LENNOX The weather reports warned of a white-out blizzard at 0900 hours, and Kaleb's voice echoed through the communication devices. Exhausted from a never-ending Omega meeting, I climbed the wooden stairs to the second floor, removing my earpiece. I had hoped to escape Kaleb's presence, but his voice still reached my ears, even with the volume high. "Be alert if you're driving to the lake house," he cautioned. Turning the knob on my radio, I silenced his voice. Security had agreed to stay at the main house instead of the cabin a mile away. There were plenty of empty rooms, but I decided to share one with Ashton. Quietly, I entered the bedroom, expecting to find him fast asleep. To my surprise, he was sitting up, leaning against the log headboard, typing furiously on

ASHTON No matter what I had planned to say or how I thought I would feel, it all vanishes when I see my dad. He paces anxiously between the living room fireplace and the window, his hand clenched into a fist. His gaze drifts towards the kitchen, a longing in his eyes. It's a familiar craving, one that screams for just one drink. Throughout my entire life, he has never given in to that urge, never taken a sip of alcohol, never broken his sobriety. But now he's looking again. I stand on the balcony of the second floor, overlooking the living room with its high ceilings and tall windows. Sunlight streams in, illuminating the leather furniture and wooden floors. Outside, snow falls heavily on this cold morning. 

LENNOX "Uriah to the security team, everyone stay out of the study," the Alpha lead commanded through the communication devices. The atmosphere in the lake house abruptly shifted as all three famous families gathered. While Ashton joined his parents and uncles outside, I decided to retreat to the basement gym. Inside the gym, four bodyguards from Security Force Alpha were working out, but I paid them no attention. I despised being scrutinized and hated being part of cliques just as much. Their disapproving glances were directed at me because I had broken their golden rule of getting involved with a client romantically. Perth, the lone representative from Omega, was present. As I completed my twentieth pull-up, sweat clinging to my black shirt, he delivered quick kicks

ASHTON "We're leaving," I declared, my voice filled with a mix of excitement and disbelief. It was finally happening, not some distant fantasy but a real-life event. The surroundings painted a picturesque scene as six inches of snow covered the empty parking lot outside the Food Lion. In the storage bays of our parked tour bus, I struggled to fit in the tenth suitcase. Around me, Security Force Omega buzzed with energy, communicating through their microphones and transporting cases of water, beer, soda, and other supplies. My four cousins scurried on and off the sleek black sleeper bus, carrying snacks and pillows. The paparazzi, who had relentlessly followed our families to Philadelphia, were nowhere to be seen. They likely assumed we were with our relatives, unaware

LENNOX I barely glanced at Perry. "Looks like your client is smarter than you." Perry patted Lincoln's back. "He learned from the best. Me." Such a buddy-guard. Davin squeezed through the hallway. "That's a negative thing, Perry." He stopped by the door and winced at Ashton. "Ouch." Seth peeked his head in. "God, I know how that feels." He pointed at the scar on his crooked nose. "Two years ago, right hook in the ring." "What's that scar from?" Maddy interjected, pointing at the small scar below Seth's eye. She tossed a towel-wrapped ice baggie to Lincoln, who caught it.