Thank you for waiting patiently for me to get my bearings right, as I sorted through life.

I'm not going to bore you with words. Just know I am grateful you're here.

Dear J

"You can't believe how happy I am."

These were the news I was waiting to hear.

Instead of telling Brandon bluntly about Cynthia and her baby, I was stalling for time, wishing for positive news from Alex, instead of taking another problem to him.

And here it was; her phone call was like a blessing.

"Well, I did promise to take care of them. I can't say details, especially over the phone, but I thought I'd tell you at least this."

My boots splashed in the small paddles the rain left behind, the myriad droplets creating myriads of ripples; each one wider in range, overcoming the previous wave with its power.

Fall was soothing in its own way, if not for the uncomfortable feeling of my loose hair sticking to my face because of the spraying rainfall. I should step aside and pull it in a ponytail, but I couldn't lose another second. I had to tell him everything. I couldn't take another second of holding on to this secret.

Lying to him, hiding things from him, plagued my mind in painful ways.

Things have been awkward between us and, without realizing it, I pulled away from him. I was hurting both of us, but for that he was blaming himself.

His abrupt question the other night didn't help either, as things between us became tense. It made sense, given his relationship with his father and pops. But truth was, he took me off guard.

He wanted us to have a family together. A future.

The thought should give me butterflies to my stomach, and it did. But the butterflies weren't just beautiful pin-sized beings with beautiful, colorful wings. They were dragons, with fierce wings and fire. How could I handle that? In what way did our lives have space for a small human being, needing all our attention, when I barely had anything under control?

"Sorry I missed your birthday, the other day. I promise to call when I'm back in the city."

Alex' voice was grounding, pulling me back to my reality. Her loyalty to the King family was unmeasurable; it didn't come as a surprise how quickly I gave her my trust.

"You're not coming to the match tonight?"

Another reminder of how we weren't ready to take that step in our relationship. Things have been tense in the MMA world, with rumors going around left and right. He was not publicly accused of anything up until now, but the pressure was still immense. Brandon was deeper than ever in Cyrus' schemes, and tonight's match would either break him or raise him to the top.

"Sadly, no... something came up, that needed my attention."

Up until now, Brandon hadn't heard anything about how we helped Cynthia and her baby flee the city. I figured, if Alex didn't tell him anything, then maybe Liam would, considering their close relationship. I was positively surprised to find out that wasn't the case, since they didn't have that type of relationship. Even more, I appreciate Alex for giving me time to figure things out, before I told him about what happened.

Ignoring the red traffic lights, I run across the street, the gym's lights already illuminating the street, while people protected by their umbrellas were waiting outside; some patiently, while others anticipated the upcoming match with bated breaths and restlessness.

Dating the owner had its privileges, as I ran past the line, around the block and to the backdoor stairs; leading down to the underground floor, where the boxing ring and Brandon's office were located.

"Well, well... look who just arrived!"

I was locking the door I just came in through, only to spin around, startled by the authoritative tone in his voice. I knew Alex couldn't protect me over the phone, but having her on the other line could be reassuring. Pity our phone call was long over.

"What are you doing here?"

James ignored my question, choosing to block my way to Brandon's office instead.

"Tell me, doctor, do you make it a habit of being in the right place at the right time?"

His voice was sinister, echoing through the empty gym.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said to him, trying to move around him in another attempt to get to Brandon's office, but he wouldn't badge, enjoying the game that was frustrating me.

"Come on, doctor, don't be like that. Let's have a chat,"

"I don't want to chat with you."

"Are you sure about that?"

Dodging away from him, I managed to walk past his tall frame, choosing to ignore him.

"If I know you and Brandon were sneaking around up on that balcony at the Venue, then he knows as well." His words stopped me in my tracks. "And if I saw how Brandon looks at you, then he already knows you're his weakness."

"What?" I turned to look at him, coming face to face with his amused grin. "Your father knows?"

He rolled his eyes, disgust overtaking the previous smug façade.

"Please, he doesn't deserve to be called that." He took another step closer to me, towering over me. "But yes. Chances are, Cyrus already knows."

"What happens now?"

Blood was pounding through my head, my own heartbeat getting louder the more I listened to his words.

"Well, if you two heard what we talked about, which I am assuming you have, then there's a possibility he will take action."

I took a deep breath through my nose, trying to think logically, before a long exhale.

"Is Brandon in danger?"

Another beat. Another deep exhale.

"You care for him, don't you."

He was playing with me; playing with my head.

"Stop patronizing me."

"What are the chances, he'll step away from this match tonight?"

And just like that, all the noise ceased. A light chuckle escaped my lips, my expression a mirror of his own menacing grin.

"Slim to nonexistent."

"Yeah... it figures. That man is stubborn as a bull."

"I don't see how that would benefit Cyrus," I said, wrapping my arms in front of my chest, my posture rigid as I pretended to have everything under control.

"I can't be sure about his plans. I just know they won't be good."

He wasn't looking at me anymore. Instead, he paced the room, one hand rubbing the stubble on his jaw, balanced on the arm wrapped around his front.

"What should we do?"

My words caught his attention again, as he turned to look at me, disapproval embedded deep into his eyes.

"You don't get to do anything. Lay low, preferably go home. And let me handle this."

"As if, I would ever listen to a word you have to say. Don't fool yourself into thinking I trust you."

I moved around him, but like the previous times, he stopped me; this time with a gentle hand wrapped around my arm.

"Ricci, I mean it. Don't be difficult about this. I know you have that savior-complex, but this shit is different."

"Stop! You don't get to do this. You don't know me. You know nothing about me. If you have something to say then say it, but you sure as hell don't get to waltz right in here, talk in codes and expect me to believe anything that comes out of your mouth."

I was out of breath by the time I finished with my rant, both of us glaring at each other, as I kept breathing deeply, in and out, to catch my breath.

I shouldn't let him get under my skin, but here we both were. Staring darkly at each other, while I felt every cell in my body screaming to get away from him.

"I'll watch out for him." He announced, releasing my arm, before he moved towards the back exit. "I'll try to watch out for you, too."

"Don't!" I said back, loud enough to hear the echo of my voice above the closing door.

Silence followed, absolute stillness. But somehow, it became louder than ever, as I walked towards Brandon's office with new determination.

"Brandon... Tesoro, we need to talk-"

"Shh!"

Elijah shushed me rudely, the minute I stepped into the room. My excitement was long gone, but after James riled me up, I knew what I had to do. His uncle be damned, I was going to talk with him.

But the voices following Elijah's one word combat, were enough to stop me in my tracks by the door.

"People are going wild over pictures and videos of one 'Guardian' entering and exiting the Chicago Hospital at unusual hours. Fans are going wild over recent accusations, while the boxing star has remained silent through all of this. Why do you think this may be, Tom?"

I turned towards the TV in Brandon's office. The silence of the men around me present deafening, as everyone in the room watched with wide eyes, at the hosts of the afternoon show's unwelcomed insinuations.

"Well, Carol, it could be anything, from physical therapy to medicinal care. But his silence is what keeps stirring the pot. It's a well-known fact that many young athletes use means such as steroids and doping to increase their performance. If this is what the renowned Brandon King is doing, remains unknown."

Was this Cyrus' plan?

Destroy Brandon once and for all?

Beat him up and throw him bloodied to the lions?

"But still, there should be more control, more testing before all these games, to keep the matches fair and square. Doping isn't only unsafe, but it is also illegal."

I spotted Brandon in the back of the room, hands wrapped tightly in front of him and head tipped back to the wall as he kept his eyes closed. Light footsteps took me closer to him, as I avoided the human mines around me.

His reaction remained absent, still oblivious to my entrance. Tentative fingers brushed above his wrist, along the branches of his ink, when green eyes finally met my own. His gaze was piercing, although still unreadable, as we allowed the few seconds between us to hang in the air.

"You're absolutely right, Carol. It seems that fans are unhappy with these suspicious allegations, and I fear that our young lawyer might soon need one for himself."

"You've got it right. We'll keep you posted, folks. Don't forget to..."

Before the woman of the show, Carol, finished her sentence, Liam turned the TV off, throwing the remote on the couch. He and Malcolm were both upset, but no one was fuming like Elijah.

Elijah King was staring both me and Brandon down, with their family's emblem forest eyes burning.

"Do you mind explaining what the fuck this is?"

His shouts startled me, but I battled the urge to hide behind my Guardian, like my survival instincts urged me to do.

Brandon, on the other hand, didn't even flinch.

At last! It's been such a long time, but finally, finally, FINALLY, a new chapter.

This time brought to you by ! If it wasn't for her, pushing me, threatening me, (Yes, at times I was afraid for my own !) this chapter wouldn't be out tonight. But alas... here we are!

Speaking of , did you see the new cover of her story, . It's so pretty, this woman is so talented, I can't.

Thank you so much for being here. I take nothing for granted. Take care of yourselves. Be good!

xo, Dear J