"Camden, I want a chocolate milk shake." Athena tells me while she lays in bed.

"I'll have someone get you one." I tell her and pull out my phone.

"But I want you to get it for me." She starts crying.

"Okay, I'll go get it." I tell her gently.

"But now I feel bad." She cry's more and I hug her.

"Hey hey hey, it's okay. I'll go get you one, don't worry about it." I tell her kindly.

"I'm sorry." She cry's. "It's these stupid pregnancy cravings and hormones."

"Don't worry baby, I got it." I tell her and kiss her forehead before going to get her a milkshake.

I walk in the kitchen and see Francis.

"Getting a snack?" I ask him, hoping he's finally gonna eat something.

"No, I just came to grab some things." He answers vaguely but I don't question it.

"Are you okay, France? You haven't been yourself lately." I ask him.

He looks at me and has bags under his eyes. "I'm fine." Are his only words before he leaves the room.

I make Athena a milkshake and bring it up to her before kissing her forehead again.

"Thank you, Cam." She thanks me and I smile at her. "No problem."

Everyone told me to stay the hell away from the Tames family, but here I am.

I knock on the front door because Francis isn't answering my texts. He usually just opens the door for me.

I haven't met any of Francis's other family yet, well besides Sebastian.

Just because I can be bold and described as fearless, I do have fears and the Tames are one of them.

Everyone knows their families real business but no one can prove it, everyone just knows what they do and that they're extremely dangerous.

The door opens and I look up to see the one person I never wanted to meet, Camden Tames.

"Can I help you?" He asks coldly.

At this point I wanted to turn around and run back home, but Francis needs me.

"I'm Lyric Ryker, Francis's girlfriend." I introduce myself and his face remains blank.

He steps aside and opens the door wider, telling me to come in.

I've been in their house before but never when anyone else was home, and it's kinda terrifying.

I take a deep breath and step inside, walking past Camden.

He closes the door behind me and I turn around really fast when I hear him lock it.

He notices this and smiles, which brings me little comfort. "Don't worry, we just always keep our doors locked." He tells me and I nod.

I mean, it makes sense, my family does too.

"How come I've never met you before?" He asks me.

"I normally only come over here when no one else is home, but France texted me asking me to come over today. I was gonna text him because normally he opens the door for me but he's not answering my texts." I explain.

He nods. "I see."

"Well, I'm gonna...um...go up to Francis's room now." I say a little nervously, pointing to the stairs behind me.

He's just staring at me and it's kinda creeping me out.

"Not so fast." He tells me and I pause.

"I hope you understand, I just need Francis to confirm you actually are his girlfriend." He explains.

I nod my head nervously. "I understand."

I really do, but it's nerve wrecking.

I start tearing at my finger nails, a nervous habit I really thought I kicked.

Francis walks down the stairs and sees Camden looking at me.

"Hey Lyric." Francis greets and comes over to us, putting his arm around my waist.

"Camden, meet my girlfriend Lyric. Lyric, meet my brother Camden." He introduces.

"It's nice to meet you, Lyric." Camden tells me and I nod. "Yeah, you too."

We go up to Francis's room and I let out a breath, even though I had no clue I was holding my breath.

"Sorry about him, Lyr." (l-E-r) Francis apologizes.

"Don't worry about it. How are you doing?" I ask him, knowing he's struggling with what's happened to his father.

"I'm fine." He tells me and I give him a sympathetic look. "France, it's me." I tell him gently.

He nods a little bit and I notice he's only looking at the ground.

"France." I say and hug him.

He clings to me like he's been suffocating for years and I'm fresh air bringing him back to life.

I mess with his hair while we hug, hoping to make him laugh.

I love his laugh.

He chuckles a little and pulls away, laying on his bed.

I get on the bed next to him and he wraps his arm around me, pulling me close.

"Thanks for being there for me." He whispers and I kiss him.

"Always."

I walk in my living room to see my best friends invited themselves into my house and are now watching tv and eating my food.

"Again guys?" I ask and they laugh, turning to face me.

"We're best friends, it's what we do." Jeremy tells me with a smirk.

I roll my eyes at him. "Whatever."

Camille walks in, looking down at her phone. She doesn't look up from her phone.

"Hello to you too, dear sister." I say dramatically and she finally looks up from her phone.

"What?" She questions. "I'm talking to Winston."

The three of us grown when she says his name and she glares at all of us.

"He's not that bad!" She argues with us.

"Yes he is." Jeremy says at the same time I talk. "I'm seriously debating killing him."

Camille looks at me and knows I'm not joking.

"Don't you dare!" She exclaims, pointing at me.

"It'd be for the best, Camille." River speaks for the first time.

"If you kill him or harm him in any way, I will hate you forever." She tells me before leaving the room.

"Well that went well." River says cheerily.

"Oh yeah, just wonderful." Jeremy agrees in the same cheery tone.

"So, where's your wife?" River asks me as I sit down next to them.

"She's here somewhere, probably planning her next escape." I reply, pouring myself a drink.

"I'm pretty sure she's planning your murder." Jeremy tells me, half joking half not joking.

"I wouldn't be surprised." I say, shrugging.

"It's been, what, two months, and I still haven't met her." River complains.

"You'll meet her soon. There's a ball coming up, and you know what that means." I tell him.

"You need Jer and I to be there, helping you out and keeping watch." River says, telling me he remembers.

"Precisely. Now I just need to figure out how to convince Alexia to act like a loving wife." I say, the last part mostly to myself.

"How important is the ball?" Jer asks.

"Very." I say while shaking my head.

"What's something she really wants?" River asks me.

"A divorce." I state blankly.

River rolls his eyes. "Fine, what's a second thing she really wants?"

"She wants to go somewhere away from here." I answer.

"Okay then give her that." He says simply.

"It's too dangerous for her to go alone."

"Then go with her."

"I'm pretty sure she'd stab me."

He gives me a 'really?' Look and I roll my eyes.

"Fine." I reluctantly agree and stand up to go find my wife.

I hear a knock on my door and call for whoever it is to come in.

Mason walks in and I close the journal I was sketching in.

"So, there's this ball soon and I need to be there because of business. My wife, and co-leader, also needs to be there. Please go with me and play the part of a loving wife." He tells me.

"Hello to you too." I say sarcastically.

"What's in it for me?" I ask him.

"You can go visit somewhere far away from here." He tells me and I suddenly become hopeful.

"Really?" I ask, desperately hoping he's not lying.

"Really." He confirms and for the first time in a while I genuinely smile.

"There's just one catch. It's really dangerous so I'll have to go with you." He tells me.

My smile falls instantly but if it's the only way then fine.

"Alright, fine." I agree. "I'll go to the ball and I'll play my part."

"Thank you, Alexia." He thanks me and I just nod.

"How's your leg?" He asks me, referring to the other night.

"It's fine." I tell him, wanting him to leave me alone.

He seems to get the hint. "Okay. Goodnight, Alexia."

"Goodnight, Mason."

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Hello! Thank you for reading my book, I really appreciate you guys!!!

I know these two chapters haven't been the most interesting but please bare with me, it'll get interesting soon.

If you guys have any ideas on what you want to see in this story, let me know!