THE BLADE BROTHERS

LYDIA

I leaned against the door of the passenger seat as Tanner's jeep sped through the lit streets of Ohio.

My bones felt weak after a grueling twenty-six hours flight from Sydney to Columbus, with two stops along the way. Especially as I had missed my first early morning flight due to oversleep.

My body ached, my muscles stiff, and all I wanted to do was collapse onto a bed and sleep for a week.

“We've arrived babe," Tanner's voice came as he glanced over, his perfectly styled blonde hair complementing his features.

“Already?" I gave a dry yawn.

He arched his brows, his brown eyes fixed on me. “If the ‘already’ you mean is for a two-hours drive without stops, which would take longer with stops, then yes. We're already here."

I smiled faintly, rolling my eyes. “Well, can you circle the estate like twice, while I try to regain my strength?"

That did it. That sentence was enough to make him cut the car engine, get down from the car, walk over to my side and pull the car door wide open.

“Nuh-uh gurl. I can't be the reason you miss your parents' anniversary today. You haven't even had a chance to wish them in person yet."

“Uhhh," I groaned. “Fine. I'll go in now."

“That's my girl. I'll meet you at home by tomorrow morning, Ms Winters," he winked, watching me get down.

I shook my head slightly, a smile tugging at my lips. He never ceased to stop me from being lazy at every slightest chance he got.

I grabbed my purse, and the gift bags containing expensive wine and jewellery my mother loved.

The cool evening air hit my bare shoulders as I stepped out of the car. I pulled down the hem of the red cocktail dress Tanner had bought for me three hours before my flight.

“This is Prada, darling," he had stated confidently. Besides, all eyes will be on you.”

Well, I didn't want all eyes to be on me, not when the neckline plunged lower than I normally wore and the hemline went above my knee each time I sat down.

I strode to the open entrance door, music spilling from inside the house. I entered the foyer which opened to a massive room where both young and old couples mingled.

I scanned the room, my eyes darting towards every decoration in the room. That was the only thing that was different tonight. Normally, it was just a plain dark coloured house that hasn't been renovated since eternity.

The Winters Mansion. One that my parents had refused to renovate, leaving it to look like a gothic mansion.

My phone chimed.

I glanced at the screen, reading the contents. It was about time my mother responded to a message I sent her twenty minutes ago, asking her where I would meet them if I arrived.

Mum: Come to your bedroom. We're there.”

I closed my phone, clutching the gift bag in my right hand. Right. Now, if nothing had changed for the past six years, it would be easy locating my bedroom. I grabbed a glass of champagne sitting on the table beside me, sipping a bit.

Then, I ascended the stairs, my heels clicking against the polished marble stairs. I walked across the hallway on the second floor, my eyes flickering to every closed room I passed.

I stopped in front of the second to last room on the floor, reaching out to turn the door knob. Muffled voices sounded from inside the room, though I couldn't tell whose voices they were.

As I pushed the door open, I froze, my pupils widening. A lady was on top of a young man, straddling him, both of them naked on the bed.

They turned their heads towards me, their eyes landing on me.

“You can't knock, young lady?" the lady spat, pulling away from him. His cock stood, veins visible on it.

"So sorry,” I muttered, slamming the door shut. Gawd. Really? They found an anniversary party a good place to have fun? In my bedroom at that. And they definitely weren't my parents.

I turned around, my head lowered at the sight I had just seen. Just as I took a step forward to leave, I ran into a broad and solid chest. The glass of champagne I held spilled onto the figure’s body.

Stumbling back and wincing, I looked up at the figure and froze at the sight before me. A tall, muscular man dressed in all black, with his collar open just enough for me to see the right amount of muscle stood in front of me.

His jet black wavy hair hovered around his forehead, his jawline sharp, accentuated by his charming facial features. A sword tattoo was each at the sides of his neck.

His presence was nothing but danger.

With guilt laced on my face, I wiped his shirt with my hands. “Sorry about this," I apologised, averting my gaze to his shirt.

Suddenly, he held my left wrist on his chest, his eyes narrowing.

“Hold on." His deep voice sent shivers down my spine. My legs stayed glued to the floor, as I waited for an outburst from him.

“Lia?"

My brows puzzled. I looked up at his gorgeous face again, scanning it this time. Something about him felt familiar, but I couldn't figure it out.

"Do I know you?”

He scoffed. “I am clearly not mistaken, Freckle face.”

Freckle face? I narrowed my eyes. Only one person had ever called me that, and I despised it.

Then, it all came rushing back to my head. I hadn't recognised him sooner as everything about him had changed. Well, everything except that he was still an ass and a bully.

But now, he was way more charming than he was at twenty-one. He was the wealthy, arrogant playboy girls would swoon around, and also the Blade family's eldest son.

"Ezekiel?”

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Ezekiel Blade,” he said. "Why are you without your glasses, freckle face?”

He always mentioned his last name like he was nothing without it. But I knew that he loved the name so much as it meant people would fear him.

I rolled my eyes, pulling my hand away from his grip. “Still a bully, huh? Besides, I don't wear glasses anymore, and I'm definitely not freckle face. It's Lydia Winters,” I said, mimicking his words.

His smirk deepened, his grey eyes locked onto mine. “Are you sure you don't need glasses anymore?Cause that might be the reason you bumped into me."

“Lydia?"

A voice sounded from behind me. I turned to see Julian coming out of my bedroom, tucking his long sleeved shirt inside his tailored trousers. Beside him, Ava stood, her hands on her hip. I recognised her instantly as her appearance hadn't changed.

My heart skipped a beat, while I tried to force a smile. It has been so long—six years? Since I saw him last, and woah, he looked different. He pushed a strand of his blonde hair back, his blue eyes gazing at me. I swallowed hard, stopping myself from smiling at the fact he mentioned my name.

“Yep, that's me. Been a while, Julian.”

He slowly opened his mouth, stunned. “Wow… you look…

“Beautiful?" Ezekiel said, his tone low.

“Breathtaking." He said too quickly, his eyes lowering to my body. That comment left my heart racing, in a way that the sound was audible to me. He no longer saw me as the seventeen years old ugly girl. Now twenty-three, I am prettier.

Ava went closer to Julian, holding on to his arm. “That's no way to compliment your ex-girlfriend, Julie,” she said, feigning an amused look on her face.

"She is also my best friend, babe,” he said, trying to justify his words. My heart sank hearing him call her babe. And come to think of it, he had never really referred to me as babe since we started dating.