From Ocean's Grave To Queen

nor

reached into my pocket, pulling out the small, ornate locket he' d given me on our fifth anniversary. It represented a life, a dream, a

number. I almost ignored it, my mind st

e asked. "This is Robert, from th

ed a private investigator to find my birth parents, a vague longing for roots I never fully understood. I had wanted to surprise Blak

at is it?" I ask

believe we've found your biological f

rand for my gritty life. I hung up, the information a dull hum in my mind, oversh

circuit. The roar of engines, the smell of burnt rubber, the rush of adrenaline – it was the only thing that could numb the p

, I was

din. Brock Hawkins, recovered from Blake' s attack, stood before me, flanke

et lost, Brock. Toni

k. How about a little wager? A race. If you win, I walk away. If I win... you giv

am. My legacy. And Hayleigh. "Wha

a sucker for a pretty face. Especially a helpless one." He smirked. "Speaking of helpl

leanor. We could never have one. That knowledge, that deep, personal wound, was

f I win, you never show your face in my places a

ll be driving a borrowed car. And it

old muscle car they pointed me to. A su

filling my lungs. The starting gun fired. I pushed the pedal to the floor, the world blurring around me.

the jagged rocks of the Miami coastline. I gri

way from the cliff edge. It slammed into the side railing, jolting me violently.

by my car, his face grim. "Eleanor, are

there, shouting. "Blake! What

e. He grabbed my shoulders, shaking me. "Wh

the words a bitter venom. "You

k' s car, ripped off the door, and then started dismantling the engine with his bare hands, a terrifying display of s

h the tension. She appeared from nowhere, running towards hi

re. He looked at Hayleigh, then back at me. His face sof

, blood trickling from his lip. "He protects her. Alw

king up at him with wide, innocent eyes. The lie. The performance. It was all there. I noticed a small, silver br

said, her voice dripping with feig

him? For what? Protecting his new pr

r, this isn't what it looks li

al. "Just making sure your innocent little art student didn't get her pretty hands dirty? Just

it. The anger, the hurt, the sheer exhaustion of it all threatened to consume me. He ha

for his birthday, a reminder of our shared journey. He' d told me it was special because I w

ely a whisper, but laced with a steel I didn't know I possess