God of Strength (Light of Obsession #1)

Chapter 20

Alicia

     Mum and dad meet me at the train station, greeted by an ambush of kisses and hugs. Eli and Creigh decided to come with me. Eli said he'd never miss daddy's face when I tell him.

     As I stepped off the train, the familiar scent of home washed over me—a mix of freshly baked bread from Mum's kitchen and the earthy smell of the nearby woods. My heart raced with a mix of excitement and anxiety. It felt good to be back, surrounded by the people I loved, but now I was carrying a secret that I needed to share.

"Mum! Dad!" I called out, waving excitedly as I spotted them in the crowd. My mum's smile was infectious, and my dad's stern expression softened as he caught sight of me. They rushed toward me, and soon I was enveloped in a whirlwind of hugs and kisses.

"I can't believe you're home! Look at you, love!" Mum exclaimed, pulling back to study my face.

"Missed you guys so much," I said, my words slightly muffled as I was squeezed in another hug by Dad. They rush us into the car, promptly driving us home.

     As I stood in the grand entryway of our family home, the familiar scents of my mom's cooking wafted through the house, mingling with the cozy, warm atmosphere that always enveloped me when I returned. My brothers flanked me, their stern expressions a reminder of the protective roles they played in my life. They always looked out for me, and I felt both comforted and suffocated by their constant vigilance.

    "Are you ready to tell them?" Eli asked, crossing his arms and shooting me a pointed look.

    I swallowed hard, my palms clammy against the fabric of my sweater. "I guess so. It's just... I didn't expect it to be this difficult."

     "I won't lie and say dad'll be cool with it," Creigh chimed in. "but mum will calm him down, don't worry."

     Before I could gather my thoughts, the doorbell rang, echoing through the hallway like a strike of lightning. My heart raced, the rhythm of it quickening in tandem with the sudden surge of nerves in my stomach. I glanced at my brothers, who exchanged a knowing look, their protective instincts kicking into high gear.

     "Do you want me to get it?" Eli offered, ever the practical one.

     "No, I'll get it," I said, the determination in my voice surprising even me. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever came next, and headed to the door. As I opened it, my heart leaped into my throat.

    There stood Vaughn, his dark hair tousled and his piercing eyes fixed on me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. He had a calm confidence about him that was both alluring and unsettling. Dressed in a fitted black shirt and dress pants, he seemed out of place yet perfectly suited to my world at the same time.

     "Hey," he said, a small, lopsided smile playing on his lips. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

     I hadn't expected him to show up unannounced, and the thrill of his presence mixed with an impending sense of dread.

     "Uh... no, not at all." I stepped aside, almost in a daze. "Come in."

     As Vaughn entered, my brothers shifted slightly, their protective instincts sharpening. I could feel their scrutiny upon him, and my stomach churned with anxiety.

     "Mum, Daddy!" I called, my voice trembling as I gestured for them to join us.

     Mum appeared first, her calm presence like a lighthouse in the storm of my emotions. "Alicia, sweetheart, is everything okay? Who is this?" she asked, her warm smile dipping slightly as she glanced at Vaughn. She probably recognizes him, Uncle Knox married into the mafia and we've attended some events that include them.

     "And who the hell are you? Why are you stood in my house?" Daddy strode in behind her, his serious demeanor a stark contrast to Vaughn's laid-back style.

     I could feel the tension building; it was palpable. I stood between the two worlds, my desires and fears coiling tightly around my heart.

     "This is Vaughn Morozov," I managed, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on me. "We've been dating."

     Morozov. They know from Uncle Knox the weight of that name. The importance of it in the Bratva.

     Silence fell, thick and heavy as Vaughn stepped forward, completely unfazed by the worried expressions on mums face and the stormy one on daddy's. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. and King," he said, extending his hand in a gentlemanly manner.

     Eli and Creigh stood rigid, casting skeptical glances at each other, and for a split second, I could see the gears turning in their heads, analyzing and assessing this situation.

     I needed to find the right words to convey my feelings for Vaughn, to explain how he captured my attention in a way no one else had. But as I stood there, caught between the warmth of my family and the cold edginess of Vaughn's aura, I wondered if I had underestimated the power of love and obsession intertwined.

     Mum takes Vaughns hand tentatively and daddy's glares at it, his eye twitching more so than I've ever seen.

      And in that moment, I was faced with the realization that my life—and Vaughn's role in it—was about to become a much more complicated story.

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A/N:
Drama drama dramaaa
Lets just hope Aiden doesn't shoot Vaughn in this visit ;))
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