LOGINMaya's POV"GPS signal lost.""What the fuck?"I frowned at my phone as I drove through the tunnel near Wentworth Ave. For a moment, the map disappeared completely. The second my signal returned, I let out a breath and focused back on the road."Turn left."I followed the GPS instructions and continued driving. A few minutes later, I turned onto Emerald Avenue and made my way down the 3600 block."You have reached your destination."I smiled as I looked up at the address Shane had sent me."Oh, wow."The house was beautiful.Three stories tall and standing proudly on the block, it looked even better than I'd imagined. I parked my car, shut off the engine, and spotted Shane's Defender sitting out front.A grin spread across my face.I climbed out, locked my doors, and made my way toward the house. Construction was still underway, but it looked like most of the major work had already been completed. The roof was finished except for a few remaining tarps.I unlatched the gate and walked
Crandon's POV"Are you sure you're not upset that we didn't go to the party?"I shrugged and pulled Tempest closer against my side.Knox had invited us to his little kid Olympics extravaganza in the backyard, but honestly, I was perfectly happy right where I was. Tempest had been through enough lately, and I wanted a quiet Sunday with her. Just us. No crowds. No chaos.Besides, I actually liked being home.I didn't think Tiffany and Maverick had gone either. I knew they were invited, but from what I understood, they were spending the weekend together.I kissed the top of Tempest's head."No. I'm great right here. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."She smiled and curled deeper into my chest."Since that nutty professor has been locked up, I'm actually really, really good."I laughed softly."When's his arraignment?"She sighed."Thursday, I think. Detective Brown, the guy handling the case, called me. They want me to come in beforehand and talk to them. Apparently there were two
Kole's POV"Brother, I love you, but this is insane."Knox laughed as he looked around the backyard. "I think it's fun. The kids are enjoying themselves. We have age-appropriate activities for everybody since we have so many toddlers in the family now. We even have areas for the teens and preteens."I shook my head."You should've invited Shane and his kids."Knox groaned. "Shit, I forgot about him. I was trying to keep it mostly family, you know? That's why I didn't think about it. Next time."I raised an eyebrow."Next time?""Yeah," he said with a shrug. "I don't think we're doing a big party for the kids' actual birthdays this year. Sienna will be due around that time. The next party will probably be next year. It seems like I always get Sienna pregnant around the same time as this new baby is due one week after Carter's birthday, and his birthday is three days after Londons'."I started to respond when Dad walked over."I should've brought your other brothers."I rolled my eyes
Keisha's POV"Kole, where are Mabel's little gym shoes that I just bought her?""Babe, they're in her room," Kole called back. "On her little stand over in the corner."I sighed dramatically and headed back upstairs.Sure enough, he was right.I grabbed the tiny sneakers and headed back down, shaking my head."We have to get to Sienna's house before everybody else does," I said. "All the parking is gonna be gone."Kole laughed."What are you talking about? They have an entire parking lot behind the house.""I know that," I said. "But I want to park in the front. I don't want to be way back there. The neighborhood is up-and-coming, but it ain't all the way up yet.""Stop it," he said, laughing. "There's so much development over there now. The Presidential Library is over there. Restaurants, shops, everything. We'll be fine.""Whatever."I bent down and slipped Mabel's little shoes onto her feet. Today was some kind of giant family adventure day that Knox had dreamed up for all the kids
Maya's POVBuzz. Buzz. Buzz.I frowned as my phone vibrated for what felt like the tenth time.I looked down at the screen while mindlessly eating from a bag of popcorn and watching Gabby run circles around the living room, waving the ribbon she'd gotten from her goodie bag earlier that afternoon.My eyebrows furrowed as I read the message.What in the entire fuck?So Stanley had been approaching Shane's ex-wife, trying to recruit her to dig up dirt on us and break us up.The man was a complete shithead.I quickly texted Shane back.'Did she give him any information? Did she actually help him with anything?'His response came almost immediately.'I don't think so. Sounds like he just kept approaching her from different angles trying to get information.'I sighed and dropped onto the couch.As I sat there chewing popcorn, my thoughts started piecing things together.Then something clicked.Isla had never been invited to my art opening.Yet she showed up. So did Stanley. So did Stanley'
Isla's POVAs I pulled the last batch of cookies from the oven and transferred them onto a serving plate, I glanced over at Lily and Sophia. Both girls were happily dipping oatmeal raisin cookies into glasses of milk, smiling like they hadn't a care in the world.For a moment, I simply watched them.God, I loved my children.The doorbell rang.I heard Shane groan from down the hall before he emerged from his room and headed for the front door. He looked through the glass, nodded, and opened it."Thank you so much."A moment later, he came back carrying two large pizza boxes from Giordano's.One was a deep-dish pizza.The other was a thin crust loaded with spinach, mushrooms, and other toppings I actually liked.I smiled despite myself.Shane set the boxes on the table and checked the time."It's 5:45. Shane Jr. should be here soon. He texted me and said he's on his way."I grabbed drinks from the refrigerator and placed them on the table along with plates, napkins, and cups."Girls, a
Shane’s POVSitting across from Maya feels unreal, like I slipped into someone else’s life and forgot to check the mirror on the way in. She’s beautiful in that effortless, dangerous way. The kind of woman you don’t approach unless you’re prepared to have your whole equilibrium shaken, and here she
Keisha’s POVI sit beside Kole, watching him spiral in real time, and honestly, I’ve seen a lot in my life. Boardrooms full of men twice my age trying to intimidate me. Audits that would make lesser people sweat through their suits. Hostile takeovers. Corporate warfare.But this?This girl has been
Crandon’s POVAs I walk around Knox’s wedding, I sigh, long and heavy, because I see her.Her.The beauty that should’ve been mine.The one I really, really, really fucked up with.Carmen.She’s standing a few feet away, laughing as her cousin comes down with the bouquet like she just won the Super
Kole’s POVWalking around my brother’s wedding, I feel… good. Like genuinely good, proud, happy, and whole.I watch Knox laughing with Sienna, the way his hand stays anchored at the small of her back like he’s afraid she might float away, and it hits me how far we’ve come. There were plenty of tim







