Chapter 45
The early autumn breeze drifted through the open window, ruffling the plans before me. I curled my legs beneath me on the sofa, absently twisting the engagement ring on my finger. The weight of it, I still wasn’t used to.
It still felt unfamiliar, like something I didn’t quite deserve. Across from me, Isabella sat criss-cross applesauce, scrolling through something on her phone. Every few seconds, she’d glance up and study me, like she knew I had something on my mind.
“What is it? Might as well tell me,” she said after the seventh time.
“Is it wrong of me to want to hold off?”
“With?”
“You know the wedding.” I gestured to the papers lying before us. “At least until we find her?” The last part tumbled out before I could second-guess it.
It was one of the things I loved so much about finding them again. The ability to converse whenever and however we wanted. It was still so unreal. Isabella didn’t immediately respond. She set her phone down on the armrest and ran her hands through her long black locks.
“How upset do you think he’ll be?” I asked.
That made her snort. She shook her head with a knowing smile, brushing a stray lock from her face. “That man is so obsessed with you, it’s not even funny. If you asked him for the moon, he’d try to find a way to get it for you.”
“But it’s not fair, right? Of me to ask that?”
She didn’t answer right away. Her expression shifted as she contemplated something.
I instantly felt foolish. The idea of postponing the wedding for something so uncertain, so impossible to predict, was too much to consider.
But it equally felt wrong. How could I stand up there, say my vows, and celebrate without the missing piece?
“Can I tell you something? In secret. Basically, Kinsley can’t know.”
I sat forward, not expecting this. I thought for sure she’d tell me she’d understand, because a huge part of me was sure Winter would. Who knew? She could be married and living her best life somewhere and never want to see us again.
“Of course,” I breathed as I waited in anticipation.
“Technically, I wasn’t supposed to know this, but Alek was struggling with a piece one night. We sometimes sit on the porch and draw together.”
“Awe, that’s sweet.” I sighed.
“Yeah, well, you can expect to find Declan joining us going forward. That son of yours is better than me.”
“Oh, stop.”
“No, I’m serious. But anyway. From one artist to another, I knew the look on his face. The damned lines on his forehead crease a certain way when he’s stuck.”
I laughed, thinking about the many times I’d seen creases just randomly appear on the man’s forehead. It was like his telltale sign.
“Anyway. I asked if I could help and he handed me his sketch.”
“What was it?” I asked, wondering how it related to my initial question.
“Brace yourself. This may be hard to hear.” She paused and gulped. With a shake of her head, she forged ahead. “They want to collar her.”
“Oh, yeah. I know all about it.”
“Excuse me? I was sworn to secrecy. How do you know about it?”
“I’ve seen it.” I giggled.
“What’s so funny?” she huffed.
“You’re not supposed to know, yet you do. You didn’t think I knew, and I did. And Andy was adamant that I not mention it to either of you. I’m sure for different reasons.”
“That man. I swear he thinks I’m…”
“Fragile,” we said in unison.
“You hesitated. You didn’t want to tell me initially. Is that because of our past?” I asked.
“Yeah. But the thing is Alek was so god damn sweet about it, nervous even. He wanted it to be perfect. So I guess you can tell me, how did the final piece come out?”
“It’s exquisite. Emeralds for the crow’s eyes, purple diamonds collecting like sand in the hourglass, and a single blood shaped…I’m not exactly sure why kind of gemstone—”
“Red beryl,” she offered, before adding. “The gemstones were my addition. He wasn’t really stuck. He’d already had the basics down. He just wanted to add some whimsy, to make it all her. Delicate, Kinsley.”
“Yeah, well, you did a fantastic job on the design.”
She shrugged as if it were no big deal. “But back to your original question. You know Kinsley has her own line in the sand. While it’s true, she doesn’t know about the collar, she has some things to work out on that front. She’s put her foot down.”
“On?” I prodded.
“Babies. Those men fantasize about breeding her like a puppy mill. You’ll soon pick up on the lingo.”
“I already have,” I laughed.
“Yeah, well. She’s told them all no. Only I know the reason. And it’s the same one you have. Problem is the reality of it. I don’t know. Is it right to hold off living? And yes, I realize how ironic that is coming from me, of all people. But it’s true.”
I sighed. “You’re right. The only thing we know is she’s American. And has a southern accent.” My voice dipped with frustration. “America is huge. England is tiny compared to it. How will we ever find her? We don’t even have a name to go off of.”
Isabella sighed, rubbing her temples. “Kinsley’s grandfather might. He swears he doesn’t, but maybe now, if she presses. I don’t know.”
That was the hard truth of it, wasn’t it?
We didn’t know so much. And the longer we sat here, turning it over in our minds, the heavier the weight of it became.
The room grew quiet. Just as I was about to say something—anything to pull us out of the growing slump, Alek poked his head in. A grin split his face.
“You two busy?”
Isabella raised a brow. “Why?”
He slyly looked over his shoulder out into the hall. “I want you two to come with me. I have a big surprise for Kinsley.”
“I’ll need further details in order to commit,” Isabella said.
“It does require leaving and let me finish,” he had to cut off the rant she was prepared to go on. “It’s important. I know you prefer—”
“It’s a requirement, Reaper,” she huffed.
He chuckled. “Fine. I know your requirements are days or weeks’ notice in advance so you can prepare yourself, but this is big, Bellarusso.”
I glanced at Isabella, who was nervously chewing on her bottom lip as she contemplated the outing.
I was still getting used to her requirements.
And while she didn’t stay inside all the time, any plans outside the house had to be scheduled.
But what she didn’t know was that I’d been expecting Alek all morning.
Because the real surprise?
It wasn’t for Kinsley. It was for Isabella. And every bit of it tied into the question she’d posed for me at the beach house a few weeks back. The question stemmed from pursuing your dreams.
For Kinsley and me, it was a no-brainer. She was entirely too talented to sit on it. While gallery showing or even owning one was a far off goal, us two girls had pieced something else together that we knew would be a perfect starting point.
Truth be told, she actually had prior knowledge in the area anyway. A few months back, Alek had hired a personal tattoo instructor for Isabella. He’d done it strictly because he wanted a new tattoo.
Can’t very well tattoo your right arm if you’re righthanded. At least not if you wanted it to come out. Certification could be something she worked toward easily. She was already halfway there.
Alek, when we originally approached him with our idea, was flabbergasted.
He confessed he’d always wanted something similar for her, but wasn’t sure how to get her to see it.
Now that her secret was out, it made things easier.
And Andy had been working with her in her sessions about entering more of the outside world.
Baby steps and all.
Isabella groaned but pushed herself up from the couch, rolling her eyes. “Fine, but if this turns out to be something dumb, I swear—”
Before she could finish, Alek wrapped his arms around her middle and lifted her clear off the ground, spinning her around.
“Aleksandr King,” she shrieked, her legs kicking as she smacked his shoulder. “Put me down. I swear you’re an absolute menace.”
He laughed, but set her back on her feet. He seemed entirely unfazed by her glare. “Lighten up, Bellarusso. It’s going to be such a fantastic surprise.”
“Better not be another trip to Baby Bella or Baby Planet again,” she muttered.
“It’s not, but put in a good word on babies anytime you’d like.” He sighed.
“I’m serious, no talk of babies. If you can’t guarantee it, then I’ll lock myself in my studio for the rest of the week.”
Alek grinned, eyes glinting with mischief. “You could, that is true…did I ever tell you I had an extra key made? Might have forgotten that little bit of info when you moved in. So I dare you, do it.”
Isabella scoffed, “I’m going to ignore you said that given how much I know, you respect my art and its sacredness.”
“And I’d never go in there unless you went missing for days. Which you did threaten. You heard her, right, Tori?”
I smiled at the use of the nickname. “Yes, yes, I did. And in all actuality, you did think you misplaced the key the other day. Having an extra is just plain smart,” I said to Isabella.
“You’re supposed to be on my side,” she huffed and rolled her eyes.
“Oh yes, of course.” I cleared my throat. “Mr. King, how could you? The audacity. I suggest you fork over that extra key, pronto. I’m her sister and if it needs to be kept in a safe place, I’m the most logical choice.” I held out my palm and wiggled it.
“Is that so?” He smirked.
The corner of Isabella’s mouth twitched like she was fighting a smile. “You’re the absolute worst, Reaper.”
“And yet, here we are.” He smirked before pulling his keys out and going around the ring. He notched his head toward the door. “Go get Kinsley for me, will you, while I work this damned thing free?”
With another exaggerated sigh, Isabella stalked off, muttering something under her breath about how ridiculous surprises were, not to mention how dramatic Kinsley was going to be.
As soon as she was out of sight, Alek’s whole demeanor shifted.
The playful energy dimmed just a little, nerves creeping in at the edges.
I’d swear his fingers shook as he worked the key free.
Once he had it, he put it in my outstretched hand. “Keep this safe, promise. I swear it’s true, I’d never go in there unless it was a necessity.”
I studied him for a second before pocketing it. I knew the perfect place for it. “Alek, you okay?”
He huffed a quiet laugh. “Honestly? Not really.”
His confession caught me off guard. He was always so effortlessly in control. Seeing him this way—anxious, uncertain—wasn’t something I was used to.
“You can tell me, you know. I’m pretty good at keeping things to myself,” I offered.
He hesitated, glancing toward the door to make sure no one was there. Then he sighed and looked at me, his usual confidence tempered with something softer.
“How about if I share something first?” I offered.
He straightened. “Sure. What’s on your mind?”
Maybe it would help. Maybe it wouldn’t, but it didn’t hurt to get his thoughts, too. After all, we were family now.
“Isabella and I were talking about holding off on the wedding until we find Winter. It feels so wrong to plan something so huge without her. Maybe because the three of us have found one another again. I think Kinsley has similar thoughts. I mean…about the babies you want her to have. I know about the collar, too. It’s stunning and very her. ”
His head jerked up, and my breath caught in my throat. Had I misjudged the situation? I gulped and lowered my eyes, as the intensity in his was too much.
“You think it’s that simple?” he breathed. “The babies thing?”
“I do. And maybe it’s foolishness on all our parts, but maybe we can put a timeline on it. I don’t know. I don’t want to disappoint Andy. He means the world to me, but I do feel torn. And if she feels the same…I don’t know.”
“Thank you,” he said, clearing his throat as the last word caught in the emotions he was dealing with.
“I hadn’t thought of it that way. I guess how could I?
Would it be awful if I asked her outright?
I mean, not right this second, but when we’re alone.
We only recently found out about the connection between you all. ”
“I think that would be a beautiful thing and I’ll do you one better. Tonight is Ivan’s night, right?”
He nodded.
“Perfect. After we surprise Isabella and she runs off to her studio to contemplate things because let’s be real, we know she will need some time.
I’ll talk with Kinsley. I need to confess my thoughts on waiting to her, anyway.
I’ll encourage her to open up to you. Not that she needs that, but it helps to know someone else feels that same emotion. ”
“Sebastian is both right and wrong in his assessment of you.”
“How so?” I asked, feeling my lips curl into a smile.
“You are out of his league, but absolutely perfectly in line with Marcel’s.”
“Good to know. So I take it you sort of approve?”
“I do. Not that you needed it.”
“So tell me, what has you worried about the surprise?”
“I love Isabella. She truly is the sister I didn’t get the privilege of seeing the adult side of.
Now knowing she went through the same hell you and Kinsley did, I want to give her the world.
I want her to be happy, truly happy, whatever that looks like.
I want her to explore her talent in whatever way she can because it’s a gift.
Well, you know, you have a son with the same level of talent.
She was isolated for so long. Alone in her own little world. I never want her to feel alone again.”
His voice tightened, and I felt something in my chest ache. “She’s not and she won’t be ever again. Kinsley, and I certainly won’t allow it. But above that, she has you all.”
I reached over and squeezed his arm. He exhaled and nodded, his shoulders straightening. Then, with a deep breath, he clapped his hands together, the teasing spark creeping back into his eyes. “You ready to do this, buttercup?”
I laughed. “I am. Let’s go see what’s taking them so long.”