The Alpha King's Series

CHAPTER-FORTY-NINE

BRINLEY.

THREE YEARS LATER.

Things went from Dominic, and I was getting by to barely surviving this year. I no longer call Knox once a year. Cherry called after I left Hillispoint and told me three men threatened to kill her if she didn't tell them where I was.

Cherry told them she fired me for being rude to a customer who was a lie, but it kept her safe.

I broke my phone and threw it out of town before ditching Rubens's car.

I hitched rides from strangers with Dominic for hours and days at a time.

I know Charles will keep looking high and low for me; he wants Caliana's book.

I managed to get Dominic and me a run-down apartment that looked worse than the one we had before.

But at least it's a roof over his head.

I got a job working for a lawyer in our new town Hopedale. It's a long way from the Caputo kingdom.

I mostly fill out the paperwork or look over the lawyer's case files and make sure he didn't miss anything he could use in his closing arguments this week.

Jeffery Meed.

That's who I work for now, and he is a nice middle-aged man. And he doesn't mind me bringing Dominic along as long as he doesn't interrupt his work.

I don't make much money an hour here since I only work a few hours out of the day, but Jeff doesn't need me any longer than a few hours.

I only have two months’ worth of rent out of the money Knox gave me three years ago. I didn't have much saved from working at Cherry's.

Buying clothes for Dominic is a must because he is outgrowing everything faster than I want him to. I barely have enough money now to put food in Dominic's belly.

So many nights and sometimes days, I go without food to make sure he eats.

I've only worked for Jeffery for two months, but a few hours will add up at the end of the week, and I can buy food for Dominic.

"Hello?" I say, answering my new phone that Jeff gave me if he needed to call me.

"Brinley, it's me, Knox,"

I frown. How did Knox get this number? I've only had it a couple of weeks.

"How did you get my number?”

"That's not important. Sister Mary Danvers needs to speak with you. It's urgent call her now, then call me back," He says, ending the call.

Sister Mary Danvers?

What could she possibly want with me?

I sigh and dial the number to the orphanage.

"Hello?"

"Sister Mary Danvers?"

AVES

"It's Brinley; Knox said you needed to speak with me,”

"Oh, Brinley. Thank Goddess, you called. I'm not sure how much longer I could have hid her,"

I frowned.

Hid who and from who?

"Who are you hiding, sister?"

"Someone dropped a newborn off last week. On the note, it said her name is Caliana; I cannot tell Xander she is here. Charles has convinced him he needs to kill her to protect his son,"

My mouth dropped. Charles wants Xander to kill Caliana? And Xander agreed?

"Knox is picking her up and bringing her to you. Brinley, you are her only hope," The sister said, and I heard her gasp.

"Where is she?" I heard a deep voice ask the sister.

"I have no idea what you are talking about,” Sister Mary Danvers says, and I can hear her breathing heavy.

"I know Caliana is here. I can smell her,"

I know that voice.

Charles.

I hung up the phone and called Knox back.

"Brinley,"

"Charles knows Mary Danvers had Caliana. You need to bring her to me today."

"We knew Charles would smell her scent. We got a stillborn and a lot of blood, and it looked like she had died. The Sisters will be fine,"

"Where do I meet you?"

"Hillspoint,” He says and hangs up the phone.

Dominic and I caught a bus to Hillspoint. I know Charles must have all around this town watching to see If I would return.

My phone rings.

"Knox?"

"Oval street, take a left.” He says.

I sigh and hold Dominic's hand as we walk down the street.

"The hotel to your right goes three blocks down. There is an abandoned park. I'll be by the trees,” He ends the call, and Dominic and I keep following his instructions.

We arrived at the park, and I walked toward the trees. The sun was already setting, and night would fall soon.

"Knox?" I whispered, Holding Dominic closer toward me.

Knox stepped out from behind the tree, inches away from me, and I held my chest.

"You scared me half to death,"

"Sorry," He says.

Knox was holding a car seat, and he turned it around.

Caliana was so tiny, and her hair was black as the night.

Her face scrunched up, and she let out a whimper.

"She'll be hungry soon,” Knox mutters.

"I don't have any formula,” I tell him.

Knox hands me a bag and the car seat.

"Everything she needs is in there,” He says, then kneels and hugs Dominic.

"You've gotten such a big nephew," Knox says to Dominic.

Dominic hides his face behind my leg.

"He's shy," I tell Knox.

Knox nods.

"He doesn't know us anymore,” Knox says with a pained expression.

“I'm sorry,"

Knox shakes his head.

"You did what had to be done,"

I nod.

Knox reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a white envelope.

"Here is money to help you get by,"

I bite my lip and shake my head.

"Were okay, thanks though," I say.

"Brinley, you look thin. Do you eat anything?"

"Yes, I do. I have a long journey back; thanks for bringing Caliana to me,” I tell him and reach into my purse.

"Will you give this to Xander? I send him a journal every year about how Dominic is growing. This is easier than sending it through the mail,"

Knox nods and takes the wrapped-up journal.

"Please take this money," He says.

"Knox, I can take care of the kids. I don't need your money. Give it your mate's brother who told Charles where I was for money.”

"Is that why you stopped calling me?"

I nod.

"That sorry fuck is gonna get it," Knox says, fisting his palms.

"I have to go,” I tell him.

"Goodbye, Brinley,"

I smile.

"Goodbye, Knox,"

After making it back home, I packed our bags and left the two we had been in for a year. I smashed the cell phone Jeff gave me and went to collect my last paycheck. I told my boss that my family needed me and I wouldn't be back, and he understood and gave me a five hundred dollar bonus for all the work I did to win his cases.

I don't know how things will turn out for us three. Having another mouth to feed will be hard.

I didn't want Knoxs's money. I know it will be rough, but I can make it on my own I know I can. TWO-MONTHS-LATER

So far, these last two months haven't been so miserable. I hate running, and it seems that all I've done these last three years. I found a run-down house that needed a lot of TLC, but the owner was willing to rent it to me for four hundred a month if I fixed it up myself.

I got a job at a bakery and a diner. Working two jobs Will be stressful and exhausting, But I now have two kids. I need to provide food, clothes, and toys and fix our new house.

I couldn't afford much, but working two jobs, I needed to hire a babysitter that could watch the kids while I worked. My next-door neighbors have a fifteen-year-old daughter that watches the kids, and since her parents were right next door if she needed anything.

Shelly is a great girl, and Dominic likes her a lot.

"Have a good day, Mr. Barnes,” I wave as I open the door to the bakery.

The bakery where I work is open from 9:00 Am to 2:00 pm., and I work at the diner from 2:00 pm till 7:00 pm.

I walk into the diner and head back to get ready for a long day of work, and the place had been booming with teenagers since its summer break three days ago.

"Shelly, I'm home," I tell her and walk toward the kitchen.

"How was work?"

I nod.

"Busy,"

Shelly laughs and nods.

"Here is your sixty dollars for the day,"

Shelly only charges me sixty dollars a day for babysitting, and most of the time, she is here all day and most of the night.

"Thank you,” She says, sticking her money in her pocket.

"Do you need anything before I go? Lacey and I are going to party tonight,”

I shake my head.

"I'm good. Since the kids are sleeping, I will tackle the rest of the kitchen flooring,"

Shelly nods.

"I almost went through it twice,”

I wince at the thought I cut my foot open twice on this floor.

"Go have fun. Tomorrow is my day off, so I'll be home. But if you want to make some extra cash, I could use help patching some walls,”

"Great. I'll see you tomorrow,"

I nod and wave her goodbye.

I walk down the hall, check on the kids, make sure the windows are locked, then pull down blinds and kiss their foreheads.

It's three bedroom house, but I have only fixed two rooms so far, and every night after work, I work on Caliana's room.

Dominic chose yellow and green for his walls, and he decided on purple for Caliana's.

I patch the last hole in Caliana's wall and open the paint and begin to paint the walls. Since I hardly sleep, this house gives me something to do.

I'm not sure how long I spent painting, but I finished the walls. Next, I need to lay the carpet.

My eyes are getting so heavy, and I know my body needs sleep.

I walk into the kids' room, lay on the floor, and close my eyes.

FOUR YEARS LATER.

BRINLEY.

Today I am dropping Dominic off for his first day of kindergarten. I'm so sad that he has grown so fast. But, Caliana is one already, and time doesn't seem to be slowing down.

We have been in the town of Foursbend for a year now.

I mostly got the house fixed on the inside, and I'll start the outside soon.

Shelly helps me out still with the kids while I work, and she even helps with house renovations. Of course, I pay her extra since she is willing to help out.

I mailed Xander's journal out, but I didn't mention Caliana to him since he wanted to kill her. So I drive six hours from home to mail the letter, and by the time I return, it's time to pick up Dominic. "How was your first day?" I ask him.

"It was good we colored, and Ms. Shepard says that I'm a smart kid,"

I nod at him.

"You are,"

"How about we go for ice cream since your first day went so well?"

"Okay," He nods.

I turn the car in the direction of the ice cream parlor.

Dominic orders a plain vanilla cone, and I do the same for Calliana and me. So we sat at the table by the window, and Dominic dug into his cone.

Caliana decided to shove the cone in her face, and the ice cream went all over her face.

Dominic starts laughing at her, and her big brown eyes fill with tears.

Caliana's lip starts trembling, and I rub the mess off her face.

"It's okay, Caliana,” I tell her.

I handed her back the cone she dropped on the table, and she repeated the same thing.

FIVE YEARS LATER

XANDER.

I closed the journal that marks five years of Dominic's life.

Five fucking years Brinley has been on the run, and I still have no answer as to why she left me. Charles found her, but he lost her again, and he hasn't been able to find her since. So I keep putting off the wedding date where I'm supposed to marry Julia.

Charles hasn't been happy with me, but to fuck with him, a deal is a deal. He was supposed to bring Brinley to me for what he thinks will be a punishment, but it would be far from that. I want my little mate back in my arms to keep her and my son safe from the schemes of Charles.

I've tried everything to get Charles to talk, but he refuses, and he came two years ago and told me the Caliana was taking care of. So I didn't ask questions. I was too close to having Brinley back, but I know Charles has done something to Caliana. I feel it in my bones, and Dominic will hate me for it when he is older for not stopping Charles.

And I won't blame him.

I open the book and glance at the photos once more.

"Xander, Charles men found Brinley. In a town called Foursbend.” Kyle says, barging through the door.

"Charles has his men on the way to get her. What should we do?"

I palm fist and clench my jaw.

If Charles gets to her first, he might hurt Brinley, and I cannot let him break my mate.

"Let's go get her," I tell him.

BRINLEY.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Charles found me.

I was on my way to take Dominic to school when I saw him walk into the bakery. I didn't stop. I just kept going.

"Mom, am I not going to school today?" Dominic asks from the back seat.

I shake my head.

"No, Dominic. Not today," I try to keep my voice calm.

Five years.

I've been on the run for five damn years, and I'm sick of it. Dominic and Caliana deserve a life and not a life on the run. Dominic is six years old now, and he doesn't need any of this. He was such a bright first grader.

Caliana is almost three, and she doesn't fully understand yet, not like Dominic.

Charles has ruined my life and my kid's life, and I'm tired of always looking over my shoulders.

I call Shelly.

"Hello?"

"Shelly. I have to leave town; I can't explain in detail, but their money is on the kitchen floorboard. It's not much, But I want you to have it,"

"Brinley, is everything okay?"

"Everything is fine. I'm going home,"

I never thought I'd be going home again, not after five years and not after Xander and Julia's marriage.

But here I was driving as fast as I could to the Caputo Kingdom, which is only four hours from Foursbend, so I chose it. But, unfortunately, I was under their nose, and they couldn't see it until now.

"Mom, what is this place?" Dominic asks as we pull into the long driveway to the palace.

I sigh. He is going to learn sooner rather than later.

"Dominic, this is where you were born. Where I am from, this is home.”

"If this was home, why haven't we lived here?"

"Mommy found out something bad, and that person wanted to hurt me, and I ran away,”

I didn't want to tell him that Charles would kill him if I didn't give him the box. But he is still too young for that.

Dominic swallows.

"Is this where my dad lives?"

I nod my head.

Dominic nods. But he doesn't say anything else as I pull in front of the door and climb out of the car.

The main doors open, and Xander and Kyle storm out.

They both stop and stare at me like I've grown two heads.

I tilt my head.

"Hi, Xander," I say and turn to Kyle.

"Hi, Kyle,"

"Brinley, we were just on our way to get you,"

I frown.

"Why?" I asked.

"Charles found you," Kyle says.

I nod.

"He was walking into the bakery where I worked when I saw him, and It's been five years, and I'm sick of running,”

Kyle nods.

I look over at Xander, who hasn't said a word.

I walk around the car and open Dominic's door, and he climbs out.

"Dominic, this is you're dad Xander," I pause. "Xander, this Dominic, your son,"

Dominic walks up to Xander and holds out his hand. Xander shakes it.

"It's nice to meet you," Dominic tells him.

"I'm glad I finally get to meet you, Dominic,” Xander says with tear-filled eyes.

"Let's get them inside. It's not safe out here,” Kyle tells Xander.

I turn around and walk back to the other side of the car to get Caliana.

A strong hand grabs my elbow and pulls me into a hard chest.

A chest I've dreamed of for five years.

"You're not leaving,”

I looked up into his eyes and shook my head.

"No, I'm getting my daughter out,”

Xander's gaze fell to the window where Caliana was bouncing her legs up and down.

Xander clenched his jaw.

"You have a daughter?"

I nod my head.

"She will be three next week,"

Xander's jaw ticks three times before letting me go and walks into the house.

I get Caliana, grab both my kid's hands and follow Kyle inside the palace.