Chapter 48
Alaia
“We have nothing. Things have become complicated because we don’t have any family
information for Alicia or the women. The neighborhood where the house is located doesn’t have any cameras, and the workers are only giving us general information,” the man I hired to look for Alicia and the girls from the home said. “Please don’t stop looking for them. If you know anything, call me immediately. It doesn’t matter what time it is, my phone will be on p>
“We will,” he responded and hung up the call.
I bring the phone to my chin and observe the garden where my children are running. I’m. worried about the conditions they might be in right now.
“Honey,” my mother said, arriving at my side.
“Mom,” I said as she hugged me around the waist.
“Still nothing p>
“We have no news.” I sighed.
“And Nick insists he doesn’t know where they are p>
“And you don’t believe him p>
“I can’t. I promised myself I wouldn’t believe any man again. He’s the first on the list, Mom,” I said, walking towards the patio.
“Cedric?” she asked, and I looked at her sideways.
“Cedric is another story. He’s been there for me during my worst moments and has proven to be loyal. He’s always told me the truth, even if it’s difficult. He’s an honest man,” I said, and she nodded.
My children run towards me as soon as they see me, and I make them drink some juice. Their cheeks are flushed from all the running they’ve been doing. Aidan had gone to the UK with Darius. He had to take his final high school exams, and his mother was already upset that he had been there for so long. But my little brother promised to come back as soon as his classes were over.
“I think it’s time to cool off.” I adjusted the caps on their heads. The sun felt strong today.
“No, Mommy,” Noah pointed to the yard, and they ran off again. My mother laughed, and I stood up to take the glasses to the kitchen.
“Miss, someone is waiting for you at the entrance,” Sylvia said, and I silently questioned her.
“It’s better if you see for yourself,” she said with a hint of excitement in her voice.
I hurried out of the kitchen, and my mother followed me.
“It’s hot,” I heard that voice, and my eyes widened. I finished leaving the house and saw them. Ash, Loli, and Tino were getting out of the van. My spirits lifted in a second.
“My warrior princess!” Ash opened her arms, and we both ran towards each other. I hugged my friend tightly, and we didn’t let go for a while.
“Come on, you couldn’t be more beautiful.” She gave me two kisses on the cheeks and hugged me again.
“Mama Pau.” She let go of me as soon as she saw my mother and went towards her while I greeted Loli and my cousin, who had already hidden her beautiful hair under a cap. The boys unload the luggage from the vehicle.
Tino looked at the security men in silence, observing them from head to toe without missing a detail.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me the views here were better than in the UK? My God, I feel like the temperature has gone up.” Tino waited for the boys to enter the house when another car arrived. Several suitcases and the box with my wedding dress were unloaded from it.
“Yes, dear, Tino has brought clothes for three months,” Ash said beside me. Our friend continued to enjoy the view (the security men), and we waited for him to enjoy the moment.
“But look at the hunks they’ve acquired,” she observed them from the outside, hands on her hips. “What is this beautiful heaven? It hasn’t stopped raining in the UK. I’m going back to Europe with a perfect tan. I’ll be the envy of the spiders that work with us.” She walked around the entrance while Ash and I watched her. Loli had gone into the house with my mother.
That’s when I felt two dogs appear behind one of the cars and ran towards us. It didn’t take me long to realize that they were Beast and Cupcake. They both greeted me and wagged their tails as they walked around us. I leaned down to greet them and respond. They’ve only seen me for a day, and they acted like they’ve known me their whole lives.
“And this?” Ash asked, leaning down beside me and stroking the dogs‘ furry heads.
“They’re Nick’s. I forgot to tell you,” I commented.
“What an incredible specimen,” I heard Tino say behind us, and the dogs ran into the house.
“If they belong to…” I turned towards Tino, and his gaze was above us, so we both turned around to find Nick wearing dark shorts and a black cap. His chest was bare, and sweat ran down it. We all fell silent.
“I’m sorry.” He pointed in the direction the dogs have gone. “I let them loose for a second, and they ran over here,” he explained.
“A pleasure, I’m Valentino Ferran.” Tino steps between us, giving us a hard shove that takes us by surprise.
“Nick Garnett.” He shook Tino’s hand.
“Oooh, how strong. I can’t imagine what they can do.” Tino put his other hand on top of my children’s father’s.
“Thank you. Yours is… very soft,” Nick expressed, and Tino’s attitude seemed to amuse him.
“How cute.” Tino acted flirtatiously.
I rolled my eyes at Ash, and she laughed softly.
Nick greeted Ash and looked at him. Since the incident at the group home, things have been tense between us.
“I’m going to get the dogs and see the kids while I’m at it,” he said and entered the house after I nodded.
“He’s not just a hottie; he’s the hottest guy ever. Did you see him?” Tino pointed to the door.
“Honey, I must remind you that p>
“Of course, I haven’t forgotten. He’s as bad as sugar,” Tino said, and we both wrinkled our foreheads and noses at the comparison.
“What are you talking about?” Ash asked, puzzled.
“They don’t understand anything. Sugar makes you fat, sick, and other ugly things.” He turned to go into the house.
We followed him and saw my children happy with Cupcake and Beast.
“Gwandma, Beasty, and Cupcake,” Noah showed his grandmother the dogs while Alana hugged Cupcake around the neck.
“They’re very cute, my love.” She was petting them.
“Hi, little buddy, little one.” Nick kissed Alana’s hand and fist–bumped Noah.
“I have to take them. I’ll come back for you later,” he told my children.
“Okay,” they answered, and Nick took the dogs after saying goodbye and letting the children say goodbye to the dogs.
“I’ll come back for them,” he said to me, and I nodded.
Tino leaned in to watch him go.
“My God, my God, if I were you, I’d keep both Cedric and that hunk of an uncle who just left this house. One would come through one door, and the other would come through the other. A perfect sandwich, can you imagine p>
“Tino!” My mother scolded my friend, and we saw that he had covered my children’s ears. He pressed his lips together and didn’t add anything else.
“Auntie, Uncle Tino!” The children greeted their aunt and uncle Tino excitedly as soon as they noticed them.
That afternoon, Nick came for Alana and Noah. We got together to talk about everything that happened in the UK. They told us that Kurt went to Ash’s house thinking she had arrived, but he ran into Tony and Tino, who gave him a hard time by being affectionate with each other in front of the man and inviting the blonde bodyguard to join them. We couldn’t stop laughing.
“But come on, where are Cedric and your mother–in–law?” Tino asked when we got to my room.
“Freya and Thea went to New York with him. He had a business trip,” I explained.
There was a knock on the door, and Tino opened it quickly. Ash entered with a suitcase.
“I brought gifts,” Tino said, opening the suitcase and taking out several packages.
“It took me a whole day to buy these,” he said and handed us some very pretty boxes.
Ash and I opened them to find the most daring lingerie, but they were beautiful.
“I love them,” I said, picking up a sheer lace bra.
“It’s for you to wear with blondie. You have to awaken his animal instinct. That man must
lose all respect for you.” He held up a small panty that belonged to Ash.
“And you, my dear, we’re going out to a club and see the North American potential. Come on, if they’re like the bodyguards at this house, well, that’s it. Try this set on. You’ll wear it on your wedding night. I want to see how it looks on you and if I chose the right size.” He showed me a pajama set consisting of a very short white dress and tiny panties.
It was a custom to model clothes in front of Tino. He’s an excellent image consultant. I went to my closet and put it on the set. I like it.
“You chose the right size,” I said, coming out so they could see me.
“Now this one,” he said, and threw me another dress, but the fabric was lace. I just took off the other one and stood there in my underwear.
“That must be your mother. I brought some gifts for her,” Tino opened the door carelessly after we heard someone call.
“Nick p>