Page 77 of Wanted

Fylox pulled me closer to him, draping an arm around me. “Stop crying, princess. It’s not a good look on you.”

“He’s right,” Alex agreed, patting the soles of my feet. “Fylox is here with us now, and all of that is over.”

“Are you suicidal?” I asked Fylox. My heart pounded heavily.

He shook his head. “I can’t do that to them.” Them. His family. His best friend. “My family lost me once. I won’t let it happen again. Besides, if I kill myself, they win.”

I leaned forward, and I planted a kiss on the top of his head. “You’re way stronger than I am. I admire you, Fylox. You’re mean as… You’re very mean. That’s all I’m saying. But you’re resilient.”

“If you kiss me again without my explicit permission, you’ll see just how resilient I am.”

“Fylox.” Alex’s fingers stopped their movements on my feet.

“I’m a spoiled woman. Brat, excuse me. I don’t really have a concept of pain. Care to show me? Or maybe I should go downstairs. I think there’s an inquisitive teacher awaiting my questions…” I teased both of them, and it worked. Alex grabbed my ankle, pulling me towards him, and Fylox let him. When I mentioned Jordan, it was Alex’s business. In the hands of these two, I shifted like a doll. It was a refreshing feeling not to feel ashamed of my size.

The smile on Alex’s face faded. His sea-green eyes revealed that he was having wicked thoughts. “That smart mouth of yours. It’s time to stuff it. I can’t take no more dad talk from you.”

“Gladly,” I responded, crossing my arms in front of my chest. Alex didn’t falter. His eyes remained on mine, challenging me.

“You good?” Alex asked his friend. There wasn’t a verbal response. My shoulders sagged, and I pouted. They always wanted me to respond verbally, but they communicated with air signals when it was between the two of them.

Alex rose from the ground, towering over me as I knelt there in front of him. He lifted my chin with his long fingers, and I licked my lips.

WESTON

I knocked on the door. I heard Mandy’s light steps from the other end, but she didn’t move to open the door and let me in.

“Valentina asked me to ask you if you want to be there for her ultrasound,” I told her, raising my voice so that she could hear me for sure.

“When is it?” she asked, her voice timid.

“In two hours. We could also check in with Mrs. Bengtsson if you want. Your appointment with her is in three days,” I said. I checked the watch on my wrist. It had been too long since we had a conversation. She barely came down the stairs. I had food delivered because I was a horrible cook. She didn’t eat any of it. When she ate, she only took a bite or two.

She still refused to see a therapist to talk about the new developments in her body.

“I’ll come with.”

I fought hard not to let her hear my excitement. “Good. See you then.”

Climbing down the stairs, I headed for the beach to get some fresh air. I wasn’t a fan of the water, but my sister and my mother were. They loved it out here. I could picture them swimming as I stood on the veranda.

Travis had caused disruption in my family. I couldn’t forget that he was my mother’s murderer. As valid as his excuses were, I couldn’t ignore his crimes. Mandy didn’t either. The man of the Cross household had destroyed our lives, and now, he was attempting to rectify his mistakes. The other day, I asked him for his help to remove Aram from his seat, and he gave me a nod. Then he started explaining that there were multiple phases.

We had to make sure that Aris, Valentina, and their baby were safe. We’d have to smuggle them out of the country and away from Spencer and Aram’s reach. Travis was thinking about Indonesia. I considered Switzerland.

“Weston?” I turned around. A neighbor had joined me. He was a short man with white hair. I hadn’t seen him before. “It’s a pleasure to meet you…”

“Weston’s enough,” I told him. He must have been new. “Welcome to Katantia.”

“Thank you! It’s a lovely place to live out my retirement,” he said, and the grin on his face revealed that his sex enhancement pills were doing a good job. “I didn’t know you resided in this house. It was empty when I first moved here in the winter.”

With my hands in my pockets, I stood there. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I’d come out here to be alone. I explained, “I moved in recently. It’s the royal vacation home.”

“Oh, really? Will I meet the king as well? Should I prepare my home?” he asked, excited about the prospect.

I almost scowled. Royal etiquette demanded that I stand there and take it. “No, I’m afraid not.”

“Well, then, you’re the next best man to talk to!” I couldn’t place his accent. “Some other homeowners and I have been discussing the recent news. I hear the palace is gearing up for a natural catastrophe? What’s that all about? Are our houses protected? We live by the beach.”