My Crush's Uncle

Family Reunion.

"Hello? Yeah, I've done what needed to be done. If you could, can you please start Phase 1? Yeah, it seems that he found...me." Theresa started typing away on her computer, earphones in her ear as she answered questions from the caller from on other end, pushing the strands away from her face as she picked up the glass of wine from her marble counter. “Please call me when you’re done.” Theresa

“Alright! Time to write an apology.” Theresa mumbled with the glass halfway to her lips. She stared at her computer for a solid 10 minutes and then opened her email, creating an email. “Dear Denaya.” She began.

Writing down her goodbyes, took almost 3 hours, if not for her breakdowns whilst trying to finish writing down her goodbyes. It was 500 hundred words and yet she still couldn’t’ go through it halfway.

"Why did I think I was going to be safe?" Theresa mumbled softly, she sent the email, and then deactivating her email. Her phone rang again, she cleared her throat as she answered the call. “Hey, have you erased everything?” Theresa asks Arden. “Thank you, Arden. Please tell my brothers. Thank you.” Theresa ended the call. Looking down at her spare phone, she tapped it on the the palm of her hand, thinking about leaving the life she's had for 10 years, the

longest she’s ever stayed, and then her dark past caught up to her, she

needed to leave.

Theresa felt warm liquid trickling down her cheek "Oh," she sniffed and wiped

the tears away before collecting herself and making her way to her room, her

room didn't have much, it was a simple room with a queen bed in the middle of

the room, a bedside table on both sides and a wardrobe pushed against the wall.

Theresa made her way to the wardrobe, opening it up to see a few clothes

hanging and some folded at the bottom, 'Hmm, the cleaner must have taken it for

dry cleaning. I’ll just have to text her to donate it.' Theresa thought to

herself before turning away and making her way to the bed, kneeling beside the

bed and reaching under it.

Pulling out a large duffle bag, she places it on her bed and started to put pack her

things away, 'I need to leave as soon as I can.' she grabbed what she could and

zipped it up before making her way to the living room, she pulled her phone out

as she dialled for another number "Hello? This is Theresa Fleur. I would

like a clean-up for RedDream. Thank you." Theresa ended the call, RedDream

was the codename for her cottage. Theresa finished packing what she needed to

pack, taking the photo frame sitting on top of the entrance table, she stared

at the photo of Denaya and Ryan. It was the photo they took after their

graduation."

Theresa smiled at her younger self "If I was more careful. I would have spent the

rest of my years with you two." She whispered, as a drop of liquid

splashed on the glass "Oh gosh! I need to stop with the crying."

Theresa chuckles to her self as she wiped the tears away once again, tucking

the photo into her bag. Theresa finished packing up, she looked around the

house, some of her things are still there, but that's the reason why she's had

to call the clean-up crew. Theresa grew attached to the house, it was the place

she’s been the longest, and yet she still didn't decorate the place fearing the

day that she had to leave was close, but she's lasted this long and she regretted

it abit.

A loud ting brought her back to reality, she looked down to see that her ride was

here. Pocketing her phone, she picked up the two bags and walked out, the

driver got out of the car and ran over to help Theresa. Thanking the driver as

he took it off her hands and put it in the boot, Theresa sat in the back and

then looked out the window. “Miss Theresa. It’s good to see you again.” The driver

got in the car and started the car “It’s good to see you again Michael.” She

smiled, her eyes still glued at the scenery outside her window.

“Your brothers are waiting for you to return home. I’ll be escorting you back to Sydney.” Michael starts to drive “Thank you Michael. It’ll be nice to return home after all this time.” Theresa closed her eyes as she let sleep take over.

“-sa.” Theresa heard a voice carefully shaking her, “Theresa.” The familiar sweet tone voice called for her again and this time her lashes fluttered open as a blurry figure sat in front of her. Her vision focuses and she slowly yawned as she got up “Mhmm.” She stretched, looking around to find herself inside her plane. “Oh, Nora.” Theresa seemed to have known whom the voice belonged to as she looked around the plane to see Michael, he was passed out on one of the lounge chairs, a smile etched on her lips as she turned to face Nora.

“How long have we been flying?” She questions an old friend of hers, Nora smiled “10 hours, you seemed very tired when Michael brought you on the plane.” Nora reached for her, and Theresa accepted her hand “You did well. We’ve been watching you this whole time. But I’m sorry that we couldn’t protect you for long enough.” Nora sadly smiled and Theresa shook her head “No, it’s not your fault. We all knew that my life wasn't going to be easy." Theresa pats her back.

"I-"

"I think that I should just move on." Theresa interrupted. Nora's brow furrowed, she knew that Theresa didn't mean those words, she was very expressive and the way that she said that Nora knew. "I don't believe you when you say that." Nora shakes her head, Theresa lets go of her hand, sighed and leans back on the leather couch, she didn't know what to say after that, what was she supposed to say? Her life was a mess, a mystery. It was too dark, to draining, all she could do was run away from it. Confronting it nearly killed her, admitted in the hospital, with broken ribs, broken fingers, face bruised, you could hardly tell it was her. Theresa blocked away the memories of her past, she could feel tears threatening to spill. Biting her lip to keep herself from breaking.

"Yeah. I know. I know. I know." she chanted. Her mind a mess, her heart aching for the love she had for the family she’s been with, it hurts, it hurts like hell and she couldn’t find a damn thing to fix it. Because no one will ever replace her friends.

Nora scootched closer to the edge of her seat and stroked Theresa's head "You love them, don't you?" She asks softly, Theresa caught her eye and she broke, tears began to spill, her breathing starts to quicken "I love them so much!" She cried, she brought the back of her hands to cover her eyes "I don't want to leave them. I didn't want to...but I had to." She starts to hiccup, making her shake uncontrollably. She wailed as she tears began to fall like a river, at this rate Theresa knew that she wouldn’t be able to stop. Nora got off her seat, she sat next to Theresa and hugged her, Theresa buried herself in Nora's shirt and sobbed.

"I....I didn't want to leave them!" She mumbled her cries in her shirt, Nora stroked her back and gave her a kiss on her head, "I know." She soothed Theresa. Nora looked over to Michael who seemed to have woken up, he was looking down at his hands, the room was quiet, but the sounds of Theresa's cries and wails were loud enough to break someone's heart.

In the next 10 hours, Theresa had fallen asleep, Nora and Michael were holding a conversation, checking up on Theresa whenever she moved, it was a long ride back home but they all knew it was for the best.

Theresa woke up with a start, Nora sat across from her, she pointed to the window, getting up from the comfortable couch she looked out the window to see the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, she was home. At first her stomach dropped, but then a sudden feeling of warmth and ease replaced it. The plane had finally arrived, Nora helped Theresa up and Michael got their bags ready. Standing outside the hangar, with 3 black range rovers parked outside. Theresa's breath caught as she saw three familiar figures, the door opens and she was welcomed with brightness, her eyes focused on the lights and then to the three men waiting for her, Theresa walks down the stairs hastily.

Tears brimming in her eyes as she ran to the men walking slowly up to her, Theresa jumped towards them and they all caught her, she cried with happiness as she hugged the three of them, kissing them on the cheeks and just nestling into their embrace, she was finally home. It's been 11 years since she last saw her siblings, they all ruffled her hair as they showered her with kisses and jokes.

"Oh, my goodness. Darius?" You're so tall!" She jokingly compared their heights, Darius stood at 6'1, the sun highlighting his light caramel skin, he was very handsome, he had the same honey coloured eyes as Theresa, dark brown curls with an undercut, it suited his face, his jaw line was perfectly shaped as she grabbed his chin and turned his face from one side to the other "Look at you grown man!" Theresa hugged him again, and Darius laughed as he returned the hug.

"Now you can't be forgetting your one and only now, could you?" Theresa turned to the middle child, he was the exact opposite of Darius, a beautiful honey skin tone, standing out from that black ensemble, black dress pants, black loafers, even his button down shirt, the only thing that stood out from that outfit was the gold chain hanging around his neck and a golden watch on his left wrist. " Javon, I didn't know you're still drowning in depression." Theresa joked, the other two brothers ooed "Yeah, well one of us had to hold the other one down." He shot back and Theresa laughs as she punches him on the shoulder, Javon cried out as he pulled her into a hug "Eew!" Javon blew rasperries on her cheek and she pushed him away.

Theresa finally calmed down as she stood face to face with her eldest brother "Hello Malakai." She smiled, towering over her and her other siblings 6'6, the large man with dark brown eyes rolls his eyes as he pulled her into a hug "Welcome back psycho." He kisses the top of her head, and she returned the hug, welcoming her brothers familiar smell, it was home. She was home.

"I'm home."

Theresa caught up with her brothers, she filled in the whole 10 years of her life, the boys were impressed with what she’s accomplished by herself, she told them about her crush on this one guy and they were all questioning about his age, size what he eats. Theresa feigned the questions away before she updated them on what happened at camp. How she met, him.

The boys all listened to their sister go on about him and then about what happened at the forest “I, I heard him. It was him; I knew that voice, I loathe that voice. How did he find me?” Theresa looks at her brother for answers but neither had any for her “I’m sorry T. I thought that we had you covered. I got a call from Arden, a week ago about someone looking for you. It might be one of his workers.” Javon settled into his seat, they arrived at their family home and were lounging in the living room with snacks set on the glass table.

“I have my team tracking who infiltrated your file and we’re gonna erase you from the earth once again.” Darius smiled as he picked up a chocolate chip cookie from the plate. Darius owned an IT company, Redream Industries. A world known industry for fighting a cyberattack from China and Russia. Darius was a genius, he could destroy a politician’s career if he wanted to, expose a celebrity’s s*x tape if he’s bored. The man is dangerous behind a computer, and his brothers know not to mess with him.

Darius also erased Theresa’s entire existence 11 years ago. He was annoyed that he found out that someone recognised her in one picture on i********:, ever since then he’s been tracking them down. “Thank you, Darius. I mean it. Thank you all.” Theresa lowered her head as she places her hand on her knees, ‘God! Please don’t let me cry in front of them.”

“Theresa.” Malakai called, she looked over to her brother, Malakai’s clean shaved face made him look younger than he actually is “You are our weakness. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be here where we are now.” Malakai didn’t lose contact with her, Theresa didn’t know what he meant by that, was that a good thing? She furrowed her brows a bit insulted by his words. Darius and Javon burst into a fit of giggles and Theresa looked at the brothers as if they were crazy.

Darius grabbed his stomach as he tried to catch his breath “Mal, that was probably the worst way to say that.” Javon interjected, Theresa still confused glanced over to her brother to try and meaning what he meant. Malakai shook his head, a smile etched on his lips “I meant.” He began.“That if we were to do the things we did, while you were still beside us. You would have been the biggest distraction for the 3 of us and we would be going crazy trying to protect you.” Malakai explained.

“Oh.” Theresa nods, yet somehow still confused “Theresa. We wouldn’t be able to protect you if you were with us. You would have been on 24/7 watch. No freedom. And you’d be driven to insanity.” Darius puts in whilst reaching for another cookie.

“Your protection was our main priority.” Javon finished. Theresa thanked them, she felt loved by her brothers, and although they sent texts and calls every fortnight, it wasn’t the same as being there physically. She awed and stood up hugging the 3 “You guys. I just want to thank you all, I am very grateful.” She kissed them on the cheeks as they all chuckled.

“So, will you be changing my name?” Theresa questioned as she sat back down. The boys all looked at each other and shook their heads “No, your name will always be your name.” Darius leaned back in his seat “We will have to change your appearance.” Javon added, “We’re just going create everything around you. A new you. You’ll be working under Javon.” Malakai nods to Javon, Theresa crosses her arms as she furrowed her brows “As what?” she questions.

“My new assistant.” Javon grins, and Theresa with wide eyes looked over to Javon before turning to her brother “I will not!” She objects, knowing well what Javon had in store for her, “He’s gonna work me to the bone!” Theresa shook her head “When have I ever done that?” Javon questions, trying to uncover his smile. Theresa threw him a look and Javon glanced away covering his laugh with a cough.

“Javon owns 3 clubs in Sydney. He owns the one in Circular Quay. He needs someone to help run his new one at The Rocks.” Darius shrugs impressed that Javon had his business going well. “Yeah, and if you can run it for me. I’ll gift it to you for your 23rd what do you say?” Javon sticks his hand out, Theresa glanced down at his hands, juggling her options in her head. She had enough money in the bank, but she wanted something under her name. If she’s going to start her new life, might as well start with a new career.

“Alright. I’ll take it.” Theresa takes his brother’s hand and shakes it “When do I start?” She asks and the boys all looked at her and gave her one of their cheeky grins before they all answered “Tonight.”