Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 58

**Chapter 58**

**Kaleb’s POV**

…

I had reached a pivotal moment in my life, a decision that felt both terrifying and liberating.

The evening I stepped out of Trevor Cross’ club, I made a vow to myself—I was finished with this life.

Finished with the Serpent Mafia, Marco’s menacing threats, the endless jobs that weighed heavily on my soul, and the constant suppression of my emotions.

I thought of my father repeatedly, his dreams swirling in my mind like a haunting melody. He had once believed that the money from the Serpent could be a pathway to something genuine, something substantial.

He thought it was merely a loan to fuel a business venture, but the Serpent Mafia had insidious plans of their own.

Their intention was to seize everything he built once he tasted success. When my father finally uncovered their treachery and sought to extricate himself from their grasp, they silenced him forever, taking everything he had worked tirelessly to create. And then, they turned their gaze towards me, his only son, demanding I pay the debt he had incurred.

For years, I had bent to their will, allowing Marco to manipulate me like a puppet on strings. But that was over.

I was determined to repay every last cent, brick by brick, with my own sweat and toil. A fresh start was on the horizon, and perhaps—just perhaps—I could win Bailey back in the process.

Bailey was the one person who had ever truly seen me for who I was beneath the mask I wore.

I had lost her to this chaotic life, but now that I was ready to walk away, I needed her to know just how much she meant to me.

That night, I found myself at the party, fully aware that Bailey would be there.

The music thumped loudly, the pool lights casting a surreal blue glow in the darkness, while laughter and shouts erupted from the crowd, as if the world had abandoned all sense of restraint.

As I navigated through the throng of bodies, I offered nods to a few familiar faces, my mind racing with thoughts of Bailey.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted, drawing my attention. People were rushing toward the pool, their faces alight with excitement and shock.

“She just pushed her in!” someone yelled, their voice cutting through the noise like a knife.

I turned my gaze toward the pool, my heart pounding in my chest.

A crowd had gathered, phones raised high, capturing every moment for posterity.

I forced my way through the mass of people, an uneasy feeling gnawing at my insides. I didn’t know why, but something felt terribly wrong.

And then I heard it—her name.

“Bailey!”

My heart seized, and I pushed myself forward with newfound urgency.

When I finally reached the poolside, I was met with a sight that froze me in place. Lila, drenched and seething with rage, was clawing her way out of the water.

She was cursing, her voice a tempest of fury.

“You crazy bitch! What the hell is wrong with you?!” Lila screamed, her words echoing in the charged atmosphere.

But my focus was not on Lila.

My eyes searched frantically for Bailey.

And when I spotted her, I could hardly recognize her.

Her hair was now a vibrant blonde, glistening under the pulsating party lights. She wore an outfit so revealing it took my breath away—her legs bare, the top barely concealing her, a drink clutched tightly in her hand. Yet it wasn’t her attire that struck me the hardest.

It was the look in her eyes.

They were wild, unfocused, and she appeared intoxicated.

“Bailey…” I breathed, barely above a whisper.

She raised her cup to her lips, oblivious to my presence as she drank deeply.

I pushed through the crowd, desperation fueling my movements until I reached her.

“Bailey, stop,” I pleaded, my voice steady but urgent.

She blinked at me, her glassy eyes narrowing in confusion. “Kaleb?” she slurred, and then, as if driven by some unseen force, she shoved me hard in the chest.

“Get away from me!” she yelled, her voice laced with pain.

I stumbled back, taken aback by the force of her rejection.

“You’re terrible!” she screamed, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. “You ruined everything! You left me! You… you…”

Time seemed to freeze for just a heartbeat before I responded, cupping her cheek, my thumb brushing against her skin. She didn’t pull away, and I felt a rush of relief flood through me.

When we finally broke apart, our foreheads rested against each other, our breaths mingling in the charged air.

“I can’t hold back anymore,” I whispered, my heart racing.

“Then don’t,” she replied, her voice barely above a breath.

I took her hand and drove us to my apartment, the tension between us crackling like electricity.

Her hand rested on my thigh, an unspoken promise that she didn’t want me to let her go again.

Once we reached my place, I carried her inside, her laughter soft and warm against my neck.

“You still smell the same,” she whispered, her breath sending shivers down my spine.

Inside, I set her down gently on the couch, but she pulled me down with her, her fingers tangled in my shirt as if afraid I would vanish.

We kissed again, this time slower, deeper. My hands explored her back, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips. She gasped softly against my lips, and I felt as if the world outside had ceased to exist.

“Kaleb…” she murmured, her voice a soft plea.

“Yes?” I replied, my heart pounding.

“Don’t leave me again.”

“Never,” I promised, my voice steady and resolute.

I began to remove her clothes slowly, whispering sweet nothings as I kissed every inch of her body, savoring the moment as if it were a treasure.

Her fingers traced the scars on my arms, the marks I had hidden from her before. I touched her hair, her shoulders, her waist, memorizing every detail as if I feared she might slip away once more.

She kissed me like a woman who had been waiting for years—maybe she had.

In the midst of whispers and touches, I poured out my heart to her, expressing my desire to start anew, even if it meant rebuilding everything from the ground up. I knew she might not remember a thing when morning came, but in that moment, words were unnecessary; our bodies communicated everything we needed to say.

Every caress felt like an apology, a promise, a declaration of love.

I held her tightly, as if I had lost her forever and somehow found her again. She clung to me, and when she finally drifted off to sleep, her breathing steady and peaceful, I felt a sense of tranquility wash over me for the first time in years.