We arrived late at the Everette Hotel five minutes before the announcement. Uncle Malkiel and Auden smirked at us as Gideon's hearty laughter broke the ice. "How can you two be late for the announcement," Pa scolded. "We are sorry Pa," Vaughn supplied. "I warned you about drinking," I complained. Elaine shook her head. "Excuses, excuses. The media is here, so let us start." Within minutes, we all walked into the room full of journalists and cameramen. Mayor Everette was the first to take the podium as she greeted everyone. The room was also full of the campaign team and newly recruited party members. "I am proud to stand here today in front of the people of Valletta who put me in this office. It's with great enthusiasm that I declare my candidacy for the Senatorial seat." There were great cheers from the crowd. "I have served my tenure as the mayor and hope to continue serving you and developing Valletta. I know most of you will wonder why I am running on an independent
VAUGHN'S POVGetting home and taking a shower, I was deadbeat tired. The whole campaign and work combined were taking a toll on me. I never had time to spend together with Wade and I knew he was just being patient. I took my phone and sent him a text. 'Hurry home, Daddy.' Just to tease him and let him know that I had missed him. An hour later, there was no response to the text. I pouted and went downstairs to have a glass of wine with Pa. When I got to the kitchen, I found a worried Pa whispering something with Uncle Malkiel and Auden. I stood at the entrance and asked, "What did I miss?"They all jumped aside and when they turned to look in my direction, I immediately knew that something was wrong. "What is wrong?" I asked in a hushed voice. I felt fear gnaw in my body and my heart started beating so fast. They all looked away and then I raised my voice at them, "Someone tell me what is wrong." I knew that something bad must have happened. Elaine and Gideon came rushing
WADE'S POV A week later, Uncle Malkiel rushed to my office and said, "Sam Bexley has been arrested." I stood up and smiled. "Finally." He took the remote from my desk and switched on the TV. The headlines read 'BEXLEY ARRESTED FOR MONEY LAUNDERING'. There was a picture of Sam in handcuffs at a warehouse near the port. "They finally got him. I bet the pressure we put on the police helped." "The police commissioner is also under pressure. He will be resigning soon, taking into account how many bribes he took from Sam Bexley," Uncle Malkiel informed me. "We need to clean out every one of his cartels. That way we can have development in Valletta. I am glad this happened a day before the elections. It means we are headed for a landslide win.""The media has already predicted the win," Uncle Malkiel laughed. Later that night at the dinner table, Pa stood up and said, "I am so glad to have this family together. If it weren't for Vaughn and Wade, I would not have you all here. I
WADE'S POV"Pa!" I yelled from the garage. "We are leaving." It was my first day at work. The Malta museum and art gallery location offices were located an hour away in the capital city of Valletta. My cousin, Auden Malkiel, rushed and got into the beat-up truck, reversing from the garage as I impatiently waited for my father.Pa rushed down the stairs with a food container in his hand and handed it over. "Here is your breakfast. I want to make sure you have something to eat. Being a curator can be intense. Especially the long hours of training. I am thankful you got this job." "Yes, Pa." I had heard this speech for the past few days. But Pa was right. I was thankful for the job and hoped to make enough money to start my own art business. "Wade. You need this job. Reign your temper in from now on and be obedient. I know your feelings and stance toward the elite society, but a man must provide for the family and have his own money," he pressed. "Yes, Pa. I promise to be on my
WADE'S POVBy the time we got home from work, Pa had dinner set. After we showered, we sat down to eat, and my mind wandered back to my angel only to be jolted back to reality by Auden's foot pressing on mine."Pa is speaking to you, moron," he whispered. "Wade, what has you distracted? You haven't touched your food," Pa scolded.I looked at my plate and for sure I had just been playing around with the spaghetti. "I'm tired, Pa. Nothing much. Your food is always delicious," I responded hurriedly.His piercing gaze made me look away and gobble down the meal in silence. My body burned with need every time I thought of my angel. Later that night, I sat by the window of my room, staring out at the night sky. I had always been attracted to men, but this angel made me burn. Sleep eluded me and I was up before Pa and Auden the next day. Our drive to work was usually quiet, but Auden kept glancing at me in question. I sighed and muttered, "What the f*ck are you looking at, moron?" He
VAUGHN'S POVThe ride back to the manor was too short. I was lost in thought as the driver drove down the driveway and Elaine alighted. "Vaughn, come on, we are home," she stated. I dragged my feet and headed straight to the manor's east wing extension. Mother had allocated the whole area to me since she knew I valued my privacy. I rushed to the bedside table and took out my laptop. Accessing the hidden file, I stared at Wade's face. I had snapped the picture after the first time we met at the gallery. He stood staring at a painting on the vast gallery walls. The picture was taken from a side angle but did not hide how muscular and tall he was. His broad shoulders, long legs, and physicality stood out. One would mistake him for a rugby player. I wanted him that instant.When our eyes clashed, my body vibrate with need. He was truly the object of my desires. Fear gnawed my stomach when he took a step toward me this evening. Yet I remained standing in his presence basking in the lu
VAUGHN'S POVWe left the Everette manor close to 2 a.m. and headed to the Havana nightclub. It was the best idea that Elaine and Alden Gideon had – let loose and forget the party drama. Alden Gideon was my best friend. He was the son of the President's Chief of Staff. One of the most powerful families in Malta and he managed the motor business. We had been together through school though he was five years older than me. He was always the voice of reason especially when the elite society was too much for me. I knew he was secretly in love with Elaine, but he never confessed his feelings but hovered over her like a hawk.The good thing about the club was the private VIP section. It was close to 4 a.m. and the liquor I was drowning myself in kicked in."I will get married but never to Vera Bexley," my words slurred."I wonder why mother is set on pushing you together with that bimbo," Elaine stated. "Because Sam Bexley likes to control everyone. And having a partnership with the ma
WADE'S POVMy mood had not improved after the encounter with the b*stard outside the Havana club. Such arrogant fools always made me want to punch them in the face and break their noses. To make it worse, from the corner of my eye, I had seen my angel accompanied by Elaine. Did he witness the whole incident? What did he think of me? The questions ran through my mind as I cleaned the house. I must have sighed for too long when I heard Pa's voice ring loudly, "If you don't stop sighing, I will smack your head."I turned around and found him standing by the door. I knew he was jesting as he walked over and sat down by the kitchen table. "So, I heard what happened outside the Havana," he stated."Pa, don't listen to Auden's gossip." I shook my head. "He always exaggerates stuff.""It wasn't from Auden," he informed me. "You know very well I have friends all over town. You promised no more getting into fights.""The guy started it. I restrained myself. Don't worry, Pa," I responded