Rhys

Kayden groaned dramatically, falling back against the pillows. "You wicked, horny man. You knotted me thrice last night. I can barely walk now."

I chuckled but rubbed his shoulder gently. "Sorry baby, I can’t keep my hands around you," I said playfully, then cleared my throat, trying to sound more serious. "Dress up. I have a surprise for you."

His eyes widened instantly, lighting up with that boyish excitement I loved so much. "A surprise? Rhys, being on this island with you is already enough. I don’t need anything else. Just two days ago we had that full tour of the island and I loved every second. What else could you possibly want to show me?"

I grabbed his hand and pulled him gently but firmly out of bed, laughing when he pretended to resist. "Trust me. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one. This surprise is something you’re really going to love seeing."

"What is it?" he asked, wrapping his arms around my waist and looking up at me with those bright, trusting eyes. "You can just tell me now."

"If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, softie," I teased, swatting his hip gently. "Now move."

"Fine," he agreed with a dramatic sigh, but he was already smiling as he padded toward the closet.

Ten minutes later we stood together on the private helipad at the highest point of the island, the wind tugging at our clothes.

Kayden squinted against the bright afternoon sun, one hand shading his eyes as he scanned the horizon.

"Uhm... Rhys, why the hell are we here? Are we having another tour? Where are we going?"

"Calm down," I murmured, slipping an arm around his shoulders. "This is far from all that." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Just then, a distant rhythmic thrumming began to echo across the water.

A sleek black-and-silver helicopter appeared as a speck against the vast blue sky, growing larger as it banked smoothly toward the island.

The sound built until it filled the air, rotors chopping steadily.

The helicopter descended gracefully, touching down with precision.

As the engine whine lowered and the door slid open, Kayden’s breath hitched audibly.

"I can’t wait to see what this is," he said excitedly, clapping his hands together like a kid on Christmas morning.

Miller stepped out first, squinting against the tropical heat with that wide, rowdy grin that could only belong to him. He was followed closely by Leo, who looked characteristically composed in a vintage linen shirt and red-and-black shorts, like a man determined to vacation properly even under pressure.

In his arms, he carried a familiar travel crate.

And inside it was our fur baby, Starlight. After two weeks apart, she had grown noticeably—bigger, taller, her fluffy coat even more luxurious than when I’d last seen her.

"Surprise!" Miller and Leo shouted at the same time.

Kayden’s eyes widened dramatically. He pressed both hands over his mouth as a delighted sound escaped him. "Oh my goodness! You’re here!" he shouted, pure joy ringing in his voice. Then he spun toward me. "You brought them here?" he asked, awe filling his expression.

I nodded, warmth spreading through my chest at his happiness. "I told you," I whispered into his ear, pulling him close for a second. "This surprise was different than last time."

Leo stepped forward, setting the crate down carefully and opening the latch. Starlight darted out immediately, a streak of silver fur, and rushed straight to Kayden’s feet, sniffing him frantically.

"Starlight!" Kayden exclaimed, scooping her up into his arms and hugging her tightly against his chest. "I missed you so much," he murmured, burying his face in her soft fur as she purred loudly.

Leo let out a short, dry huff and adjusted the collar of his shirt, watching Starlight leap from Kayden’s arms to mine with obvious betrayal. "It’s fascinating, really," he remarked in that dry, clinical tone of his. "The feline brain clearly possesses a selective memory. She spent the better part of the flight attempting to perform a slow-motion skin graft on my forearms." He stretched out his hands, displaying the fading red marks and tiny scratches across the back of them. "Yet the second she detected your scent, she experienced a complete neurological reset."

He took one cautious step closer, still maintaining a respectful distance from those tiny claws. "Statistically speaking, the amount of plasma I’ve lost to that animal over the last forty-eight hours should have earned me a medical leave. And yet she greets you like a long-lost deity while I’m left with several lacerations that will likely require a round of prophylactic antibiotics just to be safe."

Kayden and I exchanged an amused glance and rolled our eyes in perfect unison. Leo was back at it again.

Miller let out a booming laugh and clapped Leo hard on the shoulder, nearly making the slimmer man stumble. "Oh stop whining, Leo. You love the little monster. You were sharing your tuna sandwich with her five minutes before we landed."

"I was sharing it because she was holding my jugular hostage, Miller," Leo replied, scoffing as he adjusted his glasses. "Well, well, well. See who got marked."

"Hello to you too, Leo," Kayden said warmly, pulling him into a tight hug. "I’ve missed you so much."

"Well, I didn’t miss you," Leo muttered into his shoulder, though his arms came around Kayden just as tightly. "Your cat was enough for me, along with all the crazy things happening around..."

My body stiffened at his words.

Was he about to spill everything right here?

Kayden pulled back just enough to study Leo’s face, his brow furrowing. "What is happening, Leo?" he demanded, voice sharpening with concern.

Leo raised his head and met my eyes.

I shook my head quickly, silently pleading with him. This wasn’t how I had wanted to tell him.

But Kayden caught the exchange instantly. He turned to me, searching my face. "What is happening, Rhys?"

"I..."

"I lost my job," Leo beat me to it, his voice steady but flat. "I was fired."