(Derek's P.O.V)

My Dad's sister, Aunt Mara Garcia, stood with a beaming smile and pulled me into a hug as our families met. I avoided Mom like the plague but I liked Aunt Mara.

Wasn't expecting her though.

Especially, "Where's Cam?"

She laughed, "Outside. Cameron is probably meeting with—"

"Mara!" My Dad swept in and hugged her, cutting her off as they exchanged pleasantries.

I shrugged, having gotten the information I needed anyways. I decided to change my shirt though because I'd been working out when they arrived and I didn't want to stink. Besides, I might go check on Kitkat if given the chance.

Swapping my loose tee for a dark green shirt and light blue denim jeans, I peered into Lila's window to see if I could catch her.

Luckily for me, I saw her clearing up her desk from my vantage point at the window and silently took a moment to see her in her element.

Lila Smith made my heart skip beats and my stomach tilt, anxiety filled me every time we talked and I loved the way her mahogany hair framed her features and her lips parted.

Lips I'd had on mine and would love tasting again.

My phone buzzed and I frowned seeing it was another of the lovely texts from my ex. When I looked back up, Lila was staring down at someone, eyes wide.

"Cam?"

The call was full of joy, longing and familiarity.

My eyes flew to follow her line of sight, only to find my cousin standing in front of her gate with a grin on his face.

I frowned, my stomach twisting into knots. And then I made the decision, bolting outside and hoping I'd reach Cam before Lila.

I failed, just so you know.

The Smith's door opened and Lila looked like sunshine was her other name, smiling at Cam before—

"Ohmygod!"

She flung herself into his arms, eyes squeezed shut and he wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the ground.

And that's when I knew I was about to punch my cousin.

Not only had Kitkat, my Kitkat, shown positive emotion in bulk towards a handsome male but she'd literally thrown herself at him and considering how hard a time I had getting through to her, this pissed me off.

And didn't our talk on her birthday count for any loyalty? I practically confessed to Lila!

Cam's words carried over to me, "I told you I'd be here after your birthday. Sorry about that though."

Fury and jealousy burned in my gut as I narrowed my eyes and clenched my jaw. Storming over to the hugging lovebirds with wide smiles, I hoped for some calm.

Acting like lovers reunited in the middle of the road was disgusting.

Okay, fine. I might be overreacting but this is kind of an impulsive reaction right now and I'm also slightly in shock so yeah.

Ending September meant Ladenhill was down on the sunshine and heavier on the clouds. The sun peeked out from behind a cloud and illuminated the two which only fueled my irritation.

Cam let her down but they were still hugging and over the roar in my ears, I couldn't hear their words.

"Alright, that's enough." I growled.

With a tight grip on Lila's wrist, I ripped her away from my cousin's arms and drew her behind my back.

Surprise colored both their expressions.

I narrowed my eyes and didn't even deny the surgery of possessiveness I felt. "She's off limits. She's mine. And you don't get to hug her like you're her boyfriend."

"But I am a brother figure so..." My smart-ass cousin shrugged, an infuriating grin on his calm face.

A bit of my anger deflated at his remark but I tightened my grip on Lila.

"Wow, possessive much?"

I glanced back at her with hard eyes, "Very."

She rose an unamused brow and I frowned.

"We're not together." Lila drawled.

"But we almost are."

"Hey, you were the one who confessed, not me."

"Oh yeah? Who's the one that kissed me when she was perfectly sober?"

She sulkily looked away.

I bit back a smug smile.

"Oh, you did not tell me you and Derek were so far into your relationship."

I looked over at my cousin again, his cropped short blonde hair and dark green eyes a killer mix. At 6'1 he stood an inch taller than me. And he was the family Good Boy.

But how did he and Lila know each other?

Lila kicked my leg and I hissed. "What??"

"Let my wrist go." She hissed back and I did, begrudgingly so but I did.

That was one strong kick.

Once free, she pushed me aside and came closer to Cam again.

I tugged on her ponytail and this time she glared at me. I shrugged nonchalantly.

Kitkat exhaled a frustrated sigh. "You don't need to be jealous of your cousin, you know?"

I drawled, "I'll be jealous of any guy who touches you and you better remember that."

She blinked, cocking her head to the side. "I did not realize you had this side to you."

"What? The side where I don't like seeing my future-wife hugging another guy especially when she's so reserved?"

"What–" She blinked. "I'm not even your girlfriend. We are not getting married–"

"Say that to me in ten years, sweetheart and I'll believe you."

She gulped and then shook her head as if I was being stubborn.

I was but she didn't need to know I knew.

"Okay, stop. Next thing I know you'll tell me about some freaky kinks you have." She scoffed and looked into my eyes.

"Aw, you're thinking about us in bed? I knew—"

"No, don't. Stop–"

"That's what she said, Kitkat. And what you will too. Sometime really soon." I grinned at her furious stare and the way she clenched her jaw.

"Will you stop with the perverted jokes?"

I shrugged. "Okay."

She stilled, giving me a suspicious look saying 'how could you give in so easily?' So I proved her right.

"For the record, I'm pretty sure I have a bondage kink." I smirked, pushing my hands into my pockets and giving her bedroom eyes. "You'll be the one tied up though. Heart, mind and soul."

I could see Lila's chest rise and fall, color tainting her cheeks as she floundered for words.

My earlier anger and jealousy were long gone, coated over with want and easy going flirtations.

"Jesus, you're insufferable."

"And also the guy you're madly in love with." I nodded patronizingly. "It was all your choice though."

She made a sound of extreme frustration, "I am not madly in love with you!"

I sighed chidingly. "Still in denial, I see. Guess I'll just have to leave you with no other choice but to come clean soon."

She snarled, "Sure. Try."

"I will." I grinned.

She gave me a look as if she were seeing me for the first time.

"This doesn't even qualify as flirting anymore."

"That's because I'm wooing, not flirting, Kitkat."

She opened and closed her mouth a few times and then took a deep breath but the way her grey eyes flared at my declaration made me aware of just how tuned to my actions and words she was.

"You don't know a lot about me, Kitkat." I smiled sharply. "We can rectify that soon though."

An amused cough from the side reminded us both that Cameron was still here.

We turned towards him and he chuckled, glancing between us. I grunted at his look.

"He's infuriating, don't pay him attention."

Cam rose a brow at Lila's words and snickered before smiling at me.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to threaten your Alpha ass. Lila's like a little sister to me, Erek."

"Will you please not call me that?" I glared at him.

"It pisses you off though."

"And you're a 20 year old in military training. So stop acting like a kid please?"

He mused for a second and I sighed, already aware of what he'd say.

"Nope."

He came in to hug me then and I returned the gesture, a little bitter. "Nice to see you again, cuz."

When we pulled away, he gave me and Lila a smile. "I approve."

"I don't need your approval." I rolled my eyes.

But Lila softly smiled back at him and breathed in deeply. "Thanks."

I gave her a look of ridicule. "Seriously?"

She ignored me.

•♤•

"I came here every summer since I was 6. Lila and I met when I was 9 and she was 7. It was us spending summer together more often than not."

Cam rested on the chair and recalled a few of their summer stories and I never felt more envious of anyone. Not even Warren.

"You're telling me that you have, like, a decade of friendship?"

Lila nodded, "Yup."

They clicked their glasses of sprite together and I passed them flat looks.

He tilted his head, "I was pretty much the only brotherly figure she had. Mellisa was soon added to our group and we have tons of memories together." A wry smile took over his lips.

My stomach sank.

Always, it was so intertwined with Mellisa. Everything in this town.

"I see."

A somber silence wrapped around us as we sat in the Smith's living room since the house was empty sans Lila.

"I gotta meet with the others too." The blonde guy rose a brow and nodded to himself.

The grey-eyed girl I liked nudged me with her foot.

I didn't respond.

She did it again and I inhaled deeply.

She snickered, "Fine, whatever."

This made me glare at her.

"How come you give up on persuading me so easily?"

"I don't really need to." She smirked. "You're too smitten to be mad at me."

I narrowed my eyes at her but before I could reply with something, she continued.

"Anyways, don't feel like you missed out. You're as much a part of the group now as Cam."

"Somehow that irritates me more."

"Your problem." Cam shrugged.

I leaned in closer to Lila and whispered, "Does he know about Mellisa..?"

She nodded. "He knows everything about me." Then paused. "Almost everything but yeah."

I exhaled and decided my only option was relaxing on this leather couch because how was it so comfortable?

"By the way, since when did you know Cam and I were cousins?" I rose a brow, sipping on my drink.

Kitkat made an 'o' with her mouth and I was imagining it making a similar shape while she was on her knees—

"The day Rebecca confessed to you."

And there goes my fantasy. "Huh."

I didn't bother asking her how she knew or if she knew I rejected her because please, anyone with eyes and two brain cells would've been able to put it together. Hell, for all I know, they could've even talked it out between themselves.

Cam chuckled.

Cam and I didn't meet very often Though we spent the initial years of our life together, when Aunt Mara moved away, we only met like every three or so years. Still he was my favorite cousin but we weren't as close as Lila and he seemed to be.

What a small world.

If I were to think of a similarity between him and I, it'd probably be that he's an easygoing guy.

While my smiles are loaded and flirtatious, his are literal calm. They put you at ease. With his BCT having ending, it was time for him to pick a job specific so he'd get Advanced Military Training.

Cameron was young, handsome and ambitious. The military had always had his heart and I couldn't really blame him for wanting to serve his country.

"It was a huge surprise to me. See, she knew you as Erek, my cousin not Derek Greyson." He elaborated.

I gave him a flat look. "Huh."

"Anyways, how's Veronica?" His question caught me off guard.

Lila turned towards me, "He's been pretty besotted with the girl ever since he was 10. It's been another 10 years and she despises him to say the least."

My brows hit my hairline and I shot him a look of disbelief. "Seriously? Veronica of all people?" I was tempted to add a few expletives but Lila's look of warning deterred me.

He rubbed his neck and gave me a look, "Let me deal with my own love life and I won't interfere in yours."

I smiled cordially even as Lila rolled her eyes.

"Deal."

•♤•

(Lila's P.O.V)

It was a pleasant surprise that Cam was here, visiting. It'd serve as a confidence booster too and the more people I had in my corner when time for confrontations came, the better.

If only I'd have known how soon my prediction would come true.

Standing in the parking lot, frozen as if my feet were made of lead, I felt the weight of what my future actions would entail for the first time.

"Lila? All good?"

Nora frowned, worried and I saw her from my peripheral but like Derek, my eyes were trained on the two people leaning against the Jeep next to Derek's bike.

Our entire group stopped and I hated that they'd be here to witness whatever was to happen next. Plus, Derek didn't really know my connection to the Gambinos.

Roy stood like a monstrosity, handsome to some perhaps but a harbinger of nightmares to me. Familiar features stared back at me, tinged with even more cruelty and bloodlust that they were two years ago. Except for a scar going from his left eye to the corner of his lips.

I clenched my jaw and willed the onslaught of emotions to stop.

Derek inched closer to me as if in silent support and I was thankful. But I was also aware he might need my support as well.

"Hello, Lila."

His voice made me want to shrivel up and cut his tongue out at the same time. It was equal parts traumatizing and fury-inducing.

I didn't reply.

But then the beauty besides Roy smiled, her eyes not having wavered from Derek's figure even once. And I knew I would do something reckless if she so much as opened her trap to spew possessive bullshit about him.

Tatiana Gambino's eyes slid to mine and I faced her with a blank expression. Her lips curled and as her eyes bounced between us, her displeasure became even more apparent much to my delight.

The air was so thick with tension that one wouldn't be able to cut it with even Arthur's sword Excalibur.

And everyone present could sense it. The area was emptied out within a few minutes but Warren, Nora, Michael and unfortunately Rebecca refused to leave us.

The sun hid behind floating clouds and a dreary mood surrounded us.

I don't know if I appreciated it or found it to be a nuisance because my mind was stuck wheeling through bad memories.

"I thought I warned you to stay away from my boyfriend."

"Sorry, I don't know what you're talking about." I gave her a sweet smile and she scowled.

"Derek is mine."

"Will you stop it, Ana?" Derek's frustration bled into his voice. "We've been over for ages now. Move on."

Hurt painted her expression before she hardened her eyes and raised her chin.

I snickered, delibrately riling her up, watching how Roy cocked his head and observed.

Yes, Roy, I'm ignoring you.

"We're not over." Her eyes spewed venom at me as she ignored Derek.

So I decided to put an end to all this foreplay.

I took a step forward and, "Think fast."

Tatiana grabbed the small metal object that flew at her, eyes widening briefly as she glared at me before looking at it.

I coolly raised my chin, "It was time to return it."

Derek subtly glanced at me too, eyes widened momentarily as he recognized the object but I didn't deign him a response.

I was enjoying the look on Ana's face.

Her claims over him were pissing me off. She wasn't even supposed to be here. Roy was enough but no. This bitch had to bring my territorial instincts out, hm?

Her fists clenched and her eyes widened as she held the lighter she'd gifted Derek. Roy's eyes fell on her and then traced back to me. Amused.

"How dare you–"

"Don't act like a puppy that was kicked to the curb." Harsh words.

But my actions must've been even harsher.

This time the badboy besides me didn't bother hiding his pleasant surprise when I slipped my hand into his and intertwined our fingers.

Sharp intakes of breathes and curses sounded lowly and it was probably because I'd forgotten it wasn't just us four in the vicinity, this was a spectacle for my non-aware friends too.

"Just because you have an big brute to back you up doesn't mean you'll act like an entitled bitch, Tatiana."

Derek and I stood, side by side, a force together as he voiced my opinions.

His hand tightened in mine and his grin was almost infectious.

This was me making clear Derek was off the market and if she still didn't get it, she could fight it out in the ring with me.

"I have to thank you instead." His head tipped towards me and I glanced up because he was six feet and usually I tried ignoring it. Not right now when we were brushing shoulders and holding hands publicly.

"You made her jealous enough to hold my hand."

I rolled my eyes. I knew I'd regret doing this but at the moment, I couldn't think of anything that screams, 'Get away, he's taken!' without the girlfriend tag and anything short of a kiss.

Ana was shaking in anger.

Roy's smile was stiff.

But Derek and I? We were feeding off their discomfort.

Roy finally made a move and stood upright, pushing himself away from the door of his Jeep but not before grabbing something out of it.

I willed myself not to shake, to not take a step back as he approached and Derek's presence besides me helped.

He squeezed my hand as if he knew everything going on in my head and was silently telling me I wasn't alone.

It worked.

When the Monster stopped in front of me with a cutting, mocking, loaded smile, I barely managed to not punch him across the face.

Breathing felt hard.

His hands on me, tearing my clothes, branding me, pressing into my burning flesh—

"We have a lot to catch up on, Miss Smith."

Offering the bouquet in his hand, he waited like a predator for the first sign of my weakness, for me to shake in front of him.

I wouldn't give him the satisfaction because He was right.

"We do, Mr Gambino."

I took the bouquet filled with flowers that I didn't have the attention to categorize in the moment and squeezed it tight.

I almost wished I still had the lighter so I could burn it in front of him but the act was all formality and I could play along.

He chuckled coldly and the noise grated on me. A sound similar to this haunted my nights and my memories, it's how he had laughed when Mellisa and I cried and begged.

Roy stepped even closer and I squeezed Derek's hand like my life depended to it, my muscles pulled taunt.

A tiny part of me was still so scared of him.

The man raised his hand and I remained still as he almost touched my cheek–

"Don't touch her."

Holding his wrist an inch from my face, Derek's quiet words were dipped in anger and darkness I'd barely glimpsed.

A deep warning growl ripped from his throat as he and Roy remained in a stare-off.

A warmth unlike anything I'd ever known before swallowed me whole, relief caressing my racing heart to calm down because the Monster wasn't going to be able to touch me right now.

Roy smiled wryly but I could tell he was pissed as he pulled his hand away with a placating gesture of his brows.

I didn't believe it for a second but oh well.

"Well, then." His smile dropped and there stood the Monster, the one who'd condemned countless lives.

"Let's end this tomorrow."

I didn't look away, fiercely staring back at his challenge.

"Yes, it's time someone pays."

And he would.

With his fucking life.

•♤•

A/N

What do we think about Cam? Derek'sJealous side heh? And Cameron's interest in Veronica? Also, how about this final confrontation between everyone and The Gambino siblings?

Hope you enjoyed and take care! Do vote and comment!

~Skyler