2×17 “Cracks In Her Soul”
Written By: Chris Coleman and Kelly Zollo
Guest Starring: Whitney Hessington (Sophia Bush), Ryan Hessington (Stephen Amell), Hugo Kavanaugh (Clive Owen)
WARNING: Extreme violence, language and rape.

Tamara stood on the tarmac wind and the light flurries of snow danced on her wool trench coat. Her hair blew in the wind as she looked at Forbes limo appearing through the snow. She watched Forbes walk out helping Yasmine, Cassie, and eventually two men assisted with Philip getting out. Her boss was ready today and she knew Philip planned to present on board the plane. His idea of rebranding XES as burlesque clubs and upscales gentlemen’s room and clubs was brilliant. She saw Yasmine looking stunning and as she helped Philip onto the plane. Walking up to Forbes she pulled out an itinerary. “I still don’t feel good about this Mr. Montgomery. Look, Ilsa De Cruces is in the middle of civil war Mr. Montgomery and I’m just a person who watches the news. Why are we getting in bed with this man? I’m sorry to question you but this is all new to me and I just think with all the news that Cassie and people have presented on Dimitri Kavanaugh you’d stay away from him.” She extended her arms as Forbes helped her on the plane.

“When Jackson Devonshire finally swings the energy crisis and DGI energy division will turn into DGI’s most important subsidiary. He could take this to not just Ilsa De Cruces but all around the world again they will beat us. Unless we stop them now Tamara so Dimitri Kavanaugh is a means to an end. Does men like him disgust me absolutely but my daughters have guards as do you they watch you. So we shall not worry about Dimitri plus I have my eye on him. We just have to make sure Atticus and Jackson don’t sign anything because Dimitri is king of that country. As a king he’ll get custody of that kid and we’ll never have to see Bliss or Dimitri again. We’ll do what we have to Tamara to make sure we aren’t second to DGI.” Forbes looked at Yasmine and Cassie sitting in the seat. As Yasmine wanted to get off the plane he could tell and he smirked. “What’s the matter my dear you’re upset? You’re mad? Do you love Rory? Get over it! He’ll never wed you you’ll be his mistress do you want to be the woman who ripped you apart? Do you want to be Tess or their mother Audrey for him? You won’t be his whore Yasmine!” Forbes hissed at her seeing Cassie holding her back and Philip raising his hand to calm her.

“Who the fuck are you talking to Forbes?” She barked back, Cassie and Philip had warned her but she wasn’t going to take it. “You are just claiming me and my sister and you think you get to tell me what the hell I get to do? Fuck you!” Yasmine said as she looked up as Dimitri fucking Kavanaugh entered the plane and her skin began to crawl. “Don’t ever talk to me like that again are we understood? I’m not Philip and I’m not Cassie. I’ll bust your ass in your face you disrespectful motherfucker!” Yasmine hissed as she folded her arms. “You stay in our business you need to get your shit in order you see Lowell dying and shit you ain’t far off.”

“Truly father what a welcome but I do have a proposition. I’m not turning my back on the expansion of Atlas Falls and the revitalization but I have other ideas on how we can make millions and something new and fresh for our town. Something my sister my newly found baby sister considering that Gina would have been between us correct Cass? I just have to say you are quite the father of the year daddy. She’s dead but Gina was something Kendrick talked about constantly. He told me her love of burlesque and I thought we are um out of the official stripping business and since Thor will be renaming my old club. What if we transformed XES into a burlesque mens only type club that we can make go viral with the hottest celebs and the biggest titans in every industry. I mean women of course are allowed but the richest of the rich. Give it a Eyes Wide Shut moment and make it bigger.” Philip interjected.

“Do you really think I give a fuck about a burlesque club? Shut up Philip!” Forbes roared as he looked around at his children. “Only one of you that’s making me proud is the one who doesn’t even work for me. I have given you money to dance and effect the communities and I could give a fuck Yasmine. But you will not bed Rory Devonshire. None of you will be with Devonshire’s. Now Dimitri please tell us your plan for Isla De Cruces because my children need to see what a power play looks like.” He growled at them.

Tamara shook her head seeing the dysfunctions on display. She turned around and looked at the club. “I truly think that we should consider his plan but you seem more fascinated in this Mr. Montgomery and I think that Dimitri we should hear why you are here and this press conference.”

Dimitri looked around the plane they were all simply a means to an end for everyone that had wronged him his father, the crown, Selina and of course Bliss trying to take Fox from him he would show her in the end. Show her what a real man was like the lengths a real man would go to make sure his son stayed with him. His eyes came to land on Tamara Wright never to be Fraiser in his mind. Such a pity that she had never seen what was in front of her, he would have thought the endless errands he had sent her on over the past few months would have been the signal to her that a prince was standing before her. Her rejection the other night though in Philip’s abandoned office he knew what he had to do. She worked nine to five every day, returning to that feeble shack and Braden Fraiser’s bed. She showered every morning before work at about six thirty sharp he saw her every move. A man with a lot of money could do what he wanted, hire the people he wanted and installing those cameras around Braden’s house was something that had to be done for the gorgeous blonde in front of him. She of course liked it rough not too much Braden was too much of a romantic for that from what he had gathered. Selina had been a mistake he knew that now and Tamara would look so gorgeous on his arm when he returned to the island with Fox, she was stunning and gorgeous had the same features as Bliss and that was what he needed for the people to love him.

“I’m here to make sure that my legacy is left in tact Ms. Wright it has been in such chaos since CADAMUS and the insurgents getting their hands on those weapons. With Forbes backing I have the means to fight back save my family and my country, make sure Fox has a crown to return too when we head home.” Dimitri said looking at her face almost as it was in shock that he was going to return back to the island with his son. It was going to happen he would die before it didn’t and he likely knew why she knew her soon to be husband was off defending his ex wife to him and he decided to expand on that. The insecurity that he saw in her eyes that he had observed with Selina back in town with Braden. “Oh I see I am suddenly the monster in this story did you know that Selina used me for months to make your fiance jealous? He them marched right on over to her defense and beat me. If you ask me they deserve each other for all the pain and the suffering that they put us through. Didn’t Braden Fraiser take your rights away from your son and now you only see him on a very unfair mind you custody agreement could you imagine if I let that happen to me with either Selina and Bliss. Of course Cassie knows what she was reporting at the papers simply to be hearsay at best none of it can actually be substantiated. But it sells and that is what matters.”

Cassie had made sure to hold Yasmine back when her father went on one of his tirades about the Devonshire’s again, she knew why her father was backing Dimitri she didn’t have to like it but she knew why money and to stick a knife in the DGI Energy division. It was either that or attempt to go higher to the likes of the Hessington’s and Charles had laughed at the thought of an audience with Forbes and Dimitri citing it wasn’t a good look politically. She had to agree with that the evidence against Dimitri was damning and she did everything in her power to tell that story with her staff but it was still just a story nothing had officially been filed and she had checked. The only thing that came close was a call to the Delacroix estate where Dimitri was dragged off after being beaten by the Delacroix men and Atlas Falls own district attorney the judge quickly threw out the arrest warrant and he was back on the streets in a matter of hours. No matter what she printed it was up to the police to actually nail him for a crime she knew better than to piss off her father’s business partners so she remained silent in her seat towards Dimitri.

“You should listen to Philip’s ideas father a club like he is explaining draws in the type of crowds we need the rich and the affluent the men that need to live out their fantasies in a safe place. One without judgement and what better way to make sure you have everything that you need from them in return when the time comes than that. As for Rory Devonshire I do believe that Yasmine understands what is at stake and is not going to make the same mistakes that Philip did getting involved with Rory like that in the future.” Cassie said leaning back in her seat as the plan started ready for take off. She saw Dimiri looking at her and a chill went down her spine thank God for her father and Jon Dimitri wasn’t that stupid to go after someone like her or her sister. “As for what the news and the papers print if it wasn’t true you wouldn’t be sweating to much to leave the country now would you dear Prince Kavanagah. Word on the street is that the rebellion is quieting down and well I’d hate to see what happens when all that dust settles and you try to return home.”

Yasmine gripped Cassie hand and she looked at Dimitri in the face showing she wasn’t afraid of him. She saw that monster staring at her sister. He was fucking despicable and what scared her was how confidant he was. Motherfuckers like that were psycho. He knew he was going to get off for the shit he was doing. “Well that sounds like a good spin if I ever heard one Dimitri. We will see what the world press believes but I doubt you and father’s plan is all good. This is evil what you both are doing and I’m sorry taking the crown from your father shows how shady you truly are.” She said shaking her head at Dimitri. The plane was in the air and she felt her ears popping but Yasmine felt like she was about to learn something on this trip.

“Shady? My dear baby sister father breeds darkness. You are to listen to me because I have a plan to change Club XES into the biggest room with the most powerful men all around the world. Yasmine choreography and these girls learning the secrets of the most powerful men who come to see this show. I think that you want to hear my idea out. Only four locations Atlas Falls the first, Paris, Hong Kong, and Dubai. We will collect secrets and power with information and no longer will we be behind DGI because we’ll be in the know with all the true power players. Father this is what we want a society that men will want to join and bare their darkness in. A place where women feel powerful invited it could be what we need to edge them.” Philip said looking at Tamara who was smiling and he noticed Dimitri staring almost obsessively over her.

Tamara had been hired as Philip assistant but she had somehow transformed as all the Montgomery’s go to. She was organized and helped them attack the Devonshire’s which she didn’t like half of the time but seeing Philip standing up to Forbes and being a man made her proud. The fear and discontent he placed in these adults was absurd and absolutely revolting. She was being paid good and had so many perks that she didn’t open her mouth too much. “I think that the media and what’s going on with women finally speaking on the sexual harassment tonight is monumental set back for my employers company to be involved with you. I mean what are you the crown prince of? King of the Rapist? I mean I’m sorry Forbes but he’s revolting and everything you want is selfish. You don’t care about your people, you care about yourself you loser.”

Forbes saw the discontent for Dimitri and he hushed it. “We will be working with Mr. Kavanaugh and that’s enough of voicing our personal opinions. It’s about our future against DGI remember that.” He commanded as he looked around the room. “Philip we will talk more later on your idea, I think that it could be a smart move. Dimitri will help us and our energy division. We will make sure our energy division beats Jackson to the punch.” Forbes said as he looked at them all. “I will hurt them one by one taking away their dreams and you all are here to witness it start in a glorious way. MontCorp will literally partner with a country.”

Dimitri picked up the bottle of champagne motioning for the staff to open it and celebrate his win over DGI and the energy summit he was going to take Fox back with him to the island. Take what was his and Forbes was just the man to help him do it, he watched the amber liquid being poured into the glasses and he handed them out seeing Yasmine scoff at the drink and Cassie cast daggers at him. They really weren’t his type Cassie was a little too red head and Yasmine well she didn’t have those golden locks that he longed for. He leaned back in his chair handing Tamara a glass watching her as she crossed and then crossed her legs again she would do just fine. He imagined his hands on her, his mouth in hers her begging for him to stop even though she really wanted what he was giving her and leaned back in the seat closing his eyes a fantasy that if he had any say would be a reality soon enough. He could tell that she wanted him even though she had been playing coy at the office, everyone wanted a piece of a prince and well he was going to be her prince in shinning armor.

**********

Dani looked at the twins who were sleeping as she went through the lingerie section eyeing a few pieces to add to the collection things were good again for her and Jackson since the party. They’d gotten into a groove their mini getaway at the suite seemed to have fixed their funk they were in and she felt they were stronger than ever. He was still dealing with how he felt about Belle and she decided to give him space on it something she had learned that he needed. So many people had pressured him in his life and she wouldn’t be that with him. Her mind drifted when she looked at the door when it opened and saw Whitney walk in with Morgan and Miles in tow her flower girl and her ring bearer and she beamed at them. Of course Quinn and Maddie were her junior bridesmaids as well. They were in town for a few weeks and from the texts back and forth maybe longer. Which was surprising that Charles would want to uproot his entire family from Pittsburgh to here and then the bigger question was Lex. She didn’t want him to cause trouble at the wedding, despite everything that she and he had been through she valued her friendship with Whitney over that and was thrilled when she had agreed to be her maid of honor.

“I am so glad you guys could come! Val just finished the final prep work on my dress and you can try on yours today. Plus I know you really wanted to come see them and look at you Mr. Miles all big and grown almost.” Dani said as she hugged Whitney and then Miles and touched Morgan’s hair some of the staff came out to greet them to take them to a private fitting room where some drinks and snacks were waiting. Whitney looked amazing as always the dignified first daughter of the state that could run the state if she wanted and she almost wondered years ago why she didn’t. “I was so happy to get your text that you were in town the other day. How are things with you and Ryan? I know when I left it was rocky and your dad how is he? I know it’s getting close to when your mom.” Dani said her voice trailing off she always respected Whitney and Lex’s mother Ava. “So did your dad really just come in and tell you that you all were to stay in Atlas Falls don’t get me wrong I see Connor from time to time DGI owns the team but you have your whole life with Ryan there.”

Whitney ran her hand through her hair as she thought about her relationship with Bode. He was Hawaiian surfer and the lover she most recently took on. Juan-Paublo was a couple of months ago. She just honestly wasn’t in love with Ryan anymore. She loved that he gave her Morgan and they had Miles, Whitney knew that divorce wasn’t an option. As she bit down on her lip she looked at a silk gown for herself. Strutting up to another babydoll dress she looked at Dani. “We aren’t doing good at all. I’m so angry with him still and I’ve been doing some stupid thing. Mistakes happen but I’m going to admit I’ve been giving my attention to others.” She said honestly looking at her best friend. “And dad literally said we are stuck in Atlas Falls and opening a luxury hotels. I’m so sick of it Dani now he has us pushing a Kincaid being in the fucking White House. When he should be pushing me to the senate. It’s what I want. He said that I’ll be Anderson chief-of-staff. Why couldn’t he endorse me you know? It’s my brain that got him re-elected a couple of years back.” Whitney wiped her eyes as she looked at Miles. “And we have some other looming dramas going on.”

She picked up the silk babydoll lingerie and felt liked Dani’s judgemental look on her face. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she thought about the last time she wanted to touch her husband. “I hate him sometimes Dani. I really do marriage is hard and I can’t even pretend things are perfect. It got better for a while but the past just reared its ugly head. You remember I told you Ryan slept with Miles biological mother. Well she just popped up again and I have been seeing these other men. I’m so lost Dani.” She said softly gasping as tears fell down her face. “Marriage isn’t perfect because I can tell you this marriage has cracked and broken but I love Ryan and I am so angry at him.” She said passionately looking at her best friend.

Dani looked at Whitney not in judgement of her or her actions but of the men around her mainly her father and Ryan. Charles always looked over her best friends brains and when she worked for him it pissed her the hell off. He was always trying to push Lex into a political career when it was clear that Whitney should have been the front runner for the legacy that was Charles Hessington. The mere mention of Charles going to Brenda Kincaid and her brood of children over Whitney pissed her off even more given Maggie and her connection to them. “You should be sick of it you were the one that majored in political science and literally worked beside me day and night to get him re-elected. Like seriously running to the Kincaid’s and Anderson of all people over you? It pisses me the hell off especially given how he shoved Maggie on the campaign. Tell me at least your brother’s had your back.” Dani said looking at her best friend and wrapping her arms around her. She saw Miles and Morgan had settled on the ground and some toys and pulled back from Whitney.

“I thought Ryan was over this phase after Max, that he’d get his stupid dick in order and be done with it. Do I need to make a house call?” Dani said looking at her friend and seeing Whitney relax a while it was nice to see her smile again given everything and she took a breath it wasn’t like Whitney to just cheat on Ryan or in general. “I’m not gonna judge you for sleeping around on Ryan when he’s been doing it to you since college alright? That’s so not my place to do that.” Dani said squeezing her best friends hand there was no judgement from her she knew marriages were complicated. Hell all you had to do was look at her own parents marriage to see that she only hoped that she and Jackson weren’t like that when it came to their soon to be marriage, it was already hard juggling twins. When she mentioned the biological mother of Miles coming into the picture and her being in Atlas Falls it hit her who it was maybe Skye. “Ok so you have to be straight with me right before I left town in that meeting your dad called me in for trapping me in his office with Lex so we could in his words and my dad’s reconcile our differences. Skye Morgan was sitting in the waiting room I didn’t think a ton of it at the time. Please for the love of God tell me that Skye Morgan is not the mother of Miles.” Dani said looking at her friend and an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach everyone knew back then about who Skye was sleeping with her current fiance.

Whitney looked down at Dani and her heart started to pound through her chest. She hadn’t told her best friend who was Miles mother or father. Her lips quivered as she looked Dani. ‘I’m so scared Dani. It was a legal adoption and Skye needed to give up Miles. She said that the father didn’t want him. I just knew we found the right girl and I thought she’d want to be a part of our family after she got cleaned up. She ended fucking my husband and I just can’t get over it. I’m angry but the worst part Dani is who is the father of my son.” She shook her head knowing that she was about to put Dani in a horrible situation. “She said it was Jackson at first but when Miles came he had the most beautiful eyes but they were green. I knew it wasn’t Jackson so I confronted Skye.” She rubbed Miles face and looked at her son. “She confessed that it was Jon Harrison. When I visited you a few years after you came back to Atlas Falls. I umm saw Jon and knew. I knew that Jon was Miles dad but I needed proof so when we were all drinking that night, I took the wine glass. I said it broke but I took it and ran a DNA test. Ninety-nine percent that Jon was the father of Miles.” Biting her lip she looked at her friends shocked expression her heart swelled knowing that she was a fucked up person.

“I should have told him. I should have been a better person but I’m a lawyer and legally he has a right to his child. She lied to him and us and this mess was born. I fear so much if he ever finds out we’ll lose Miles and I love him like I birthed him. I need him just as much as he needs us. We are the only family that Miles knows and I just feel so guilty. I can’t breathe sometimes. I feel like I’m stealing him and when the truth finally comes out Jon will be able snatch him away. Lex has done so much to protect Miles and if he loses his nephew I’m afraid all the work he’s done on himself will go down. We have hid this from you and I’m sorry but I didn’t want you to be involved. I can’t pretend that this is my best moment. I can’t pretend that you would understand. Dani I couldn’t conceive and I had Morgan off of I don’t know what. She came and she is so perfect. Now I have two kids and little Miles isn’t a Harrison, Dani he’s a Hessington. He’s mine and I know Jon is a good man but does that mean give my son? I can’t, and I won’t.” Whitney wiped her eyes and put on her regal demeanor again she stuck her head up in the air. “I won’t be giving up Miles so don’t ask me to. Matter fact let’s just drop this okay?”

Dani looked at her and was pretty sure her mouth had dropped open in pure shock, of course she was relieved that Miles wasn’t Jackson’s but Jon’s. She had grown up around the Harrison family and Whitney’s she spent most of her summers with them both on and off and she considered both Whitney and Miranda her best friends. She had never liked Skye ever in her entire life for a million reasons but this probably took the cake for her. “So she went to Pittsburgh to find someone to adopt out her baby who she probably didn’t have a clue who the father was and your dad being your dad who told me and Lex he would help you with the adoption of a baby decided to take her word for her it and let her into your life with Ryan. She really told you the baby was Jackson’s uh?” Dani said looking at her godson and she saw the resemblance to Quinn and even more so Jon now that she looked a little more closely at Miles. It was hard to dispute it and she let her mind process the fact that Whitney had ran a DNA test on Miles unknown to Jon at the time just to prove the paternity for her own piece of mind. “Skye lies as often as I change the twins diapers, I can’t believe she would do that to you over and over again.” Dani asked she was trying to approach this logically Whitney drew up the papers and was in charge it looked bad like she was doing it intentionally. Lex did it. It was better.

Dani saw her freaking out and wasn’t sure what to say was it really Whitney’s place to say something when it came to Miles biological father? Wasn’t that on Skye to fess up and tell Jon she was pregnant or hell both him and Jackson when she realized she was coked out and pregnant. “Jon was in a bad place back then I won’t sugar coat that for you Whitney he was popping pain killers with booze and out fucking Skye like it was going out of style. She meanwhile was high as a kite most of the time with the man I’m going to marry. You and Ryan may have a problem but for the love of God you’ve all never went on some coked up or drugged out binge for the hell of it to deal with your shit. She lied to you about who the father was and didn’t even bother to tell any of the men she was fucking she was pregnant. Let me not get into the fact she went out and fucked Ryan too.” Dani said letting out a breath as she realized what Whitney was asking her to do for her godson for Miles and she thought about it. She’d die before she let anyone rip the twins from her and the thought unnerved her did Whitney and Ryan really have to lose Miles because of Skye’s lies and she realized why Whitney never told her she didn’t want to put her in this place between three people she really cared about put her in the middle and test her loyalties. “Who drew up the adoption papers and handled it you or Lex?”

“Lex and he did a wonderful job I can’t lie about it. The legalese in the adoption papers are stone clear for Skye. She is giving up  her rights to Miles but not for the father.” She said looking at Dani honestly. “I can’t get mad at Skye because I have my son because of her drug fueled rampage. I do have to say that Jon doesn’t deserve this at all. It’s horrible what’s happened to him. But right now I won’t do this. I won’t have to battle for my son because of some horrible bitches drugged out problems. I really didn’t want you in the mix of this Dani because you love him. He’s a good man and I know that. I know it. I don’t care about his booze benders Dani, he would change for Miles and we both know that. He would have done better for him.” She cried wiping her eyes. “I hate this. I hate that my happiness can be destroyed with one secret a secret that Skye set into motion.” She said, shaking her head.

“I’m going to get her back for ruining my marriage and worse possibly taking my son. If Jon knows he’s going to come after Miles. My boy, my life, my heart is Miles. I love Morgan but something about Miles it just breaks my heart that he was born with drugs in his system. Look at him now though. He’s perfect Dani and that’s because Ryan and I. We stayed up all night when his tiny precious body was craving drugs. We sat at all the development appointments praying that he wouldn’t have any mental delays and thank God he doesn’t have any. He’s perfect and I did all the work! I am his mother and Ryan is his father and that’s the end. The end of the drama and the end of the pain.” She said grabbing Dani hand. “Please don’t say anything. Please Dani.”

Dani looked at her best friend if Lex drew up the papers she knew it was iron clad she’d seen enough of his work first hand to know he didn’t make mistakes and he most certainly wouldn’t have put his own sister at risk to lose her son. Lex may have been a lot of things in their relationship like an asshole towards the end but he loved his sister and brother she never really had to doubt that with him. She knew about what Ryan and Whitney had both gone through with Miles when Whitney would call her in the middle of the night to talk after a tough day and she had to reassure her friend that she was a great mother and that Miles loved them both love was thicker than blood. She was about to respond when she saw Val walk out of the back with Whitney’s maid of honor gown,she squeezed Whitney’s hand back as she took Morgan from her arms so Whitney could go try the dress on. The twins started to stir and Miles look up into the stroller to look at them. She wasn’t sure this was a secret she could keep at her own wedding especially from Jon and she wasn’t sure it was one she wanted to keep.

**********

Atticus opened his eyes the cracks for sunlight filtering through the window and he looked at his bedside table in his suite. It was still early. The half drunk bottle of bourbon on the side table he and Brooke had yet to actually repair their relationship if there even was still one. He blamed that partly on his jealousy but he had meant what he had said to her, he was not going to be embarrassed by her when it came to the likes of Ronan Madden. He had apologized about Belle till he was blue in the face and he was tired of rehashing it over and over again. Reaching for his phone he saw his schedule for the day and went to the bathroom splashing water on his face. Of course after the fight with Brooke he had gone and spoke with Belle about everything that had happened eyeing Connor Hessington on his way out of Belle’s event. Now though the truth was out and he was even shocked that Belle was in fact the biological daughter of Lowell Devonshire and Tess Blisston, something that had taken over the papers in the last few weeks. Splashing some water on his face he looked at himself in the mirror he had seen better days and as much as he would like to dwell on what was going on with Belle and Brooke he had more important matters to attend too.

He had made a promise to himself that he was going to do everything in his power to help Bliss and Fox escape his brother’s clutches and he meant that meaning he had a slew of meetings today with the best legal team he could find in Isla Del Cruces to find out about custody. It would be difficult but he was going to assure that his nephew was not raised by a monster any longer after that he, he was supposed to be at DGI to finalize the energy plans for Isla Del Cruces with the solar panels not only would the Scottswood area here in Atlas Falls be a part of it. He was going to revitalize the crown and his home country with it too, ease the burden of his people in a diplomatic way as well as financially it was a win win for everyone. He got in the shower turning the water as hot as he could stand and washed, getting out and then picking out his suit a deep navy with a crisp while shirt and a tie with the family crest on it. Buffing his shoes he walked out of the bedroom grabbing his home and then opening the bedroom door to the rest of his suite to get a shock his father sitting at the breakfast table paper out sipping a cup of coffee his eyes on the door. He knew that things were bad at home but to abandon the crown in the middle of it was unheard of and his mind raced to where his mother and his sister were. He was even more shocked when the door to his suite opened and his father’s security team escorted Brooke inside, who looked gorgeous as always and his heart swelled still unsure where they stood.

“Father.” Atticus said looking at the most powerful man he knew no one ignored a summons from a king and he took a seat at the table seeing the same shocked expression on Brooke’s face as he did.

“Atticus sleeping so late at 7am when we have so much to do my boy?” Hugo said looking at his youngest son. “My pride and joy my baby boy, the true heir. Come to papa.” Standing he hugged his son tightly and kissed his forehead. “The coffee is from home I don’t leave the country without it. Come have a cup with your fiance and me. You see today your brother has crossed a line. A friend of mine Lowell Devonshire called me and informed me his goddaughter Selina Delacroix was being abused by my son. At first I tried to deny it as I always have. Then I lashed out at Lowell saying a man in his scandals shouldn’t dare bring this to him. Then he told him about what happened to Selina and then Bliss his very own daughter. It sounded exactly like witnesses who vanished and eventually died. Dimitri has been the one that hired the rebels and he’s trying to play innocent. So dear son today you become next in line for the crown. You become the face of the country of Isla De Cruces but I can’t anoint you heir apparent when I know your perfect Hollywood and fairytale marriage isn’t happening.” Hugo said sipping his coffee.

“You see dear son we are leaving for New York in less than an hour. We are going to disown Dimitri and strip him of his royal title along with his diplomatic immunity. We are going to dismantle this sexist and disgusting stain he’s put on our legacy and I suggest you buckle up before I appoint Fox the next crown prince. Fix this Atticus your crown depends on it we won’t have a scandal twice on us. Never again and not like Dimitri. Please Ms. Kincaid sit and discuss whatever misgivings my son has bestowed on you. I’d like to believe it’s his charm to be a little pigheaded but please listen to him you both are young and beautiful. You are enough to change the image of my country and forever help change succession and make sure Dimitri doesn’t get Fox or the crown, no?” Hugo stood up looking at Atticus and Brooke as he began to walk to the balcony. “I have a few calls to make to stop Dimitri in his tracks. I need to speak with what’s his name the one who works with the Devonshire’s.”

“Simon.” Brooke said softly looking up in her Aalia dress that hugged every curve as she removed her Dior emerald green and gold trench coat. She sat down and began to feel horrible seeing how much she was costing him. Walking to Atticus she just kissed him no longer able to hold back how she felt. It was over and she was over it. Finally she got it she deserved better and here she was throwing away better to be hurt. She wasn’t going to be hurt anymore and no more being sad inside. Atticus loved her for her and she loved him for him. Brooke looked him in his eyes and finally felt like she could honestly say these words. “I made a big mistake somehow I made you believe that you weren’t important as Ronan to me. When you are honestly Atticus the only thing that matters to me right now. Right now if I don’t fix this I can’t believe I’m going to say this that I’ll never be the same. I’ll be broken but I won’t be able to heal. I’m sorry Atticus you are literally offering the passion I seek but I was been incapable and bitter. To be fair, I can’t lie to you and say I’m not jealous of Belle’s place in your life. She gives or gave you something and I know it but Ronan gave me something until I didn’t want it anymore.” She leaned in and touched his face sitting on his lap.

“I missed you Atticus and I understand I must have sounded quite like a brat but I think sometimes that’s why you love me.” She smiled and saw him smile. “I missed us being us and I think ever since we came to Atlas Falls we haven’t been us. I don’t know why but you make me so happy and I’m sorry I said those awful things to you. Can you forgive me my prince? Or am I forever banished?” Brooke said looking at him praying she hadn’t pushed him away. “I know, I was a bitch and horrible but I don’t know where I would be without you. One heartbeat Atticus that’s what we will have to remember you said that to me? I haven’t confided in you and I have been distant but everything I’m telling you is because I never had love in my home. You saw it and I never did because it was an illusion and I’m unsure if I can be loved sometimes but Atticus you do love me don’t you. You still love me don’t you?”

Atticus’s head was spinning as his father stood before him simply stating that he was disowning his older brother from the crown and giving it to him instead. Of course he always dreamed of this moment his father actually standing up for what was right too often royal families pushed scandals under the rug. The latest being England with the Prince Andrew scandal and he simply nodded his head at his father one simply did not question the authority of the crown when it was presented to you no matter who it was. Plus in his mind Fox was too young to rule and he doubted very much that Bliss would let Fox simply travel to the island without her to learn how to rule. When his father all but dismissed the room back to him and Brooke he almost smiled surely Brooke was amused as well his father always had a flair for a bit of the dramatic. He sat on the chair sipping the coffee from home waiting for her or him to speak first relishing in the taste of home of course he loved America loved the woman in it too but there was nothing like home. When Brooke came to him standing and professing her love for him he wasn’t sure how to react he knew that he did at least have to allow her to talk and explain things. When she did he simply nodded his head at her of course he still loved her, he had chased her halfway around the world to win her back.

“I of course forgive you Brooke I traveled halfway around the world to win you back after spending over a year lonely I realized what a mistake it was to let you go. I came back to town and you wanted nothing to do with me and I understood that but it’s always been only you Brooke even when I was foolish with Belle and I was. It was a terrible mistake, I was under so much pressure from the crown the press was constantly hounding us you were modeling. I didn’t know how to balance that.” Atticus said looking at her and he meant every word he did regret what had happened with Belle it altered his life and Brooke’s if he hadn’t maybe they would be married and they wouldn’t have the press now on them about a possible break up yet again. He touched her face noticing that this time when she spoke about moving on fully she meant it and that was all he ever really wanted when it came to them and her past with Ronan. “I don’t want us to repeat the last time we did this. I wasn’t true to myself and you weren’t to you either. I want you to be happy with me and the crown and with my country. I do have something to tell you. The other night after our fight I reached out to Belle and not for the reasons you are thinking.” Atticus said seeing her pull back he meant this he wanted a fresh start with her. “I went to her to simply inform her to leave us alone. I never wanted her to show up here in Atlas Falls and had I known I would have gave you ample warning it was happening.”

“I don’t want to talk about Belle everyone else in the world is. I’d rather not give that attention hungry social pariah anymore attention.” Brooke leaned down and kissed him again. “I know you made a mistake and I guess I have been making the same mistake in a different way. I held onto Ronan thinking that he’d never fallen out of love with me. Or somehow I’d get what I want.” She knew she had to be honest. “I didn’t trust you especially when Belle charged back into our lives. I wanted it to work so badly but I also wasn’t completely over what happened to me last year. I went through a lot with Ronan and we truly loved each other but I don’t want to be killed. I don’t want to be a mob moll and I rather think being a princess fits me way better than being killed by some stray bullet like Ronan’s mother. I won’t be involved in the violence anymore and I’m happy to say only man I can think about is you. I’m so sorry if I made you insecure but I had to fix the pain of someone throwing me away again. Throwing away what we had but seeing you come back for what we had. Atticus that means the most to me.” She said touching his cheek.

“Wonderful.” Hugo said walking out with a smile on his face. “We couldn’t do this without you Brooke. You are going to be quite the Queen one day. Formidable and the way you left Atticus with a broken heart it was a strong move my dear.” He smiled as he walked over to kiss her on the forehead. “Now we must all leave. We have a meeting to attend at the Devonshire mansion. Simon Rutherford is quite an interesting character no? Well I will be telling them all my plans and then we must head for the airport. My jet is waiting for us. New York is only an hour and twenty minutes since we land on the private runway. Atticus today you become next in line because you are the prince who deserves it. The only son that the royal house of Kavanaugh deserves and the monarch of Isla De Cruces true crowned Prince. Are you ready my son?”

Atticus looked at her and felt that for the first time in their relationship they were on equal ground with their relationship that they were being honest with themselves. He let out a breath as he felt relief about he and Brooke for what felt like the first time in months and then he looked over at the door when his father entered royal guards in tow at the motion and he gently sat Brooke down as he did grabbing a croissant off the table as he did to take a bite one simply did not say no to a man like his father and he was a bit surprised that he wanted to head to DGI for a meeting. A meeting that he hoped would close the energy revitalization with DGI and the island at the same time perhaps putting his brother away from society and the women that he was often known to hurt from the sounds of it. He had always assumed that Dimitri would take the crown from his father it was simply something that was a given to the first born and he knew it had be serious for his father to bypass years of tradition in favor of himself actually taking the crown from Dimitri and he wondered if tha meant that he was tossing out Fox down the line. Skipping right over Dimitri’s bloodline in favor of his own and a for a moment guilt hit him as he felt like he was robbing from his nephew. He felt Brooke grab his hand and he nodded at his father. “Led the way of course.”

Hugo along with the royal guards walked out of Atticus suite as he walked through he noticed people stopping and watching. “Good-morning.” He could see his son apprehension on his face. “Your nephew will not be forgotten Atticus he is next in line but you will be the king. One day I’ll die and go onto my new life ruling nothing. You however will have to teach Fox how to be king and not be a brutal monarch. We have to protect him from being like Dimitri and most of all Atticus we need to protect him from his father. As men we didn’t protect Bliss enough we won’t let Dimitri taint that boy or we are no longer humans we are monsters just like Dimitri.”

**********

Mason adjusted his tie and his briefcase as he looked up at Bliss and Hunter’s house they had a case enough of one that Bliss could file for custody of Fox and hopefully keep him on US soil. The problem was that his sister’s case was being stonewalled and that was on him, conflict of interest it seemed in the beatdown he, Jamal, his father and Braden had given Dimitri. A risk that he was certain Braden hadn’t even considered when he had lost his temper and beat th man to a near inch of his life, he knew that Selina was not mad at him though if anything she and Braden had forgiven each other over it. His sister was going to go public with her attack and abuse on her terms even if legally the case was all but frozen at this point. Not to mention the security was on his sister now thanks to the Devonshire’s and his father, she had left Dimitri and was safe that was what mattered. Getting out of the car he walked up the front steps ringing the doorbell and smiled as he saw Bliss on the other side who let him in. He was always grateful that he and Hunter along with Jackson were friends legally they ever needed anything they could count on him this was one of those things. He smiled at Fox playing in the living room as Bliss led him into the kitchen.

“I am sure that Hunter told you I was coming by today. I wanted to discuss the case with you both and the steps we’re going to take going forward.” Mason said looking at her and he could tell that she was unsure almost like she was scared of the outcome, she likely had been burned so many times in the past. Not to mention the abuse that she likely suffered at Dimitri’s hands and she had been through so much that if this went to trial she wanted her to be prepared as well. He was going to be in her corner and it wasn’t the first time that he had to deal with a traumatized witness he had done both when it came to Yasmine and Dani with Jon’s trial hell Dinah too. He reached for her hand to place his and hers with a reassuring smile. “How about you go get Hunter in here and we begin?”

Bliss was dressed for a business meeting at DGI. She was about to begin the process of buying an older luxury brand that wasn’t relevant right now and revitalize it with a hot new designer. Actually she had her eye on one in particular, Val Ruiz. Her collection was hot and new and being at the launch and birth of RePlay it was unique. The clothes were instagram worthy right now and RePlay they had hundreds of thousands replays in the pictures with different music. Rory had a hit on his hand that damn social media platform was starting to take off now that people were beginning to understand it even moreso. Wearing a lilac silk and lace caped Carolina Herrera dress. She looked at Fox in the room playing with his toys. She placed on the Keurig and began to brew a cup of coffee for them all. As she walked to the stairs and called out for Hunter. She walked to the kitchen she sat down at the table as Hunter walked into the kitchen. Bliss breath was taken as she looked at him. He was so handsome and the way he looked at her made her feel alive.

“Yes he told me that you were coming to see us. Later I have a meeting with the owner of Flare Couture. I want to rebrand it into a luxury brand as it was when we were teens. I have to say that if you can help me get my son as a US citizen and finally away from Dimitri I’ll be a happy woman. He is my life and Hunter is my soulmate because I have him I have hope that this will happen. I can’t even eat sometimes thinking Dimitri will take my child from me. My little boy doesn’t deserve that.” Bliss said as she looked at Hunter and walked to him. “What can you tell us about the case? What can you tell us about terminating Dimitri parental rights? I want Fox to be a Kincaid not a prince. I want him to have a normal life.” Bliss said finally understanding what she was asking. “I don’t want him to have anything to do with Ilsa De Cruces.”

Hunter had been on a call with Walter at city hall to finalize a few plans on the casino and then looked out the window when he saw Mason’s car pull up he wanted to know his and Bliss’s options more so her options. He had no legal claim to Fox yet and the key word there was yet, soon he would she was wearing his engagement ring in private for now he didn’t want to upstage one of his best friends weddings. It seemed cruel to that to Jackson with everything they had been through as friends in their life and especially given that Jackson just became a father too. He also knew that Bliss felt the same she and Dani had become friends since she arrived in town and they had agreed for now mum was the word when it came to their engagement. Walking into the kitchen he smiled at Bliss taking her hand and smiling as she served them all coffee and Mason greeted him with a dap that he quickly returned and then glanced over at Fox he was safe in the other room with the TV and toys meaning they could talk freely. He was never one to insult another man in front of his son or daughter but in this case it wasn’t like Dimitri was an actual man, he was a parasite feeding and preying on women.

“Thanks for coming Mase I know this is risky for you to take this case given everything that happened with Selina. Bliss and I talked a lot about this and we want the best for Fox and that includes him living here in the states with us. Dimitri is a monster you and I both know that and normally I’m all for parents rights you also know that. I can’t pretend I’m alright with him with Fox though Mason. He’s a monster and a rapist that needs to be put away and I know legally he slipped through so far with Selina and no one blames her or your family or Braden for that. He has a lot of friends in a lot of high places and it was time someone put him in his place.” Hunter said as he watched Bliss go and get them the coffee and then the creamer and sugar out. He let his comments sit in silence for a but before he spoke again. “So tell us what we’re up against so we can be prepared and hopefully do something about it before he flees the country and gets away with shit again with Fox.”

Mason looked between them they both wanted some sort of resolution to Fox and he wanted to give them ample warning when it came to messing with Dimitri. They would be up against an uphill battle no matter the accusations against Dimitri his record as a father was spotless and he had tried to dig up dirt on it. “So let’s start with the obvious everyone in this room knows what Dimitri is capable of when it comes to the women that enter his life or that he preys on. It’s disgusting there is no other way around that. The DA’s hands are tied at the moment with my sister, there have been no other victims that have come forward even though we are aware there are dozens. You make a public statement on what he did to you it can go one of two ways either he is raked over the coals as a monster or his legal team paints you as the bad guy out to get back at him for not divorcing you. They claim this is your tactic and reach to get Fox.” Mason said seeing Hunter and Bliss glare at him he felt terrible for saying that but it would be what Dimitri would do he waited a moment as he took a sip of his coffee and looked at them again.

“As a father his record is like I said spotless, we have to work hard on proving he is unfit and this where a bigger dilemma comes into play. In a court of laws eyes you abandoned Fox and Dimitri took over as his primary caregiver. I know why you had to be smuggled out fleeing to Egypt and the help of Natasha to begin with and we of course will bring that up to a judge but that is going against you. On the plus side you have put on nothing but a cordial front since he arrived in Atlas Falls and began to let you see Fox again. You have a stable job at DGI and a good support system.” Mason said sucking in his breath and letting it out he then looked at them both again. There was one other thing hanging over them and the case Philip’s shooting and he knew what would happen with that when Dimitri’s lawyers brought it up in a custody case. “The judge will see you are with Hunter and this is where it gets problematic. Dimitri is going to paint this as you broke apart his marriage to Max as a ploy to get Fox. Combined that with you two both being at the scene of Philip’s shooting and there no resolution in that case it looks shady and suspicious at best. I’m not saying any of this I’m not able to tackle I’ll fight my best for you guys and Fox but I want you to both go into this with your eyes wide open.”

Bliss looked at Hunter and turned around rapidly wiping the counter. She began to breathe harder because she understood what he was saying. “In other words you’re saying this case isn’t going to be able to be won. He has a country behind him and I have billions. There has to be something I can do. That’s it.” She said walking out the kitchen and breezing past Fox. “Thumb out your mouth.” Bliss grabbed her Louis Vuitton luggage and started throwing everything she could find inside. Then she grabbed Fox’s luggage and started to pack his belongings. After ten minutes she returned dragging down two large suitcases. “I’m not going to sit around and let him take my damn son from again. So either we three figure this out now or I swear I will vanish. I have enough to be anyone but Bliss and he can turn into anyone. I am telling you both, I love you Hunter but if it comes between me and my damn son. I’ll leave and I’ll hide. I’ll live a simple life in some country but I won’t be separated from him again. I won’t be bullied into being told that I left him. I had no choice! He would have killed me if I didn’t escape. I have figure out a way to make him the bad guy when that’s who he is? No he already is and if I can’t escape legally I’ll do it the other way. He’s gone now, he’s in New York for a few hours. I can leave.” Bliss was shaking as she walked to Hunter. Philip was still haunting them all and it seemed that she couldn’t shake the feeling that Philip’s situation was going to hurt them all.

“I love you so much. I’m sorry but if I have to run I have to go. I have to leave everything I’ve built here. I love you and my family so much but I can’t lose him. He’s the most important thing. I lost him once and I left him because I know he won’t hurt our son. But what I don’t know is.” She said softly. “Will you run with us? Will you go with us because Mason I don’t care! I don’t! I won’t let him be raised a Kavanaugh. Do you know for months Dimitri beat me and Hugo and Atticus turned a blind eye. I don’t want the crown on his head because he isn’t a king. He isn’t a prince you want to know what he is? He’s my son. He’s mine and I gave birth to him from body and I had to leave! I had to run or else that man would have killed me. So tell me what to do? Huh? Do I go get a gun and kill him? I will! I will kill Dimitri for that boy. I’m not scared but what I won’t do is let him take him from again.” She said breathlessly as she fell into Hunter’s arms. “I suffered enough! I sacrificed so much for him. I loved Dimitri and he betrayed me in every way. I shouldn’t have never opened my heart to such a man. I did though but Mason if you don’t know a way to fix this then, I’ll be leaving Atlas Falls. I won’t stay. I won’t stay and watch him strip me of my son when he’s the monster.”

Hunter watched her walk out of the kitchen and to Fox demanding he stop sucking on his thumb and took a breath he was still young enough he didn’t understand and Bliss was just being over protective. He shot a glance at Mason as he watched her head upstairs and he heard the door slamming to the dresser and knew what she was doing trying to run with Fox and he saw Mason’s eyes and knew he couldn’t let her do it. It looked bad to a judge and he was certain that Mason had a plan in motion to help them win the case, objectively he understood why Mason said what he did he wanted them to be aware what they were up against. He saw her return downstairs and stopped her moving her into his office as Mason followed wrapping his arms around her as Mason shut the door behind them as to not frighten Fox. He was certain that Fox had probably seen and heard so much violence and quietness with Bliss that it frightened him, he rubbed Bliss’s back trying to calm her down and then finally spoke.

“No one is letting Dimitri out of the country with Fox. Your own father can tie Dimitri up in court for years with the custody case and with Mason on retainer he would make sure of it that was all Mason was saying. You have to trust me and your family on this. Which I know is hard for you to do given what he did to you and how his family treated you but Bliss they are not the Kavanagh’s.” Hunter said looking at Mason as he felt Bliss slightly calm down and he led her to the couch to sit down so they could talk and listen to what Mason had to say. He saw Mason go to the ottoman and take a seat across from them and held Bliss’s hand in hers. “Tell us what to do.”

Mason had watched Bliss freak out and recognized the behavior for what it was a woman who was battered, raped and abused much like his sister when she first came forward about her abuse with Dimitri. He sat down on the floor with Fox as Bliss went about packing her bags and looked up at Hunter. She was rattled by something they would need to fix before court and he knew people who could help with that. They were going to build an air tight case that Bliss was a good mother that had done what was best for her safety and that of her son at the time. He saw that Fox was hooked back on his toys and the television show at hand and followed Hunter down the hall to stop Bliss from leaving and or scaring her son more than he already had been. They had to be smart about this when the time came for trial. He however hoped it wouldn’t come to this that they could get all the information and ducks in a row to avoid that for Bliss and Fox’s sake. He took a seat across from them and sucked in his breath wanting to wait until Bliss had her wits back about her and waited till he saw she was a bit calmer before he decided to lay out how he was going to beat the great Dimitri Kavanagh.

“You’re staying put here in Atlas Falls you run with Fox and Hunter it is over for you this goes from civil to criminal Bliss but you have to trust me I have a plan. We have witnesses from Egypt Natasha has agreed to testify that you ran and left Fox for your own safety as well as the doctor that examined you when you arrived in Egypt. We paint this differently than how Dimitri does, you came to Atlas Falls to ask your father for help in getting Fox in the process of you rebuilding your life you and Hunter fell in love. Max has already agreed to testify on your behalf that she and Hunter were the downfall of their marriage not you.” He began seeing the shock on both Bliss and Hunter’s face Max may of been a bitch half the time but she was a Devonshire when they rallied they rallied. He shuffled his feet in front of him for a bit debating how to approach the next part of what he was going to suggest. “Next you and Fox are going to start going to therapy for an official hospital diagnosis for PTSD and whatever other shit we can get a handle on you’ll see Kelsey Fraiser, she’s loyal and not going to spill the beans to his legal team and I trust her. Dimitri is going to fuck up and soon Hugo is in town and has already reached out to my firm I of course was going to blow him off until he let me in on a secret he has called a meeting at DGI to help you and Fox. Here’s the last thing that Dimitri probably doesn’t know you and Hunter are a stable couple you can make this entire thing with Philip disappear if it comes up at trial. I have two words for you spousal privilege.” He leaned back looking at them both processing his entire case for them to win and win big.

Bliss held onto Hunter as her body began to shake just the word PTSD made her shiver. Thinking back to the times when Dimitri fist would impale her face or how he’d stomp her viciously. Or when he threw her down the palace stairs just because she was polite to a royal guard. She could go on and on but the physical abuse subsided when Fox was growing inside of her. The mental and verbal abuse never stopped, if she used the wrong spoon at dinner he’d berate her and talk about her breeding. Her mother would visit and they’d snicker or laugh too loud he’d snap about her not being queenly. Rubbing her shoulders she wrapped her hands around herself. She started to gasp thinking about Max helping her with this. She felt her entire stomach dropping as she held onto Hunter. Tears started to fall down her face,she was so tired of all this. It killed her to think about her leaving her baby for a year. The fact that this bastard would try to use this, her fleeing from his abuse to try to keep her baby.

“I…I…I’m sorry Hunter.” She cried as she fell into his arms. “You’ve been the line fire so much since we’ve met. Now I bring child with a demented prince into your life. I should have never fallen in love with you. All this drama you don’t deserve it. My family doesn’t deserve it. I’m so tired of fighting with this man. I want him gone? I’m a billion dollar heiress and I can’t stop him. I can’t.” She exhaled as Mason began to speak and her eyes grew. It felt like her entire body stopped. “Did you tell him?” She said digging out her engagement ring out of her pocket. Slipping it on her finger. “Or are you that good? We’re engaged we just don’t want to steal Jackson and Dani thunder. So we were waiting to announce it. Mason you think I have a chance honestly to get my son? Please tell me the truth.”

Hunter looked at Mason as Bliss told him their news they had been trying to be civil and respectful by keeping it under wraps to their friends and her brother. Not upstage their big day coming up because it felt selfish and wrong to do that to them. When Mason started to lay out the case though for them to get married it made total sense now that he said it. He had wanted to wait and he knew that Bliss did too to a court however the sooner they were married legally he knew that helped the chances of their case. When he saw Mason’s face light up like he was happy for him and Bliss he smiled at him taking Bliss’s hand in his kissing the back of it. “She’s right I proposed a few weeks ago before we really even thought about going for custody of Fox it felt right and we were on good terms with Max. I love both her and Fox. They come as a package and if I can be a good father and role model to Fox that is what I want for him Mason not the chaos that he is used to with Dimitri, he deserves more than that. We were going to wait to start to plan the wedding till after Jackson and Dani got married.” Hunter said looking at Mason as he did wanting to see what he said about the entire thing.

“Congratulations you guys. Seems like everyone is getting married now days first our wild boy Jackson and now you for number two. Who know maybe I’ve finally bagged my man this time with Zach.” Mason said lightly teasing Hunter as he looked at them and then thought over what they were saying when it came to being in a steady relationship. No one in their friends circle wanted to take anything away from Jackson and Dani’s wedding but legally from a legal standpoint the sooner that Hunter and Bliss got married the better it would look to a judge and a court. “All kidding aside I am really happy for you guys. On a more serious note the sooner you two get married the better chance we have when I file the papers later today. You guys don’t even have to upstage Jackson and Dani to do it make is a civil thing have a big ceremony later. All the spotlight is on them at the moment so if you do it quietly it won’t even beep on the radar.” Mason said seeing his phone buzz as he looked at them. “It’s a text from Simon we have to get to DGI. I’ll meet you guys outside and ride with you. This is going to work Bliss, we’ll get Fox. I won’t stop till Fox is with you guys and as far away from Dimitri as possible.”

Bliss walked to Mason and leaned in kissing his cheek. “I can’t imagine you, Hunter, and Jackson together giving all your parents hell. You three are amazing men and I thank you so much Hunter and Mason. You both have stepped up and I think this is going to be over soon. So soon and I will have the most perfect family because of you both.” She looked at Hunter and then Mason when he said they have to go to DGI. “What’s going on?” She got an immediate text message from Atticus to please come to DGI. “Let me go get Fox together and we will find out whatever this is.” She turned to Hunter and walked to him. “I just got a text to please meet him at DGI also. Something is up.” Bliss picked up Fox and walked to Hunter. “We will be alright.” Then she heard Fox say something. “What baby?” She said softly.

“Daddy Hunter.” Fox said slapping Hunter face playfully laughing.

“Yes he’s your daddy.” Bliss said kissing Fox forehead and smiled brightly at Hunter. “Daddy Hunter.”

**********

If you would have told Selina yoga was going to give her comfort she would have laughed. She was a cardio girl and that was it. Now she was breathing in while doing strange positions but it was oddly comforting. When she walked into the locker room she unlocked her locker and pulled out her jacket. As she walked to the cooler and pulled out a water bottle and took a drink. For some reason the anxiety of being in public became overwhelming. It had been happening to her lately when she was out of her home or away from her family she felt like the walls were closing in on her. Selina’s eyes became big as she grabbed her bag on the floor and immediately began to rush out of the gym. Gillian her yoga instructor was saying something but she rushed out of the gym. Walking down the street she looked around wondering if Dimitri’s goons were still following her. They’d been following her the last few weeks and she had even called the police. Devin had got two men away from her property just a few days ago. It was days until Jackson and Dani’s wedding and she feared that Dimitri would try something.

Walking into the gyms private parking garage she clicked on her alarm. She heard footsteps behind her and she pulled out her mace turning around instantly and almost sprayed Eli directly in the face. Her breath was labored as she looked at him and lowered her arm. She exhaled grabbing Eli as she looked at him. “I’m sorry, I thought you were Dimitri’s men who’ve been following me.” She leaned in and touched his arm and looked around. “Can you just walk me to my car? I’m scared of everything right now Eli and I haven’t stopped being scared since I left him. He’s everywhere and I know he wants revenge on me. He’s sadistic and I just want to feel safe. I just want to feel safe again.”

Elliot had been in the neighborhood his condo was a few blocks away and he had spotted Selina inside the gym not in a stalker way or anything but he had agreed to be her attorney with Dimitri. They had filed the restraining order and he had been alarmed the other night when the police had called him to tell him that they had escorted two men out of her building. He had been playing some ball with some guys when he saw her high tail it into the ladies locker room and had left the guys and the game hanging. Normally he wasn’t so sentimental when it came to his clients but he figured with her, he had seen it all first hand when it came to Dimitri and what he could do. He honestly had meant to follow her to follow up with her about her scare the other night when the two men had arrived and they had called the police nothing more or nothing less and when she turned around and almost maced him he totally got why. She had been through alot that he had witnessed first hand when it came to her abuse with Dimitri and the after effects. He still remembered when she had shattered pictures and broken things over Thanksgiving when no one but him was around to see it and he saw so much strength from her in those moments. He had even shared with her his nickname Eli which was odd but he wanted to be more personable with her.

“Hey it’s just me!” Eli said as he looked at her when she reached out to him and clung onto him for dear life he knew the best thing to do in this case was give her comfort as he steadied her against the car and let her grip him. He made sure to be a gentleman about it when it came to comforting her. She was very pretty and gorgeous but he also knew she had been through a lot when it came to men in her life recently when he felt she was calm enough he pulled back. “It’s fine that was part of the reason I wanted to come over and talk to you. When the police called me to tell me they had picked those two up and then you ignored my calls for the week I wanted to make sure you were okay. You ran right out of the gym before I think you heard me call your name and I just wanted to check on you.” Eli said looking at her as he spotted her car making sure she had her bearings as they started to walk and seeing the look on her face. “I live close by and I like the programs the gym has. My sources say he is out of town for the weekend.”

Selina took a deep breath as she heard Dimitri was gone and her entire body seemed to calm. Just knowing he wasn’t in Atlas Falls made her feel safer. As she began to stop shivering she couldn’t help but stare into his brown eyes. He seemed so concerned about her well being which shocked her. Considering how he went after Mason a couple of months ago she didn’t think he’d be her lawyer or confidant. Funny how a little time changed everything. “I came back to Atlas Falls so confident that I was going to burn this town down. With a love that I deserved and I wouldn’t have to deal with anyone. Except my life was covered in gasoline and one match sent me ablaze. Now as a woman I have to question every choice I’ve ever made because now I’m a victim. Except I’m not.” She said shaking her head as she looked at him. “I know he hurt me but I won’t let a man do it again. I won’t let anyone do it again. Braden and I fell apart because I couldn’t see that we were better as a dream. You know? I was inside there and all of the sudden I was in that Opera House in New York City. I just ran hot and my entire body felt violated again. I keep thinking I’m normal and then something happens to make me see I’ll never be that woman again. I’m angrier and I want to make him pay for what he did to me.” Selina looked at him.

“Let me take you to your condo, that’s the least I can do after I almost assaulted you.” She gripped her gym bag as she popped her trunk and threw it inside. “My mom used to tell me all the time new love is easy but old love is fragile. I think I forgot to love myself for a period. I wanted to hurt Chauncey and DGI so badly that I didn’t even see I was throwing away my marriage, my trust with my daughter, and even my family. Then I came back as a fake princess and somehow I lost all the reverence that I was taught in myself. As she got inside of her car she looked over at him. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. You must think I’m a mess or a crazy ass woman. Those men were Dimitri weren’t they? I know and I just need somehow to get him out of this country without Fox. I swear I’m going to do whatever I can to help Bliss. I was so stupid to talk to that woman like that. Sometimes women are women’s worst enemies and I just keep replaying the last few months. I just want to be myself, you know?”

Eli of course was worried about her he wasn’t a complete asshat when it came to women or their plight and he would like to think they were friendly now. Maybe not friends per say but she had hired him as her attorney and he took his responsibility to her case seriously, it was hard enough for women to come forward but a woman like her even harder. “I think you got caught up in the better life that the world had planned out for you or you thought it had planned out, you put blinders on it makes you human. Dimitri fooled you because that is what men like him do. They are masters at manipulation and deception. They thrive on it. Making you promises and isolating you from your family was his motive.” He said looking at her and then stepping back to give her some space when she calmed down, he was still a man and oddly enough he found her to be quite fascinating. Not only was she very gorgeous, she was very bright and intelligent and that intrigued him to no end. When she mentioned revenge he got why she said that it was something that his mother had wanted everyday after her incident. “I feel you. My mom went through that motion too, after my dad walked out. That night with that cop it changed her. But she came up stronger and eventually he got his in the end.” Eli said the most honest thing he could to her and the most real thing he had ever shared with anyone in town outside of her and her brother that day at Jon’s trial.

“I can walk it’s not that big of a deal just a few blocks down on 5th street. Though you’re in the same neighborhood and building and no that is not me stalking you. I saw your brother helping you move in and decided to keep my distance. Plus brother to brother it felt like something Jamal and Mason would want me to do keep an extra eye on you.” Eli said only to decide better when she looked at him again it was just a ride.  One that he was going to make sure that she felt safe on forward and back when it came to getting her home. “Revenge makes things do some crazy shit doesn’t mean that your insane or anything like that. You wanted to hurt the people that hurt you the most those were the men in your life at that time. Now Chauncey I can see why he’s stuck up and a Devonshire. Braden girl he been pulling you for years from what I’ve heard.” Eli said looking at her and then at the car as she unlocked it to let them in. “I won’t lie to you they were men with Isla Del Cruces passports yet denied any involvement into working for Dimitri. Now of course they were held overnight and then I made sure that our dear police force went ahead and put a few more extra patrols on your place. Your cousin agreed they won’t be bothering you again. Are you settling in ok at your place other than that incident?”

“I actually love the condo and it’s a good investment. Even if I buy a house I can rent out my condo you know?” She said turning down 5th street looking at him smiling thinking about Mason and Jamal both thanking Eli for keeping watch on her. Both of them and her father offered to move in with them. She declined because learning herself was more with time she’d find Selina again. Healing was all she wanted from now on because after what Dimitri did to her she just wanted to be free. Free to be a whole person and not anyone else’s expectation of her. “I knew they were his people. Just looking at them but it’s fine they won’t be back and yet I know it isn’t over. He’s a sore loser and he hates that a woman is tarnishing his name. I’m not backing down until that son of a bitch falls on his crown. I think you should know that.” He was smooth as a Hershey chocolate bar and his eyes showed sincerity after all she had been through it was nice to see that. “I refuse to let him be the center of my conversation daily so how about we stop talking about him and discuss something else. Where is the girlfriend at? Or the Ms. Duvall?”

As she pulled into their condo building she pressed the garage code and knew that she might have overstepped her bounds. Was this grown ass man blushing? She almost snickered as she went to the second level of the garage parking her car. As she got out she looked at him seeing the sun rising. “I always make these morning energy smoothie drinks how about you come over and have one if you aren’t too busy. That way I can hear how a obviously fine brother like yourself isn’t taken.” She said opening her garage and pulling out her bag. Looking at Eli she felt his eyes lock in on hers. Selina wasn’t trying to flirt. The last thing she needed was a man. Hell maybe men were why she was always in one crisis after another. She never truly got to be alone. It was Chauncey, Braden, Chauncey again, marrying Braden, leaving Braden and then dating prince dickwad. Maybe taking a breath and finally doing it by herself was what she needed to do. Eli seemed to understand that because most men might have pressed her more right now knowing how vulnerable she was. “They are pretty tasty promise you won’t taste the matcha or kale.”

“Dimitri is one of those weak men in that way want the women around them to be weak probably why he is running scared now and has backed off so much. No to mention based on what we know too many victims in one city can be hard for a serial rapist and sadist. Crown or not.” Eli said looking over at her as she started the car and they pulled out of the garage. He was glad to hear that she had settled into the condo other than the incident when Dimitri’s men of course had tried to come into the building and were promptly met with resistance at the front desk and the police department that came to escort them out. He was honestly quite upset when he hadn’t even got a grill at them but the police department and Selina’s ex had assured him that there was no way to press charges. Entering a building was not a crime and since neither man had admitted to actually having a connection to Dimitri. It was also not illegal for a foreign resident to visit the states, he would be glad when Braden was up for reelection as he fully intended to rake him over the coals and take that spot from him. “You sure ask a lot of questions for someone that wanted to hate me not so long ago.” He said looking at her when they got out of the car.

“I’m divorced actually we realized after a few years that we both wanted different things in the long run. She wanted to practice medicine and as my profile grew with my clients and cases I took it took over our lives. She wasn’t happy that I was so politically motivated to fight for people like us and I in turn thought she should have supported me more and worked less. We mutually split before things got too bad between us. I have a son back in Chicago and share custody of him with her.” Elliot said when they entered her condo and he could tell that she was staring at him strangely he was not complete asshole and he did understand her plight with Maddie when it came to everything she had went through with Chauncey. He followed her into her condo admiring the decorations and style she had the work she put into making it her own. “You act surprised I see him when his school schedule allows for it. We alternate Christmas and Thanksgiving and I get a weekend every month. I also get a month in the summer. Much like you I can remain friends with her for the sake of Ezekiel we call him Zeke. She’s a cardiovascular surgeon who makes good money though the court prefers I still pay child and spousal support.” He finished looking at her as she got the things out for the smoothie and raised his eyebrows at her when she reached for the kale.

Selina listened to him tell his story and she felt her heart swell. It made her feel good to see a man so involved in his child life even when they weren’t right there. She smiled brightly as she looked at him. Ezekiel is a powerful name. It meant God will strengthen and she knew that because of her big momma. Sunday school every week after her mother died. Selina smirked at him because he was looking at the kale as if it was some sort of foreign substance. “Stop you’re going to love it. It revitalizes me every morning you’re going to be knocking at my door saying sista can I get one of those smoothies and I’m going to deny because of that face right there.” She said laughing clapping her hands together. “You know you’re wrong right? My father is a master chef and you don’t trust my skills. You think because I’m bougie I can’t do this huh?” Selina laughed feeling comfortable around him and for the first time she was feeling like herself. “I think that Zeke is lucky to have a father who isn’t going to let the injustices of the world continue to happen and will teach him to be a powerful man.” Selina walked to the juicer and then pulled out the blender. She began to place pineapple, strawberries, peaches, kale, and carrots. She began to juice a lemon as she looked at him smirking. “Just wait.”

“Well I would tell you my romantic history but I’ve been in the tabloids since I was a young age and I’m pretty sure you know all about Dimitri. I didn’t hate you Eli. I hated how you did my brother in that courtroom. You tried to insinuate he wasn’t a black man because of what was given in life. If he was pulled over now do you think they’ll say he’s a rich boy? I was upset a brilliant black man would tear down a triple negative he’s black, gay, and male. Three strikes and if that is offensive and not understandable well as they say you came for my family. So I wasn’t happy and it wasn’t not your best look. I think finding out about Zeke and that you might have more depth than I thought. Well Eli Duvall that’s interesting okay and that’s hard for me to say considering I shouldn’t be thinking about anyone. I mean I should be focusing on me but you have been very kind. I guess it’s funny when you don’t look for it. Here is something unexpected because you are kind and I appreciate it. I don’t know why but if I’m saying this and I’m out of line by saying it, but are you um interested in me?” Selina didn’t know what had come over her. But she was enjoying finding it out. She couldn’t believe she just asked that. “I’m sorry that was far too forward.”

Elliot looked at her as she spoke about the smoothie no doubt her father was self made as he could be other than investing with Lowell which gave the Delacroix’s the money and the fame that came with it. He thought about his own father and shook that thought off, he was not going to let that cloud his day with Selina it was going so good so far. “I think it’s important that Zeke learns about what held us back as a people and how to change it now. Something his mother doesn’t always approve of. I have wealth and yeah I judged Mason pretty hard when I came to town I said somethings that were probably out of line. I sometimes act before I think and say things that are on my mind that shouldn’t be said. I apologize about that to you and your family.” Elliot said watching her juice the concoction together and she doubted herself. “I think you doubt yourself too much sometimes I saw it over Thanksgiving when you told your family what was going on and you unleashed. Even now while you know more about food than I probably do. I have to wonder if it is because of how the system has repressed you over the years or how you’ve been tossed aside by the men claiming they love you.” Elliot finished when the blender stopped. She probably hadn’t even thought about the systematic oppression she had been under at DGI things that were passed over for the Devonshire siblings.

“Sorry that was probably pretty forward too. You worked what over twenty years maybe more at DGI since your college days and yet the Devonshire siblings always got perks you didn’t. You were passed over for Chauncey and Max both times when it came to Lowell and placing you at the company. All I’m saying is that if you wanted why not start your own company you could run it hire brothers and sisters who’ve been in your shoes. It doesn’t make you weak you yourself acknowledge that. You’ve picked yourself up and moved on from everyone that hurt you and you didn’t need the Devonshire’s to do it. As for Braden let’s face it you two were like oil and water they don’t mix. He’s conservative in his views and a little full of himself and his entire family. You’re more liberal.” Elliot said looking at her and the shock on her face as he spoke a good shock he hoped that he hadn’t scared her away. He shifted in his seat as he thought over what she asked of course he liked her. “I do like you and not because you’re a Delacroix or because you have money. I like you because I feel like I can be real around you, but I know right now you need a friend more than a new man in your life.” He said seeing her look at him and then looked at her phone when it rang and his buzzed too.

Selina picked her phone handing him a glass for his smoothie. As she answered she listened to Mason explain that Hugo Kavanaugh, King of Ilsa De Cruces has summoned them to the Devonshire mansion. Her heart immediately dropped and she looked at Eli. “I think the smoothies might have to wait.” She felt her entire body almost going limp. The King was in Atlas Falls and was demanding her presence. She wiped her eyes as she began to breathe deeply in and out. “No the king can wait.” As she finished the smoothies looking up at him. “I’m getting to know another king.” She said smiling nodding her head knowing that this was going to be big. “Can you please take me to the Devonshire mansion?”

**********

Hugo looked around the room of people that his eldest son had hurt and felt his stomach in a knot. How could he look at these people and not stop Dimitri? It killed him because the pressure on his son at one point must have been enormous. How did it turn him into a woman beater who also raped and violated women? He questioned his parenting with his wife so many times. He questioned if letting him get away with small things led to him not being able to comprehend no. The fact that he had violated so many women and he let him just continue on that made him feel less than kingly. He was a weak coward not able to stop his own son. Something that would haunt him seeing Bliss again was vomit inducing. He felt so pathetic as king of one of the most powerful countries in the world he didn’t have the power to just stop him. As he stood up he cleared his throat taking a gulp of water he knew it was time. Staring at Bliss, Hunter, Mason, Selina, some random man named Eli, Chauncey, Natasha, Jackson, Brooke, and Atticus. They all looked so tense but this should be a celebration for them all.

“Today my son is taking on DGI and not only that but me as king. He’s planning on trying to take my crown by blaming Project Cadmus and the rebels on me. I however have been given intel by a reliable source that Dimitri is trying to take my grandson soon also. For years I have watched him hurt people that meant a lot to me. My maid’s daughter, my friends, and eventually a woman who I thought made him better. Two of them because when I was introduced to you Selina I said he finally wants to do better. He finally wants to do better because of what he did to you Bliss. I tried to talk to him but it seemed the more I spoke up for you the more he attacked you. So eventually my shame kept me silent. Something I am not proud of but my grandson who is sleeping in your arms. He needed to be with the parent that is more decent. Not only that but I apologize with all my heart. I was weaker than I ever had been when I came to protect you.” Hugo walked to the head of the table looking at everyone in the room. “Atticus sent me plans on your idea Mr. Devonshire it’s bold and brilliant Jackson and just the thing to change the world’s perception on Isla De Cruces. However you had a leak in your company by the name of Greer Westwood last year. Greer sent many of DGI ideas to Pierre LeClerq who in turn is a founder at where? MontCorp.” As he sat down he looked at them all.

“So Selina you were booted out of a company and I almost lost my entire country behind someone in this room. Chauncey.” Hugo said, looking at the young man. “However I think we all deserve to catch a break. I am willing to make it appear as if Dimitri was behind Cadmus because I know he was behind the rebels taking on my country right now. I have been betrayed by my first born but today I’m asking you all to fly out in my private jet and watch Dimitri Kavanaugh fall on his very sword. I’m disowning him and with that he’ll lose his diplomatic immunity. Thus your case will be a lot easier to try Mason correct? I also will be announcing that my second born will be next in succession until Fox is of age if that’s alright with you Bliss. I’ll take him every summer and teach him with Atticus who will remain in Atlas Falls to watch over him. When I die then Atticus will take over if Fox isn’t of age. What I’m saying is I’m offering you all a front row seat to me destroying my very own son.” A guard brought him a bottle of champagne from Isla De Cruces. He placed it on the table. “Shall we toast to Dimitri’s comeuppance and finally losing everything?”

Bliss looked around the room and her eyes began to burn with tears. “Now you say you’re sorry when he’s this close to snatching your precious crown and my son huh?” Standing up she looked at Mason. “This is why I cancelled my meeting to hear Hugo say he’s sorry?” Turning to Max who was standing in the doorway she passed Fox onto her. “Place him in the nursery and don’t take your eyes off of him sis.” Turning her attention to Hugo and Atticus and finally she felt the need to unleash on them. “You watched for years as my face was beaten, makeup hid my bruises, and you saw him pull my hair out. He dragged me all over that castle and everyone knew! All of you! You sat back and did nothing so tell me Hugo. Tell me why I should trust this grand gesture to my family’s company or to me or Selina! He attacked her! I told you all that he was a monster. I said it over and over again.” Clinching her fist she slammed her hand on the table. “If you don’t destroy him today I swear to God I’ll go to every news channel and report every hit. Every moment that he demeaned me because today I’m done being his victim.”

Selina sat quietly the guns from Project Cadmus had gotten into the rebels of Ilsa De Cruces hands and not only that in some places in the United States. It was a mess and what he was saying was underhanded but Dimitri had done it to himself. What they were about to do was set him up in a way he never saw coming. It was brilliant but when Bliss flipped she felt the girls pain. When she looked up and saw Bliss about to have a breakdown she knew the feeling. Standing up Selina walked to her. “I never told you, how sorry I am. I never said that I was wrong and I never noticed how much pain you are in Bliss. You are beautiful and that boy is amazing. What he is offering us is a chance to watch our devil burn. I will follow your lead if you don’t think this is the best idea then we won’t do it. We will watch this press conference but if you want to fight for your son sweetie. If you want a chance to be free of this man. Then you need to go with Hugo. I just need you to calm down and accept their apology honey. You need to trust that all these people won’t let you down.”

Bliss lips quivered as she looked at Selina. She just began to ball as she almost fell into Hunter’s arms. She felt Jackson and Chauncey holding her up as she looked at her brothers. “I just want Fox.”

Selina walked over and hugged Bliss as Chauncey, Jackson, and Hunter all stepped back. “I know baby and this is the way right Mase?” She said looking at Simon and Mason smiling at her. For the first time she felt like herself for a long period. She was back into corporate mode. This would take some of the fire of DGI with Lowell’s scandal and Jackson would finally get a win. “You are saying that Jackson energy plan for Ilsa De Cruces will be happening this will and could bring millions if not billions of revenue to DGI. I’m in I’ll watch him burn any day.”

Jackson knew Dani was with Whitney which he wasn’t too happy about. He liked Talia, Simon, and Yasmine mostly because they weren’t connected to her ex-fiance by blood. He however had to pull out his phone and text her to tell her what was going on. His plan was about to go in effect thus getting him completely on the board against Rory, Chauncey, and Max. This was a major shakeup and looking at Natasha’s stone hard face he knew it was major. Chauncey had a proud look but it was also jealous twinkle behind it. He saw it and to be honest he’d have the same thing if Chauncey somehow squirmed his way into a lead. “I think that we would love the opportunity to transform Ilsa De Cruces into a clean energy island. I think we all are ready to go to New York and stop your son.”

Chauncey looked over at Hugo as he made his announcement shifting in his seat uncomfortable and he saw most of his siblings do the same. Not because Dimitri didn’t need to be taken down a peg or two or ten and disappear off the face of the earth. They all knew this meant that Jackson would be the clear winner at this point in the CEO race and he resented that to his very being, sure things were better between them not that better. “How convenient for your image at the crown and my brother.” Chauncey managed to mutter getting a few looks from his siblings as he spoke. He of course had gone to Bliss when she was upset and deep down he knew it was the right move for DGI’s long term success but it was bitter Greer was still screwing him over both in his head and at the company. “I suppose we really don’t have a choice now do we Hugo we all have a common enemy we want out of our lives and Atlas Falls.”

“No you don’t Chauncey. I think the pettiness of a battle with each other is over for now when I can bring DGI a win. Considering your father and my old friend Lowell has put your company in such a vulnerable place I suggest you take the offer. It won’t be on the table long, I’m leaving in another forty minutes. This is my offer and this is my plan to stop him.” Hugo said looking at them all. “This deal is a once and lifetime offer and we won’t make it again. You have a few moments before I have to leave to make it to New York. I happen to believe you are smarter than worrying if you will be CEO when you all are dethroning your father right now. Isn’t the win against him more important to show the investors you all can handle DGI? If he loses his seat it would be for a power play like this.” Hugo looked at them and saw they all knew that this was the right move. “I’ll give you a few minutes to make your choice. Atticus, Brooke please come with me. I hear this building has the best view of Atlas Falls, please show me.” Hugo stood as his guards walked him out with Atticus and Brooke.

“What do you think? It gets Selina back in DGI and we stop Dimitri. This is a win for us all and I know you think this would change things but Chauncey if you don’t think we should do it. We won’t, we will stop Dimitri some other way. I don’t want an advantage, I want to protect our sister and nephew.” Jackson said, looking at his brother. “This isn’t about who is CEO Chauncey.” He declared trying to plead with his brother’s business sensibilities. “For once this is about stopping someone who could hurt millions of people and most of all our blood. Fox is a prince and a Devonshire. I have to say in the future he’ll be valued for us all. Bliss is our sister and Selina is the mother of your daughter, she’s raised Maddie. He’s disrespected the Devonshire clan one too many times.”

Chauncey knew he was being strong armed into this deal with Hugo if you could even call it that it was a king demanding of his subjects was the vibe he got. He said no he looked like an asshole to Bliss and the board, he said yes and he felt like a pushover for Jackson which irritated him to no end. He looked at Jackson knowing he had to say yes or Dimitri would never be out of their lives especially Bliss’ and that was the last thing that he wanted to worry about. Bliss and Fox had to come first and if it meant making a deal with the devil that was the current crown ruler of Isla Del Cruces and basically giving Jackson a front runner seat to the CEO position he had too. “Fine we play this your way brother for Bliss and Fox. It looks like we all have a plane to get on perhaps we should all make sure we are packed.” Looking at Natasha he helped her out of her seat walking out the door knowing he just agreed to push himself back and Jackson forward for Bliss and he only hoped when the time came every single one of his siblings remembered that.

**********

Zerick looked up at the TV as he watched the press conference starting to MontCorp up in New York merging with Dimitri Kavanagh and that was something he had refused to attend or support. What Dimitri was accused of doing was exactly what Lowell had done to his mother all those years ago and how many women paid the price for that. He hadn’t talked to Forbes in weeks and wondered if he was still even on his godfather’s side in any of it anymore his entire life had been turned upside down. Instead he had been working with his aunt tirelessly to make sure that she had the best case when it was presented in her divorce and for the first time in his life it wasn’t about him in it. That surprised and shocked him and he wondered if that was him turning soft when it came to his years alone away from his mother, the anger towards the entire Devonshire family as well. He still had no desire for any type of a relationship with his biological father or any of his siblings, minus Rory. He was fine on his own with just his aunt he had been on his own most of his life and the other part was he didn’t trust Tess Blisston or her magical pulled out of the air daughter Belle as far as he could see his own spit from his mouth. He brought his dirty martini up to his lips and took a drink seeing the Devonshire’s on the stage to the side watched the bartender change the channel to some hockey game instead and was annoyed. He took out his phone seeing what social media was saying about the conference when he saw her sit down next to him. Dru Price was not a woman one often wanted to forget about she had something about her an aura if you would.

“Ms. Price fancy seeing you here since you could easily drink where you work. What brings you by?” Zerick said looking at her she could have ordered a drink at the Pub she was after all the led bartender there. Perhaps she however fancied something a little more dramatic and upscale than what the Fraiser’s could offer. He eyed her up and down the beautiful curves of her breasts and her hips playing in his mind, he and Talia were as good as over for now. He hadn’t been with anyone since then and it was useless to try and start something up with Greer, and he was how would you say it lonely for someone to join him in bed again. “So I do see that you aren’t attached to Philip Montgomery’s wheel at the moment. I did see you lurking at the party for Yasmine by his side, just curious as to why you weren’t invited on his little get away to NYC with the rest of his family? Perhaps my godfather likes many things that don’t approve of you or your status?”

“I just had to get out of the bar scene Hotel LaGordia seemed much more a relaxed scene. As for the trip to NYC, Philip said this was a family event. Forbes only wanted his family there for them to see something major.” Pulling out her cellphone. “Philip isn’t my boyfriend, he likes my company and that’s that. I don’t think he could satisfy my appetite right now. You however Mr. Westwood or is Davis? Or Devonshire you have quite the stable of names now. I haven’t spoken to you since your big coming out party as a Devonshire. How does it feel? Do you have all that you want or is it still empty?” Dru said looking at him knowing she was poking a bear. “I mean Lowell Devonshire isn’t claiming you to be his son but unless Maury has been lying to us. Then I hate to tell Mr. Lowell Devonshire has a bouncing sexy bad boy for a son. So tell me Zerick what does it feel like? I have this burning desire inside of me to know. Call it irony.” She said seductively as she ordered a dirty martini.

“My status in life is mine. Do go on and wonder if I’m of pure breeding. It’s annoying that everyone seems to be obsessed with their bloodlines around here. It’s quite interesting to me that your godfather is so involved with Belle she called him godfather too. Makes me wonder if you actually believe all the things your god-daddy says. It’s quite confusing for a man who is independent to believe everything that man says. I mean talking to Philip he’s disturbing and a liar. He literally ruined his elder children’s life for you right? To help raise you but then he has this goddaughter that you have never heard of. Oh that must hurt? I happen to think your breeding is what made you even have a godfather? It hurts to know but that man is playing you. The way he looked at you and Jackie when y’all walked in. He was pissed but you didn’t see that. Did you?” She said taking a sip of the martini which smiled. “That’s good extra dry.”

“I would like to hope that this is more your standard than let’s say that pesky remodeled bar you work in, you seem smart and capable yet you decided to go to work for the Fraiser’s of all people. Why? You could be working at MontCorp if you wanted all I or Philip would have to do is simply put in a good word for you with Forbes. You’d have your own office upstairs a salary that we both know pays more than what you are doing now.” Zerick said looking at her he did find that part of her mystery that she had instead decided to go to work for the Fraisers at the Pub clearly she was capable of more. He liked that she was whitty too that she had a sharp tongue to go with that equally sharp body and he looked at her when he thought about her thoughts on Forbes and how he felt about everything including Lowell and his paternity. “Lowell is delusional from what I understand that might be a complication from his disease which couldn’t have happened to a nicer man. My mother though she has no reason to lie about me and how I was created I want nothing more than to see Lowell suffer the rest of his days soon that will happen when he is dead.”

When she said that she wasn’t Philip’s girlfriend he eyed her up and down he had always hated Philip and the attention that he took from him with Forbes and he was certain that Philip hated him in return. It was all over Philip’s face when they were in the same room together. He wondered now what exactly type of a woman Dru was and he simply slipped the bartender a bill big enough to cover both their drinks plus tip as he looked at her. “This town cares about breeding because most of them are hypocritical and could never look at themselves in the mirror with a straight face take my dear old father for example. I care about my breeding because I want Lowell to look at me for the rest of his life knowing what he did and then to take it to his jury when he’s in the grave.” He said downing his drink as he leaned into her ear smelling her perfume as he did so it was unlike anything he had been around before and surprised him he’d had a lot of beautiful women in his bed over the years. “It is such a shame that Philip can’t see what is in front of him anymore. Then again you are holding our for something better than Montgomery dick?” Zerick said watching her face as he spoke and his finger ran up her bare arm seeing her not pulling away. “Would you like a private tour of the Devonshire mansion we could compare notes after if you want.”

Pulling out the skewer which held three olives out of her martini. Sensually taking a bite of one olive she looked at him and downed the rest of her drink. “Let go.” Placing the skewer back in the glass. Standing up she walked out with him to his car which the valet pulled around. Her mouth almost fucking dropped a new Lamborghni which made her want to scream. She was Brenda and Walter’s daughter and she got pennies. Nothing. The fact that Zerick was riding in a damn car that was more money than she ever saw in her life ate at her. This wasn’t the first time she had to be this doe eyed but this time she stayed lethally calm. Philip made her feel the same thing going through his car collection that he couldn’t even fucking drive. As she got inside of the sliding up door, she sat down. Looking at him, Dru licked her lips as the door closed. When he sped away Dru touched the leather and felt the need to have all of this. It was what she deserved. Taking a deep breath she leaned over as she looked at him. “Oh and you are worried if I’m getting Montgomery dick but you are still hung up on the shoe fetish queen?” Her lips pursed seeing that she hit a nerve. “You love her. You really love that vapid little woman it’s admirable Zerick but people like us don’t get happy endings. We’ve hurt too many people to get them and soon the pain you inflicted will come back around. It’s the law of karma.” Dru said as her hand touched his thick throbbing cock.

“What we do get is to damage others but since we both know we are damaged we can skip the pretending that we care. We can just screw and move on. That’s what I’m good at because love is complex but you’ve found that out.” She said unzipping his pants as his breathing picked up intensely. She released him and saw that he was unsure of what she was about to do. “I’m primal Zerick. I do what I want and I try my damndest to get what I want. Now you may never understand why I’m at The Fraiser Pub but something is underneath all my intentions and motives. Now you don’t have to know them but you will. You’ll understand everything one day. You understand the long game though don’t you Zerick?” Dru lowered her head as she started to gobble up his dick hungry for him to be fucking her. Not only that she needed a release after what Pierre said was ringing in her head. Was she moving too slow? Was she not striking strong enough? Well Jackson’s and Dani’s wedding would be her first move. A wedding to remember. Dru deep throated his entire dick in her mouth slurping and bobbing as Zerick drove faster and possibly more reckless.

Zerick looked at her as he took another sip of his drink as she took the olives out and licked them off the toothpick. He made sure the bill was covered as she sauntered out and he followed intrigued by her, most women would have probably ran for the hills like they should have. He saw her eying the car when it was pulled around and wasn’t sure what he saw in her eyes a yearning or jealousy or maybe a mix of both. He had come into money when he as ready thanks to Forbes and even his own mother over the years and recently his aunt made sure that he was allowed anything he asked for. He should probably reject her generosity as she was angry at Lowell and lashing out but part of him felt like he was owed what he was getting. The relationship with her that he craved, the spoiling and affection after years of none he had to say it was downright liberating in a way.

When he started the car and began the drive back to the Devonshire mansion he listened to her talk and his eyes narrowed as she talked about Talia for him Talia was off limits when it came to how he wanted to talk about his feelings or things. Love was for weaklings he had learned that a long time ago first with his mother and what she went through and then again something he had watched growing up with Forbes and he would take that to his grave with Talia. “Happy endings are for the faint of heart and fairytale believers.” Zerick said looking at her and he almost slammed on his breaks when she reached over and released him from his pants. His eyes got wide and he let out a groan as her wet mouth enveloped him and he was pretty sure his hand smacked the steering wheel a few times as his foot pressed on the gas more. He found his hips riding off the seat into her mouth and felt her teeth graze along his shaft and let out another moan as he turned into the mansion snow flying up on his back wheels as he did so. Everyone else was at DGI for some meeting that he wasn’t invited too and he closed his eyes enjoying what Dru was doing. When he felt himself growing dangerously close he yanked her head back off him crashing his lips on her as he did and pulling her into his lap as he did. “My turn.” He breathed snaking his hand under her panties and inserting two of his fingers inside her already warm and pulsing center.

Dru threw her head back as he began to finger her. It was something about the way Zerick was so dark that drew her to him like a moth to a flame. She was insecure about her life in many different ways. Here she was fucking a mobster, semi-dating a Montgomery, and boning Lowell fucking Devonshire latest illegitimate son. She felt on top of the world and empty all at once. Forcing herself to get back in the mood as his fingers hit her clit. The pleasure waved over her body as her hips rolled against his fingers. As she took his fingers out and licked them leaning in kissing him. No longer caring they were in front of the biggest mansion in the city. No longer caring that she was faking and about to hurt so many people soon. Jackson and Dani’s wedding would be so memorable. She’d go to hell and back to make them all pay and she felt sorry for her first sibling. They were about to get the biggest upheaval. Their entire identity was about to change. She climbed on top of Zerick and straddled him lowering her body on him inch by inch. Exhaling as she leaned down kissing his lips a moan slipped out and it seemed to shiver through his body as he moaned also. It was something primal about what was happening.

Raising her hips up slightly she bounced her ass up and down. She gripped his hair as she looked into his eyes. “Yes.” She said as she felt his hands exploring her hips. Slamming her hips into his pelvis it hurt in the best way. Wrapping her crimson nails around his neck she leaned in as she bounced up and down. She growled as she cried out in pleasure unable to do anything but that because he was hitting her spot. Throwing her head back she shook her red hair. Feeling his hands all over her breast pinching and teasing her nipples. Squeezing down as she felt him digging deeper inside of her channel. Dru couldn’t breathe because he felt so deep inside her. “Zerick yes! Yes right there.” She choked him harder as she felt herself nearing an orgasm. She was going to spend the night and tonight they’d fuck all night because he was beyond a good lover.

Zerick was having his fun watching her snake her hips up and down on his fingers as she moved and he couldn’t help it but bite his lip at how turned on he was at it. He hadn’t been with anyone but Talia in a while and he had needs and maybe this was his way of releasing what he needed at the moment. All the months of being ignored by Lowell while his siblings doubted him, to having his aunt on his side suddenly and all the emotions he felt about everything he needed this a good fuck or two or three to get him by and it seemed like Dru was the perfect partner for that. He continued to watch her and then saw her freeze for a moment and wondered if they should continue or not, he dismissed it the moment that she came back into the moment and lowered herself onto him and he let out a moan at the action as she clenched around him and he slammed his hand on the steering wheel at the action.

“Jesus Dru.” He managed to get out when she started to stroke him and move over him and he sucked in a breath at the action she felt so good. His hands were eagerly on her hips driving her into a frenzy of moans and cries, he moved his hand up her dress lowering the shoulder to expose her lace bra as he did so. Leaning in he kissed her nipples through the fabric feeling her tighten and moan at the action and then bit softly feeling her nipple going hard. He looked up at her face and smirked before repeating the action to the other one as he caressed her flesh through the fabric. He went with her tempo happy to oblige in pleasing her body and not being pleasant about it. That was not what this was, this was simply a way for them to both get off on each other. Talia had moved on for her own good, he was not going to risk her being a target of Forbes or Philip when it came to his past, present or future and he would live with that. He felt Dru clamping around his shaft and couldn’t help the moan that came out as he gave in to his pleasure and desire spilling his seed inside of her and feeling her in turn flow down his shaft like a river, letting out a primal growl he bit down hard on her nipple that was in his mouth for good measure before pulling back pumping inside of her making sure she felt the rest of his orgasm. “Keep going.” He managed to get out seeing her face and the waves overcoming her again.

Dru moaned and cried out in pleasure as she kept riding his dick feeling more waves of pleasure motioning over her body. Leaning in she kissed him deeply as she got off of him she didn’t want to stop mounting the stallion. “I need a shower and I think we can do that again and again all night.” She said smiling biting her lip. As they got out of the car she began to adjust her dress and looked as they walked up the stairs. Taking Zerick’s hand she smirked laughing slightly tipsy. For some reason Dru felt alive and more powerful because she was fucking a Devonshire now. First a Montgomery now a Devonshire and whenever the fuck she wanted a mobster. Ronan loved her body and poor Brooke. Walking into the mansion she gasped looking  around. “Holy shit.” She looked around and knew she was in one of America’s richest families home.

“You really do fucking live here? This is unreal nobody lives like this.” Dru said looking around. “Momma used to read the tabloids and I’d see this place in Home & Garden. I used to see this place and dream about being in a place like this. My family never got out of a trailer and here I am now fucking a Devonshire. If you don’t mind I asked for a shower and more of that rich boy dick.” She walked up and kissed him again feeling free to be her wild self. “Come on show me your room rich boy.” Dru said playfully.

Zerick had watched her as she came and then adjusted himself accordingly as they got out of the car and headed into the estate. He liked her company well enough for the rest of the evening and he had to look over at her as he escorted her to what the staff considered rooms barely their own and then to his guest suite which was as far away from his other siblings as possible. Or at least the ones that still lived at home which at the moment were Chauncey and Max. His other siblings had their own houses but still had rooms made up for them should they care to come stay overnight. He saw her taking in the room. “You can shower if you’d like freshen up.” He said looking at her as he saw his phone ring and he looked at the number clutching it to his chest. “I have to take this.” He finished walking out of the room and to a private study that Jackie had arranged for him.

Dru walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower and gasped. It was all gold her eyes bucked as she stepped in the shower. A sly grin spreading on her face this is what she was due and she was going to stop at nothing to make them all pay for what they had done to her. From the bottom up it would be her in a gold shower looking at them in the destruction on her rise.

**********

The flash of the camera lights in the room flickered as he stood at the podium his children all sitting behind him. He smiled as he looked around the room filled with people who would report MontCorp’s first win over DGI. Soon with Zerick and Tess aid he’d have DGI and finally be able to topple Lowell. The smell of blood was in the air because Dimitri was about to slit his own father’s throat to gain control over that repugnant country. He could care less but digging his claws into Jackson and that smug little twit Dani. Forbes cleared his throat grabbing a glass of water he took a sip feeling the energy in the room shift. As the lights dimmed. It was time to announce MontCorp’s plan. “I first want to thank the associate press for being here at this monumental moment in MontCorp history. We together will be funding a cleaning-up-communities project in not just America but Isla De Cruces. We will also be expanding the program that my daughter Yasmine Montgomery created. Where we build community centers with her program all over the world.” He saw the shock on her face when he called her a Montgomery. That’s what she was and her good will program made MontCorp look amazing in the press. “Today we partner with Prince Dimitri Kavanaugh who will also make a major announcement today.” Forbes looked around and smiled at the audience seeing their amazement.

“Imagine a community with sustainable energy and peace. This community will be taught survival and be deprogrammed from the violence they’ve been systematically taught.” Forbes said looking around. “Can you imagine an island paradise running on the sun and that’s what MontCorp energy division is offering this island. We will lay out  a five year plan to transform not just Ilsa De Cruces but also in MontCorp home base community of Atlas Falls but a small community called Scottswood.” There it was Yasmine this is why you were so vital to become a Devonshire. Your perfect image that has been cultivated by your activism against the life you had to lead. He should have protected you but right now every second on that pole was worth what she was offering him right now. Using her charity and community centers well it would be the perfect way to expand his reach as a philanthropist. Call it calculated but Yasmine had to know she was here for a reason. A reason much bigger than genetics.

Philip looked at Yasmine’s shocked face and there it was ladies and gentlemen. That was what he was looking for from the moment it was announced she was his daughter. The disappointment was all over her face. She had been played royally but that was what he and Cassie warned her of. Her charity and the money he funneled into her community center was for a bigger means to his end. For some reason he touched Yasmine back and felt her almost buckle. Shaking his head as he looked at Cassie as if this was a moment to be proud of. This man had the gall to call himself their father. It was disgusting. Forbes was sinister and often times he wondered if he got off on being this way to his very own children. Looking at Tamara he saw she was disgusted with Forbes as they all looked at Dimitri walking to the podium to lie on Hugo. This was a shit show and they were all front row. Philip looked over at Tamara as she handed Dimitri his memo cards. He nodded his head over to get her to him. When she leaned down he whispered in her ear. “Stay back from him I know father has you helping them but stay back.”

“I know. He gives me the creeps. It’s like he knows personal things about me and my family. He asks me questions about Dylan’s injury and his choir show for Christmas. I just want to get home to Atlas Falls and away from this man and all of this. If everyone finds out that this is Jackson’s plan and Greer gave it to them.” Tamara said hating this. Her job was paying for the expensive tuition at Atlas Falls Prep but she didn’t want to be doing this anymore. In fact she wanted to return to the hospital. Not as a nurse but in medical records. “I promise though boss.” She liked Philip and she enjoyed Yasmine and Cassie they weren’t bad but Forbes was evil. She sensed it and it was all over his aura. Tamara was always about feelings and she always got bad vibes around him and Dimitri. Stepping back she saw Dimitri ready to speak.

Dimitri looked over at Forbes and the shock on Yasmine’s face stupid girl had really thought she was invited as his daughter that the affection he was giving her was for her precious Scottswood? He had to hand it to Forbes that was one way to swing the hammer and let his own daughter know she was in the pit with snakes and she’d have to learn to either get with the pit or crawl out on top it was up to her. He cast a glance at Philip being all protective it was cute if he hadn’t of allowed his own sister to strip on a pole for him for years. Cassie was looking at him and she was the one he could never read, she had her phone out no doubt recording the event so she could run it on the news outlets later and then his eyes landed on her. Tamara looking at him like was some monster and he had to remind himself to remain calm about that, she would know the truth soon enough. She would want him, want to run away with him to Isla Del Cruces as his queen and she’d be begging for another round or two or three by the time he was done with her tonight. He looked at the notes on his card and smiled at the reporters before leaning into the microphone. “Thank you Forbes. Today I am here to announce that sources close to my self and opposite of the current regime of Isla Del Cruces.” He stopped when the doors to the conference room opened and he stood shocked as his father stepped forward with his brother in tow. Along with the Devonshire brats. “Father?”

“Hello, Dimitri.” Hugo said as he looked at his son. “I want to thank you all for being here today and also Yasmine Kohl it is? I would love for your community-clean-up program to come to Ilsa De Cruces. I however will decline any partnership with MontCorp due to us already signing a lucrative deal with DGI.” He said stepping forward as the camera started to flash and the reporters whispers filled the room. “Today is a monumental day in the history of Ilsa De Cruces. My kingdom is about to do something it’s never done. Today I am about to strip my eldest son of his title on the world’s stage. Over a week ago intel came across my desk that informed me that Dimitri Kavanaugh, my first born son, was the one who gave the weapons of Project Cadmus to rebels in Ilsa De Cruces. Not only that it’s possible the weapons that got in Cape Kentrich were from Dimitri’s shipment and sold illegally. This would tarnish the crown and completely destroy me because my very own son brought such chaos and inhumanity to my kingdom? These terrorists were animals that raped and destroyed many villages on the island. For this I find you unworthy to carry the title of prince of our glorious home. For this I find you no longer my son. Forbes I apologize but you won’t be heading up the energy division the new crowned prince and regent Atticus Kavanaugh has signed a deal with Jackson Devonshire to turn Ilsa De Cruces into the first ever clean energy paradise.” The crowd erupted in applause and shock as the reporters screamed questions watching Jackson, and Chauncey walking out. His smile emerged harder.

“I also have to apologize to the women of my home country and the world. I have funded my son’s insatiable appetite for destruction by making him a prince and keeping him protected with diplomatic immunity. I have heard the stories and I stand with you all. I stand with you and today I stand with a woman I couldn’t protect in my own kingdom. My ex-daughter-in-law and ex-princess of Ilsa De Cruces, Bliss Devonshire. I apologize for letting my son continuously abuse you and subject my grandchild to the monstrosities of his very own actions. I will not allow a woman beater to be king of our great land.” Hugo declared as he turned to Bliss walking out with Fox.

Cassie saw the look of horror and upset on her father’s face as Huge pretty much came in and ruined his entire plan and made MontCorp look inept at their jobs. It was quite the show and she was here for it if it sold papers and pushed her media and seeing her father stewing and knocked down a peg was quite satisfying. Her phone buzzed and she glanced down at the text from Miranda was the girl getting cold feet suddenly? She looked at her engagement ring from Jon it was all going her way and that was how she wanted it. She would have Jon, Miles would stay with the Hessington’s and Skye would be left alone in a ditch.

Dimitri looked at his father as he spoke into the microphone and then saw as the crowd quickly turned to look at his baby brother and he was shook how did he miss this? How did his men miss this when it came to his father’s whereabouts and the crown? Had his network of advisors and spies switched sides to his father and his brother. He knew his father had the power to do what he wanted as far as succession goes but never did he actually think he would do it. He let the words disowned hit him hard finally as the media turned exclusively to the Devonshire brothers with questions and then Bliss walked out parading Fox around with her as his father painted him as a monster to the media. “She’s a liar father you know that.” Dimitri growled looking at Hugo as he saw the press swarm Bliss and start to ask her about his father’s claims.

“Lies, Dimitri. You are a liar and I am willing to testify to the abuse that not only Bliss but many other women. I have spoken to them. The things you have done under the guise of the crown I can not forgive or let continue because of some misguided love I feel. You aren’t my son and haven’t been for years. You are a disgrace to your legacy Dimitri Stephano Lorenzo James you are no longer a prince. You are no longer my son. You are fodder and chatter for the media and the people to tear apart you dirt you’ve done in the name of Isla De Cruces is absolutely deplorable. No more and as for your betrayal if you set foot in my country I’ll have you tried under war-crimes for what you unleashed with those terrorists that call themselves rebels. You are forbidden from ever setting foot on my island as long as I breathe you shall never return. You are banished, disowned, and forgotten. Your son Fox will carry this legacy but Atticus is now the prince and will be next in line in a year. When I give him the crown.” The crowd hushed in a wave of shock. “In less than a year Atticus Kavanaugh will be king of Ilsa De Cruces.”

Brooke looked at Atticus’s face and knew he didn’t know this. He understood he was holding Fox spot basically as the king until he was older. They both presumed they’d have more time. He was saying that he was giving up the crown and that meant that she was no longer a princess she’d be Queen. Her heart skipped a beat just thinking of that. The way things were changing and the way she was feeling. Brooke leaned into Atticus ear. “All hail the king.” She said seductively smiling at the public.

Atticus watched the exchange between his father and brother he was still reeling from the crowning ceremony that his father had done in hotel room before they went to DGI. While not official per say it was as official as it could get to legally make him the heir apparent with the country. Of course there would be an official ceremony as soon as they could back on the island at home and he stared at Dimtiri who looked finally like he was going to snap. That he was finally going atone for everything he had done over the years. He stood shocked as he watched it unfold and he could hold his head high with pride and say this was the day that the crown lived up to his expectations. This was the moment that his people and the people around the world would remember his father for. They would remember him for being just and doing the right thing even when it was above his status and nature to do so. He heard what Brooke had said and simply nodded at her and waved his hand the security team coming forward. “Remove him from this building immediately.” Atticus said casting a final glance at Dimitri before returning to the press and media seeing the Montgomery’s starting to slink out too he knew that this was going to be what happened from now forward. His brother had no diplomatic immunity now the next woman he decided to go after if he hadn’t learned his lesson would be able to put him away for good.

Dimitri stared at his father and nearly lunged for him only for the security at the hotel to hold him back did his father not see what he was doing? He was throwing away him and Fox for Atticus and the American bitch he was going to marry. Displacing him from the crown when it was his birthright. He began to pull from the security only for his baby brother to look at him with so much contempt and then the new mouth of the crown spoke and he growled. “No! This is not over you hear me father! Don’t you dare turn your back on me Atticus when you’ve done your fair share of dirt just as much. When your American whore is off chasing the mob, yet I’m the bad guy! You’re both cowards and you have not seen the last of me. Was the ceremony performed in a chapel with a priest? Or is tradition something you both just like to use for your own whim!” He shouted looking up at the once trusted members of his secrets as they drug him to the back door he looked at Bliss with so much hate as he did. “I’ll never let you or Hunter have Fox. I’m still his father and no matter what pretty fucking bow you want to put over it that is always going to be true you whore.” He heard the crowd gasp not sure if it was for him or Bliss and he didn’t care he continued to rant and rave not sure if anyone was listening as the team escorted him out of the conference room and he watched as the doors closed on him.

**********

Dani had spent the rest of the day with Whitney and their kids this is what she always thought would happen between them only back then it was with Lex so it was different but in a good way she thought. She was going to marry Jackson, she loved Jackson he was her soulmate that didn’t mean that she and Whitney couldn’t raise their kids together especially seeing how close in age they were Miles was only a few years older than the twins and Morgan was only a few months older. She was still thinking about what Whitney had told her when they had left Renards and decided to take the kids to the aquarium. She then spent the next hour and a half there. Weighing her choices to the point where she was still torn only when Ryan arrived that all changed. Sure it was awkward for Ryan and Whitney around each other given what Whitney had told her but she had watched. They were amazing parents and that wasn’t something that was just biological to her. He helped with both Miles and Morgan despite how they both felt about each other and it reminded her of how Jackson and she were with the twins right now. They didn’t have the problems between them that Ryan and Whitney did but before the twins were born they had agreed they had to put them first.

Did that all have to change for Ryan and Whitney due to Skye’s lies and manipulations she assumed that Whitney had told Ryan the truth about who Jon was. When Miles had asked for ice cream in the middle of winter she had to smile he was so Whitney’s kid and they walked down the street to the ice cream shop. Inside she had ordered herself some caramel praline ice cream watched as Whitney ordered something for herself and Miles and then sat down in one of the booths. She had been thinking over what Whitney had asked her earlier and she had come to a decision it was not her place to tell Jon about Miles. She had no right too that was on Skye and she was not going to break apart Whitney’s family and life with Ryan to do that. She of course felt bad for Jon, he was a good person he hadn’t got a say but looking back he was not in a good place to raise a baby with Skye of all people. “I’ve been thinking about what you asked me earlier. I’m going to text Merci to rearrange the seating chart for the wedding Miranda of course will be at our table but maybe we can move the rest of the Harrison’s to the back. What do you think?” Dani said looking at her this was her way of picking a side and seeing how happy Miles was with two parents that loved and adored him had sealed it for her, he didn’t deserve to be ripped away from them.

“I think that would be for the best.” Scooping into Miles cotton-candy flavored ice cream giggling when he pulled his small cup to him. “Give some to Donovan and JJ they look pissed.” She said smiling at the twins. “I still don’t forgive you for giving the stripper my place as their Godmother. Thank-you Dani because Ryan and I know for a fact that he’s ours. He’s our blessing at the end of the day and I think.” She looked back at Ryan who was walking in with Morgan in his arms. “I love that man and sometimes I get so mad at what I’ve been up to. I am mad at myself for cheating.” She said whispering to Dani. “I feel like I shouldn’t be guilty after what he put me through but I am. I love him and I am stupid for doing this. It’s risky and I am trying to stop it for the kids.” Wiping her eyes she looked up at Ryan ordering ice cream for Morgan and himself. Reaching over she looked at Dani. “I thought we’d be sisters right now. I just knew these two would be my nieces and nephews. He misses you and I know you don’t care but Lex does. He messed up and I think losing you will forever haunt him. You helped him grow up some Dani and I thank you for that.” She exhaled as she looked up and saw a familiar face that she had been avoiding since Miles DNA test. She didn’t want to see Miranda or Jon Harrison.

Looking around she noticed the little moppet Quinn was on her uncle’s shoulders and she melted. Turning swiftly to look away at Ryan whose face held a similar pain and shock. They were in Atlas Falls this was going to happen but so soon. So fast? It felt like a cruel cosmic joke somehow out of all places here was Jon, and Miranda. “Hey you’re almost done with your ice cream how about you go to daddy and tell him I said one more scoop won’t hurt you?” She placed him down and Miles went running to Ryan. As she watched Jon and Miranda approaching them.

Jon, Miranda, Quinn and KC were out ice-skating at the Rhodes cabin when Quinn requested frozen hot chocolates which he hated. What was the purpose of freezing hot chocolate? It seemed like some sick twisted joke. Cassie was with her family so he did the same today with a day off from work. It was peaceful to be just with Quinn and Miranda no police work. Even KC hadn’t murmured a peep about getting Ronan today. It was really about family. He hadn’t seen Dani since before she gave birth and she’d been so busy planning a wedding that he understood. He however couldn’t help but feel a little pushed out of her life. She was a mother now and he didn’t get a chance to see that. Even though he had those feelings a long time ago for her that didn’t mean he’d ever cross a line. Plus he was in love with Cassie now and it was so real with her. He just knew Dani wasn’t for him anymore and he just wanted her to know he loved those twins as much as he loved her. Walking up he wrapped his arm around his sister.

“Hello little ones.” He said stooping down ignoring Dani completely. “I’m Jon Harrison and I was one of your mother’s best friends. She however is living in a huge house now and ignores us small people.” He looked up at Dani smiling brightly. When Donovan grabbed his thumb he smiled at the little boy. “Damnit Dani he looks just like Jackson and she does too hello Jolene. Motherhood looks stunning on you just like I always knew.” He kissed her forehead and then walked over to kiss Whitney cheek. “It’s been a long time Ms. Hessington-Walker how have you been? Also motherhood looks great on you a new baby and Miles right that’s his name?” He looked at Ryan who looked at him with sadness or pity he wasn’t quite sure. Letting Quinn off his shoulders he pulled out a fifty and told her to go get there frozen hot chocolate. “So last minute wedding plans? I have to say Miranda was pretty jealous she wasn’t the maid of honor. What’s going on? We are in the Willy Wonka of ice cream and you guys seem tense don’t tell me a dress hasn’t arrived?” Jon teased playfully.

Miranda had agreed to hot chocolate after a day of ice skating so it was only natural that they all stopped in and got hers and Quinn’s favorite treat on the way home. Once she stepped inside though she almost froze in shock she knew it was going to happen but this was a huge reality check for her. Dani sitting with the twins, Whitney and Ryan with her biological nephew in their arms and their little girl. She had been slightly hurt when Dani had picked Whitney as maid of honor that was something she had let Dani know but she also knew that Dani had her reasons. She was closer to Whitney than she was her or Talia and she couldn’t fault her for that they grew up after high school and Dani had immersed herself in the Hessington’s both in college and afterward. Seeing Miles though pained her and she tried her best to smile at the group wondering if Dani had any idea. The silence was strangely eerie for a moment before she heard Dani break the ice for them all.

“I will have you know Jon Harrison that according to my mother Jolene looks exactly like I did as a baby. Donovan however is a carbon copy of his daddy. Just last minute dress fittings and a tux check for the ring bearer.” Dani said looking at Jon and she was hit with an overwhelming amount of guilt. His son was literally feet away from him and she watched as Ryan made sure to swipe him up. She had to remind herself that neither Skye or Jon had been in the right frame of mind let alone state to actually raise a child together. Skye was the one to blame for this entire fucking mess not Whitney or Ryan their only fault heaven forbid was wanting a child. She saw Miranda staring off into space and wondered if something was wrong, if she was still mad she had picked Whitney as her maid of honor. She knew it would cause ripples even Jackson had objected but she had stood her ground. Out of all her girlfriends Whitney was the only one who knew everything about her, saw her at her best and her absolute worst when she worked for Charles. “I think Quinn’s dress will be great too Val said she’d have it done later today. You’re still bringing Cassie right?”

“Quinn as flower girl is amazing because my niece is amazing. I’m just wondering if little Miles over there as ring boy is going to be any good he looks like he’s about to throw a fit.” Jon laughed as Miles wiggled out of Ryan’s arms and started to play with Quinn. He looked at Whitney whose face had regained the color. “So tell me Whitney how long is the visit? I think you and Ryan can come over with Jackson and Dani one night before the wedding with Cassie? We can all play cards. Maybe Miranda would come with her friend.” He said knowing that just showing KC was jarring to people who didn’t know. “It could be a board games and wine something simple but fun.” He saw Miles helping Quinn bring over the frozen hot chocolates. As he looked up at Dani. “Jolene looks like you and she stunning you know that. Miranda I think you’ve been booted but I don’t know I think since we have all been raised together it doesn’t matter. Dani I’m happy for you and Jackson. I didn’t know but the guy has been standing up. Lauren is bragging about him all over the city.” Jon said looking at them all. “And who is to say Cassie and I won’t be having some kids? I mean it could happen nah I’m never having a kid. She’s too ambitious.” Jon laughed looking at them all.

Whitney laughed looking at him. “Ew you really like a Montgomery they are crude but out of all of them Cassie is most acceptable.” She teased back as she felt her heart dropping looking at Miles walking carefully as she noticed his shoelaces were untied. It was as if in slow motions her baby fell on cue. She was behind Dani and the twins Whitney was unable to get out fast enough. With Ryan holding Morgan she looked up at Jon immediately going to Miles and helping him up and comforting him because he wasn’t hurt. He was upset he dropped the drink. Hearing him cry and Ryan unable to just get to him because he had Morgan. “Miles mommy is coming.” She saw Dani getting up to trying to move so she could get to Miles.

“I got it Whitney. It’s no problem little guy you were super tough for taking that fall. So I’m going to tell you something we need guys like you on our side. I’m a police officer and I want to tell you that Miles you are what we might need to fight off all the bad guys. So spilling a drink isn’t big you are strong okay.” Jon dug into his pocket and pulled out a small pin with a policeman on it. “I was thinking that as long as you have this you’ll remember how tough you are and kid you are an honorary policeman. Show that to any cop and you’ll always get sent to me and they will know you are one of us.” Miles hugged him and all Jon felt was a rush of joy. He couldn’t wait to have a son and this was what they’d do. He knew it. “Hey your mommy is worried about you so you have to prove you are alright why don’t you go over there officer?” He looked up at a smiling Ryan and nodded at him. Turning around Miranda looked almost teary eyed and he wasn’t sure what was going on. It was the weirdest energy between them all. This was the first time Dani seemed off also. It was as if she wasn’t being herself but she was busy so he’d take it that was why she was acting so weird.

Whitney was holding Miles in her arms. She just held him and she saw Miranda looking at her brother. The look of pity and pain was clear. What did Miranda know? Did she know something? It was impossible she couldn’t know but she swore the ways she was looking. Was the way she was feeling on the inside but Miles was her son and she felt sorry for Jon but she wasn’t going to lose him. That was for sure and she vowed to destroy anyone who came after her family. Looking at Ryan she smiled and looked at him. “Officer Miles Walker.” She kissed his forehead.

Ryan was shook that was the best way to describe how he was feeling when she saw Jon pick up his son and hold him. He was Miles’s father not Jon and the reality was that was a choice that Skye made for all of them a long time ago. He wanted nothing more back then to fix his marriage with Whitney so adopting a baby a few days after they were married was his way of apologizing and wanting to be the man he could. He didn’t care how he did it at the time and he still didn’t. Lex had drawn everything up and it was legally binding, state laws being what they were Skye could surrender the child without Jon knowing. Jon ever found out he could pursue custody but he trusted Lex and Charles to make sure the judge saw things their way, they were MIies family and parents. “Actually we’re in town for a while after the wedding moving actually here. We’re looking at a place at the moment, Lex too. Also Connor is here and I want Miles to grow up around his entire family.” Ryan said pulling Whitney, Morgan and Miles to him.

Miranda couldn’t take it anymore as she looked at her brother and Miles and then for a moment she felt pity for Whitney and Ryan too. She looked at her nephew and at her daughter playing and before she could get them all out Jon had picked up Miles from his fall. She knew that she wasn’t going to compose herself much longer if she stayed inside watching this unfold. She was pretty sure the color had almost drained from her face when Ryan mentioned they were moving to Atlas Falls. Her phone buzzed and she almost jolted and she looked at who it was from a nice reprieve. “Jon we really should be going we’re gonna be late for dinner with mom and dad.” Miranda said never had she been so relieved from a text from KC in her entire life. Quinn looked up at her before giving Dani a hug and she gently tugged Jon outside. Casting a glance back through the window at Whitney and Ryan as she did.

Dani looked at them all leave and then back at Whitney and Ryan not even sure how long this secret would stay under wraps when it came to her very own wedding. It still wasn’t her secret to tell and she looked at Ryan and Whitney before she chose her next words carefully. “I’m not going to tell him that’s not my place. He’s my friend but you guys are his parents. My advice would be to make sure Skye doesn’t open her mouth to him either make her sign some non disclosure shit or something. Have Lex check the paperwork to make sure it’s ironclad.” She said looking at Whitney’s eyes filling with tears and gratitude. “If you need me to help let me know I’d even work with your brother on it to make sure Miles stays with you.” She finished not sure if Jackson would accept her deal with them or not but Miles was like family to her, Whitney was like a sister to her and she’d do anything for either of them.

**********

Aspen couldn’t believe her father was forcing her to do this every week with him. She had to though because being cut off right now wasn’t an option. Her mother had already done that and the last thing she needed was her father doing the same. Aspen’s hair was pulled up into a  She looked down at her black leather pleated skirt and winter white and black Chanel sweater. Aspen paired it with stark white stockings with Chanel knee length socks over the stockings. Pulling her hair into a loose fishtail ponytail with a black and white diamond headband early Christmas gift.  Aspen finished her look with a pair of red ankle Louboutin boots. As she unlocked her childhood home she smiled brightly the smell of her dad’s butter chicken raptured her nose. Oh he was serious he wanted to have a conversation and wanted to make it special. When he was one of the most famous authors in the world he got taught this recipe by Wolfgang Puck. Something she had heard once too often. As Aspen removed her leather jacket she smiled walking into the kitchen. The soothing voice of Chris Martin echoed through the house. “Alexa play Doja Cat.” The mood quickly shifted scaring the hell out of her dad due to Doja’s animated vocals blasting through the speakers. She laughed as she walked up to him and hugged him tightly. “Daddy this is Doja one of my favorite new artists and I think you’ll love her. Omg you made butter chicken which means we are in for a big talk.”

She sat on the counter looking at a picture of Cassie, her mother, and Audrey. “They are so beautiful. I used to be so jealous, here I was this chunky girl who didn’t look a damn thing like them. They were supermodels oh God Cassie was so stunning when she was younger. I can still remember looking at aunt Audrey she looked like a model. She was a stunning woman and mom was like something out of a magazine. I don’t look anything like them.” She laughed looking at her dad. “Maybe I get your looks from your side. Red hair is so unique you know? Did your mom or dad have it? You never talk about it.” She grabbed a pepper for the salad and bit it. As Doja Cat echoed in the speakers. “Dad you never talk about your family, it’s all about mom’s family.” Walking to the pot she opened the lid and took a deep inhale of the chicken. “It smells amazing and I wish I could have these conversations with mom. It’s like she hates me sometimes dad.”

Randall had been cooking trying to follow along a recipe in anticipation of his dinner with Aspen he wanted her to feel safe and after everything that happened with them all lately he felt Aspen needed that. Blythe had laid off for a bit but he knew that often at times she put so much expectation on Aspen that it could drown their daughter. They had also fought recently over telling Aspen the truth about herself and he agreed to keep silent for Blythe’s sake they agreed to do it together. It was only a matter of time before Aspen started to ask more questions like she was now and unfortunately he had no answers for who her real parents were. They were dead that was all he knew and Forbes had arranged for the adoption something that he and Blythe were eternally grateful for. He had always been able to explain away Aspen’s red hair thanks to Cassie, Audrey and Blythe. The eyes were a little different but still explainable the women on both sides had always been slender and part of Aspen’s weight fears growing up was not from either side.

“You’re beautiful too Aspen never forget that. But yes I did want to talk to you and I know butter chicken is your favorite. My parents have been gone a long time Aspen they died long before we got you and sadly shortly after I married your mother.” Randall said as he tasted the sauce one more time and then looked at her with a smile on his face a few more minutes and it would be done. He walked to the cabinet and took down the bowls and grabbed a two wine glasses to set the table. He knew that he wanted to talk to her about a few things mainly how she and Rory were after the events at the party he was not one to mince his words on this and then he wanted to tell her that things were getting more serious between him and Lauren. “You have features from my side too brown eyes being a huge one. The red hair is obviously from your mother’s side. I asked you to come over because I wanted to ask you about you and Rory. I read the papers after Yasmine’s party and if he is cheating on you that simply is not acceptable. Nor is it something your mother and I will tolerate. You deserve the absolute best and if that is not Rory then so be it.”

Aspen rolled her eyes at her father being overprotective over her. She knew that he’d be concerned about Rory possibly cheating on her. Swirling her wine glass she took a sip of the red wine and smiled at her father. “That’s nice of you to worry but the papers are lying. That Belle girl said some absolutely wicked things. She is a viper and a liar because Yasmine and Rory both have said nothing is going on.” She spoke confidently flipping her hair as she looked at him. As she felt her heart pounding thinking about what she and Max had up their sleeves for Yasmine. It wasn’t over bitch and she had to be put in her place. She was a Montgomery after all she couldn’t dare think she could be with Rory now. “Rory is a perfect gentleman father and I know that you and mother want the best for me. I understand how this could look and seem but Rory loves me. I love him and we have been friends since childhood. We’ve truly grown into something special so I think you and mom have nothing to worry about.”

She placed the sunflower seeds inside of the salad. “I just don’t look like them. They are glamorous and I was so plain until I lost weight. God thank you for no longer being fat. I used to hate my body but a lot of working out has made me look great and feel even better.” That was a lie Aspen was just as insecure as she was before if not more. When someone didn’t want her now she felt even more pain. “Anyway dad if that’s what you want. This was a busted inquisition because I’m not leaving him dad. He’s my soulmate and I found out. I love him so much so please don’t worry this is my life and if Rory made a mistake. Then I will deal with it.”

“Of course I worry about what the papers print when it comes to you. If you trust Rory’s word that will be the end of the discussion.” Randall said he was still wary about Rory’s intentions with Aspen but he would keep those reservations to himself until he had proof otherwise. Taking the bowls to the stove when the timer rang he lifted the pot as the smell came through the kitchen. Placing some rice in the bowls with the dish on top he placed a small sprig of cilantro as well before going back to the table. “I did try and use that RePlay app the other day and needless to say I can see why it is aimed at the younger crowd. Though my publisher said they would like to reach out to Rory and see if he could develop something like that for the industry. They think it could revolutionize sales. I disagreed there is nothing like an old fashioned book signing. I actually wanted to have you over to discuss one other thing about my future with them, the college and Lauren Fraiser.”

He waited a moment as he saw her apprehension on her face about Lauren like most children he saw why his daughter hated the idea she had only known him and Blythe growing up. So them moving on had to be confusing and hard for her. “Lauren and I have enjoyed our time together and we’d like to exclusively start to see each other, she’s invited me to the wedding as her official date. I’d like to say yes with your blessing.” He paused for a moment as he spoke again knowing the next part was going to be awkward for her and Lauren. “My publisher has requested that I step outside my fiction prose as well and would like me to write a true crime mystery about something here in Atlas Falls. They would like me to play detective and find out what happened to Victoria Fraiser all those years ago. I am telling you this so that you aren’t surprised if your uncle pushes blowback on us because I will have to interview him and others. I know Forbes can be harsh sometimes but he adored your aunt Audrey and without them your mother and I wouldn’t have you.”

She was unsure of what that meant they wouldn’t have had her? Aspen wasn’t a child anymore she knew what it meant for two people to have sex and a baby come out. She shook a bit wondering if her dad understood he was going up against uncle Forbes. He was brutal to anyone who got in his way. It was a proven fact. She understood true crime was all the rage but diving into what happened to Victoria Fraiser was an urban myth of the city. She heard the baby head got chopped off and that’s why they couldn’t find a body. Either way it was sad when she first heard about it. It was the stuff of legend at grammar school slumber parties. Nobody could tell the Victoria story like Jamal he made her bloody mary for fucks sakes. “Well good luck with that and since you’re dating Victoria’s mom I’m sure that’ll go over great dad.” She shook her head as she looked at her father. “Are you insane this is horrid. You are about to dig up her dead daughter literally. Dad if you are trying to sabotage this great going.” Aspen picked the tongs up and placed salad on both their plates. “I just don’t see why they want to dig that up. It’s so sad and messed up.”

Twisting her hair around her finger. “Dad, uncle Forbes is a psycho like literally he’s obsessed with beating the Devonshire’s. I don’t want you involved in any of that, it’s like lowkey kind of dangerous. I just see what lengths he will go against them and I don’t want you to be on his I hate you list. Okay. So dad please don’t get caught up in his mess.” She said folding her arms knowing her father was listening but he was fully well invested in this idea. If he was bringing it up he wanted to do it. “Just be careful with Lauren and your new found happiness. She is sweet and is really kind.”

“I will always be grateful for what Forbes and your aunt did for your mother and I when it comes to your adoption. Many in town believe that his actions that night saved Lauren and Dani herself, and while it is sad that Victoria passed I do think that the Fraiser’s deserve answers. Such as why was her body never recovered from the lake? Even after search and rescue spent over a week trolling the lake the only thing they recovered was an empty car and an empty car seat. A tragedy that my publisher says would gain traction on the best seller list outside of my political novels. I can’t exactly tell my publisher no since we have an agreement and since the divorice I have to rely on my books and the income at the college.” Randall said looking at her and knowing what she was saying. If anything he felt that Forbes should be grateful he was going to feature his heroic story in a novel about how he saved Lauren and her other daughter from the deep lurky waters of Lake Everest. “I will broach the subject with care when it comes to Lauren and she doesn’t need to know about it still I am sure it won’t upset her. As for your uncle one would think he would be thrilled for a comeback of positive press after that disaster of a press conference earlier. How about we enjoy dinner shall we?” He finished grabbing his glass of wine and taking a sip.

Aspen stood shocked for a moment unsure if her father had just had some sort of slip of the tongue. She then shook her head. He had said she was adopted. When he went on and on about Victoria he didn’t care about her at all. She wrapped her arms around herself and nodded when he said he’d broach Lauren carefully. “Yes daddy, let’s eat.” She said walking to the table she looked in his eyes as she saw nothing of her own. He didn’t look like her and she was just saying she looked nothing like Cassie, Audrey, or mother. Or not her mother she just sat listening to him go on and on about Victoria and she didn’t seem to care because he accidentally just revealed she was adopted. She wasn’t Randall and Blythe Sinclair’s biological daughter and what did that mean? Why wasn’t she wanted from her mother and father? How was uncle Forbes involved? “I’m starved.” She said shutting him up about Victoria. “I just think it might cause some drama but dad if you like the idea go for it.”

**********

Forbes eyes were glazed over in a fit of fury. He’d never been embarrassed quite like what happened today. As he stared at his family he felt Yasmine hate and he could see the glee of Philip and Cassie. They were happy that he had failed today. Today was monumental in what should have been MontCorp corporate coming out party. This was sad and all he could do is try to clean this mess up by distancing themselves from Dimitri. He could see the disappointment in Tamara’s face because she warned him. Hell they all had. If Dimitri wasn’t arrested he’d bury that boy soon enough.He’d done damage that wouldn’t be forgotten in a social media era. Shaking his head he walked into The Plaza immediately going to the desk no longer wanting to be seen. Tomorrow he’d have Greer hopefully put out a press conference to not only diminish Dimitri with MontCorp final nail in that pompous little brat coffin. He’d lost and that wasn’t the worst part. The embarrassment of Lowell seeds one upping him. His daughter who was supposed to love him now hated him just like the others. It was bound to happen but he didn’t want to hurt Yasmine most of all his children. He didn’t care about Philip and Cassie feelings their mother who he gave every fucking thing to was a whore. A miserable stunning fucking whore. Joaquin and Xiomara were raised with him but Angelica wouldn’t let him see them after this mess.

Getting the keys for each of them Forbes walked up to them all standing in the lobby talking among themselves. “Today we were hit as a family with a tremendous loss. We were attacked by the Devonshire’s and that pathetic king Hugo. The old man didn’t know how to let go and well I hate to admit it but Dimitri fell on his own sword the man is disgusting. I should have listened to you all about him and this is my fault.” He looked at Cassie who was gobbling this up. “I apologize Yasmine your charity was supposed to be global and big and this happened. My next gift to you. I don’t know what to say my beloved I’ve failed you and I understand you’re confused on what I did but it was what I thought for the best.”

Yasmine had enough of Forbes talking and before he could lie she slapped the fuck out of him. The look of shock on his face and the audible gasp of Cassie and Tamara she knew she had everyone’s attention and that’s what she needed. “No don’t lie to me when you have the chance to fucking talk to me. Pointing her finger in Forbes face she looked at him. “I should beat your ass but you are going to give me charity from your company and I’m going to make sure nothing linked to your pathetic ass. Fuck you daddy you ain’t shit.” She said fiercely snatching her key card from Forbes. “Stay away from me after we get to Atlas Falls I’m done with you do you hear me?”

Philip smiled looking at his father’s shocked face. “Finally there it is. She finally sees you aren’t a father but a loveless monster Yasmine. Everything he does is calculated and it’s all for his own bottom line. I was trounced over so many times and Yasmine welcome to the club my dear. You were an easy target after all he placed you up on a pedestal. You have so much going for you don’t get lost in the fortune and the money he’s throwing at you. But it isn’t even your money is it father? It’s your dear wife you seem to conveniently forget. How is Angelica? Or the forgotten latino Montgomery’s? Where are Jaoquin and Mara? We miss our siblings that Angelica and you thought we were all too good to meet until me and Cassie showed up brutally crashing your life. Remember that dad? Remember that? Yasmine I’m sorry your feelings are hurt but this is what it means to be a Montgomery. A pain and brutality that eats at your ever core. So this is your true welcome to the Montgomery’s party our father embarrassing us against the Devonshire’s who seem to always come out on top. Then somehow he blames us for not doing enough when his failures get us in this place in the first place. No one but a desperate man would side with a known rapist and sadistic monster aka Dimitri. He wears a crown but you do to in the business world a damn fool the king of fools.” Philip sneered proudly watching his father squirm and finally. “You wear the crown well father.”

Cassie had already been typing up her article for the headline the following day outed prince and royal scandal MontCorp was simply going to be the byline this time which would annoy her father to no end. The story though was that the disgraced prince of Isla Del Cruces was a monster and there was no way around that after Hugo’s announcement. She could of course quietly step MontCorp back from the mess and Dimitri and it was easy enough to find a scapegoat like Selina to pin Dimitri on. When she saw Yasmine unleash on their father she had to let out a small smile she was learning slowly but surely everything came with a price tag when it came to their father’s affections. “I can’t say I didn’t warn you Yasmine once you’re in and you want something it always comes with a price and in this case Scottswood. You’ll be back in his good graces soon enough and the cycle will start over and over again we always seem to want his love and attention even though we all know the price it comes with.” Cassie paused a moment as she realized that it was suddenly dawning on Yasmine what was happening. She then remembered that time when she and Philip had visited their father crashing their siblings party the gasps that had come. “Don’t worry it’ll blow over he;ll be back to Mexico or wherever it was that he ran off to with Angelica and his new broad soon Yasmine don’t get too comfortable it never lasts. As always we will play the dutiful children we are, including making sure MontCorp is nothing but a by line in this mess with Dimitri and the crown.”

“Thank-you daughter I think we are even after the information I’ve given you. Breadcrumbs to protect the house of Cassandra.” He slowly stepped toward Philip and he approached to look at his disrespectful son. Being directly behind Philip he lowered his body to whisper inside his ear. “You are the weakest and most pathetic child I have. How dare you laugh and think this is funny, I have tried to protect you as a crippled and I have.” Grabbing the back of his son’s wheelchair he immediately raised the handles tipping him up as he threw him out of the chair. “You let two Devonshire’s run over you. I failed once and you think you are better than me? Now crawl to get up and understand that I’ll feed you to the wolves if you ever disrespect me again. I assure that.” He said as he looked at Yasmine, Tamara, and Cassie shocked faces. “I will always be bigger, stronger and better than you Philip. You will never and I mean never will fall to you or anyone of you. This is a setback but I’ll demolish you if you ever think you are better than me because you can never be.”

Philip laid on the floor as he felt his father walking around him. As he writhed all over the floor but this time he wasn’t going to let his father abuse and bully him. He could remember how devastated he was seeing his father with Jauquin and Xiomara flaunted on his arms. He could tell the silence and shock at his father’s cruelty. He wasn’t about to deal with this anymore. He wasn’t going to let this old man disrespect him anymore. Philip grabbed a table leg and saw Yasmine walking to him. “No!” He screamed loudly as people in the lobby began to stare at them. Using the table he saw his father approaching him to help him up. Instead Philip pulled himself up using his knees he stood up. As he heard his sisters gasping and used his entire might to swing at Forbes connecting with his face. “I hate you.”

Forbes was shocked that Philip could walk and let alone punch him. This development wasn’t expected but seeing his son walk again was a proud moment. It made him feel like all the harsh words were worth it because look at Philip now he was walking and about to be able to take on not only him but those Devonshire bitches and brats. “You can walk.” He screamed holding his face.

“Wait you can walk? What is going on?” Yasmine said, shaking her head at them both. “You deserve each other.” Snatching her keys out of his father’s hand. “All of you stay away from me.” Rushing away from them.

Tamara looked at Philip standing up and she shook her head unfucking believable. For months she’d been wheeling this man around and seeing him stand with the strength of anyone else and punch his own father. His hatred made him reveal himself to know he faked it for what reason? She knew it was for something and she really couldn’t comprehend his true motives. As she looked at him disgusted that a few moments she was heartbroken and triggered by Forbes treatment of his children. Hell she still was but it wasn’t her place to say anything but watching the look of pain on his face she also took her key and began to walk away disgusted.

Cassie stood in pure shock as she looked at Philip he had kept that secret even from her that he could actually walk which when she thought about it was brilliant. The sympathy he had gotten around town with a few deals he had made and even now how he had Max, Hunter and Bliss wrapped around his finger with it, quietly no doubt planning his revenge and playing their father for a fool at the same time. Cassie rushed to Phillip shielding him from her father as she looked at him up and then down. “You’ve pushed Philip and I to be these people accept that and the easier this will be on everyone from now on. Gloat if you must but we’re going to rise above everyone including you and our other siblings. Come on let’s get you to your room.” Cassie said knowing what she had to do make sure no one in the hotel spoke about this until she figured out what his long term game plan was. Turning and helping her brother into the elevator she knew it was just beginning for their family their rise as she looked at the doors closing on her father.

**********

“Follow me son. You are my sunshine my only sunshine you make happy when skies are grey you’ll never know dear how much I love you please don’t take my sunshine away. Please don’t take my Dylan away.” She sang to her multi talented child. He was a sports star and musically gifted. Her entire family loved music and to sing. When she was a little girl Mimi and she would put on elaborate performances.“Dylan, your Aunt Mimi could always sing it’s on our side of the family too. I’m not an anomaly. The other side of the family has skills also. Uncle Pauly used to sound just like Frank Sinatra swear.” She said walking to the window of her suite and smiled into the phone. Seeing Dylan with his suit on for the show choir. He was so gifted and talented, she had to admit that he was the perfect part of Braden and her. Today was an utter failure and she tried to warn Forbes and hell them all. Once again MontCorp looked foolish but she was going to the interview Monday for the hospital administration job. Instead of using her nursing degree on the floor she’d be in the office as assistant director of nursing working in the dementia unit of the hospital. St. Christopher’s had a cutting edge wing for Alzheimer and dementia patients people all over the country came to the hospital for their parents. She had two jobs once upon a time she worked at The Fraiser Pub and Eternal Ponds nursing home. She worked as a nursing assistant and was a nurse for a period before going to the hospital. “Hopefully you kill it tonight I’m so sorry that work pulled me away baby.” Tamara’s Brooklyn accent came out in full flare when she was home. “It feels good to be in the city again. It’s like home and not because you aren’t there. And you don’t worry they say clear skies tomorrow. I’ll be okay alright, look there Ms. Summers go warm up my singing superstar. Oh and I am bringing you up to talk to Marcello you know Mimi is a single mom and doing the best she can. Your cousin is being a little son-of-bitch and reminding me of that lowlife Russian father of his. So with that said you need to check him. He’s only two years younger than you.”

Tamara waved at him and blew a kiss at him. As she placed her phone down she walked to the bathroom and turned on the bathwater. Next she opened the minibar and grabbed two Ciroc tiny bottles and poured them into her glass. Grabbing the orange juice she mixed it with the liquor and took a deep gulp. She poured some of the complimentary bubbles inside of the world pool. Walking to her bag she exhaled as she unzipped it wondering what was taking Mimi so long. She pulled her hair up in a messy bun, as she grabbed her makeup remover wipes. Tamara began to remove the corporate mask she wore daily and looked in the mirror smiling. Turning off the water she began to place her big toe inside the water and smiled. Then began to undress stepping into the bath she sank into the tub. The bubbles tickled her body as she leaned up seeing her phone glowing. She saw the text message of Mimi at their favorite pizzeria holding a bottle of wine. She was going all out for her big sis which meant they’d be up all night gabbing about the neighborhood. Mimi never left Brooklyn’s infamous Crown Heights and she always had the dirt on all their high school friends. She texted back emojis and laid back into the tub until she heard a knock at her door. More than likely Philip apologizing for lying but she just couldn’t forgive his ability to walk. That was shocking that he stayed in that chair for God knows how long pretending to be crippled to get back at Max, Bliss and Hunter. He was going to ask her to keep it quiet. She knew that but she wouldn’t, if asked the truth she wouldn’t lie. Stepping out the bath she grabbed the hotel robe. Fastening it as she gulped down the rest of her drink.

“Coming.” She called out wondering if it was Philip or Forbes or Yasmine or any other Montgomery that would tell her their problems. As she walked swiftly to the door she grabbed the handle and immediately regretted not looking out the peephole. Dimitri Kavanaugh stood before her and she was confused on why he was here. Tightening her robe she looked at him and smiled trying to feign her utter shock and confusion on why he was here. Not moving to give him full access to her room, Tamara stood at the door.

Dimitri had went back to his hotel room and made call after call for someone to help his cause. The only one that he could find was a lawyer who was loyal to him and him alone. A man that he had blackmailed a long time ago and it was true his diplomatic immunity was over at the moment but like the rest of them the man would be at his beck and call from here on out. After being talked down too at the front desk and finally having his last loyal security team member check the room number he knew what he had to do. He was going to make sure that Tamara Wright knew what a real man was and after tonight she would know, she would come with him back to Isla Del Cruces and he would crush his father if he had to in order to make that happen. He would rather die than let his baby brother and his American bitch of a fiance take what was his birthright and if he got home to claim the throne first then there would be no stopping him or his rule. He had made sure the rest of the floor was not booked for Tamara’s stay, something that his team assured him was still in place. He waited and had bid his time and then checked the weather the storm was picking up meaning no one else was likely going to make it to the hotel for a while. Walking to her door he raised his hand and knocked, hearing the water on the other side and he closed his eyes she was going to bathe meaning her body was going to be exposed and in the flesh this time not in black and white footage on a camera. When the door opened he made sure to look at her, her collarbone exposed and saw her shyly cover herself such a shame and she was alone still.

“Ms. Wright I thought perhaps that we could speak no doubt my behavior earlier upset you and that is really the last thing that I wanted to happen with you.” Dimitri said looking at her and then stepping inside the room pushing the door against her foot seeing the bottom scrape the skin on the top. Such a shame as her skin was so gorgeous in the lamplight, the robe giving just enough away. “You really shouldn’t be alone in this room right now in the middle of a storm by yourself. Such a shame that Braden let you out of his sight to come on this trip alone, I would have thought that your soon to be husband would have wanted a weekend getaway for the two of you. You and I have so much in common I wanted to come check on you, keep you company.” He finished closing the door behind him and then sitting by the chair near the door as she looked at him.

Tamara yelped as her foot got injured feeling almost attacked by him. When he came in trying to explain himself to her which confused her. Walking to her purse she pulled out a bandaid and immediately placed it on her foot. As she turned to him she looked at him folding her arms. “I am listening. You were exposed today Dimitri and I can’t say we have anything to say to you. I heard you are a monster and I stand with the women who have accused you. You are despicable and finally men like you are having your time. You are falling and nobody is protecting you anymore. Whomever and whatever misguided reason you have come to my room, I’ve now said my peace. As for Braden he’s more man than you could ever be. So with that being said I want you out of my damn hotel room now because if you think that I want to entertain anymore of this.” Tamara said keeping her professional tone and trying to get him to leave. When he didn’t budge she continued her harder exterior. “I don’t think we have anything to say to each other. Plus I’m not alone. My sister is on her way here right now. “She actually knew Braden would be calling her very soon. To Facetime her during Dylan’s performance.

Walking to the door she unlocked it and looked at Dimitri. “Get out I don’t want to have to call the police or hotel security. Plus the guest in the other rooms. So I’d hate to scream.” She was becoming alarmed as she looked at him. “What do you want? Why are you here? I’m not involved in your life in the slightest so please get the hell out or I’m going to scream bloody fucking murder. Now move it you asshole!” Tamara said furiously looking at the man. She could see her phone vibrating on the table. Damnit. She wondered if she could get to it and call the police or Braden. Opening the door again to signal him to leave and she walked to the table and reached down for her phone as she felt his hand around her wrist. “Let me go! Get your damn hands off of me!” She said slapping him as hard as she could muster.

Dimitri had hoped she would be reasonable at his request they did have so much in common they both had a son. She was gorgeous and severely underused as Braden’s replacement and he wanted her to see that. When she mentioned her sister was on the way he almost wanted to laugh at her, not in this snowstorm that was supposed to drop over ten inches in the next few hours. He saw her eying her phone one on the table next to him and his eyes danced wildly with hers when she went to lunge for it as if he was scared of her and her little hard exterior she was putting on. She wanted him to know that from watching her the last few months she was miserable in her fake life at the moment a life that could fall apart at the drop of a hat when Braden deemed it was fit to go back to Selina. He grabbed her hand and saw her look of shock at him as he slammed the door shut again and locked it before he raised his hand and backhanded her across her face, she would learn her place. He saw her stumble back a few feet in shock and then he lunged at her pinning her against the wall seeing her body crash into the back of a cabinet on the way there. He stroked her hair seeing the tears forming in her eyes, the fear in them and saw her lip tremble as the tears started to fall down her face.

“Such a beautiful woman walking around that house living in a fantasy with Braden and your son. Yet I offer you the world and you run from me like I’m a fucking monster? Such a foolish woman you could have had it all a crown on your head, your son being taken care of for life. Fox would gain a sibling and yet here you are wanting to go back to that house where a man barely satisfies you at night, believe me I’ve seen it, him faking for you.” Dimitri said seeing her shock that he had been watching her and he almost laughed he was able to whatever the fuck he wanted and she would know that. He leaned into her ear as his hand undid the tie on her robe and he looked at her body which he was sure was screaming for him. “You didn’t just draw a bath for yourself Tamara be honest with yourself you wanted me to come in here, you have since we talked that day in Philip’s office you of course tried to play coy. You don’t have to play coy anymore I can tell what you really want.” He said letting his hand brush against her bare nipples seeing her crying more at the action, defenseless about what he was going to do to her. Show her how a real man fucked a woman and they enjoyed it.

The moment that Tamara felt his hand against her skin. She knew she was in danger. Beyond that she had to escape for her son and Braden. They had just built their family again and whatever this was. Tamara had to survive and fight to get to them. Her eyes began to tear up as she exhaled as her lips quivered looking at him. What had she done to make this man think that this was what she wanted? Everything was moving so fast and her head was throbbing from being slammed into that cabinet. He didn’t know Mimi or New Yorkers the snow was down yet and they had somewhere to be. Mimi was coming and she said they were just a train ride away from the pizzeria. If she could just hold off then her sister would be here and she’d be able to get him to leave her alone. God how could she just open the door for him? How could she be so stupid to not be careful she was a latchkey kid and this was how she’d be raped. Just letting him into her space? She had to fight. Dylan’s face flashed in her head as she cried out to Dimitri. “Please don’t do this you don’t want to do this. I’m not important at all. I have a son just like you said and you are going to hurt him and so many other people by doing this so please if you have a heart stop. Stop Dimitri and let me go! Please let me go!” She cried out to him. “For you son prove all those people wrong.” She mumbled sniffling as she tried to fight back.

Tamara was shocked how fast this elevated one moment she was waiting for him to leave the next he was informing her that he had been watching her. Dimitri had been watching her in her home intimately with her fiance and child. Her eyes filled with tears as he untied her robe. She knew what she had to do. She had to fight back because nobody was saving her. Tamara shook her head feeling his lips touch her skin. She could feel his hands all over her and touching her body in ways she didn’t want. “Please stop! I don’t want you or this!” She screamed as loud as she could. Using her knee she shoved it into his groin and became so hurt that this was happening to her. Why her? When he brought up that day in the office a day she hadn’t thought twice about. He somehow figured she wanted him. When Dimitri laid out a entire life for them and they’d only had a total of three conversations she screamed again. Clawing her way to the bathroom she slammed the door and locked it.

Dimitri saw her fear and then decided to push it further or he was about to until she lashed out and kneed him in the groin fucking cunt. Here she was begging him left and right over the last few weeks the few times they did talk, he thought that she actually understood him and his motivations. Even tonight opening up the door for him, teasing him by opening the door for him naked and inviting him to her body that way only to then turn on him at the last moment. He saw her cell phone on the floor and left it there as he stalked to the bathroom and began to slam on the door. “Open this fucking door Tamara!” He said pounding his fist against it and then looking over at her luggage rummaging through it and finding her underwear smelling them as he heard her sobbing in fear in the bathroom just like how Bliss used to do and he smiled. He’d do what he had to now that he was in control just like he did with Bliss back in the day, He went back to the door jiggling the lock to still find it locked and let out a menacing laugh as he did, afterwards he banged on the door again hearing her cry again. Fed up with the lock between them he raised his foot and began to kick the door one thing he could say he’d kicked in a few doors in his time and hotels didn’t like to update their locks all that much or often.

By the sixth kick on the door it flew open and he saw her in the corner sobbing and clinging to her bathrobe and lunged at her. He felt her little hands fighting against him as he grabbed her hair and looked at her for a moment before back handing her as hard as he could against her check, repeating the measure on the other side he continued until he saw her stop fighting and the blood oozing from her mouth. “Stop struggling you fucking cunt. Teasing me for weeks on end. Flirting with me and then opening your door with nothing nothing but a robe, you American’s are all the same want the royalty but to not follow through.” Dimitri hissed at her as he ripped the robe open leaning down and rubbing his hands on thighs feeling her moan either in pleasure or pain and he didn’t care. “I’m going to show you now, when a future king tells you what to do you comply.”

He didn’t wait at all for her to protest as she began to sob and cry as he made sure he opened his pants and his zipper lowering both to expose himself as he then used his hands to force the legs apart. Spearing himself into her as he heard her scream he looked at her a sick smile spreading on his face as he did so. He started to pound her body with his hearing her scream and slapped her again to shut her up when that didn’t work he covered her mouth with his own hand and leaned down looking her dead in the eyes. “Shut the fuck up and enjoy what you wanted or I will kill you and your entire family. No one is hearing you scream right now so enjoy what I am giving you.” He said continuing to fuck her seeing her eyes check out and then he felt her tighten on him and he laughed she wanted it her orgasm was proof and he came pumping into her. When he was done he pulled out cleaning himself with some tissue before carefully disposing of it down the toilet.

“Not quite royalty worthy I’ve had whores that lasted longer such a pity.” He finished looking at her on the bathroom floor just lying there before chuckling as he adjusted his clothes and looked at her ringing cellphone on the counter in the suite.  He saw her crawling to the door while she held back a sob and he went to her grabbing her face in his hands on the floor slamming her head against the tile. “Did I tell you to move?” He watched her eyes start to close as he left her there and walked out the room intent on the next stage getting Fox out of this God awful barbaric country.

Tamara heard each kick and it sounded like the thunder coming right at her. Her eyes started to burn with tears as she began to pray. “Father God please renew my mind, spirit, and body. Please help me.” As the last kick broke in the door, she lowered her head. Tightly wrapping her arms around herself as she looked down. She was feeling so defenseless. Her entire life her fist were her protectors she’d fought her entire life. Tonight she wouldn’t stop, she was acting defenseless but he’d feel her. Tonight she wouldn’t be just attacked. All she could do was think of what did she do to provoke this? Did she somehow convince him that she wanted him. When he lunged at her all she could do was start swinging. Her little fist pummeled into his body. As he started pulling at her hair she screamed in pain because it wasn’t expected. Then he hit her again. This time it felt like he freight truck slapped her. The pain had made her dizzy as she touched her lip. She could feel her face swelling and her mouth leaking blood. Her swinging was wild but his strength seemed to override her feeble attacks. She could remember Misty Bianchi getting her ass handed to her by her. Not only that, Queenie who was the biggest and meanest girl she’d ever fought. She fought fiercely but when he opened her robe up it was becoming apparent that she had to focus on survival. When he raised his hand to her again she felt her shiver and she screamed as another hit impaled her face. Tamara tried to claw and crawled away but he pinned her down and ripped open her robe. “Please stop!” She cried spitting blood on the floor wondering how he could find her attractive at this moment. What made her fear sexy to him?

For the first time since this all started she floated away. No longer in her body at this moment it was as if she floated over herself and watched the entire event. Tears started to fall down her face except she wasn’t vocally crying. A fleeting sob would escape her mouth. She however chose to stay silent because it seemed like the more she cried the more enraptured he got. When she saw him unbuckling her pants and then he dived inside her body. She felt so dirty immediately it was a pain she never felt before. She was physically disgusted and more than anything disappointed in herself. She kept thinking you didn’t fight hard enough. The first pump was so dry and rough she saw a little blood running down her leg. Dimitri just roughly plowed in and out of her lifeless body. Tamara kept thinking you have to fight. Using her left hand she clawed his neck trying to get to his face. “Help me! Please God! Help me!” He open handed slapped her again and covered her mouth. She felt so heavy as if she was a thousand pounds. His cologne was disgusting and she found herself becoming more sick. Like the bile in the back of her throat was rising to vomit. That smell was something she’d never forget.

Tamara began to do everything to not be here at that moment. She turned her head so she didn’t have to look into his eyes. So she didn’t have to see Dimitri. She began to count the light lavender tile on the floor. When she felt he was close she lost count because her body finally began to react. When he came he pulled out and sprayed his seed inside of her body. She was disgusted. Moaning out of pure disgust as she began to crawl to the robe on the other side of the room. “Ahhh.” She cried out touching in between her legs where his seed leaked out of her and blood trickled down her legs.When he told her not to move she felt like a dog. His property to use at this moment. The guttural cry she let out knowing that he just violated her. That a man just beat her with no mercy. She crawled to the toilet and hugged it vomiting. Releasing the toilet she finally fell back knowing that it was over. As he walked out of the bathroom she closed her eyes exhausted physically. She laid her head on the cool tile and began to whisper to herself. “You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when times are gray you’ll never know dear how much I love you Dylan. Please don’t take my sunshine away.” Naked and cold she fell out on the floor no longer able to keep her eyes opened.

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