for his safe escort here. He offers me a brief nod, pivots on his heel, and walks away without uttering a single word.“Oh, my gawds, Keri!” El screeches as she yanks the door wide open and pulls me into her loving embrace.I lean into her, tears streaming down my face as my heart shatters further. I feel an overwhelming urge to express my emotions loudly. To express my frustration and lament that the universe and Gods have conspired against my happiness. Yet, I find myself without that feeling. I search within my soul to find my strength and muster the bravery to stand before the twins as they come rushing towards me.“Mummy, mummy… we missed you last night.” They say in unison as they fling their arms around me.El rubs my back as she gently pulls away from our embrace. Our eyes collide, and she utters the words, ‘
I shut my eyes, attuned to the strong and rhythmic pulse of Tobias’ heart, my body half entwined with his. His fingers glide softly up and down my spine as he lies on his back while his gaze remains fixed on the ceiling. We haven't slept; we've only been exploring each other's bodies on an intimate level, compensating for lost moments and creating memories that will linger for years ahead. I press my face against his chest, a deep sigh escaping my swollen lips as I cling to him with all my strength. I long for a chance where time could freeze, allowing us to savor the precious last moments that Kip has generously given us. The sun has risen, birds are chirping, and early morning traffic for churchgoers echoes through the room. There is so much I wish to say to Tobias, but I don’t want to ruin this moment. Though we showed each other how we felt about one another on a deeper level, using our bodies to express ourselves, I still feel like there is so much unsaid between us.“I want you
TOBIAS:The soft caress of her lips is like a lifeline I desperately try to cling to. Warm. Soft. Sensual.I hate to think that this could be the last time I get to feel her like this as she passionately tries to kiss away my deepest and darkest fears. I’ll love her until my dying breath. It’s always been her, and it always will be. I am undeserving of her love, her warmth, and time.“Don’t speak… Just feel, Tobias. Use me for pleasure.”“Don’t say that,” I murmur, pulling away from our kiss. My gaze travels down her body, and she has no idea what the vision of seeing her in my clothes does to me.“I’m serious, Tobias. If now is all we have together. I want you to take what you need from me.”Lowering my pants down my hips, my cock springs free, and I watch through half-lidded eyes as she licks her lips like a starved little kitten looking for its next meal. She lowers herself onto her knees, gazing up at me, with the moonlight accentuating her natural beauty. I lean against the glass
I slowly feel myself surfacing from the deep slumber that embraced me. Reaching across the bed, I search for the twins, and when I am met with air, I jolt awake in a frenzy as last night’s terror claws at my chest. I open my eyes, and my vision slowly adjusts in the darkness.“Tobias, is that you?” I whisper, squinting towards the far corner of a room that isn’t mine.Sitting in an armchair with the moonlight illuminating the room, Tobias is leaning forward with a bottle of Whiskey dangling between his wide-spread legs. He stares down at the bottle, tilting his head to the side as he swirls the amber-coloured liquid at the bottom.“Go back to sleep, baby.” He mutters in a soft tone, raising his head to meet my gaze. “It’s still early, and you need your rest.”I notice that he’s wearing nothing but a black pair of satin pajama pants. His hair looks damp as if he’s just stepped out of a shower, and the woody scent of his body wash faintly lingers in the air.“Have you been sitting in th
TOBIAS:My sedan comes to a screeching halt as I pull into Mattys’ driveway. Pulling the handbrake up, I don’t bother killing the engine and push the door open. Exiting the vehicle without slamming the door shut behind me, I race up the stairs, giving Link the death stare of a lifetime.“Where the fuck is she?” I growl, curling my hands into tight balls at my sides. Rage licks my flesh, setting every inch of it on fire. Without uttering a single word, he points to the door, indicating that she is inside. I bite down on my molars and shove my finger in his face. “You are fucking fired!” I bark in a breathy and murderous tone.So fucking fired!I vividly hear movement inside the house, like there is a struggle, followed by a muffled whimper and I spring into action, realising that my Keri could be in grave danger. I take one step back from the door and I kick it in. Link rushes inside, and my blood turns to ice when I see Keri pressed up against the wall with Matty trying to rip her pan