Chapter 45
LEIGH-ARI
Days flew by and the secret grew heavy in my chest. With each passing second, I weighed my options and the pros and cons of telling the twins about Xander. It was just way too much. But I had decided against it when Xander took four full nights without visiting.
Maybe he had found whatever he was looking for. Because he just disappeared without much of a word. But still, I felt guilty for carrying all this by myself. Xander was the twins’ enemy, and he wouldn’t waste a chance to destroy them and vice versa. The twins had to know.
At the same time, I feared for what they would do to each other. It was their world, it was what they did, what they knew. I get that very well. But I wasn’t going to allow any bloodshed. Not under my watch.
So instead of telling the twins, I decided to put on my smallest bikini and sunbathe by the poolside just right outside the west wing.
Raquel was also with me and the other maids were dismissed. We were sitting in a very comfortable silence, with me staring at the blue sky with milky white clouds.
The protective glass house shielded us against the harsh autumn wind.
I shifted into a more comfortable position and my eyes landed at the thick heavy forest just ahead. Without further ado, I called out
“Raquel?”
“Yes, M’lady.” She was by my side in a split second.
“What is in that forest?” I asked the question with my eyes glued to the heavy trees that had their leaves already falling. The brownish-yellow hue marring the ground, birthing a false classic view of a very flat plateau on a nice spring day, full of bright colors.
When there was no answer, I glanced up to find her chewing on her bottom lip.
“It’s nothing, M’lady. Beyond the forest is the border of the castle. Then nothing.” She said refusing to look me in the eye.
“Hmmmm. Have you been there? Beyond the forest?” I asked staring right into her eyes.
is
Woods? Isn’t that the
And God help me! That just made my curiosity go through the roof. I gave her a small nod and stared right into the
myself into not going there and exploring, but
pulled on my black kimono. There was a pair of slip-ons I had brought earlier and I pulled them on, then ran towards
there,” Raquel warned, erupting from nowhere, and then stood by the
beyond the forest. I won’t die right?” I said casually, but she seemed to
to keep you safe and protect you with my life. And I tell you that it is not a good idea to go to that area. The bosses don’t allow anyone in there. Please don’t
smiled and patted her
if you aren’t allowed, I’ll be back before you know it.” And for that reason and many others, I
there, please.” Raquel called out yet again and I decided to wave
it was they didn’t want me to
harder with every step I took towards the forest. It was as if there was something that was calling me in, and I just couldn’t say no to it. It was as
that brushed through the branches, pulling the leaves off their stalks made a soft whir that sounded like a soft melody that made everything seem normal, just for
right in front of me, sending me flying backward where I hit a tree
that was drowned by the sound of explosives and bombs that tornadoed on and on
remembered was a bomb that went off just a foot from me,
LORENZO POV
and wired up. It felt insanely quiet and way too peaceful, like the calm before the storm. Nothing in my life was this
with the planning department, going through all
took care of the underworld deals, I stayed on top in a clean three-piece suit and did the
I just sat there staring blankly
it on to find a little text,
ran cold when I read what it
my chair at the head of the table, the next second I was outside already heading for my car. I don’t know, but everything seemed to have happened in just a blink
triggered the
VERNERO POV
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