ALAYNABrandon’s side of the bed is empty when I wake up. I wanted to think that he’d only gone to his office, but I know today is their operation. I am now sitting with Casey in the living room, watching her brother drag a suitcase in our direction.
“Cassius, can you tell us what’s going on now?” Casey asks warily. “Are you going somewhere?”
“Not me, we“What?!” Casey springs up, shocked. “What’s going on? Where are we going?”
“Just do as I say,” he orders.
“But can you at least tell us what is going on?” I ask. My heartbeat is accelerating in anticipation. I can’t help but think that this has something to do with Brandon.
“Not now. Just do as I say.” He holds up a hand. “We are leaving in an hour.” He speaks to one of the security men and storms out of the house. Cassius is never the kind to rush things, but I can tell that this is urgent, judging by how he reacted. Pauline and the twins aren’t home either.
“Oh, God!” Casey slumps back on the couch.
“Case, let’s just follow him for now.”
She nods, agreeing.
I go to my room, take a quick shower, grab my suitcase, pick up some clothes, my passport, and shove it all inside. Ten minutes before the given time, Casey and I meet at the mansion’s hall. Cassius then reappears to carry our suitcase.
“Let’s go.”
“How about the others?” Casey demands as we follow Cassius’s lead.
He sighs heavily. “We’ll see them later. Now, I want the three of us to stick together until we reach our destination. Turn off your phones. We could be tracked down. I’ll tell you everything later.”
Casey and I exchange a confused look.
“But can you at least tell us where we’re going?” I ask.
He looks at me, and a muscle in his jaw ripples. “Lawrence.My mouth opens. Does he mean home? To Kansas? I frown in more confusion. “And Brandon’s going to be there?”
“Yes. Come on.” Cassius exits the house again, and a silver SUV stops on the driveway.
“Alayna, Casey?” Ms. Lennie appears behind us. I spin around and meet her concerned face.
Instantly, Casey holds her. “Lennie. Take care, okay?”
“Oh, don’t worry about me, child. I’ll be fine,” Ms. Lennie assures him and turns to me. “Alayna?”“Ms. Lennie.” I don’t know why, but I embrace her too, so tightly, as if it is the last time I’m going to see her. I don’t know what’s happening with Brandon and the others yet, but I’m sure something huge awaits.
***
Cassius was serious when he told us we were going to Lawrence. We took off in Grethe and Elga Enterprises’ private jet, and the flight has been smooth so far. The perks of having a boyfriend who seems to own half of the world still overwhelm me.
We land in Lawrence after three hours. It’s only been two months since I was here, and it is odd to come back so soon. Not that I’m complaining. God knows I love to be home more than anything, but I’m still puzzled as to why we have to be here. I’m not able to call Mom either since Cassius has forbidden us to use phones.
Other than that, I don’t exactly go homeclearI am now standing by the window, looking at the familiar ground outside, feeling restless. I’m looking at the place where I grew up, and I know every street and corner of the city, but I’m unable to calm my nerves.
There is no news from Brandon yet.
“What exactly are we doing here, Cassius?” I ask when I feel him next to me. “Can’t I go home and see my family?”
Cassius looks out the window as well and exhales. “Of course, you can; that’s why Brandon chose this place.”
I unfold my arms against my chest. “Then what is going on?”
His eyebrows furrow. “Honestly, I’m waiting as well. You can talk to Brandon, for that matter. He’ll be here.”
I stare up at him. I realize this is the longest moment we’ve had after our closure. He has been quiet for the past few days. It’s imprudent to tell him we should stay friends, so I’m not exactly sure how to approach him. I feel the gap between us.
Until he opens up again. “I hate it when we are so distant.”
I’m not sure how to answer that either. But yes, because being distant from someone is awkward, especially when he understood you, shared beautiful moments with you, and thought that friendship would lead to something more.
“Yeah... I suppose we are.”
“How are you?” he asks.
I shrug and can’t help a small smile. “I’m better than before, I guess.”
He nods. “Good. That’s all that matters.”
I gaze out the window again, and he leaves.
Another three hours have passed, and there’s still no news from Brandon. Cassius goes to his room while Casey and I try to nap, but our minds are too restless to even fall asleep. We are now on the bed, facing each other, Casey’s head resting on her palm.
“Do you think they’re okay?” she asks.
“I don’t know, but I hope they are.”
“There’s something I’d like to tell you, but I didn’t have the chance,” she says.
“What is it?”
“Um, Jason and I... we’re uh... texting.”
My eyes widen. “Really?”
She bites her bottom lip. “Mm. I just thought I should tell you.”
“When did this happen?”
“Just recently. After he visited the mansion to see you.”
I can’t help but smile. Jason and Casey? I didn’t think about that. “How did it happen?”
She shrugs. “He texted me first, and...” She chuckles. “I replied. He’s, you know, kind of my type, too.”
I laugh softly. “Really? I didn’t notice.”
“I didn’t want Cassius or Brandon to know.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know.” She shakes her head. “With everything that’s happening, I don’t think it’s the right time. Besides, we’re just... texting. He often calls at night too.”
I nod, understanding. I move close to her, suddenly feeling thrilled. “Then, are you getting along with J?”
“I can say that he’s kind of complicated. He’s intense. He’s...” She rolls her eyes. “Okay, he’s so sexy that I can’t help but reply to him. It’s not that I didn’t know about him before. I heard things about him from my brothers, but I only saw him for the first time when he visited you.”
I giggle. “It’s not weird. Jason was the“Great. I guess you’re fine with it—I mean, texting him. It’s too early to say that something’s going on. What about Arianna, do you think she’ll—”
“Arianna has a crush on Cassius. And I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if she finds out that you and Jason are... communicating.”“Oh my.” Her eyes grow wide.
“Don’t tell Jason. He’s very protective of Arianna.”
She nods. “Yeah, yeah... I think he is, and I can understand him. Don’t you think this is going to be a problem later?”
I frown. “I don’t think so. Cassius doesn’t even know about A.”
Casey lies flat on the bed and stares at the ceiling, then laughs. “Damn. Here we are, talking about crushes like some high school girls when our boys are out there doing God knows what, God knows where.”
Our boys.She sighs. “I guess I am.”
Silence falls in the room again until a knock breaks the peace of our temporary haven. Casey opens the door, and Cassius rushes inside. I sit up.
“Cassius?”
“They’re here,” he says, panting heavily.
“Who? Brandon?” I ask.
“Everyone. Get dressed in something warm. We’re meeting them outside. Hurry.” He storms out of the room again.
Cassius meant we were to meet everyone at a hospital. My anxiety increases: it means someone got hurt. My body and mind are too exhausted to feel anything, but I can’t help my paranoia, thinking that something terrible has happened to Brandon, or maybe another one of them.
Lawrence Memorial Hospital is fortunately close to the hotel, so we reach the place in less than ten minutes. We rush to the lobby first and ask for Brandon, Jason, or Oliver by name, but no such records are found until a man in a black suit and shades, looking like one of the security team, approaches us.
“I’ll take you to Master Lucien. Please, follow me,” he says.
Ahead of us, he marches straight to the elevator and presses the button for the eighth floor. We then stroll toward the left-wing and turn to the right at the Special Care Unit sign on the hallway.
A floor-to-ceiling door awaits us at the end of the passageway, and a man swings the door inward. I stop at the entrance to process the moment: Brandon and the twins are sitting next to a man lying on the bed.
“Ollie...”He’s unconscious and badly beaten. He has a thick bandage around his head, bruises covering one of his eyes, and his face is swollen. He is so pale and seems lifeless. My knees go weak, and my heart sinks.
Casey can’t contain her emotions, instantly crying at the sight of him; she rushes to her brother’s side. However, I feel suddenly numb and can’t seem to move my legs. I hold on to the wall to steady myself. My eyes begin to blur.
I feel a strong arm glide around my waist and hold on to Brandon.
“He’s here now... He’s safe...”
“Shh... Yes, yes, it’s okay now. He’s safe,” Brandon whispers. “There’s something we need to talk about first.”
I wipe my tears with my fingers. “How about you? Are you okay?”
“I’m perfectly fine,” Brandon kisses my forehead and brings me into his arms, holding me tight.
“He’s still unconscious?” Cassius suddenly asks, now standing next to his brother as well, holding his hand.
“He was stabbed by one of Silvanus’s men,” Carmelo answers.
Cassius punches the wall. “Goddammit.”
“But the doctor said he should wake up soon. He’s just frail,” Constantine explains.
“And Pauline?” Cassius asks again. “Did you get her?”
“Yes, but unfortunately, she’s in the operating room,” Brandon says.
I cover my mouth. “What happened to her?”
Brandon’s eyes darken. “She was shot.”
Oh no.“They’re fine, don’t worry.”
“Where are they?”
“They’re here too, but Jason got grazed by a bullet.”
“A bullet?” I repeat incredulously. “Brandon, why would he even have a—”
“He’s the one who went after Pauline,” he tells me. “We had an encounter. I’ll tell you everything later, okay?”
“But—”
He pulls me against his body again. “He’s fine, Alayna. Do you trust me?”
My lips tremble. “Mm.”
“Good. Now, try to relax.” He strokes my back gently and plants soft kisses on my hair. I bury my face on his chest, and my tension slowly diminishes as if his warmth, his touch, and his voice were a kind of sweet hypnosis.
“Everything is going to be fine...”