Loving Bellamy

Aftermath - Part I

「HERO」

- 3 months later -

"Hero Baby, please pick up. I know what it looked like, but I promise it wasn't! I didn't cheat! Please pick up and let me explain. I love you too much to let this destroy what we have, please baby!"

Darkly amused, I delete the voicemail, not bothering to listen to the rest of it, tucking the phone back into my pocket as my car pulls into a private alley in New York City.

"I'll call you when I need you." I nod towards Jason, my driver, as he opens my door, as I exit.

"Yes, sir. I'll be close by just in case." I nod absent-mindedly, as I walk towards the private entrance at the back of a tall industrial building, a bouncer standing firmly in front of the door. He nods when he sees me as he moves out of the way to open the door.

"Evening Mr. Alvarez." I nod back at him as I walk through the held-open door, and make my way towards the glass doors of the private lounge within the club.

Letting my eyes roam around the packed club, I make my way through the VIP section, ignoring the stares as I nod to a second bouncer who holds open the glass doors to the lounge. Expensive cologne and perfume wafts around the luxurious lounge, as a group of men lounges on the black velvet couches, overlooking the dance floor below.

Wisps of smoke linger in the air from expensive cigars and clove cigarettes, and the sound of laughter brings me back to the present. As I near the group of men lounging and talking on the couches, a pair of playful Amber eyes turn my way. Dion holds his cup up in a mock salute. His white teeth flash in the darkened room.

"Well fella's, look what the cat dragged in. It looks like Hero has made his appearance. Quickly, roll out the red carpet, or he may complain we didn't welcome him appropriately!"

Rolling my eyes, I sit down in the empty space next to him on the couch, pulling my jacket off and resting it on the back of the couch. "You invited me, don't act so surprised," I muttered dryly as I pulled the pack of cigarettes from my jacket pocket out and slid one into my mouth. Dion holds out a lighter and I nod in thanks as I grab it.

"I invite you to a lot of things, and you never show up. I hardly saw you before the wedding was called off, and now I see you even less. Even using the cousin card doesn't work on your ass, so please, don't be offended by my surprise. You're a hard man to nail down Ro." Dion says mockingly, but I see the concern in his eyes.

Lighting my cigarette, I nod absent-mindedly, letting my thoughts drift. If anyone knows me best, it would be Dion. Despite not being close to many, Dion is one of the exceptions besides my mother, sisters and grandparents.

But after Andrea's betrayal, I went silent. He betrayal cut deep, and I needed time. I know Dion was hurt, but he also knows I wouldn't go quiet on him without a reason.

Taking a long drag off my cigarette, I put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly. "Sorry D. s**t went sideways." He furrows his eyebrows, his eyes searching mine, before nodding slightly as he grabs his tumbler off the lounge table in front of us, taking a long swig, lost in thought.

I look around and see it's the usual group around us. Across from us on the other couch, is the Twins, Mikel and Matteo the sons of Manuel De Leon, a spanish Billionaire who married the daughter of a US Senator and made his home here. Mikel ran Manuel's business, while Matteo was currently running for Senator in New York, following his mother's family Legacy. They'd grown up with Dion and I. His father had been my grandfather's intern back in Spain in the early 80's, long before starting his own business in crude oil.

Next to the Twins is Leon Aldrich, a Swiss billionaire who founded founded the world's largest security firm, catering to the insanely rich and famous. Dion and I met Leon while in Special Ops 10 years ago. After we got out, we invested in his firm, and since has become a staple in our group.

I turn my eyes to the last person in our group, sitting quietly in the chair to my right, is Alexander Koslova. Russian billionaire and heir to the Koslova Bratva from Moscow, though very few know this. Our families have always had close ties, spanning decades, so Dion and I grew up with him. We were the original 3, and he was as close to me as Dion. During the day, he was the CEO of Koslova Imports.

Taking a deep drag from my cigarette, I lean forward, my arms on my knees as I stare at the tangled bodies on the dance floor.

Quietly, I exhale and lean back, resting my head on the back of the plush couch. No one spoke, waiting for me. Closing my eyes, I rub the bridge of my nose before coldly uttering,

"I found Andrea in bed with Dante. It was me who leaked those photos to the media."