Kaylee moved carefully around the kitchen, still flustered from the earlier chaos. The boys had left her and gone to the dining room, but the lingering heat of Kayden's possessive hold and the teasing from the others left her cheeks burning. Christiana Miles and Elizabeth McPherson leaned against the counters, clearly enjoying the sight of her flustered state, exchanging amused glances as if silently plotting the next question.
Christiana leaned on the counter, a playful glint in her eyes. "So, Kaylee… tell me. How is it with them? How do you really feel about each of your little monsters?"
Elizabeth smiled softly, nodding in agreement. "Yes, I want to know everything. You seem very… involved with all of them."
Kaylee froze, her cheeks heating instantly. She fidgeted with a dish towel, unsure of how to answer, but she knew she couldn't lie. "I… I care about them," she murmured cautiously. "I… love them all… in different ways."
Elizabeth tilted her head, a soft, knowing smile curving her lips. "Different ways, hmm? You mean each of them has a special place in your heart?"
Her hands trembled slightly as she gathered her thoughts. "I… I love them all," she began, her voice soft but steadying as she spoke aloud. "Kadeem, Kadin, Kaden… each in their own way. They're different, and I… I feel something unique for each of them."
She swallowed hard, glancing down at her hands. "Kadeem… he's clever, always teasing, but somehow he makes me laugh even when I want to be serious. I… I think I admire that about him. And Kadin… he's playful, sharp, full of energy that keeps me on my toes, even when I just want to rest. I can't help but feel drawn to that fire in him."
Her heart thudded loudly in her chest as she took a deep breath, fingers curling slightly. "Kaden… he's unpredictable, mischievous… dangerous sometimes, but I can't deny the thrill I feel around him. Every time he smiles, every time he teases me, it's like my whole body reacts before my mind can even understand."
Kaylee's lips quivered as she paused, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "And Kayden… my Silent Monster… he's different. Quiet, intense, and somehow… he sees me, truly sees me. My heart always races when he's near, even if he says nothing. There's a calmness in him that… grounds me, yet at the same time, I feel claimed, like I belong to him completely."
Her chest tightened, and she whispered the words that had been building inside her for so long. "I… I love all of them. Truly. And Kayden… he's my favorite."
She pressed her hands together nervously, her eyes glistening as she waited for… something. Relief, confession, judgment—she wasn't sure. But the words were out, and for the first time, she felt a weight lift, excited that they didn't judge her for loving four brothers.
Unbeknownst to her, the brothers had silently returned to the kitchen, curious about why she was taking so long after they'd asked them to wait in the dining room. But the moment they stepped closer, her trembling words reached them. They lingered in the doorway, exchanging subtle smirks as they realized what she was confessing. Kayden's eyes met theirs briefly, and with the faintest tilt of his head, they understood: no teasing—for now. One by one, they retreated back to the dining table, leaving her with the women.
Christiana, observing the young woman with a mix of amusement and admiration, spoke gently about faith. "You know, Kaylee," she said, "even though these children—Alex and his sons—can be ruthless, they still go to church on Sundays, have morning devotion, and pray before meals. They may be feared by many, but they respect and… even fear me sometimes, believe it or not."
Kaylee nodded, trying to process the mix of chaos, affection, and discipline that made up the family she was slowly becoming part of. Together with the women, she helped carry the prepared dishes to the dining table. Once everything was in place, she offered to serve the food.
She started with the elders, placing the plates carefully in front of them. Then it was time to serve the boys. She approached them with a playful smile, teasing lightly as she handed them their meals.
"Here's your plate, Silent Monster," she teased softly to Kayden, offering him the food with a playful nod. He raised a brow but said nothing, his calm, intense gaze meeting hers. She pressed a gentle peck to his forehead, feeling her cheeks warm as he smirked faintly, a silent acknowledgment of her affection.
"Sweet Monster," she said to Kadin, doing the same, letting her small hand linger playfully on his.
"Cunning Monster," she murmured to Kadeem, planting a quick, mischievous peck on his forehead.
When she reached Kaden, he leaned forward impulsively and pressed a bold, full kiss to her lips. Her eyes flew wide, and instinctively, she glanced at Kayden. His smirk was calm, knowing, and teasing, and she felt her face flame as he silently watched her reaction.
The women chuckled quietly, trying to hide their amusement at the scene, while Kaylee struggled to regain her composure.
The adults had barely settled when Christiana called out, "Kadin, bless the food, please."
Immediately, one of the boys stood up, clearing his throat. "Let's pray." He bowed dramatically over the dishes, his deep voice reverent. Kaylee's eyes narrowed as she tried to confirm who it was. Something in his movement looked familiar—but teasingly, he avoided her gaze.
She leaned slightly against Kayden, whispering softly, "Is that… Kaden?"
Kayden only shrugged, a teasing smirk curling his lips. "They've all kissed you, seen you bare… you should recognize them by now."
Kaylee studied him closely, noticing the way he shifted, the familiar mischief in his eyes. She finally knew. "It's Kaden," she murmured under her breath, a thrill running through her.
Christiana's eyes followed the scene, initially unaware of the subtle game being played. "Wait… you're not Kadin?" she said, squinting.
The boys burst into laughter. The one who had stood up—Kaden—sat down quickly, still chuckling, narrowly avoiding Christiana's playful scolding.
Kadin stood, folding his hands together with an overly dramatic sigh.
"Thank You, Lord, for this food we're about to eat. Thank You for my family, for my brothers—for making us four in one. And thank You… for the beautiful girl You gave us."
Kaylee's cheeks warmed instantly as the brothers grinned at her, but Kadin wasn't done.
"And also… Lord, thank You for the guns and the bullets, for the victims I'll get to meet. May my aim always be steady, and may my enemies fall quickly."
The brothers burst into laughter, trying to stifle it with their hands, while Kaylee gasped in shock. Before the noise could swell, whack! Christiana smacked the back of Kadin's head with a wooden spoon.
"Kadin!" she scolded, though her lips twitched in a smile. "This is prayer, not a hit list."
Kadin rubbed his head, still grinning, and sat down quickly before she swung the spoon again.
Christiana sighed dramatically and turned toward her husband. "Alexander, please. Before your son ruins the grace entirely."
Alex rose without hesitation, his presence instantly commanding the room. He placed a hand on his chest, his deep voice solemn.
"Thank You, Lord, for this meal and the hands that prepared it. Thank You for my wife, my children, for the bond of family. Thank You for my sons—for making them four in one, bound together in strength and loyalty. And thank You… for the gift of the girl You've placed in their lives. May she be their light, their balance, and may they always protect her."
The room went silent. The boys, for once, bowed their heads seriously. Elizabeth and Michael exchanged soft looks with Christiana.
Kaylee sat frozen, her heart pounding against her chest. The gift of the girl You've placed in their lives… Her throat tightened, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. She wasn't sure if she should smile or cry. No one had ever spoken about her with such reverence before, and hearing it from their father—the mafia don himself—only made it heavier.
When she glanced up, her eyes met Kayden's across the table. He didn't smile or laugh like his brothers. He only smirked faintly, his gaze steady, as though daring her to deny that Alex's prayer was the truth.
Kaylee quickly lowered her gaze to her plate, cheeks burning.
The clinking of cutlery filled the dining room for a while, a comfortable rhythm broken only by the occasional remark or laughter from the elders. Kaylee, however, remained quiet, nibbling on her food, her mind swirling with thoughts. Every now and then, her gaze would drift to the brothers—how easily they fit into this space, how naturally their parents adored her, how even Elizabeth, her own mother, had said nothing against the way they doted on her.
Her chest tightened with something she hadn't expected to feel—acceptance.
It tugged at her so strongly that finally, without realizing, she set her spoon down. All eyes turned to her at once, and her cheeks flushed hot. Still, she straightened her shoulders and forced the words out.
"I… I just want to say something," she began softly, her voice trembling but clear. "I know I've been selfish. I know I've acted like a—like a selfish bitch—because I couldn't stop myself from liking all four of them." Her fingers tightened around the edge of the tablecloth. "But instead of judging me or pushing me away, you… all of you… accepted me. Without hesitation. Even now, you're treating me like family. And I… I can't tell you how much that means to me."
For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then Elizabeth's lips curved into a proud smile. Michael's hand landed gently on Kaylee's shoulder, warm and steady.
"Sweetheart," he said softly, "love doesn't always follow rules. What matters is that you're honest about it—and you've found people who won't let you face it alone."
Christiana leaned forward, eyes shimmering with affection. "You're our daughter now, Kaylee. You don't need to apologize for how your heart feels."
Alex chuckled, but his gaze was kind. "Besides, if you can survive these four monsters, you're stronger than half the mafia world."
Elizabeth added with a playful smirk, "What do you expect? She's a Blink, after all."
The table erupted with soft laughter, the heaviness in the air melting into something warmer, lighter.
The brothers exchanged smirks at that, though their eyes never left Kaylee. Kayden in particular seemed frozen, his usual composure slipping for just a second as if her words had reached somewhere deeper than he wanted to admit.
Kaylee swallowed hard, emotion stinging her eyes, but this time she didn't hide behind silence. She smiled—small, shy, but genuine.
"Thank you," she whispered.