Breathe In. Breathe Out. I said this mantra repeatedly over and over again as I pulled my body forward, one step after another, sweat dripping down my arms, the sun beaming down my back. Each step I took against the sand, propelled me to move at a much more rapid speed than before as the soles of my running shoes kept me balanced vertically on top of the sand as I felt the incline, shift.

I can feel my calf muscles burning, sending a shockwave down my spine, I took deep breaths, as I fisted my hands together in front of me, and adrenaline flowed through my body. I managed to run miles away from the beach house, letting out a burst of steam, that I needed to let out from last night. I'm not sure what came over me asking Verena for a kiss. I was expecting her to reject me once more, but she did the opposite and welcomed my lips to hers.

I wanted so badly to pull her against me so that she could feel the power she had over me, and somehow manage to keep our bodies inches apart so she would not feel my erection. As soon as our kiss ended, I could feel the tension seeping between us once more, connecting the barrier, I still was trying to figure out how to break completely. Her eyes told another story, the hesitancy and fear prevalent in her cinnamon-colored eyes, told me everything I needed to know.

Our love story was far from being over, there was hope that Verena was still in love with me, in the same way that I had never stopped loving her. Just as circle my body back around, I collide with a figure as I brace my hands out, and my eyes collide down to see Verena looking up at me with surprise.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going", she then looked down at my hands still wrapped around her forearms. I quickly remove them as my eyes shift down taking notice of a cotton-candy pink workout suit, that fits her like a second skin, showing her peachy ass perfectly. Verena takes notice of me staring at me and raises her eyebrows as she points, "Stop looking at my ass". I cross my arms in front of me, checking my smartwatch, showing that it is fairly still early, it's 8 in the morning. "I can't help but look, you know I am ass man". Verena smirks before she turns back around and begins jogging back in the direction of the beach house. I quickly begin to jog next to her, "I didn't mean to run you off".

Verena looks over at me as she continues to run, her breasts moving up and down, "No need. Do you even go to sleep by the way. I've been noticing that you tend to be up quite early in the morning". I contemplate telling her about my nightmares, but then I change my mind at the very last second.

'Yes, I tend to only get a few hours of sleep". Verena frowns at my statement. "That's not good Eryx, you need to get some rest". That was easier said than done, I had been suffering from nightmares for over five years now and was unsure of how to get rid of them at this point. "What do you suggest I do Dr. Vallea", I say sarcastically. We jog back to the beach house and catch our breaths as we both take a seat at the bottom steps that are meters away from the ocean. "Do you still meditate or practice yoga", I tense up and stare off into space. It had been years since I'd been on a yoga mat and centered my consciousness, free of thinking about anything that would cause my blood pressure to rise.

"No, can't say that I have". Verena slaps her hand against my arm. "You need to do better, it makes no sense for you to be only getting a few hours of rest and running across the world doing only God knows what with the mafia business". I am taken aback by Verena's concern for my well-being. I stare at her with awe and admiration as I place my hands inside of my Adidas oversized hoodie.

"Why are you staring at me like that, do I have something on my face". She then places her hand against her face looking at me with concern in her eyes. "No, Cherie, everything is perfect you are perfect", I add. Verena and I stare at each other for several moments, before she looks away. "I think we should investigate how an informant from the Alvarado family was able to infiltrate themselves within the arsenal base", she mentions seconds later as she clears her throat.

"I was thinking the same thing. I know that Zyran has a team that deals with hiring people within the arsenal base". Verena braces her hands against the steps, as she leans her back against the steps above her. "I need a list of names, can you get that for me and I can manage to do the rest". I stare down at her confused.

"How so, you are not a hacker, that is Arsenio's job to do". Verena sighs, "There are many things I know how to do that you are not aware of, just get me the list of names, that's all I need right now". Verena is hiding something and doesn't fucking like it.

"You are hiding something from me, tell me what is it". Verena opens her mouth and then she closes it. "I will tell you once I have the names". I then remove my hand from the inside of my hoodie, as I place my hand against my knee.

"I'm making you a deal, once you tell me your secret that you seemed to be gung-ho about sharing with me, I will share mine, what do you say". I had many secrets, but I was only going to share them one at a time. I then open my hand, waiting for her to shake mine. I then feel Verena's hand wrap around mine as she grips it tightly.

"Deal, she then manages to pull my body forward with her hand still gripping mine, as she glances up into my eyes, 'If you are lying to me, I won't hesitant to shoot your ass".

A sane man probably would try to stay far away if a woman threatened to shoot them, but I was far from being that. The thought of Verena holding a gun in her hands makes my dick hard.

"Don't tempt me with a good time Cherie", I wink at her as she gasps before she pulls her hand away from mine, "I wasn't joking Eryx", she states with a stern look covering her beautiful face.

"I wasn't either, now do you want to accompany me to the arsenal base or do you want to stay here on the beach house, the choice is yours". Verena raises her eyebrows, "You would let me stay here at the beach house by myself", she asks.

"Yes, and also, you wouldn't be here by yourself, dad lives here, as well as Arlo and Tirian". With the mention of her bodyguards, Verena rolls her eyes and whines. "No offense, but I can use a break from having bodyguards, I think I would like to go with you to the arsenal base". I am reeling on the inside that it was so easy to trick Verena into doing exactly what I wanted, but I made sure to keep my facial expression neutral not alerting her of my deception.

"Whatever you want Cherie, Be ready by noon", I then plant a kiss against her lips taking her by surprise before I pull away staring into her eyes for a moment before I run up the steps leaving her alone to ponder over everything. I then walk back inside the house seeing that Arsenio is walking back downstairs, fully dressed in a white Lacoste golf shirt and khaki shorts.

"I am taking Verena to the arsenal base today". Arsenio raises his eyebrows in curiosity. "Alone", he adds, "Yes", I mention back. Arsenio nods before he pats my back. "I see someone is taking my advice".

I shrug his hand off my back. "I told you I don't need help romancing my wife, I didn't need your help 10 years ago when I first met did I". Arsenio shakes his head at my statement. "For someone who has been married as long as you have, you still have many things to learn when it comes to women, especially yours. Verena will not cower to your demands like a scared little puppy. You are underestimating her and she might just be 10 steps ahead of you".

I snort, "Just because Verena has managed to live incognito from me for many years does not mean she has won the battle". Arsenio then adds as a smirk covers his face, "Keep thinking that my friend, but your wife will outsmart you again and I can't wait to tell you I told you so when it happens".

I hear footsteps coming from outside and see Verena standing against the doorway. "I have worked up quite an appetite, did you want to help make breakfast or are you going to stand there by the doorway looking every bit of the psychopath that you are". I smirk and then follow Verena as I watch her walk into the kitchen, "I got your psychopath". Verena and I banter back and forth while we stand in the kitchen as voices are beginning to echo off the walls. "Hey can you two shut the fuck up, I'm trying to nurse a hangover".

Verena and I both look over to see Kaemon lying on the couch with one of his legs hanging off the arm of the chair with one of his hands placed over his forehead as if the lights in the room are worsening his condition.

Verena takes notice and immediately cuts off all the lights in the room and closes the blinds while I open the fridge and food storage cabinets in search of ingredients to make my hangover juice which includes coconut water, ginger, cucumber, oranges, turmeric, carrots and pineapple. I chopped up the fruits and vegetables with a sharp knife on a cutting board before adding them into the Nutribullet Juicer.

Once all of the juices from the fruits and vegetables have been evenly combined I pour the mixture into a medium glass cup, before I place it in Kaemon's hand. "Drink up, this should help stop you from being nauseated and having headaches".

Verena manages to help Kaemon sit up and hands him the glass of juice as he frowns at me. Before he chugs down the entire thing in a matter of seconds. "Thanks, I'm starting to feel a little better now", he adds back before he passes the empty glass cup to me.

"Good, later we need to have a long talk". Kaemon looks at me and then sighs.

"Can't it wait, I have somewhere I need to be". I shake my head at his response, "No, whatever you have planned cancel it, what we have to discuss is important".

The conversation I needed to have with him was long overdue. Kaemon then glances over at Verena for assistance in this matter, but she shakes her head as if she wants no part of it. "Listen to Eryx, Kaemon, I'm not getting in between this".

I smirk because in the past Verena has always managed to side with my brothers. Kaemon then lays his head against the arm of the chair and throws a blanket over his head.

"You turning sister-in-law against me, I see", Kaemon says as Verena laughs at him before she gets up as I follow her inside the kitchen to make breakfast.



Do you think Arsenio is right, will Verena manage to outsmart Eryx again?