As usual, Mom is waiting for me in the living room. I didn’t have the chance to call her last night, but I didn’t hear from her either.
I now know the reason.
Arianna jumps at me and squeezes me against her. Jason stands up as well, slipping his hands in his pocket.
“A!” I hug her back. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?”
“We wanted to surprise you!” She releases me, smiling. “We’ve missed you, Laynie!”
“You have some explaining to do, young lady,” Mom says to me. “But I’m still preparing Jason’s bed, so I’ll leave you here. Arianna, you can sleep in Laynie’s room.”
“Just like the old times.” Arianna smiles with glee. “Thanks, Mom. We’re good here.”
We slump on the couch and can’t stop looking at each other’s faces. “It’s been tough, isn’t it?” I say.
“I should be the one saying that. Brandon sent us. Drake is bothering you, isn’t he? We were worried,” Arianna reveals.
“I’m fine. He hasn’t done anything. We actually just met again.” I look at Jason, remembering Drake’s advice. “He told me something about dad. I’m not sure if I can believe him.”
“What did he say?” Jason asks seriously.
“Don’t say anything to Mom yet,” I lower my voice and move closer. “He told me he knows what happened to dad, his death, and the culprit. Drake said there are a lot of things I should ask you too, J.”
Jason crosses his arms. “Well, he’s not wrong. There’s a lot you don’t know yet, but I don’t know about Dad, I promise.”
“What?“He said it’s his dad. The former mayor. He’s the culprit,” I whisper.
“Donovan.” Jason grits his teeth.
“Don’t you think he’s only lying? Trying to dig his claws into me again?” I presume.
“No.” Jason denies firmly. “Drake might be the bad man, but when it comes to his dad, he won’t lie.”
“So you believe him?” Arianna questions.
“There’s no reason for him to lie.” My brother shakes his head. “He’s got everything—achieved“Except he’s probably just angry with his dad, J,” I mention any other possibility.
“Exactly, and he’d do anything to cut him out of his life, I guess,” Jason says. “He won’t do something that could tarnish his name as mayor.”
“You surprisingly know a lot about him,” I comment to my disappointment.
“You didn’t want us talking about Drake,” Jason points out.
“Well, that’s true.” I release a heavy breath. “So, what now? What is he talking about? What else can you share? How can you still trust him after what he’s done to me?”
“And I haven’t forgiven him. Never will, Laynie,” Jason says decisively. “I could’ve seen it too. I could’ve saved you, but it’s my fault for neglecting you because, yes, I trusted him too much before.”
“We, um,” Arianna joins in. “J and I, we’re, um, not the original wolves.”
I frown. “What?”
“I guess we haven’t explained it to you yet. You already know we’re in the mob business, but you didn’t know how it started,” my sister continues.
“I’m listening,” I say.
“We’re new,” Jason goes on. “We hold territories in the states, and Seattle is one of them, at least in a joint treaty. Ten years ago, while you were still dating Drake, we started the gang. Drake is our leader. We’re packs. We call ourselves ‘The Wolves.’ But Drake is the original“But you were barely adults, J! Drake brought you into that?” my tone rises. “And you dragged Arianna with you?”
“It’s not like that,” Arianna reasons. “I joined in my own accord. I wanted to be stronger.”
“For what?” I ask.
“For the same reason, Brandon Lucien told you,” J replies.
“Does Brandon know?” I ask again.
“He… He knows only recently,” J says. “I told him before it would be too late.”
“So, Drake’s still in the group, is that it? He knows what’s been going on with us all this time?” I question incredulously.
“No, he doesn’t. We were disbanded when he left. Drake built his own gang here in Seattle. Some other members joined him and left. I became the leader of the pack—becoming the new Wolfthat’s it“What a small world we live in.” I shake my head. “It seems everywhere I go, he’s there.”
“And the question is, what are you going to do about it?” J questions.
“I’d like to make a confession then. At least you should know.” I look at both of them, back and forth. “Drake still affects me in a way I can’t really explain, and I don’t know what to do about it. He left me, and we didn’t have closure. Chris, he… saved me from it, but he left me too.”
Jason’s eyes narrow. “What are you talking about?”
I take another deep breath. “What he did to me, I keep remembering it. My head refuses to let me live down the nights I spent with that devil. I thought he was just a distant memory… until he appeared again at the art gallery. Now, he’s suddenly right in front of me, and it makes me want to give in.”
“Just what exactly did he do to you?” Jason demands furiously but keeps his voice low. “Even Chris doesn’t say a fucking thing!”
“Shh…” Arianna touches her brother’s arm. “We don’t talk to our sister that way. This isn’t her fault.” She looks at me. “Laynie, you probably have some kind of trauma, the way I understand it.”
“It’s more than that.” My voice begins to tremble. “I’m telling Brandon about it. I’m not sure how he’s going to take it, but it’s the right thing to do.”
“That’s right.” Arianna nods, supporting me like she always does, even when we’re kids. “And while you’re still waiting for him, you can tell us, Laynie. You’re not alone anymore. And you’re going to have to tell us what he told you about dad, and we can all deal with it later. Right J?”
“Yes, after all, we’ll be staying here with you for a while,” Jason agrees.
I squint my eyes. “Really? Or is that another mission Brandon asked you to do?”
“Come on, Laynie. You make it sound like we’re not family.” My brother smiles a half-smile and messes my hair. “I’m checking on Mom. You girls can talk. I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable with A.”
“I’m surprised you can be sensible,” A teases, grinning.
“Right.” I giggle. I have to agree because I’d probably feel more open to Arianna, not only because she’s a woman, but because she always believed in me.
“So, care to tell me what’s going on?” Arianna starts asking out as Jason walks away from us.
“I’ve never shared this with anyone before.” I press my lips. “I can’t even find myself recalling that nightmare, so I actually wanted to tell Brandon first.”
Her shoulders relax, and she touches my face. “It’s okay. How about you tell me about your unfortunate reunion with Drake?”
“It was… a disaster.” I give in. “He paraded himself in front of Brandon, and he showed up today, and he will again, I’m sure. He’s not going to stop, A.”
“He’s obsessed with you, I know. We didn’t know what was going on, but there wasn’t a day that passed that he didn’t mention you.” Her face turned concerned. “At first, I thought he just loved you so much, until Chris noticed something was wrong. He hurt you, Laynie. That was one thing Jason and I knew, but I didn’t know there was more to it, whatever it was.”
And I hate that after everything that devil did to me, whenever he was near, I found myself submitting. “I don’t know how Brandon will take it—not to another man. I’m sure he’ll misunderstand me again. I’m nervous as hell, A. I’m scared. And what if it’s true? What if he’s telling the truth about his dad, and that he only left because of me and—”
“Wait a minute, Laynie.” She holds my arms.
I blink. “What?”
“Tell me the truth. Do you still feel anything for Drake? Tell me the truth.”
“What?“Because it sounds like you still do, but you just can’t admit it to yourself. I’m sorry, but that’s what I can see.”
“That’s ridiculous! Why does everyone keep saying that?”
Her eyes narrow. “Who else told you that?”
Brandon? My colleagues? “That’s not important. I know myself, A. This is why I keep saying I’m being misunderstood! All I can feel is hate and disgust!”
“About him? Or yourself?” she questions challengingly.
A beat passes. “Him. Maybe both. I don’t know.” I bury myself in my palms.
“Laynie, maybe you forget it was me who saw everything you and Drake had been through. Drake was broken, hungry for his father’s affection, and always looking for attention. When he found you, you were the only one who accepted him. He was your first love. Of course, you’d still feel something. That’s normal. It’s just like how Brandon’s ex couldn’t forget about Brandon. Just like Brandon still felt responsible for her. What’s her name again? Ah, Pauline.”
“What Drake did to me wasn’t normal.” I shake the thought and turn my attention back to her last sentence. “What do you mean?”
“Oops.” She bites her lip. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“A!” I shout. “What’s going on?”
“They were practically always together in Athens, and right before he left Greece. I heard she’s in New York too,” A says. “But that doesn’t matter. He came back for you.”
I grit my teeth. That woman just doesn’t stop. “What is she doing with Brandon? I thought she’s engaged to someone else now?”
“I think she is, but yes, she irritated me a little. I never actually saw her without Brandon. I’m sorry, Laynie. I just told you what I saw. But I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with it.”
“And you said something about responsibility, A.”
“That. Ah, I think it’s because they are working together now,” she explains. “Brandon promised the girl’s family a business partnership if not marriage. So, I guess that’s just it. A responsibility.”
I grunt, rolling my eyes. It’s not that I expect Brandon to tell me further because I already know about that business partnership. I just didn’t think Pauline would still be all over him. And she’s in New York now too? “I trust him. I just don’t trust that woman.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that either.” She shrugs.
“Okay, fine. Enough about me. How about you? Don’t you have something else to tell me?” I finally smile, recalling her last chat about her crush.
She gasps, clasping her mouth, then she pats my arm. “Oh my God, Laynie!”
“What? What happened?”
“I think I made a mistake…” she barely whispers.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“I didn’t know what had gotten into me. I was just lost at the moment.”
“What did you do with Cassius?” I move close and gazes into her eyes straight.
“I kissed him.”
“Oh. My. God.” I gape at her, but she is even more shocked than I am. “What happened? I need details.” I nod, encouraging this new gossip. “What was his reaction? Did he kiss you back? What did Cassius say?”
She puckers her lips. “I think he’s mad at me. He hates me now, Laynie. Why did you have to ask me about it? I was trying to forget.”
I bite my tongue, trying to hide my amusement. “I’m sure he’s not angry. It’s not like you forced him, right?”
She grabs my hand. “Don’t say anything to Jason, please. Not when he’s trying to court Casey.”
“What?” I finally burst out laughing. “God. You guys are just as complicated as I am.”
“Please, Alayna. Please, please.”
“Fine.” I sigh in relief. “Come here.”
Arianna moves close and hugs me. “I don’t think I can face Cassius either. I believe they are all coming here when Brandon returns from New York.”
“What are you so worried about, A?” I stroke her back. “Cassius is the most thoughtful person I know.”
“But not as sensible as Oliver.” She releases me and looks into my eyes. “I think I’m falling for Cassius, and it’s one-sided.”
“Uh, I don’t know what to say to that, actually. Can I tell Brandon?”
She blinks. “Why?”
“Maybe he can share something about the situation?” I suggest.
She nods. “Yes, yes. But only him, okay?” She hugs me again. “Oh, gosh. I’m so glad I came here. I don’t know who else to tell. I’ve missed you, Laynie.”
I giggle. “I’ve missed you, too.”