SAGE novel Chapter 27

Sage Miller

Something good came out of my outburst, both Sebastian and Connor apologized and all was normal-ish, Connor was somewhat okay with Sebastian an I think that was the push he needed to start on the road for recovery.

I'm thankful for their effort. Especially Connor, I know how hard it is for him and I can see the restrains he put on himself today.

After everything, the Saturday BBQ was a successful. The day was awesome like the whole summer should've been.

For a while there I forgot about Alora, she didn't even cross my mind. I had fun then got laid. Everything was awesome.

This morning Wren called to invite me to a Sunday brunch at their house. So that's what I was doing right now.

It was Wren, Ben and Alex, Zac, Eve and me. I was surprised Mason wasn't there hanging around making himself a part of the family like he always does so that was a plus. I don't like him, that's if I haven't made myself quite clear in the past.

They set up the patio for a big sunday brunch and decorated the whole backyard. it looked beautiful.

Currently Ben and Zac were in the pool while we were all chatting.

I appreciate how Wren always makes me feel involve with every part of Eve's life. I almost forget she wasn't my mother, that's how warm she made me feel.

"It's in New York at the end of this month. I want you to go." Wren told me. I raised both my eyebrows.

"Yeah... um.. I'd like to but what's a Cotillion?" I was beyond confused.

"Oh! Yeah, it's an event held each year for heirs or heiress or just any rich kid after they complicated high school to 'Come out'" Zac explained rolling his eyes while air quoting coming out.

"What?" I exclaimed more confused. Why would Wren invite me when I'm no heir or even rich.

"I don't even know why would I even need to 'come out' because I'm literally in the public eye." Eve complained pouting. "You know I don't like those kind of events."

"Because it wasn't official and it wouldn't look good if you didn't attend when my magazine is covering the whole event and Zac is there and you're not. You are my child too." Wren explained.

"I don't really see the reason for it." Zac mumbled. "It's just another excuse for rich society to flaunt their money and get in a contest of who can donate the most money."

"Exactly that's why I really don't wanna go." Eve added pouting.

"Yeah well you are going. It's very necessary." Wren said in a firm voice.

"But I don't." I chirped in.

"You're don't wanna go?" Eve asked.

"It's not that I don't wanna go. It's that I shouldn't. I don't have any part in that kind of event." I really don't wanna go. There's a 99% that Alora will be there.

"Nonsense. You will go." Wren said giving me a big kind smile. "I'm sure Evernly wants you there."

"Yeah. I want you to go." Eve said.

"This is important for Eve. Both her brothers should be present." Zac added.

"I have school." I tried making up an excuse but came up with a very lame one.

"It's just one day and the event is on Friday. You can fly to New York after school if you don't want to miss. The event doesn't start until 8." Wren persuaded.

"I don't have a choice now do I?"

"Glad you see it that way." Eve beamed. Zac chuckled shaking his head.

"Since when are you this pushy?" I mused.

"You have no idea." Zac said then he got up and went to the table to pour a lemonade for him and me.

"I'm going swimming, you coming?" She asked both Zac and I.

"Do I have a choice?" I joked which caused Zac to burst out laughing and Eve rolled her eyes walking away as we teased her.

She took off the summer dress that revealed her full body swimsuit. She sat at the edge of the pool and dunked in her feet. She splashed Ben and Alex.

I rolled my eyes mentally chuckling. I knew she would never get in the water. She doesn't even know how to swim nor will she ever try to learn.

I looked at Zac who was watching Eve. I glanced at Wren and she too had a look of pure adoration in her face.

I glanced back at Eve who was playing with the twins, they had joy and love written all over their faces, Love for their sister.

She truly is the princess. I thought as my lips broke into a huge smile.

Without even noticing or meaning to, she snatch all the attention of everyone around her.

I should be jealous that all these people love her almost as much as I do but I'm not. I love how my sister has all these people who adore her around her.

She's a Princess. I reminded myself.

I leaned back on the beach chair and I brought my hands to the back of my head for support while watching Eve and the twins.

It reminds me so much of our childhood. When we were happy. When everything was alright.

Our childhood was everything any child dreamt of. Whatever mother love we lacked, dad provided it. He gave us both a mom and a dad's love.

Some may say that's impossible to do but dad did it. We never felt the lack of a mother's love until his death.

We were happy kids before Dad died.

"You threw it out, you get it." Alex told Ben pouting.

"Since I'm older I can get you to do anything. Now get the ball." Ben ordered pointing at the ball that round to grass.

How can twins have the same personality? Usually there's an extrovert one and an introvert one bit with these two, they are exactly the same. Maybe one is a bit smarter than the other but they have the same personality.

"My beautiful beautiful sister." Alex started but Eve wasn't having any of it.

"I'm not getting you the ball." She deadpanned.

"Technically you're partly responsible for all this." Ben said dryly.

Those were some big word. I noted. After all they are turning eleven years old in a few months.

"Me?" She gasped. "I didn't even touch the ball."

"You were suppose to catch it." Ben said once again. "That's why it's called catch."

"You were trying to hit me. That was no throw." She argued.

"Details details. " Alex muttered. "Please pretty girl. Please get the ball."

Pretty girl.

"Pretty girl?" Everyone said exactly what I was thinking.

Eve shook her head trying to hide her smile.

"No, get out of the pool and get the ball on your ball." She told both of them.

Susan walked outside and went to pick up the ball then threw it at them.

"Susan you spoil this brats too much." Zac commented.

"She really does and now they're so lazy." Wren added.

"Both of you are jealous." Alex said to them.

At that is how I spent my Sunday, totally relaxed.

Monday was a different day, not so relaxed yet not too crazy. I woke up and headed to the hideout, I did all my duties like I always do except today I was doing them alone and not tagging along with Styles.

He's been so busy today. We briefly talked and organized the little girl's party which I now know as Eva Francis. A six year old orphan girl. I never pegged Styles for the charitable type.

It sweet how he did all that for her. After that I left and did my next assignment.

The whole day was very busy, doing ups and downs. From and to the hideout. I was drained.

Right now we were going to somewhere, I don't know where but somewhere.

I didn't ask because.... well I don't care and because I wanted to hang with Styles. We haven't hang in a long time because he was hanging with his high school friends.

I figured he was taking me to some club so we could rewind and reflect on the day, like we used to after a long day at the hideout.

He just told me about an up coming event that's gonna take place in less than a week. A mafia gettogether of some sort. He said it happens annually.

"I'm not attending." Styles deadpanned.

"What? You have to go." I said dramatically and he rolled his eyes.

Sebastian always comments on how dramatic I am or that I should have been a girl.

I guess that's how I am.

"I'm not going. I'm just in charge of security before the event." He told me.

"Why not?" I pout. I was pushing him to go because I had hopes he'd bring me along and I'll get to meet some cartel leaders.

"I'm not interested and besides only a few cartels knows what I look like and of course we control those cartels. I'd like to keep it that way, me remaining a mystery and besides you think that those old fools would appreciate an 18 year old attending their secret ball or party? The Godfather is a mystery and will always be. To those fools I'm some forty something ruthless old man. I'm just in charge of making it a safe place for them."

I thought about what he said. Everything made sense. He's playing it safe and it works.

"So you're just making it safe for them?" I repeated his words.

"We are hosting the ball. It is in our territory and if there's an attack or the FBI or cops raid the house. Many leaders will be caught and that might start a war. After all they will be caught in our territory. We don't want a war."

"Your job is scary and exciting at the same time. You have the lives of that many leaders in the palm of your hands. If you wanted you could take them all out in one go and be the God of cartels." I beamed.

Styles chuckled shaking his head.

"I like your thinking-" He complimented me and I gave him a smug look. "-very ambitious but it's not that simple. Those shits are paranoid bitches. They will probably have back up teams on stand by near in case of an attack. Some will try to sneak in before the event and set up their own defense system. I mean cameras or hide guns in plain sight."

I went to say something but Tim, the driver spoke.