"What exactly is your intended outcome with this woman brother?" Beth his younger sister asked as they sat over lunch.

"Marriage," he stated.

"Do you think this will actually work since your last marriage failed," she said lifting her glass of wine to her lips as both brothers set down their cutlery.
Lee clenched his jaw hard looking at his younger sibling before folding his napkin.
"Thank you for ruining my meal," he said as sitting back.
"Why did you have to go and bring up the past?" Lance questioned before having his juice.
"I mean he must have told her of the past and compared the two women," she stated matter of fact. "Besides you do not want Cassandra meeting the new lady in your life by mistake or vice versa," she smirked seeing how uneasy her brother was though he tried to hide it.

"I still don't understand why you are friends with that woman after she cheated on your own brother," Lance frowned as he sat back having lost his appetite.
Beth smiled looking at her brothers. So alike in appearance yet different in characteristics. Lee was harder than Lance it had shocked everyone when he had actually settled down into a married lifestyle. And now here he was playing with a young African woman whom she knew nothing of. All she could tell was her brother was serious about this one despite the racial difference.

"I keep tabs on the woman who hurt my brother. Do not be fooled by the fact I shop around with the blonde. She means nothing to me brother. Family will always be family at the end of the day and I'm loyal to mine," she said folding her own napkin and taking her glass of wine.

"Alexis Romani," he said as though tasting her name. "She is simply put the one and no one will come between her and I," Lee said as he rose to his feet. "Now if you will excuse me I have work to do."

"Just one question dear brother. Do you think this woman is ready to know the real you and not what you portray to the rest of society?" She said toying with her glass of wine as Lance also stood up.
"This woman is more ruthless than I hence she is perfect," he smiled as his sister looked at him in surprise. Did she just witness a smile on her brothers face?

—————

"Sir we seem to have lost one of our ships," Lee heard as he stopped typing on his laptop. Looking up he looked at his assistant. The young man looked beyond scared just as Lance barged into his way office wearing an angry scowl.

"I don't know who dares toy with us brother but this is the second ship within the month," Lance said.
"Any word from Beth? She always knows what's going on," Lee asked waving to his assistant to leave.
The young man rushed out of the office looking worried. Whenever the three siblings had a meeting there was bound to be trouble.

"Our problem goes by the name of Sebastian," Beth stated upon entering his office.
"I should have known," Lance said his hands balling into fists before relaxing as his sister leaning up to him pecking his cheek in greeting and going to do the same to her other brother.

"I believe Lexi also had a minor encounter with him a few days back," he said making both siblings look at him in question.
"Lexi?" Lance said with a knowing smirk as he looked at his sister who simply rolled her eyes at him.
"Shall I have a meeting arranged," Beth said.
"Yes please," Lee said as he got up reaching for his jacket just as he saw an unknown number.
Answering it he heard her butlers' voice becoming alert.
"May I trouble you, sir. If you may please return at your earliest convenience. She keeps mumbling your name in her sleep," Lyle said.

"I'm sending a plane. I cannot come there," he said as his siblings saw the anger slowly consumed by worry through his eyes.

—————

Looking at his bloodied hands he looked down at the man before him.
"I told you no one steals from a King," Lee stated as a towel was handed over to him.
Ever since he had heard that Lexi was not well he was on edge with worry. His ringing phone caught his attention as one of his men handed over the device to him.

"Lee," he heard making him close his eyes before opening them his eyes turning a darker shade angry at how weak she sounded.
"Sweetheart," he whispered as he removed his blood stained shirt before he heard silence. "If you don't speak love, I won't know what you are thinking of," he murmured walking towards his car.
"I. May I," she said after letting out a long sigh not knowing what to say.

"Talk to me love," he said gently.
He opened his door only to stare at her as she sat in his car holding her phone. Looking across the parking lot he saw Lyle with her guard standing on alert. His brother seemed to have been talking to Lyle as he walked towards where Beth had just arrived.

Worry was written all over his face as he looked at her. She was losing weight and lacked sleep from the swollen state of her eyes.
Taking her hand he helped her out of the vehicle.
Looking into her eyes he sighed in content when she rested her palms on his chest for support. He felt the urge to pull her into his arms and just hold her until all her worried where gone.
His hands went to rest on her waist before he lifted her onto the hood of the car as he looked at her.
"May I," he said as she looked at him giving her approval with a slight nod. Slightly parting her legs he stepped closer to her moving his hands up to her face as he cupped her face looking into her eyes before leaning towards her as his lips came into contact with her forehead.

Beth gasped seeing the simple act as she watched her brother close his eyes as though cherishing the simple act as he held her.
"What has she done to him?" She whispered.
"She doesn't even realize how much power she now has," Lance said as they looked at the couple.
"He was never like that with Cassandra," Beth said clearly surprised.

Tears ran down her cheeks as he wiped them away as her arms rested around his neck as they spoke.
"We have an audience, Lee," she murmured weakly looking behind him at his siblings as she looked down nervously.
Touching her chin he tilted her head up making her look at him as they rested their foreheads against each other.
"I missed you," he said ignoring her comment as she sighed tiredly.
"I," she said as he stopped her from speaking turning around to face his siblings in a protective posture once he heard Lance close by.

Lance and Becky stood before them as they looked at their brother who wore a serious expression.
"Relax brother we won't harm her," Lance said seeing that Lee was not moving.
He turned his head looking at Lexi seeing her wearing a smile as she waved at his siblings.

"I leave her in your care Mr King," the older gentleman said in a stern fatherly voice.
Leeroy nodded his head accepting the responsibility of caring for her. "This gentleman, however, will stay behind," he said as Sacha stepped forward.
"A familiar face around will not be a bad thing," Lee said.

Sacha looked at his charge with concern before turning serious when it came to acknowledging the others. He stood silently and exuded strength and anyone could see he was built for damage. His piercing grey eyes looked at Lee clearly telling him he took no orders from him but her alone. He was the same height as Lee and packed way more muscle. His movements a clear contrast to his stature as he moved fluidly and fast making Lee realize why she kept him close.
Nodding his head in approval he turned to Lyle as they had a small discussion.

Turning to face her he slowly took her hands in his as he made a move to place them on his shoulders.
"Who did you hurt?" She whispered as he froze his actions realizing he had exposed his bruised hands.
"No one you should concern yourself with," he said as her small hands ran over his knuckles.
"I hate the way you affect me," she sighed holding her forehead as he helped her down taking her hand into his.

Stepping back she looked at Lyle as he stepped towards her.
"Tell me when you arrive home," she whispered.
"Very well madam," he said with a slight bow of his head.
"Please take care of him," she murmured as she leaned against the car.
"As you wish madam," Lyle said before turning to leave.
As he walked away he heard a gasp from Beth as Lee swore under his breath catching her before she fell.
Lifting her into his arms he carried into the car before asking Sacha to join them.

--------

He watched her as she slept, a glass of whiskey sitting on his knee whilst he sat in thought. Standing up to refill his glass he heard her whimper as tears ran down her cheeks.
She started fidgeting under the covers as though fighting off someone before crying out his name making him move towards the bed holding her down.
"Sshh love. No one will hurt you.  I'm right here," he whispered soothing her feeling her body relax in his arms. Opening her eyes she looked at him seeing worry etched on his face as he reassured her she was safe.
Pulling her against him he murmured soothing words until she sighed his name before closing her eyes once more.

She woke up just as he walked into the room followed by a maid holding a tray.
"Bella," he said with a twinkle in his eyes as he sat on the bed facing her before taking her hand bringing it to his lips as the maid left the room "I took the liberty of rustling up a meal for you before I leave for work," he said looking into her eyes.

"Thank you," she murmured as he stood to leave. "Lee!" She called out stopping him as he turned to look at her. "Come join me," she said expecting him to refuse. He surprised her as he undid his jacket buttons taking a seat. "Thank you for last night," she said pulling her legs up to her chest as she looked down hating the condition she was in as he slightly nodded his head.