Chapter 87 The Five families
Melissa’s POV
We all settled into the living room…Gavin and me on one couch, Aria curled up on the other, Kane standing by the window like a sentinel.
The tension in the room was thick as fuck “Someone needs to start explaining,” I said again, looking between all of them. “Right now.”
Kane turned from the window, his expression unreadable. “I’ve been following you around because of your safety.”
I blinked. “My safety?”
“Yes.”
“Why would I need…” I stopped, looking at Gavin. His jaw was tight, his eyes fixed on some point across the room. “Gavin?”
He took a breath, then finally looked at me.
“There are five families,” he said quietly. “A group made from the richest, most powerful families in the world. They control governments. Industries, Let's just say they are real world powers. They operate in shadows, but their influence touches every corner of global power.”
I uncrossed my legs, then crossed them again, settling in properly. This was going to be complicated.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “And what does this have to do with me?”
“They’re after me,” Gavin said. “After everything I hold dear. Because they want me to lead, and I don’t want to.”
Aria suddenly spoke up from her corner of the couch. “I’ve heard about them. The Five Families.” She looked at Gavin with something like awe mixed with fear. “My family tried getting into their circle years ago. We didn’t meet the criteria.”
Gavin nodded once. “It’s for the best. They are ruthless. Your family wouldn’t have been the same ever again.”
The warning in his voice was unmistakable. Aria went pale.
I felt my own stomach tighten. I’d seen Gavin angry. I have seen him intense. But this was different. This was a glimpse of something deeper. Something that had nothing to do with business deals and hockey teams. Jason mentioned Gavin being a king but it didn’t feel this intense. And he didn’t mention them being bad. What is going on here?
“My father,” Gavin continued, his voice perfectly controlled, “Lord Zeus, as they call him, is the head of this organization.”
It all clicked into place with sickening clarity.
“He wants you to take over,” I said quietly.
“Yes.”
“And you said no.”
“Yes.”
“So now they’re threatening me to force your hand.”
His eyes met mine, and in them I saw confirmation. And something else. Guilt, maybe. Or regret.
I reached over and took his hand. His fingers immediately laced through mine, gripping tight.
“I understand,” I said.
“Do you?” His voice was rough.
“Yes.” I squeezed his hand. “You’re trying to protect me. He exhaled slowly, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.
“I need you to be careful,” he said, turning to face me fully. “Please, Melissa. No more handling things by yourself. Kane will be watching you at all times.”
“Like a bodyguard,” Kane confirmed.
I opened my mouth to protest, then closed it. The seriousness in both their faces stopped me.
If Gavin looked like this. It was much more serious than I thought.
“Okay,” I said finally. “Okay, I’ll be careful.”
Aria raised her hand slightly, like she was in class. “Where do I come into all this?”
Gavin turned to her. “You’re Melissa’s friend. And in extension, my responsibility.”
“But I have to go back home sooner or later,” Aria said, her voice small. Sad.
“No.”
The word came from Kane, sharp and final.
Everyone turned to look at him.
“Excuse me?” Aria’s eyes went wide.
Kane stepped away from the window, moving closer to where she sat. His expression was completely serious.
“I said no.” He stopped directly in front of her, looking down at her with those dark, intense eyes. “You’re staying with me. You’re not going home anymore.”
“What?” Aria and I both said at the same time.
Aria scrambled to her feet, having to tilt her head back to meet Kane’s gaze. “You can’t just…I can’t just…what are you even talking about?”
“Someone has hit you before I saw the marks,” Kane said, his voice dangerously calm. “ You ran away and nearly collapsed from a fever in the street because you had nowhere else to go.”
“That’s not…”
“It is.” He stepped closer. “And I’m not letting you go back to that.”
“You don’t get to make that decision for me,” Aria said, but her voice wavered.
“I just did.”
“Kane,” Gavin said quietly. A warning.
But Kane didn’t look away from Aria. “You’re staying here. With me. Where you’re safe. End of discussion.”
Aria’s mouth opened and closed. Her face flushed red, then pale, then red again.
“You’re insane,” she finally managed. “You can’t just kidnap me…”
“I’m not kidnapping you. I’m protecting you.”
“Without my consent!”
“Your consent doesn’t matter when your safety is at stake.”
“Of course it matters! I’m not some…some damsel who needs…”
Aria stared up at Kane, her chest heaving, tears gathering in her eyes.
“I can’t stay here,” she whispered. “My family will…they’ll come looking for me. They’ll…”
“Let them.” Kane’s expression didn’t change. “They won’t get past me.”
“You don’t understand what they’re capable of…”
“I don’t care.”
“Kane…”
“I. Don’t. Care.” Each word was deliberate. Final. “You’re not going back there. You’re staying here. With me. Where I can keep you safe.”
I looked at Gavin, who was watching the scene with an unreadable expression.
“Did you know he was going to do that?” I whispered.
“No,” Gavin said quietly. “But I’m not surprised.”
“Gavin I’m one step away from beating the shit out of this guy, give me one reason not to”
“No.” His hand tightened on mine. “Kane knows what he’s doing. He doesn’t do anything impulsive.” Gavin stood, pulling me up with him. “Come on. Let’s give them some privacy.”
“But…”
“Melissa.” He gave me a look. “Let’s go.”
I took one last look at Aria and Kane…her still crying, him still holding her, both of them looking like they’d just stepped into something neither of them knew how to navigate…and let Gavin lead me toward the door.
In the hallway, I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.