Page 88 of Kinks of a Billionaire
This was our life, our future, and we’d live it to the fullest.
Chapter 43
Willow
My heart tripped watching our families, and when I looked at my friends, I knew they felt the same. Appreciation for what we had—good men, beautiful children, and each other. The catamaran brimmed with life as my husband lounged on the floor and humored his nephew playing a video game.
It had been a week since the kidnapping and this was our family’s last night with us before Royce and I would continue sailing. We planned on reaching the southernmost point of South America and then journeying back, only to return to Venezuela again in a few months for a new business venture. It would be my first step toward producing the documentary I’d been dreaming about working on for years. It was how I wanted to make the difference and repay Anya for all her suffering.
Stuart and his parents were dead and I’d be a hypocrite to mourn them. They’d made their bed, and they had no one to blame but themselves.
Royce’s eyes found me, his dark, velvety gaze full of love and reverence.
I only had a few seconds to get lost in it before my friends started their interrogation, wrapping me in a cocoon of hugs and questions.
“Now tell us every detail since the wedding,” Sailor said, hugging me.
“Not every detail,” Aurora cringed. “I don’t need to know about your freaky time with my brother.”
“I’m sorry but I had to listen to your recount of freaky time with Alexei,” I said teasingly, hugging them both.
“Yeah,” Sailor said, egging Aurora on. “I still have a hard time sleeping at night.”
“Fine, I’ll block my ears,” Aurora said. “Now tell us what the hell happened with that idiot Stuart?”
“It’s a long story,” I said. “The most important thing is that he and his parents are out of our lives.”
“Thank God,” Sailor murmured. “Only an idiot would kidnap a pregnant woman like that.”
“Or a psychopath,” Aurora reasoned.
“Never mind Stuart and his parents.” I’d prefer not to think about them for a while. “I have something more important to talk to you about.” Both their eager gazes found me in anticipation. “I’m finally doing what I set out to do after college, starting with producing a documentary.”
Sailor stilled. “What kind?”
“Human trafficking,” I said, locking eyes with Sailor as the ghost of her sister lurked in the shadows we tried to ignore. I took both their hands into mine. “I’d like to dedicate it to your sister”—my gaze found Aurora’s—“and to your husband, but only if you’re both okay with it. The title would beEvery Silenced Anya and Alexei.”
Sailor’s cheeks were wet when I wrapped my arms around her. Even after all these years, I knew the topic of her sisterbroke her heart. Anya protected her, ensuring her baby sister’s happiness at her own expense.
Sailor finally managed to find her voice.
“I love it,” she croaked. “She would be proud to be the inspiration for your documentary.”
I turned to look at my sister-in-law. My sudden announcement had her looking shaken, but she recovered quickly.
“I don’t want to speak on Alexei’s behalf, but I suspect he’ll agree. Be honored even.”
Worry creased Sailor’s forehead. “There’s nothing that would tie little Anya to it, right?”
I shook my head. “No. No one will connect them. Only we will know.”
“Look at us.” Aurora’s voice softened. “Who would’ve ever thought we’d end up here.”
I swallowed past the knot of emotion in my throat, realizing how close I was to missing out on these moments. My girls always knew how to ground me.
“I know. We’re lucky,” I whispered softly.
“We are,” Sailor agreed. “But we also worked for it too.”
