–David–
Finally! My brother probably won’t end up impregnating my beautiful sister-in-law again—he’s about to have his hands full with two baby girls. The gender reveal party was all Alyssa’s idea. Triplets! A boy and two girls. Damon lit up like fireworks, bragging with that grin I hadn’t seen since we were teenagers. Back then, he was all steel and shadows, never showing joy.
Now he was boasting, and when Sky joined in, bragging about having girls in the family, my heart lted. We were all swept up in their happiness, the kind that makes you forget the darker Chapters and just breathe in the light.
Funny thing—Damon used to be dangerous, strict, always looking like thunderclouds. That’s what happens when your grandfather forces you into an illegal empire. He saved from that life, though. And here I am now, stretched out on a private jet owned by Livana—my sister-in-law, the real Queen of this world. I don’t know much about their empire, but she runs it like she owns the sky itself.
Louie, CEO of the company her mother built, sat across from , hunched over his laptop, fingers flying. The glow of the screen lit his sharp features.
"I never expected you to be here," I said, swirling my whiskey, the amber liquid catching the cabin lights.
"I’m activating the security system for the residence near your house," he replied without looking up. "It’s isolated, far from neighbors. But it’s yours."
"Thank you," I murmured, savoring the smoky burn of the drink. Then I grinned, leaning back. "So, are you staying with , bro? No one’s going to get jealous, right? We’re both bachelors." My tone was teasing, playful.
Louie froze, then shot a glare. "David, if you keep saying things like that, people will think we’re gay."
I laughed, turning to our escort—a petite woman absorbed in her book, ignoring us like we were background noise. "Miss, do you think we’re gay?"
"Her na is Rhys," Louie muttered.
Rhys lifted her gaze, cool and unbothered. "I think Louie is far too handso for anyone to believe you’re in love with him."
Louie roared with laughter, shaking his head as he returned to typing. I smirked. "Well, he is handso. Still wonder why he’s single. But I think I’d be a better choice for you."
She shrugged. "I’m not interested in n."
"So... won?" I asked, raising a brow. Rhys laughed, and I caught the flicker of strain in Louie’s expression. Sothing was definitely brewing between them.
"Just sleep, Mr. Bachelor," Rhys said smoothly. "We don’t want you arriving in Greenland with a hangover."
"Oh, right." I chuckled, downed the last of my whiskey, and headed to the cabin’s sleek bathroom. Hot water stead around , washing away the haze. I dressed warm, returned to my seat, and found Louie still working—workaholic, just like his baby brother Lore.
Later, whispers stirred awake. My head felt heavy, but I cracked an eye. Louie was cornering soone, his voice low, sharp, almost threatening. I ignored it—it was probably Rhys. Then ca the sound of kisses. I cringed.
"Oh, please! Get a room already!" I hissed, dragging the blanket over my head. How dare they interrupt my sleep?
But then, sleep pulled under again. And in my dreams, Kelly was there—on top of , riding endlessly, the kind that makes you forget the world exists.
****
Greenland. Ironic na, considering the cold cuts through bone and the snow falls like endless confetti. My breath fogged in the air as I hugged Louie, both of us trudging toward the car. Rhys headed for the front seat, but I sprinted ahead, yanked the door open, and slid in fast. That left the two of them in the back. Perfect. Grinning, I thought—matchmaking is fun.
"I think we need to hit the grocery store," I announced. "I need to buy handso n stuff."
Rhys burst out laughing, smacking the back of my seat. "Bro, they don’t sell handso stuff here."
"I promise you, Rhys, we’ll find it." I flashed my card. "Buy whatever you want, baby. It’s all on ." She snatched it without hesitation, eyes sparkling.
"Nice."
At the supermarket near my new ho, Rhys pulled out a cart, adorable in her oversized coat, Louie towering beside her like a skyscraper. He had to be 6’6, and she barely reached his underarm. I grabbed my own cart, trailing behind like the eternal third wheel.
Rhys stepped onto the cart to reach sothing high. Louie plucked it down, dropped it in, and patted her head. She smacked him away. Adorable. And I hated it. Third wheel again.
I stopped at the jams. Kelly loved blueberries and mango. I picked one of each, but then—my heart froze. A figure. Heavy coat. Winter boots. That height. That walk. My chest tightened. I chuckled under my breath. Livana must have led here. I tugged my hood low, crouched, filling my cart, stealing glances. When her face turned, I knew. Kelly. My Kelly. Disguised, but unmistakable.
I rushed to find Louie and Rhys, who were arguing over nonsense. Typical. I paid with another card, eyes locked on the woman with red hair. She glanced toward the noisy pair. I hid deeper in shadow. If she saw , she’d vanish. Damn those two—I’d tie them together if it ant shutting them up.
Outside, I claid the spare six-seater. Loaded my bags. Waited. Watched. She pushed her cart to a pickup truck, bonnet pulled low, trench coat thick. I morized the plate, the car. My pulse raced. Stalking my secretary who was supposed to be dead. If she was a traitor in Livana’s empire, she should be gone. But no. Ghost. Her codena had to be Ghost.
I tailed her, careful, heart hamring. Oddly, her route led near my house. She waved past, suspicion in her gesture. I sighed, drumd the wheel, drove ahead, tinted windows hiding . GPS guided ho, but her car sped past. I smirked, turned back, and followed. Five minutes later, she turned left. A house. Big. She vanished inside.
I climbed out, knocked. The door swung open—shotgun barrel pressed to my forehead. Her eyes, fierce, unchanging, ready to kill.
"Give one damn reason not to pull the trigger!"
"I love you." The words slipped out. The blast rang past my ear, deafening. "Fuck, baby!" I laughed, stumbling, ears ringing, and pulled her into a hug, burying myself in her warmth. "I miss you, Kels."
She lowered the gun, lips moving, voice muffled by the ringing. Gunpowder clung to the icy air. I took the weapon, set it back on her rack.
"What are you doing here?" Her voice finally pierced through, faint in my left ear.
"I’m here to facilitate the branch," I said, rubbing my ear. She slamd the door, coat pulled tight, arms crossed, fury in her stance.
"Did Livana send you?" she demanded.
I hesitated. Maybe Livana had set this up. But the branch was real. "She did."
Kelly scoffed. "You’ve been trying to access my files too." Fingers raked through her red hair.
"You’re not a traitor, are you?" I asked.
She stared, puzzled, then laughed. Kelly glowed—cheeks fuller, healthier, still beautiful even with the disguise. I kissed her cold hand. "Livana has nothing to do with this. Louie and Rhys are here to help set up. This branch matters to Blackwell and Livana."
She shook her head. I kissed her nose, chuckling. "I rember what happened between us. How you rode like crazy... beautiful."
She shoved my chest, breath hot against . I didn’t move. I pulled her waist closer—and froze. Sothing pressed between us. I opened her coat. A baby bump.
"It’s not yours," she said coldly. "Please, just go."
Her words shattered . But I saw the lie in her eyes. My little liar.
I stared at her, laughing because she was too good at lying. Her eyes widened, pupils dilating—she hadn’t expected to laugh.
"Oh, baby," I growled, gripping the back of her neck and pulling her close. "I might’ve been drugged by my sister and Lore, but I rember everything. I rember how you made co inside you, over and over that night. Did you just use as a sperm donor?"
She looked at like I was a fool. "Just go. You can’t be here."
I sighed, shaking my head. I stripped off her coat, then mine, hanging them neatly. My gaze dropped to her belly beneath the sweater.
"I can’t leave you. Not like this." My voice cracked with defiance. "You’re pregnant with my baby and—"
"David, just go, please." She tugged at my arm, desperate. "I don’t want you here. I chose this life."
"No." I shook my head firmly. "Let’s get married."
She froze, staring at for a long, heavy mont before laughter broke out of her. "You’ve lost your mind, David."
"I did!" I scoffed, voice rising. "For months, Kelly! I’ve been haunted by you. I saw you get shot—did you know half of died at that mont?"
Her brows furrowed, her head shaking.
"I love you! And we will get married—not for , but for our baby. You won’t rob of that."
She scoffed again. "David, you can marry anyone you want."
"Yes, exactly." My voice snapped like a whip. "And I choose you."
I cupped her face, kissed her lips—passionate, torrid, desperate, nearly devouring her. She tried to push away, but her strength faltered. Finally, she gave in.
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