When the garage door opens, my brother’s Charger is missing from his spot, and I sigh in relief because I don’t want anyone to see me. WhenI make it to my bathroom, I lock the door. A waveof pain assaults me when I peel off my jeans and remove the gigantic, bloodied pad. The pain meds are wearing off and I collapse into the corner of the shower as the blood and clots run like a bloody river to the drain. When the pain subsides a bit, I crawl to turn on the shower, so the water isscalding hot.
I weep for the loss of my baby.
Hearing the baby’s heartbeat proved to me that angels exist. My baby is now floating to heaven and I’m the only one who knows he or she existed.
In a sob, I pull my knees to my chin in the shower’s corner and watch the love inside of me bleed down the drain, gone forever.
Chapter Two
Lucy
Present Day
Freshman Year of College
Lucy
Iclose the passenger door to Khalani’s Range Rover. “How does it feel being married and in college?” Iask Khalani.
Khalani married my brother before graduating high school and now lives in our house. Mason, Colton, and Leo opted to rent a house off campus to enjoy college life.
Translation: they have parties and fuck whoever they want without their parents breathing down their necks.
“Weird, but I’m happy. I’m in love and Aiden makes sure I feel his love every chance he gets.”
I grimace. “Ew, gross. I’m happy for you both but imagining my brother having sex is nasty.” She blushes and gives mea grin. “I can hear you through the walls,” I say, giggling.
“You’re too much, Lucy. I’m happy going to the same college and having you as my sister. I just wish you could find the same happiness. You still haven’t told me about what happened between you and Mason.”
“I don’t like to talk about it. It doesn’t matter. We’re friends who have grown apart because we got older. His girlfriends wouldn’t appreciate me hanging around. I don’t need the drama. It’s bad enough Gloria enrolled at Hillside University hoping she can convince Mason to be exclusive. I’m not sure how Colton would fit in that role, but whatever. Who am I to judge?”
She locks the car and we make our way to our first class. The sun shines bright and the smell of fresh-cut grass is in the air as we make our way across campus. The sun is heating up the day with the sound of birds chirping.
We enrolled in the same classes with the same business major. Allfour Kings have scholarships on the football team at Hillside University. It also helps that our parents are the founders of the university and high school in West Hillside.The guys have loved football since they were kids and it suits our parents’ facade flawlessly.
All our families want their kids to have the best education, even if we are all part of the cartel. It’s a fated twist that Khalani didn’t know her father was a cartel leader when she met Aiden, and now they’re married. It makes Aiden practically untouchable.
Khalani opens the door of the business hall and we walk through.
“Are we still good for the gun range after?”I ask.
“Of course. How else are we to purge our frustration? Especially with all the girls eye fucking my husband.”
“Trust me, he has the same problem with you and the guys,” I volley back.
We have been going to the gun range since her father’s dead wife—thanks to Aiden and the guys—attempted to have Khalani killed. Aiden wants to keep her well acquainted with a pistol.
We take our seats in the room’s corner and I hear whispers from a group of guys seated above us. My gaze finds light-brown eyes when I twist my body to glance over my shoulder behind us. He gives me a wink, but I ignore him. Because behind him, lighter ones grab my attention.
Mason.
His expression turns to a scowl when the guy in front of him waves at me. I don’t know the guy so I just turn back around.
After fifty-five minutes of the professor’s lecture on the introduction to economics, class ends, and Khalani and I make our way out of the lecture hall.
I’m just about to reach the door when the sound of a guy’s voice calls out, “Hey, what’s your name?”
I pause and turn.