Trouble

ELARA

My eyes started to water again as I watched my remaining brothers, Connor and Julian, step into the room. They hurried to my bedside just like my father and my other three brothers had in my previous room, before they ordered my relocation to this private space.

“Ela…” Julian murmured, leaning down to kiss my forehead, while Connor took my hand. My second and fourth brothers, Mason and Liam, watched from a distance, hands folded across their chests.

“How are you feeling…?”

“Fine…” I muttered, even though I was feeling anything but. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ve told you to stop apologizing, Elara!” Mason’s voice thundered in the room, but I could see the pain in his eyes. “It’s not a crime to love. It's not your fault that the bastard was too dense to see your value… so stop apologizing. It’s the fool that should be apologizing.”

Connor scoffed, his grip on my hand tightening. “We just met him outside…”

Liam’s hands unfolded from his chest, clenching into fists by his sides. “You said what?”

“We just met him outside, trying to convince the guards to let him in so he can see his wife…” Connor scoffed again, a look of pure disdain on his face. “I take it that he has seen the news broadcast and wants to mend fences…”

I shut my eyes as another flash of pain grated on my heart, despite my earlier resolve. So, he wanted me now because I was a Viking?

Did he even really want me? Or did he just want to keep me as a sidepiece that would print out money for him while he was still seeing Miranda?

“Elara, don’t tell me you still love that bastard?” Julian asked. Being the closest to me, he must have noted the pain that scrunched my face for a mere second.

I shook my head weakly. “I hate him.”

“Good,” my brothers agreed in unison, the room relapsing into a silence threaded with mild tension.

“Where is Dad and Dominic?” Connor asked after a moment.

Dominic was my eldest brother, and it had taken me telling him of the cyber virus en route to Shawn’s company to stop him from going over to find Shawn and making him disappear from the surface of the earth.

The thing was, I didn't want Shawn dead. No, that was too easy.

I wanted him to suffer—to enjoy the consequences of his actions, of hurting me and my baby, of hurting a Viking. I would make sure he regretted the day he was born; I would make sure he regretted choosing Miranda.

“They want to speak with the doctor about some complications…”

Julian, sitting on my bedside, furrowed his brows. “Complications? Did something else happen?”

Mason and Liam exchanged weary, somber glances. “She lost her child.”

Connor punched his palm, the sound sharp in the quiet room. “That…” He got to his feet, already heading for the door, but Liam stopped him.

“Wait… Elara wants to punish the bastard by herself. We will just have to put in our support when she asks.”

“And how do you plan on doing that?” Julian murmured, gently touching my cheeks and pushing a stray lock of hair away from my face.

“A cyber virus is already in his company, and I scheduled evidence against him that will go live in mere hours from now….”

They knew I was Stormbringer. They knew I was Nuxia—a secret known only to them and my father. Julian’s smile was sad as he dropped another kiss on my forehead.

“That’s my girl. Together, we will make him regret his existence… I’m glad you are back. That you called us…”

My eyes watered again as I clasped his hand tight. “I’m glad too. I’ve missed you all. I’m so—”

“If you say sorry again, El, I swear you will have me to deal with…” Mason threatened.

I laughed, a weak thing, but they all chuckled too, the tension easing away somewhat.

“How long am I going to be here? I really want to go home…”

—

Home looked the same, and that’s probably why I started crying again, sinking my face into my father’s chest the moment we stepped out of the car.

“It’s okay, darling… it’s okay…” he murmured, his hand holding me steady while the other patted my back reassuringly.

My brothers waited until I got my emotions under control before they started walking forward. As I moved, I took in the structure before me. The mansion was a sprawling masterpiece of stone and glass, surrounded by vast, manicured lawns. Smaller, elegant houses were dotted far in the distance for the staff and visitors.

I looked at the towering trees and the vibrant flowers, knowing a hidden garden was nestled somewhere nearby. How could I have left all this for Shawn?

The musician was right when he said that love made one do stupid things.

“Are you sure you want to be left alone?” Julian whispered as I stopped at my door. The hallway seemed congested by their bulky, handsome frames.

I smiled, remembering the lengths I had gone to just to attend a different high school from them. The attention they garnered from girls wasn't something I wanted; I had wanted friends who would love me for who I was.

But that was the start of my problem, wasn't it?

Going to another school where my identity was hidden so I could live like a normal person. Only that life was not pleasing, especially for a nerd.

But I had been stubborn. I had pushed through each bullying session with hope for a better tomorrow—only that led me to Shawn, the architect of my heartbreak.

But no more hiding or pushing away my identity. No, I would wear it like a badge of pride.

“Yes, I am okay,” I finally said, smiling as each of them dropped a kiss on my forehead before turning to leave.

“I’m so glad you are home,” my father said, his eyes shining as he took me into another hug. “Don’t go away again. My heart might not take it.”

A tear slipped past my eye. “Never again, Dad. Never again. I’m here to stay.”

He turned to leave after disengaging from the hug, but I held his arm. “Wait… about my betrothed…”

The betrothed I had been escaping from, the part of my family life I had wanted no part of, only to dive into a fire instead.

“You don’t need to worry about that now… if you don’t want to…”

“I want it. Can I meet him?”

My father frowned slightly, but he eventually nodded. “Of course. But not now. I know you want revenge, but rest for now…”

He kissed my forehead again, tapped my cheeks gently twice, and walked away.

When I entered my room, I met my mother’s picture which hung on the wall opposite the door first. She had died of cancer six years ago, and now I wondered if grief had played a part in driving me into Shawn’s arms.

I shook my head, deciding it wasn't necessary to think about.

Instead, I touched my belly, my expression hardening. All that mattered now was Shawn paying for his sins.