Chapter 18

POV ALEJANDRA ZAVALA

We managed to regain our strength to the point where, the next day, I woke up full of energy.

I jumped out of bed, made coffee, and drank it while preparing eggs with bacon, enjoying the wonderful smell that filled the kitchen. Ilya came downstairs shortly after, joining me for the meal.

He also seemed a bit more relaxed, talking and speaking more than usual—which still wasn’t much, to be honest.

As soon as we finished, we left the house, and he slowly introduced me to people, surprising me with the hospitality and sense of family that this community provided. The children were adorable, the women friendly, and the men, so far, had been kind and respectful.

Finally, we were taken to the home of the Phoenix family—the community leader’s residence—a mansion at the back of the complex. I met Hunter’s father and discovered he had two more siblings: Drake and Adelle. The introductions were brief, and Mr. Phoenix—whose name was Caleb—welcomed us warmly, even embracing Ilya as if he were a long-lost son.

We had lunch at one of the families’ houses, as they insisted a lot, and I was charmed by their two children. Since it was a Sunday, their father was home and joined us at the table, helping his wife with everything.

It was actually funny to see because he was a big guy, but very "obedient," so to speak.

Their names were Joshua and Gillian Voight. She was a beautiful woman with brown hair and light eyes. He was a very handsome man too, with short brown hair, full tattoos, a thick beard, and as quiet as Ilya, but a genuinely good guy.

I couldn’t help but notice that all the men wore the same square ring with a skull. It must have been a symbol, some kind of requirement for whatever it was they formed.

Without a doubt, a brotherhood.

I wasn’t very used to being around strangers, and sometimes, I felt overwhelmed by so many new faces. I was like a wild animal, scared in the middle of a new world. But a world I knew would easily win me over.

And that was a problem. Because I was very afraid of getting attached to things and people, only for them to be taken away from me.

Leaving the Voight house, Ilya and I sat for a while in the small square, in front of the little lake that had been built there. Koi fish swam inside, unshaken, completely unaware of how dangerous the world outside those walls was.

And the walls were high. Too high to ignore.

Ilya, as always, remained silent, looking into the distance. Sunset wouldn’t take long, and the golden light from above seemed to illuminate him in a way that made him almost unreal. A living statue at the peak of his masculinity and dangerous allure.

I tried to hold back as much as I could, but it had been over twenty-four hours since we arrived, and I still knew absolutely nothing about these people.

"What is this place, Ilya? How do you know these people?"

"I met Hunter in college."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the information.

"In college? I didn’t even know you went."

Ilya smiled, glancing at me sideways.

"There are many things about me that you still don’t know."

"There are many things about you that you’ve never told me," I teased.

He nodded, acknowledging my point.

"I studied in Spain. I didn’t graduate. I took International Relations. It was my father’s idea for me to have that role in the mafia." He paused. "Hunter studied Business Administration, but we had a few classes in common. Two outsiders, long-haired, covered in tattoos. We clicked."

"And did he finish?"

"Yes. He’ll inherit his father’s business one day."

"Which are…?"

Ilya leaned forward to pick up a fallen leaf from the ground, holding it between his fingers, playing with it.

"Most of it involves motorcycles. Repair, sales, resale, and all the necessary items for a biker. It’s a large, respected brand, with branches in other countries. But they have some other things."

"Illegal?"

"No drugs. But cigarettes, alcohol, weapons. A kind of mafia, on a smaller and more controlled scale."

I nodded again. It was hard to imagine these people, who had created a true home within this space, who were welcoming and kind, being involved in crimes and illicit businesses.

But appearances could be deceiving, no doubt.

"Caleb became the leader of the Wildfire, this organization, in a sort of duel against the former boss."

"He killed the guy?" My voice rose an octave, and I noticed some people around giving me odd looks.

"It was fair, a one-on-one fight. The bastard was Jordana’s husband, Hunter’s mother. Abusive, violent, and cruel. Not just to his wife, but to everyone here."

"Hunter isn’t his son, then."

"No, but he raised him as one. Drake and Adelle are his biological children." He paused. "Just like in the mafia, there’s a hierarchy here. Caleb is the leader, and he has a second-in-command, his brother, whom you haven’t met yet but who is returning tonight from a trip with his wife. His name is Kellsier, and his wife is Cadence, or as they call her, Cady."

"And Joshua? He’s important too, isn’t he?"

"He’s what the mafia calls a consigliere. He’s Jordana’s much younger brother. That’s actually how I got to know all these people. Trying to help Josh with a problem. Hunter brought me here, and I spent some time around."

"Everyone here likes you a lot."

"It’s mutual. I know they’ll take care of us."

"Until when?"

"Until we can get you somewhere else safe, with new documents, a job, and an opportunity."

And then we would part ways. I already knew that, and he didn’t even need to say it.

I would have everything I ever dreamed of, especially my freedom. I could study, get a job, have a place to live that was truly mine. A little house like the one Ilya and I would be staying in for a while—simple, cozy, and perfect.

My destiny would belong only to me, which, without a doubt, was a privilege I had never dreamed of having.

But I wouldn’t have Ilya.