Authors: LeTeisha Newton
“And it is,” Alexander said with a smile. “
We
get to choose what we do next. Lei didn’t have to go get Valerie. He wanted to. It was his own personal choice. I don’t have to follow him, but I will, because it is my choice. You don’t have to feel bad, because your place is here with your woman. You guys are building a home for us to come back to. That’s all we need. As long as we know you guys are here, then we’ll fight tooth and nail to come back.”
“Oh you guys,” Ayah said, tears falling. “I’ve think I’ve cried more in the last week than I ever have in my life. I feel like you guys are my best friends, and I’m cheering you on with one hand and want you to go get Valerie back and bring her home as soon as possible. But on the other hand, I’m worried. But I can’t stop you. Just come back safely.”
“We will,” Alexander said and came to her side. He leaned down and gave her a hug. “I promise. Take care of the big guy.”
Ayah nodded.
“And if I don’t come back, make sure he knows I chose it. I will make sure Lei and Valerie get out, even if the gates of Hel have to close behind them,” he finished and left the room quietly to follow Lei.
She heard his words, knew that he meant them, and knew that she couldn’t fault him for feeling that way. But she also knew that there was no way that she was going to convince Sevani not to tear a hole through Hel if Alexander stayed behind. It just wouldn’t work. Surely even Lei and Valerie would be ready to go to war. No. The only choice any of them had to feel happiness once more was for them all to make it home safely and then prepare for Freya’s eventual return. They had broken away from a goddess, only to be at the mercy of a god who lied for a living. She didn’t want to see any of them hurt.
“They will be okay,” Sevani said then.
“But Alexander said—”
“I heard what he said, but if he were left behind, it would only be because there was no other choice. He’s not looking for a way not to come home. He wants to. He was assuring you that he would do what he could to keep us safe.”
“Are you sure?” Ayah asked.
“I know Alexander. If I hadn’t led the Watchers, it would have been him. I know it. He has the same sense of obligation that I do, and, now that I am bonded with you, he will feel the need to shoulder that burden. When Valerie comes back, things will settle. You shall see.”
“I hope so. That was unexpected,” Ayah said then, going around the counter to sit down. “I was planning on making breakfast for everyone, but it doesn’t seem like I need to make a big—” A knock on the door stopped her. “Who could that be?” She walked to the front and opened up the door. Sevani could hear a woman’s voice all the way from the kitchen.
“What in God’s name did you do to the house?”
Sevani left the kitchen and made his way to the front door. Ayah stood gaping at a tall, dark-haired woman. Something about the moue of her mouth reminded him of Ayah. He had a feeling this was the sister she had told him about.
“Who are you?” the woman asked.
“Taylor, this is Sevani. Sevani, this is my sister, Taylor.”
“We’re here too, and somebody better start talking,” George said as Aidan stepped up behind him.
They all entered the house, and Ayah directed them to the kitchen. She glanced upstairs, but Sevani placed a calming hand on her shoulder. He was sure that Alexander and Lei had flashed away to meet with Loki. She wouldn’t have to worry about explaining them too. Once seated, Ayah’s siblings turned on her.
“You want to tell us what’s going on?” Taylor asked, eyeing Sevani curiously.
“Sevani, Lei, Valerie, and Alexander are my hired security team.”
“Doesn’t look like he’s providing that very well,” Aidan grumbled.
“Aidan,” Ayah cried indignantly.
“Let me, baby,” Sevani said, saving her. “Ayah contracted my team for security when she found out that she’d come into a fortune. She wasn’t sure how to deal with her finances, or what she was supposed to do. Alexander is a computer whiz, hence the screens, and has been monitoring her perimeter and her cash flow. Lei is her secondary bodyguard when I am not available, and Valerie is her shadow. When we learned her uncle was killed, we moved her to air silence to make sure that she would not be targeted next.”
“Why are you calling her ‘baby,’ then?” George asked, lifting a dark brow. “And how did you know Ronald died?”
“Because the bodyguard fell in love with the client, and the cops came by to question her to see if Ronald had any enemies,” Sevani answered, lying smoothly.
“In just about a week?” Taylor squeaked, looking between them incredulously.
“It happens,” Ayah defended. “He sort of knocked me off my feet, so to speak.”
“If you’re trying to take my sister for a loop, you’ve got the wrong one, buddy,” Aidan warned.
“Wouldn’t dream of it. You probably have concerns that it has something to do with her money. Let me assure you that I am the owner of Watchers Inc., the company she contracted, and we make enough money. I can tell you that your sister’s money doesn’t even enter the equation.”
“Wait, I’ve heard of you guys,” Aidan stated then, naming some pop star who was said to have used their services. “That was your company?”
“Yes. So you see, when I met your sister, it was all about her. I have never met a woman quite like her,” Sevani said, then smiled as he lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles lightly.
She felt heat spread through her. That easy, she wanted her family out of her house so she could climb on him in the middle of the kitchen. He just had that kind of effect on her.
“Actually, I’m hoping she’ll agree to marry me,” Sevani said then.
“Sevani,” Ayah squeaked, much like her older sister.
“Okay, someone explain this to me in a way that makes sense,” Aidan asked, and Sevani wove a tale of love at first sight, arguments, and tears, about surrounding Ayah with friends and love while she went through the few dark nights after her father’s death. He talked about her shock at finding out about her uncle Ronald’s death and his trying to keep her from going into a shell with so much going on around her. The lies flowed off his tongue with ease, but he didn’t regret them. Some of them were true, in a way, if not the way he explained them. He had been there for her through her darkest times, and she had been at his side. Ayah deserved happiness, and her family wouldn’t understand, let alone believe exactly how she found it. But he also knew the family was close knit, and there was no way they could live without her family knowing about them. They’d keep the story straight, and when Lei, Valerie, and Alexander returned, they’d make sure the three were up to date.
“That’s actually why we’re here,” Taylor said then, wiping away tears as Sevani ended his story. It helped that Ayah hadn’t left his side the entire time he spoke. “When Mom died, Ayah had a real tough time. She wanted to spend so much time alone, but Dad wouldn’t let her. When Dad died, I don’t think any of us thought she wouldn’t pull through. She always does,” Taylor finished sheepishly.
“Then we thought Dad wasn’t here to take her out of the dark and we needed to be here for her,” George added.
“Sorry, Ayah, we weren’t here sooner, but we wanted you to know we’re here. Doesn’t seem like you’ve been alone, though,” Aidan said, eying Sevani. “You Special Forces or something?”
“Why do you ask?” Ayah asked.
“He’s got this, I don’t know, carriage about him.”
“Something like that,” Sevani answered enigmatically.
“Well, if you’re sure you’re okay?” Aidan asked.
“Yes,” Ayah said, kissing Sevani on the shoulder. “I think I’m great.”
“Then I’m hungry. When’s breakfast? And where are the others?” George asked.
“They are off on leave for the next few days. Wanted to give us some space, I gather,” Sevani answered quickly. “I guess you’ll be making that big breakfast after all,” he said to Ayah.
“Yeah. I guess I will. And next time, Valerie, Lei, and Alexander will be with us.”
The End
About the Author
LeTeisha Newton is the author of sexy, sweltering, and svelte interracial romance with alpha heroes that will make you swoon. When she's not writing she's taking care of her own alpha and alpha-in-training—a job she enjoys wholeheartedly. Her alpha happens to be the inspiration behind a lot of her heroes—but don't tell him that.
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