Title: Whispers of Los Alamos
---
Kayla paced back and forth, packing her luggage as Mr. Jamal watched her with a bored expression, his emerald eyes half-lidded with disinterest.
After stuffing what felt like her entire wardrobe into her suitcases, she finally collapsed onto her bed. The weight of exhaustion pulled her under as she muttered, "Good night, Jamal."
"Meow. Good night, my young mistress," Jamal replied—a soundless purr vibrating in his throat as if he truly understood her.
---
For the first time in what felt like forever, Kayla woke up without anxiety gnawing at her chest. The morning sun spilled through the curtains, warming her freckled cheeks. She stretched lazily, feeling like a baby who had just been rocked to sleep.
After a quick shower, she moved to bathe Jamal as well. The cat stretched in satisfaction as she rubbed his silky fur dry. Once her furry companion was settled, Kayla dressed in a creamy, milk-colored Cheongsam that hugged her pear-shaped figure, accentuating her curves with grace. Her ginger-red hair was tied into a messy bun—a task that took longer than it should have due to its unruly length—but eventually, she managed. She gave herself one final look in the mirror. Classy. Elegant. Ready.
Dragging her luggage, one by one, into the garage where her family sedan sat, Kayla felt a pang of bittersweet nostalgia. It was the only thing the court had allowed her to keep after everything was taken away.
"Aghhh, finally! I'm done," she exhaled, slamming the car trunk shut.
She cast one final glance at the house she had called home and whispered, "Goodbye… New life awaits in Los Alamos."
---
After hours on the road, Kayla finally arrived at Los Alamos. The picturesque countryside greeted her with open arms—rolling hills blanketed in lush greenery, wildflowers swaying in the breeze, and the faint scent of rain lingering in the air.
"So this is it," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her father had told her about an old family friend living on the outskirts—a man named Kaiden Scott. But as her car rolled into a more remote area, doubt crept into her mind.
The trees seemed thicker here, their branches tangling overhead to form a canopy. The air was cooler, fresher. Eventually, her car stopped in front of a weathered wooden cabin.
"This… is not what I was expecting," she frowned. Kayla had envisioned a grand estate, perhaps a luxurious mansion tucked away in the woods. Instead, this rustic place stood before her, stubbornly unimpressive.
The distant sound of car horns snapped her out of her reverie. She followed the noise, her heels clicking against gravel as she approached what looked like a junkyard filled with broken-down cars.
"Um… HELLO? CAN SOMEONE HEAR ME?" she shouted over the faint hum of machinery.
A figure emerged from underneath one of the vehicles. Slowly, he rose, wiping grease from his hands with a dirty rag.
The man was huge—towering over her with broad shoulders and arms marked with intricate tattoos. A viper coiled across his chest, its fangs bared, while a bird spread its wings across his forearm. His face was sharp, dangerously handsome, framed by raven-black hair that fell just above his brow. Even the grease smudges on his cheek seemed deliberate, like war paint.
"Can I help you?" His voice was low, gravelly—like crushed velvet.
Kayla's breath hitched. Her mind raced with inappropriate thoughts, and she immediately facepalmed herself. Oh God, for a virgin, you sure do have dirty thoughts!
"Uh… I'm Kayla Kornels."
"I know."
Of course, he knows. Dummy.
"Okay, I'm looking for Kaiden Scott. Can you help me get to him?"
"No."
"What do you mean, no? Look, I really need to see this guy. It's important."
"I said no."
Annoyance flared in Kayla's chest. This guy was infuriating, and his nonchalant tone only made it worse.
"How dare you? Do you even know who I am?"
"For f**k's sake, doll, I'm busy. Go bug someone else. Right now, I'm not in the mood to entertain princesses wandering into my kingdom."
"Kingdom? Oh, this is your kingdom?" Kayla gestured wildly around her. "Let me educate you. A kingdom is a place where you can sip chilled red wine in a sexy bikini while lounging on a beach chair as the summer breeze kisses your skin—"
"Look—"
"No, shh, let me finish!"
"I think you should leave."
He ducked back under the car, effectively ending the conversation. Kayla let out an exasperated sigh.
"At least tell me who he is!" she called out. A muffled response came from under the vehicle, but she couldn't make out the words.
"For f**k's sake, can you please come out from under that damn car and talk to me?!" she yelled, slamming her fist against the car hood.
With a loud clang, the man crawled out again, his expression flat.
"You're wasting my time, princess."
"And you're wasting mine! Just tell me where Kaiden Scott is so I can leave your precious kingdom and get on with my life."
A voice interrupted them from behind.
"Brother."
Kayla turned to see a lanky young man approaching from the cabin doorway. He looked her age but carried himself with a confidence that felt older. His hair was neatly combed, and glasses rested on the bridge of his nose. But something in his eyes—sharp, calculating—told her he wasn't as nerdy as he seemed.
"Great. Another one," Kayla muttered under her breath.
"Oh, hi… Handsome. Can you tell me where Kaiden Scott is? Your brother here refuses to help me." She gestured to the tattooed man.
The younger boy adjusted his glasses. "I'm Akim. And that's Roman, my older brother. Kaiden Scott was… our father. He passed away two years ago."
Kayla froze, her stomach dropping.
"Wait… Did you just say he's dead?" Her voice cracked slightly.
Akim nodded solemnly.
Kayla's mind raced. Dead? Then why had her father sent her here? What was she supposed to do now?
As the weight of realization set in, she glanced between the two brothers—Roman, rough and imposing, and Akim, polished but sharp.
This wasn't the start she had expected in Los Alamos. But one thing was certain—her life was about to change in ways she couldn't yet comprehend.