Page 63 of Revelation (Love Isn't What It Seems 3)

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The ringingof my cell phone woke me up. I scrambled for it, knocking down in the process my lamp and the clock.

“Hello?”

“Where are you, Layla?”

“Ugh, Liberty. Go back to sleep.”

“It is freaking one in the afternoon. We are supposed to have lunch together today.” Shit, I completely forgot. “You still want to do it, right? I have some exciting news to tell you.”

Damn sleepless nights. It made getting up difficult. It didn’t even occur to me to set the alarm clock for my lunch date with my sister. I couldn’t wait to handle the ransom so I could breathe somewhat easier for another twelve months. And now, knowing that I have the cash thanks to the auction, I wouldn’t stress during that time about the money.

I literally rolled out of bed and fell onto my butt. “Ouch.” A painful yelp escaped my lips.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, yes. Just fell off the bed.” My body complained, needing more sleep. I ignored my sister’s chuckle coming over the phone. I would need an extra strong cup of coffee today. And probably something for my nerves. “I’m jumping into the shower and will be right over. Have coffee ready, please. Lots of it.”

“You got it, sis.” Livy beamed. “I know exactly how you like your coffee. Hurry up. Love you.”

“Love you too, Livy. See you soon.”

The line went dead and I rushed to get showered, dressed, and ready for the day. I found my hands shaking. I knew it was nerves because of what I had to do tomorrow. The day of the blackmail payment drop off was equivalent to visiting my grandparents. Both were dark clouds looming over my life. At least I’ve hopefully eliminated one dark cloud.

When my cab pulled up in front of my sister’s home, Livy and Brandon were already there waiting for me. I forced a smile onto my face. I didn’t want Livy to see me stressing about anything. It would worry her and she had exciting news to share.

“Hey you two,” I greeted them. “Are you waiting on me?”

Brandon ran to me, giving me a big hug. I found the tension in my shoulders easing a bit. I really loved the little guy. Before finding my sister and Lena, I thought I was incapable of loving. But with them, all the years of loneliness started to dissipate. Losing Lena was hard. Seeing Liberty fall apart afterwards was even harder. For all his asshole ways, Alexander turned out to be the best thing for Liberty and Brandon. That man was fiercely, intensely, and crazy jealous over his wife, but he loved her. And that was all that mattered to me. Now that they worked out all their misunderstandings, I finally had a front row seat to learn what a happy marriage looked like.

“I missed you,” Brandon murmured against my chest.

I ruffled his blonde hair. “I missed you too.”

Lifting my head up to meet Livy’s eyes, I noticed Alexander, Maxim, and Daniel here too.

“Um, I thought it would be just the three of us?” I raised my eyebrow at Livy. “Hey guys,” I greeted them. I wasn’t mentally prepared to see Maxim. Recalling our message exchange last night, or rather early this morning, I felt heat burn on my cheeks. Things were simple in the dead of the night and not when in the same room. Now, my words hung heavy and an uncomfortable admission lingered between us. On top of my tension with the blackmail drop-off tomorrow.

“I thought we could all have lunch together,” Livy announced. “And I have your coffee since you seemed to have had another wild night. Is that okay?”

I nodded. It wasn’t as if I would say no with all of them watching. Besides, this was her home not mine. I rolled my shoulders, trying to ease the tension in them and my neck.

Maxim’s eyes burned my skin. Although I studiously ignored him, I was aware of his every look and motion. I could feel his gaze traveling down my body, causing friction in my veins. He looked handsome, although I tried not to see it. It was hard. The way he filled out his clothes made my mouth water. He wore tan slacks and a blue button-down shirt without a tie. His gaze locked on me, his whole posture relaxed as he leaned casually against the wall, both of his hands in the pockets of his slacks.

“You know Daniel, right?”

“Considering he’s my boss,” I rolled my eyes, smiling. “Yes, I know him.”

“Here I thought you’d deny knowing me,” Daniel joked. “And wound my heart.”

I shook my head with a smile, the tension lingering in my muscles. My body tingled in Maxim's vicinity, adding to my stress. The electricity in my veins became a permanent sensation around him. That man made my body respond, in the wildest way imaginable. All the time.

Kind of like Luke.

Luke and Maxim seemed to intermingle in my mind ever since the masquerade ball. The way my body responded to Luke was unique, but I felt that same kind of attraction around Maxim too.

“Am I the last one here?” I questioned, my tone breathless. I couldn’t think about any of that now.

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