Chapter 9 SKYLA'S POV

Ed was waiting at the airport the moment My flight landed. My whole body was tense with fatigue as I pushed through the sea of people, my limbs aching, my heartbeat drumming in my ear.

I anxiously scanned the parking lot, my breath hitching when I finally found him; his signature baseball cap sat snugly on his head as he waved me towards his car.

I rushed to where he stood, my heart hammering in my chest as I took him all in, searching for any bodily harm, but all I saw were two curious honeyed warm orbs staring back at me.

His face contorted into a small smile.

I let out a shaky breath, handing him my suitcase as I followed dumbly behind, cold beaded sweat forming at the crown of temple.

"Ed? Why aren't you saying anything?" I asked, my orbs digging into his as we strapped ourselves in. The sweet scent of sunflower and his woodsy perfume lingering in every corner of his car.

He tapped a rhythmic tune on the steering wheel, the sound of his fingernails tapping against the wheel caused my breath to hitch.

That tune was our signature code, which mostly served as a warning. It was something dumb we had come up with when we were in high school, just to get away from a serious whopping when we had offended our very black parents.

And now, he was using it, the same rhyming tune, although it had been long, so it was kind of rusty.

I gulped fearfully, my eyes darting around for any potential threat. Only our uneven breathing filled the empty space between us.

"Ed?" I called out calmly, despite my fraying nerves. ",What is wrong? You know, for someone who sounded oddly worried over the phone, don't you think you're being a little too quiet.....

He put a finger to his lips, hushing me, keying the ignition to the car as he swerved out of the parking lot in one swift motion.

"They were watching you" he said in a small voice, not breaking contact from the road that unfolded before him, my hands trembling.

I released a small sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "What do you mean I was being watched? Ed, why did you call me. Because clearly you look fine?

Sighing, he hit pause on the break, which caused me to slightly jolt forward, thankful for the belt holding me in place.

"Promise me you wouldn't get mad, Sky?" Be asked, his hands tensing slightly on the steering wheel.

I scoffed at him in disbelief, staring briefly at him. "I promise you, Ed, I won't get mad" I replied, biting my bottom lip in regret for readily agreeing to his terms.

He released a frustrated sigh, punching the steering wheel slightly, which caused the horns to honk. Several people stopped to stare, but I was internally grateful for the tinted windows.

"You've been blacklisted Sky, nobody wants to work with you. ALL the publishing houses have decided to drop your books"

I felt my stomach knot with dread, and my bottom lips quivered slightly as I tried my best not to burst into tears in the middle of the road.

He palmed his face slightly, frustration scrawled across his face in big bold letters. "That's not all Sky" he muttered, avoiding to meet my gaze, his next words cutting through me like shards of ice. "They need your signature for transfer of ownership for your previous books, which is scheduled for tomorrow,"

I felt chills scatter across my skin, a sharp hiss of pain escaping my mouth as I dug my nails into my palm.

My voice tight. "Okay, so where exactly are we going now?" I asked, my voice steady, despite my trembling nerves.

I had done as he had said, flew to Manhattan today, and yet he still decided to punish me for it. I felt tears sting my eyelids.

I just wanted to press a pause button to all that was happening to me, I lived for drama, but I hated being in it.

He clenched his jaw slightly, his heavy breathing drowning me in more misery. "The mayor has asked to have dinner with you, so we are making a quick stop at my girlfriend's. Steph, to tidy you up a little bit"

Scratching my neck awkwardly, my whole body tingling with exhaustion, I let out a small growl. "Why does the mayor want to see me?"

"He didn't say, said it was urgent"

The tidying up took forever, I could already see the colour start to drain from my face as Steph gave me a swirl towards the mirror, my long-sleeved midnight black dress that stopped mid thigh clung snuggly onto my body, enhancing my curves.

I had opted for a regular messy bun with, with a few strands of my curls framing my face that had already become a signature look. With a little dab of powder, eyeliner, and lip gloss, I was ready to go.

Grabbing a high kneed boot from Steph's vast collection of shoes, I felt a little bit conflicted because I was starting to like her. She was a chill girl ,

She also loved Harry potter, it felt like I was being unfair to Lee, and it made my heart break a little.

We left Quinceton after Steph and I promised each other to fill each other up on our lives, exchanging phone numbers.

The ride to the mayor's villa, was filled with awkward silence, both of us drowning in our thoughts, only the occasional sound of his GPS directing us on the turns and bends to take filled the empty space between us.

He let air escape through his nose when we were finally on the bend that would take us straight to the visa, his hands tapping against the steering wheel.

His agitation was slowly starting to rub off on me, I nervously tucked two curls behind my ear, my chest tightening with every drive that took us closer to the gate that was flagged with security.

After two uneventful minutes, we were finally let in through the gates, a whole knew world opening before us, as we trudged slowly through the bricked roads, a wide arrangement of trees and flowers flagging both sides. It was the glittery neon sign on the water fountain that made me open my mouth in shock.

The beauty that laid before me mind boggling. A valet was waiting for us at the entrance, the sweet smell of neatly groomed flowers lingering on to every corner. We were thoroughly searched before we were allowed to go in, my heart hammering frantically in its ribcage cage. I couldn't bring myself to appreciate the neatly decorated room.

"You're here? A loud, energetic voice boomed across from us, a whole feast arranged neatly on the table.

He walked briskly towards us. His huge form was clad in a loose button-up shirt and flare pants. A stark contrast to his usual suit.

I gulped slightly, putting my hands in his outstretched palms, kissing the top of my palm ever so softly, which caused my breath to hitch, and I felt Ed tense beside me.

He chuckled slightly, his dark skin glinting under the chandelier. " Forgive my hospitality, Ms. Jefferson, my wives and kids are on a trip"

I chuckled awkwardly, my hands still tucked in his big burly palms as he led us towards the feast. The smell of gravy, grilled chicken, and beef sauce made my stomach grumble.

Which earned me a chuckle from the mayor, hues of embarrassment tinging my cheeks.

"We are supposed to wait for the other guests, but since Ms. Jefferson here is hungry. Why don't we dig in" he said with an excited clapping of his hands.

We were halfway into the food when he spoke, his voice causing my spoon to clatter against my plate.

"I just wanted to apologise to you Skyla, you know, with what has been going on lately and all?" He stated firmly, slowly running his hands through his beards. "I honestly wish I could help you out, but you know how Xavier gets......"

I gulped the water in front of me, clearing my throat. "Wait, you don't believe the news?

He let out another low guttural chuckle, my whole body tingling at his fixated gaze on me. "Of course not, Ms. Jefferson, don't forget you once tutored the kids in this small town during the workshop? I would be an idiot if I fid" he ended with a small smile.

I let out a confused sigh, my hands tightening around the rim of the glass. "Why are you saying this?

His gaze turned dark all of a sudden, his warm brown eyes that reminded me of my Dad's stared right through me, s if dissecting me.

"Because I knew your father"

I felt my whole world freeze, the world giving away slightly beneath me.

I heard Ed's voice boom across the almost silent room, I heard even forgotten he was here. The sound of blood rushing into my ear drowned Ed's words.

My breath came out fast and laboured, with the world blurring at the edge.

"Tyrone was my younger brother" he said in a firm voice.

II back pedalled in my seat, causing the floor to scratch noisily against the marbled tile. Cold chills slithered down my spine.

"I hate you." I snapped, jolting hastily from my seat like it scalded me.

I felt Ed hold onto me, his warmth grounding me.

"After all these years." I whispered, my voice tight with several emotions. "After all these darned years, you invite me to your house to what?

He was on his feet, too, his eyes pleading.

"Look Sky, it was complicated, trust me I....

"We begged you guys to come for his funeral, we sent you letters, yet you ignored them " I spat bitterly, staring at him in disbelief.

No wonder he was always so nice to me, damn I was stupid.

He ran his hands through his face in frustration. "Look Sky, I had no idea my brother died until recently I.......

"And that is supposed to do what? I hate all of you" I said, running out of the room, Ed's voice booming behind me as I ran for my life, tears blurring my vision.

If I felt my whole world tilt when I collided with someone, my whole body crashed against the marbled tile.

Several screams echo in the hallway.

A pair of sea green eyes The last thing I saw.