The sound of the baby echoed through the house. The two young boys ran around while pushing each other.

"Boys! Boys!" The frazzled woman yelled while combing her hair.

One caught up to the other before pushing him down. The little boy cried.

"Vince! My love! The girl is crying, please attend to her." Kaelyn walked over. She grabbed young Eros' hand before popping it. "Do not push your brother."

"I already got her." Vince rocked her back and forth. "It's okay, daddy's got you."

"Eros, apologize to your brother right now." She stood Anteros up.

"No!" Eros ran off. Anteros followed after.

Kaelyn sighed while standing to her feet. "She never cries when you hold her."

"I have a special touch." Vince smiled to himself. "Isn't that right, Luna?"

"I told you we aren't naming her Luna."

"I know. I just don't want to call her 'the girl'. She's worthy of a name as gorgeous as she is. Luna is my mother's name." He stared at the infant.

Kaelyn's phone buzzed and she sighed. "One second."

She grabbed it before going into the patio.

"Beverly, did you meet with Vinces' brother?"

"I can't get involved in this Kaelyn. I'm with the Landon's now. My involvement is their involvement."

"Well, you have no choice. I convinced Vince to invest millions in your company. You owe me." She looked around.

"Is there anything else I can do?"

Kaelyn huffed while staring off into the sunset. "Let me think of something."

She hung up the phone before walking back in.

"Would you like to feed her?" Vince questioned.

"I need to go to my study."

She slowly walked back to her office before locking the door. She dialed a number before holding the phone to her ear.

"Kaelyn."

"Nicholas."

"Why are my sons at your husband's house?"

"Because I wanted to see my boys. I can't take care of my children?"

"Where are they now?"

"Napping."

"This better be important. I had to step out of a deal with an investor."

"Beverly doesn't have the money."

"What?"

"She doesn't have the money, Nick. I don't know what to do. I can't tell Vince that his brother might kill me and his kid if I don't pay up." She sighed while looking through her calendar.

"He'll kill me first! I told you not to do business with him but you don't listen! Fuck, Kaelyn."

"You did it with him first! That's why I'm stuck in a marriage. That's why I had to carry a child who I don't even know if I love. A girl who doesn't have a name because I don't want to come to terms that she's mine. It could have been just you and me and the boys, but went and got into some shit!"

"A marriage you agreed to. You'd been sleeping with him for years. Even while we were together. You introduced me to his brother knowing you were sneaking with him. Marriage couldn't have been that hard."

"I didn't call to argue."

"Then figure some shit out because he's going to come for us. Me, then you, then the girl."

"I shouldn't have put her up for collateral. I was pregnant and depressed. You have to help me get her out of this."

"Talk to your husband. My boys are safe."

~

"You two are doing dealings behind our backs?" Brooks paced across the room. "Is this true Beverly?"

Beverly nodded.

"You got them involved?" Vince questioned.

"They needed to pay their debt. We owe money to people, my love. I had to make decisions." Kaelyn crossed her arms.

"But drugs weren't agreed upon! You've brought everyone into this! Everyone!" Vince shook his head.

"It's a business!" She crossed her arms. "We're in debt."

"You are, not me. You carry my last name now. So clean up the mess you've made!"

Kaelyn huffed. "We invested millions into your company. We aren't getting any revenue back."

"And you will." Brooks crossed his arms. "And what drug business are you dragging us in."

"It's short. You disperse a certain amount and debts will be paid."

"You promised us, Vince. You promised no strings attached when you invested." Brooks angrily said. "Now we're caught up in gangs and drugs?"

"This had nothing to do with me. If I knew, I would have stopped it. You've been working with my brother?" He turned to Kaelyn.

She remained quiet.

"Another deal." She sat up.

"No, no more deals." Brooks shook his head. "You're not trustworthy."

"This is a harmless one. Trust me this once" She said.

Brooks sighed.

"What's the deal Kaelyn?" Beverly questioned.

"Tobias or Brooks must marry the girl."

"No way." Vince shook his head. "You aren't deciding my daughters' future."

"It's a business deal not a life or death situation." She rolled her eyes.

"What's the purpose of them marrying, Kaelyn?" Beverly questioned.

"Because that's how I'll get my money back." She smiled. "When the girl reaches the age of twenty-three, they shall marry. When they divorce, Tobias or Brooks will pay a settlement. That gives you twenty-three years to pay me back."

"No deal." Vince shook his head. "My daughter-"

"She's my daughter too."

"Then act like it."

His phone buzzed and he picked it up.

"Are you serious? We're in a meeting." Kaelyn rolled her eyes.

"Luna, she's sick." He quickly stood up while grabbing his stuff.

"Can't you wait till we're finished?" Kaelyn huffed. "She'll still be sick afterward."

"My daughter will always come first." He walked out.

Kaelyn pulled the papers out before sliding them in front of her best friend. "We got a deal?"

They nodded before signing it.

"What about Vince?" Brooks questioned. "Will he come around?"

"Don't sweat it."

~

I slightly pushed the door open with the box of chocolates in my hand.

Athena sat on a stool reaching up at a painting. It looked like she was painting...herself?

She wore my button-down t-shirt with the shoulder hanging off. I loved when she wore my clothes. She looked beautiful.

She couldn't hear me due to the headphones she wore. It's been a while since she last painted. I missed the smell of paint and the occasional cuss words slipping from her mouth because she made a mistake. Seeing her in her element; in her zone was something so beautiful.

I placed the box down before walking over to her. I took off her headphones, causing her to jump.

"You scared the shit out of me." She smiled.

"Painting yourself?"

"No." She laughed. "This is Bia. Oh my, does it look like me?"

"Now that you said Bia, it looks like her. What's the occasion?"

"Her birthday is coming up and her mom asked if I could throw her a surprise party." She placed down the brush and paint wheel. "So I'm painting this for her gift, I'm also getting her a car."

"It looks good." I kissed her on the cheek.

She wrapped her arms around my neck before kissing me. "And work?"

"Work was work, my love. Enjoyed your day off?"

She stood up while stretching.

"Thoroughly." She pulled me by my tie. My heart was beating incredibly fast. "I can feel your heart thump."

"It happens when I see you."

"Cheesy." She pushed me away.

"It's true."

"Wanna know something?" She questioned.

I nodded.

"I thought about you all day long." She said. "I dove myself crazy thinking about you and what you were doing."

"Yeah?"

"Mhm." She softly said. "I thought about other things too."

"Like?"

She pulled me close again. "Think about it."

"Don't start anything you can't finish, my love."

"Who said I couldn't?"

"Oh gross." Kaleb walked in. "I step away to get groceries and this happens?"

Athena laughed before stepping away.

"I'm glad you're back from vacation. Remember in the old days when Tobias would be at work, and I would be here to annoy you." She followed him into the kitchen.

I smiled before pulling out my phone.

Incoming Call: Piper Landon

I answered before stepping outside.

"Piper, what's up?"

"Little brother! I'm home, I wanna meet wifey."

* * *

Sorry for the short chapter. Just some announcements.

We have eight chapters left of this book and I'm sad that it's ending soon :/. Thank you guys for all the support on this book, I feel so overwhelmed with the amazing feedback.

Chapters following this will be longer I promise!

I love you guys! Stay hydrated <3