Chapter 18
Eighteen
Hayden
Present
“Jaclyn King? I don't understand what’s so special about her,” my brother says, as he sits across from me in his office.
We are at his house in Lombardy. It’s about an hour or two flight from here to Gaeta, where everyone else is staying.
Rowan can’t come back and forth too much because of the academy and his family. So I came here since I needed to talk to him.
Seeing Jaclyn, touching her, having her in my arms after more than four years fucked me up.
More than seeing her at the fight did.
And then when she mentioned Nicole and how she doesn’t want to help me cheat, I almost punched the fucking wall because she literally couldn’t be more wrong. But it’s not like I can tell her because that will fuck things up for Killian.
I just have to wait for him to finish finalizing this deal before I can rid myself of Nicole and her family. They have been a goddamn headache since I met them a year ago.
“I don’t know either.” I lean into the chair and rub my jaw. “She frustrates the fuck out of me even after this many years.”
“She’s the girl who ran away five years ago?” Rowan asks and I nod my head.
Rowan has dark brown hair like mine but his eyes are different. He has hazel eyes, dark blue mixed in with brown making them unique. He’s taller than me by a few inches although I have more muscle on me. Other than the small differences we look similar.
He is what I imagined my biological brother would look like.
I knew exactly who he was when I first saw him. Kayden took me to a fight about an hour or two outside of town. We ended up at a high end club where people with tuxedos and gowns were watching grown men almost kill each other in a cage. They would bet a lot of money and sometimes even buy the fighter for some shady business they were involved in.
That night I met Rowan.
He came into my dressing room after my fight and explained how I’m his brother and I’m not the only one. I have more siblings. A few sisters and a lot of brothers.
I’ve met them all in the last four years but I’m the closest with Rowan because we share the same parents.
He told me my dad was a piece of shit who would rape anything with two legs. I know he killed him because one day when I was eighteen I got a call from him saying our father died from a gunshot wound.
He didn’t know our mother much. He just knew that our mom was a druggie who couldn’t stand the thought of not getting high off some fucked up shit daily.
I haven’t told him about my past with her because I don’t like reliving those memories.
The ones where I had to hide in the cabinets so she wouldn’t find me and ask for me to try some of her new candy with her.
Jaclyn does though.
She knows everything because I ripped my heart out of my chest and laid it in front of her for the taking.
And what did she do?
She fucking left it on the floor like it was nothing.
Like my love wasn’t enough.
“I always knew we were going to face each other again. There’s just something about her that I will never be able to forget. If it’s not her Rowan, it’s no one.”
Rowan licks his bottom lip before saying. “I understand that. She was a big part of your life and you both went through hell together. You will always be in love with her. There is no way to stop that.”
I stand up from the chair and pace. “I just fucking wish I could do something about it.”
“You did. You kissed her.”
I did.
And it felt fucking amazing.
I swear I saw stars when I was kissing her. It felt like everything was okay for just those few seconds and like the world wasn’t falling apart anymore.
Everything was quiet.
When I told Rowan, he wasn’t happy and I knew that Killian wouldn’t be happy either if I told him.
But I couldn’t help it.
I swear I’m not someone who “cheats” but with Nicole, we aren’t even together. It’s all for show and Jaclyn just doesn’t know that.
“She’s different but not in a good way.”
Rowan furrows his eyebrows and tilts his head to the side. “How so?”
“She lost a lot of weight and I don’t think she did that by being healthy. She’s colder, more guarded.”
“She went through a lot, Hayden. You have no clue what happened to her in that room.”
“I know. Fuck, I know. I wish I did so I could help her,” I say, my voice growing louder as I get more frustrated.
“What are you going to do about Killian?”
Killian is not just a friend but he’s also my boss. He is one of the most powerful people in the world. His father used to take the crown but Killian is more ruthless and cold.
He cares for no one. If someone is in his way they will get burned by him. If you’re in Killian’s way, you may as well be dead.
Killian wanted to meet me because he knew about my fighting history. He hired me as his personal fighter. Taking care of his dirty work but also earning money in underground clubs. Killian doesn’t have a second in command but he has men.
I don’t know what that makes me to him but he trusts me a lot to involve me in his business and not just the fights.
But if I fucked with his business, for example, messing up this arrangement with Nicole, I’m considered dead.
“I have no clue. But he won’t find out.”
Rowan shakes his head lightly. “You’re playing with fire. Literally.”
“It’s okay if I get burned, as long as I have her.”
Rowan was about to say something but the door of his office opens.
Apollo and Mateo, Rowan’s two sons, come running in. “Papa, papa! We made pictures!” Mateo says with a lisp.
He is about four, I think.
I never really paid attention to their ages. But I know Apollo is seven or eight.
He has a daughter, Rosalie, but she is with her mother somewhere in the house. Mateo and Apollo are always getting into trouble, causing Rowan and his wife headaches.
But Rowan and his wife love a busy and loud house.
Rowan stands from his chair and grabs Mateo, holding him on his hip as he looks at the picture. Apollo stares at his father with a big smile on his face.
“Looks amazing, Mateo. Let me see yours, Apollo.”
Apollo gives his father the paper and Rowan smiles as he looks down at the picture. He loves his family, that much I’m sure of.
Anytime I see him with his kids or his wife I always wish that was me. Yes, being alone is peaceful and calm but I can’t help but want someone, a specific someone, to have a family with me.
I had that but then it all fucking burned down.
“Mama said mine was better,” Apollo says with a smirk, looking just like his father.
“Liar!” Mateo says before looking at me. “Uncle, look at my picture and say it’s better!”
I laugh at Mateo. I walk towards them and look at the pictures. Rowan eyes me probably thinking, ‘you better not break their little hearts you little shit.’
“Both look amazing.” I smile at them, but that’s not the answer either of them were hoping for.
“Where’s your mother and sister?”
“In the kitchen,” Apollo says before running out of the office.
We all leave Rowan’s office. Rowan is still holding Mateo as we walk inside the kitchen and see Rowan’s wife, Jane, and his daughter baking while laughing. Rowan’s daughter is around nine years old but she still looks so tiny and young still.
Rowan puts Mateo down and he walks behind his wife, placing his lips on her neck while she squeals and blushes. She turns around and kisses him back passionately.
“Ew! Papa, that’s gross,” Apollo yells while grimacing.
“Shut up, you idiot. They are cute,” Rosalie says with a smile as she watches her parents just fall in love.
Rowan stops kissing Jane and he wraps his arms around her.
“Hi, Hayden. I didn’t know you were here today. How are you?” Jane asks.
I can see why Rowan is so obsessed with her. Jane has beautiful brown curly hair and dark brown eyes. She is wearing a blue summer dress that compliments her skin well. But her smile is what makes me understand why Rowan loves her so much.
I love seeing Jaclyn smile.
It’s one of my favorite things on this fucking planet.
He was her bodyguard for a good few months before they started dating. She used to have selective mutism but then after a while she started talking with Rowan and they became closer before dating.
“It’s going good. Been busy. You know how it is with Killian and my brother.”
Jane’s best friend happens to be Killian’s sister, Thalia. I only have met her a couple of times during family dinners that Killian has invited me to.
Jane glares at her husband. “I hope you aren’t giving him a rough time.”
“Little shit is fine. Always causing me and Killian trouble.”
If by trouble you mean trying to get the girl who ran away back, then yeah.
Jaclyn King has no clue what’s coming.