ALAYNASomething doesn’t feel right about Brandon after his talk with Cassius. He’s dejected and cold when he comes back. What could they have possibly talked about?
Oliver and Betty have already left, and Brandon is still silent. We are now in the bedroom, and he’s staring vacantly at the ocean stretching outside the window. The view is stunning, but Brandon’s mind seems somewhere else.
“Hey...”“Nothing.” He turns to face me, takes my hand, then brings it to his lips. “I love you, Alayna,” he whispers out of the blue and pulls me against him, crushing me in his arms. I almost can’t breathe.
“Brandon, are you okay?”
“I don’t think I ever told you how I feel about you yet, but I do. I love you, Alayna. Never forget that.”
The normal reaction of a person would be a delight at hearing those words. I mean, of course, I’m happy. But why does it feel like he’s going to disappear? Like a lover saying his goodbyes?
“Brandon, can you tell me what’s going on with you?” I slightly move away from him so I can see his eyes. “You’re making me nervous.”
“Why? I can’t tell you how I feel?”
“It’s not like that, but—”
“I just can’t imagine myself without you.”
I can’t explain the emotion he is projecting, but something is troubling him. I can sense his restlessness.
“Where else will I go?” I ask. “I don't think I'm capable of leaving you unless you ask me to.”
“I won’t.” He smiles weakly. “Except today, with Betty. I will go after you, but I’m afraid I have to tell you to pack all your things because we’re not going to stay here tonight.”
My eyes widen in shock. “What? I thought we would be staying here for a few days. This place is amazing.”
“Yeah, but something came up.” He brushes his thumb on my cheek.
“Is this about Cassius? What did he say to you? I heard you speak to him.”
He scowls. “Cassius has nothing to do with this.”
“Is it work?”
He shakes his head. “Don’t worry. We can still come back here, and I’m taking you to some place I know you’ll like tonight.”
I smile. “It doesn’t matter where you’re taking me as long as it’s with you. I need to pack my things then.”
“Do you need help?”
“Of course.”
Still dispirited, we started to get our things ready for tonight.
From the very start, I completely understood how secretive Brandon was. I never fully expected anything from him, given his situation, but rather accepted everything he was to be able to make our relationship work.
Now I don’t want to pressure him into telling me everything. It’s his privacy. But I still wish he would learn to open up to me.
Brandon glances at his wristwatch. “We still have time. Come with me.”
“Where?”
“Just come.” He grabs my hand.
Brandon pulls me to a stairway I haven’t seen before. It’s narrow and hidden inside a door. I’m guessing it goes down to the back of the house.
“Where does this lead? Hogwarts?” I joke.
“You’ll see.”
When we reach the exit, there’s another pathway to a garden house at the tip of the trail. But before reaching the miniature house, we walk on the field, among the daffodils.
I inhale the pleasant scent as the petals sway with the wind.
“You wanted to show me this?” I ask as we walk.
“It’ll be a waste if you don’t see this.” He smiles. “This place is well maintained by the caretakers. I didn’t want to abandon what my mother cherished when she was still alive. Do you like it?”
“I love it! I don’t understand why you want to leave. You could stay here forever.”
“Then, will you come back with me here?”
“It doesn’t matter where you’re taking me, as long as it’s with you.” I make him stop to kiss his nose.
I have fallen deeply under this man’s spell. I have never felt so happy and so alive in a relationship before. But getting to know Brandon has made me realize that I must’ve forgotten how it feels to love someone again.
I hear him purr in my ears. “Alayna, I have to tell you something later.”
“And I’m not allowed to ask what it is now?”
“Not yet, no. It’s something important that I need to tell you... or showLowering his head, Brandon seals my lips with his in another lush, wet kiss. My hands move to his hair, sliding through his scalp. Just before this leads to more, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
“Is that yours?” he asks.
“Unfortunately.” I pick up my phone and check my screen. “It’s Betty. She texted me.”
Brandon laughs lightly, and the sound sweeps almost all my irritation away. “It’s all right, love.”
“It’s notSorry, Alayna. Change of plans. I need to go to town first. Is it okay if we could just meet there?“Well... I think I need to get ready.”
“Why?” He frowns, then glances at my phone, and I let him read the message. “She didn’t tell you if she’s with Oliver?”
“But that was the plan, right? Betty and I go alone, and then you and Oliver go?”
Brandon’s shoulders relax. “It’s time to go, then.”
BRANDONI contact Cassius after Alayna leaves with John.
“Where are you now, Cassius?” I ask as soon as he picks up.
“I took an immediate flight. Expect me there in ten hours. How’re the girls?”
“Alayna’s going to town now with Betty.”
“Good. What you need to do is wait,” he instructs. “I already told Oliver to call for security to escort you. You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I assure him. “No one’s tried to harm me up to this point.”
“Don’t be so sure,” he warns. “You still need to be watchful. The security will be there in an hour. Did you tell Alayna?”
“Not yet.”
“What? Brandon that“But she’s not ready yet, and I can’t if she’s—” I pause, massaging the back of my neck. “She likes it here, Cassius.”
“She’s never going to be ready.” He exhales. “But there’s nothing we can do about that for now. Just stick to the plan and don’t go out alone.”
“Thank you, Cassius. I owe you this time,” I finally say, after the long cold war we just had. I have to admit that he has been there for me ever since my tragedy, just like Oliver.
There’s a long pause at his end. “It’s all right.” He hangs up.
I head back inside while I spot Oliver walking in my direction.
“Ollie?”
“Heard anything from Cassius?” he asks.
“Yes, he’s on his way here. We can expect him in ten hours. What’s the plan?”
He scratches his head. “I don’t have a good feeling about this. I can’t even say anything in detail to Betty, but she’s excited to see the spring and—”
“Hold on.” I raise a finger. “What do you mean she’s excited to see the spring? Didn’t she leave an hour ago?”
“What?“What do you mean she’s inside?” I yell. “She texted Alayna earlier, and Alayna already left with John—Fuck!”
Oliver’s face turns white. “What?”
Alayna...My chest tightens, and my head turns blank for a moment.
ThisI try to reconnect my memory to see if I missed anything strange yesterday. There was no one around the house when we arrived. I had Oliver instruct them to have everything prepared before and make sure no one skulked around during our stay.
There’s no one else around but the five of us. And if I were to suspect anyone in our circle, it would be John or Betty. They’re the only persons I met recently—persons I can’t utterly trust.
But if it’s John, then Alayna’s in trouble.
With shaking hands, I dial Alayna’s number straightaway, but the call redirects to voicemail. I try again and get the same outcome.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I curse repeatedly. My vision is beginning to get blurry, and the throbbing in my chest increases as if there’s a ticking bomb inside.
I try to call her phone for the third time, but she isn’t picking up.
Oliver grabs my shoulder. “What are you doing?”
I look at his face. I almost want to yell and tell him my suspicion about his fiancée, but I keep my thoughts to myself. I will not stoop that low when I have no evidence.
“They’ve got Alayna. She left with John after receiving a text from your fiancée. There’s no one else... It’s just us“Brandon, it’s not Betty, I can assure you.”
I want to trust him, but his words aren’t enough when Alayna may already be in danger. “I have no time to talk about anything right now, Ollie. I’ve got to find her.”
“Goddammit!” he swears, coming after me. I rush toward the driveway, getting into the driver’s seat and buckling up.
Oliver slides into the passenger seat. “Betty’s phone is missing, and she’s been looking for it since yesterday.”
“Call John. If he answers, then he’s not our suspect. Alayna’s still safe. We’ll talk about that Anxiously, Oliver pulls out his phone and presses the speed dial. After several attempts, his right-hand man answers and puts the phone on speaker.
“John, are you with Alayna?”
“Yes, Mr. Katrakis. I left with Miss Hart a few minutes ago,” he answers.
“Did you arrive in town?” Oliver asks.
“Not yet, sir, but we're almost there. Is there something wrong?”
Good. If they’re near the town, then she’s still safe. “John, this is Brandon,” I say. “Give me your exact location, stop the car right now, and wait for us. Why is her phone out of coverage?”
“Brandon, what’s wrong?” Alayna speaks softly. “I forgot to charge my phone.”
I shut my eyes with the relief of hearing her voice. John isn’t the mole. That leaves Betty.
“Alayna, baby, listen to me. You can’t go to the spa.”
“Why? Betty’s waiting for me there.”
I scowl at Oliver. He shakes his head.
“Betty’s phone was stolen, Alayna,” Oliver answers her.
“What? How can that be?”
“I’ll tell you later,” I say. “Just stay with John and don’t leave the car. We’ll be there.”
I hang up and shift the car to a higher speed.
“Do you think they’re on the move?” Oliver asks me.
“What else would it be? My enemies are on the run now, Ollie.”
“Our I grip the steering wheel hard. “And you have to understand that we can’t drop our guard.”
“Of course.” He looks away, and his jaw twitches.
“And I won’t be able to forgive myself if anything happens to Alayna.”
I clutch my chest with my free hand. I was wrong for not thinking this through... for trusting something so easily. Betty could’ve asked Alayna about the change of plan herself. She is next door, but Alayna received a text instead. Suddenly, I feel the burning pain inside me again. But nothing is more grievous than realizing that I have involved Alayna in my war.