Kylie Bray (Love, Hate and Billions)

Chapter 17 (Kylie)

My feet pain, just as my heart squeezes in agony with every step I take closer to the jet. I don't see but

hear Vincent leave and for the first time I am not going to worry about that, I know I have to let him go.

He was never mine to begin with. And though I bleed in my reality that our story was never a story, just

a figment of my imagination, I know forgetting him is what I have to do.

My steps slow down as I spot the guy standing next to Michael's Chrome Jet, near the air-stairs

wearing A Satan Sniper's Motorcycle Club jacket, which they call a cut. He is looking like a model from

those tattoo biker books Diamond keeps begging me to buy every damn month.

What a fine piece of meat with those ripped dark Jeans. And maybe if I wasn't so close to the brink of

breaking down I would have told him just that. He doesn't see me looking at him, as his attention is on

his phone.

So I stare at him a second or two longer before I continue moving closer to the Aircraft. Diamond is

probably already inside the jet ready to leave. I scan the place for Kevin as I walk on closer to the

Chrome machine. I almost miss Kevin, as his profile comes into view from the opening of the Jet

beckoning me to hurry.

He says something to the biker and the guy moves up the ramp two steps at a time.

I don't look at the guy again as I get to the ramp and ascend the twelve steps up at a leisured pace.

Preparing myself for what I have to do, and that is to be focused on finding my brother. I can mend my

heart another day.

Kevin engulfs me into a hug, for my benefit. I hold him tight, inhaling his familiar smell, enjoying the This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

comfort of his warmth. His opium scent washes over me in a protective comfort.

“Michael sure doesn't give me a time to freshen up does he.”

I roll my eyes, making light of the situation.

“Hello to you too baby girl, saw Vincent, everything good.”

Kevin's blue gaze locks on to mine, so aware, and sharp with focus that I drop my own, not willing him

to see that I am breaking inside.

I shrug in response, I don't have an answer and with Kevin I never need one.

Feeling the heat of my brother's dead blank look, I still don't meet his gaze.

He pinches my cheek, something he has done these past few years, “Come, let's get you inside.”

I bend my head and walk into the Aircraft.

The cream and beige leather sofa seats, silver edgings, black marbled tables, and gold cushions I

bought in Egypt last year feel just like home. Michael didn't design this jet for extravagance, he

designed it for speed and business and that is what it has. A classiness without too much of luxury that

borders on Luxury private Jets.

We have a plane for luxury, is what he said to the reporters when they got the inside view.

The six rows of seats are empty besides the two occupied on either end. Diamond at the back already

with her laptop open and recliner up. And the biker seated comfortably in the front, one seat up from

the first row.

Deciding it is best to give Diamond her space, I walk to the front. The biker's back is facing me so he

can't see me approaching. I move to the empty seat across from him finally getting a good view of this

guy.

“Names, Storm.”

He removes his sunglasses and what I see in his small familiar brown eyes, and frown etched onto his

stubble-filled face tells me exactly why he has the name.

“Kylie Bray,” I say in greeting.

“Yeah, I've seen you a few times at the clubhouse, chatting Zero's ear off.”

His attentive gaze tracks to my mouth as he says this.

I grin at that, surprised at his strong Southern accent.

“I might have seen you a time or two as well, mostly behind the clubhouse with your pants down.”

I am not exaggerating by saying this. I have seen this guy a few times, mostly in the heat of passion

with one of the members of his club.

He grins sheepishly and scratches his neck. If I weren't so muddled up in my brain to see straight I

would be certain the biker is blushing. For some reason it makes me jealous that he gets that, he has

someone to go back to.

Kevin comes to sit right next to Storm and interrupts our little conversation just in time. As I don't think I

could have kept it up any longer, I am relieved by this.

“So Jace was supposed to be home today, went for a training camp this week, his coach said the team

went to a pub two nights back, so thought nothing about it, until Jace, Caden, and Mickey Malone

never showed the next day,” Kevin shares, going full-on business mode.

I sit up in my seat, my attention on my brother,

“That isn't like him, he would've at least told me, did they call Aiden?” I question Kevin.

Aiden and Jace have been best friends since Aiden moved to Liston Hills about ten or so years ago.

They are the male versions of Diamond and myself.

“Yeah, Aiden said they were supposed to go fishing today at Lucan's parent's dam, said the last time

he heard from Jace was early hours of yesterday morning.”

I don't say anything to that, because something isn't right. Either Aiden is keeping secrets or my brother

is in some shit. Mischief, they always get up to together.

“We going to take a detour, check out the pub, there's a training ground not too far from the place.

Jamie can land there, Killer and I can take a ride down and check if any of the locals saw anything.”

Killer is my brother's road name. I despise the name.

When women hear his road name they think it is because of his killer looks. I don't blame them, he

looks like our mother, blonde hair and the bluest eyes that stare at you like a tornado is brewing. Add in

his sharp chiseled jaw like his father, Kevin certainly got killer genes. I wish that was what his road

name actually meant.

“It's Colorado, they not gonna snitch,” I say to Storm's suggestion.

I spent summers in the mountains with my dad and Mason, the people there were as loyal as a fault to

the locals.

“My dad has a friend in Colorado, good with the locals, I sent him a text, can we get off the ground

now.” Diamond yells from the other end.

“Didn't even know she was listening,” Storm smiles twisting his head to get a quick view of my bestie.

“She's Diamond, she always pays attention,” Killer says deadpan.

“Especially at that three-point two-second burp Kevin,” She screams again.

“If you want a recount come sit here, big mouth.”

I roll my eyes at Kevin's dry sense of humor when it comes to Diamond, I always notice when he

makes an effort with her. I love him more for it.

It's another ten minutes before Jamie announces that we're taking off. The flight to the open field in

Colorado goes quick with Kevin and Storm talking about possible places to look for Jace. I merely nod

my head and give an answer here and there.

Diamond goes quiet again saying nothing, losing herself in whatever she's doing on that red Laptop of

hers.

The limited-edition device was a gift from Michael a few months back. Diamond loves getting presents

from Michael. He considers himself her godfather. It doesn't make me jealous, I am glad that she is

considered part of our family, not just the Stones, but the Brays too. My father has custody of Diamond

until she turns eighteen. So she is basically a sister to me. And even without the paper, to me she is

family.

Vincent will never understand that bond we share, the bonding force that makes us family because he

isn't part of that. I was not lying when I said he made his choice. I was not lying when I said it wouldn't

end well.

A made man is only loyal to the name of that ring on his index finger, and even then you still can't trust

them.