Peyton Griffin's POV

I haven't felt this much tension since trying to explain how Mulan and Shane had kids to Abigail.

I promise all I used was a pencil and paper.

Probably.

"Alright girls. Are you ready to settle your differences woman-to-woman?" my boyfriend asks.

Caleb is sick of the constant bickering between Taryn and me for the past couple of weeks. He called for an emergency house meeting to settle it. This just goes to show he has had it up to the T.

I wouldn't mind telling him about the failure of the outcome, but who am I to pass up an offer to put the short woman in her place?

Girl's been throwing so many snide comments at me, I'd say she acted in Geordie Shore if I didn't know the cast by heart.

"Let's start with something simple. Why do you people hate each other?"

"Hate is a strong word, Cally," Taryn says while sipping her water. "It's more like repulse."

I inhale deeply and rest my hand on Caleb's. "It's a personal beef. I'm not sure we can air it out with an audience."

"So, you want us to leave you guys alone?" he asks as he glances from me to the babysitter.

"Yup," we tell him

"My money's on Taryn," Jack says with a mouthful of popcorn.

"My fifty bucks says that Peyton will wipe her ass," Jacob announces while waving a bill in the air.

Abigail jumps and grabs the money from Jacob. She goes to Jack and collects his money. Walking up to us, she places her hands on the table and leans on it to hold eye contact with Taryn and me.

"Okay Ladies. I want it simple and I want it clean. No hitting below the belt. You can use instruments as long as blood doesn't stain the carpet; the money is not enough to raise the Maid's pay. Last but not the least, whichever woman loses has to-" she cuts herself off to glance at Shawn. "What's the wager again?"

The quiet man cracks a smile. "Cook for the house."

Gail turns back to us and grins. "You heard the man. Get to fighting."

She turns around and struts to her seat between Jacob and Jack. Sticking a hand into Jack's popcorn, she makes herself comfortable on the chair.

"Those are the wrong rules, sis. I don't think you guys are going to see a fight."

Taryn and I nod at each other. A silent message to show that we understand each other.

For now.

Jacob and Jack simultaneously reach for the cash in Gail's hands. She glares at the duo with puckered lips.

"Where's my cut?"

"This girl is growing up way too fast." I hear Caleb mutter from beside me.

After Gail collects her cut from Jacob and Jack, she springs from her seat and heads to her room.

"Can we go clubbing tonight?" Jacob asks.

"Why?"

"Well, the tension in this house is too much." He answers us. "Besides, we could all do with a break from our lives. Since Marcel's discharge, the press is on his ass and not Caleb's, we're in the clear to get wasted."

"Jacob, did you ever join the debate team back in high school?" Taryn asks him.

"Nope. Why?"

"No reason."

"So, are we going?" he asks once more and puts on the puppy dog eyes for special effect.

"Trish and I are down," Jack answers for his girlfriend and himself as eats the last popcorn kernel.

I think about how long Danny stays in his room for the past week and decides on our behalf.

"Danny and I are coming."

"Who's going to babysit Gail?" Caleb asks as he glances from me to Taryn.

Jacob wags his finger in the air. "No, you don't sonny boy. We can drop her off with the Hispanics. I'm sure they'd help us watch her."

"You coming, brother?"

"I'm not sure-"

"Nuhun, bro. You are coming even if Ella shows up or not."

Jack removes his face from the popcorn bowl to face the brothers, who double as friends and bodyguards. "Who's Ella?"

Shawn glares at his brother for the slip-up while Jacob grins sheepishly.

"She's a friend."

"Right and I fuck Mickey mouse for a living." I scoff.

"You know, I knew a girl that fucked both Goofy and Daffy duck in Disney land."

We all groan at Jacob's lame way of shifting topics.

I get up from my seat and walk towards the stairs while calling over my shoulder, "What time are we leaving?"

"Around nine, ice princess."

I flip Jacob off and climb up the stairs.

Danny has been on a drink called 'I have to find out how to catch Valentiá' since Marci got a concussion.

Now I'm all in getting this show on the road and getting back home. The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can leave the British Empire. I highly doubt that I'll recover fully from the scars, both mental and physical, but I'm willing to try.

I knock on the door once and let myself in. The place is cleaner than when I meet it this morning; I guess my nagging must have got to him.

"Who walked in?" The unmistakable voice of Charlie fills the room.

Of course.

"No one important," Danny answers her without even turning to look at me.

I could be a serial killer for all he knows, but he pretends I'm fucking Casper the ghost.

Two can play this game, Tinker bell.

I creep towards them and place my finger on my lips to silence Charlie as her eyes glint in mischief. Danny is so whipped he doesn't notice my finger filled with saliva, like an aeroplane about to land in the airport. His ear.

The string of curse words that leave his mouth can make pirates blush and high school bad boys wet their pants, but it has Charlie and me laughing like banshees.

Danny walks away from my laughing form to clean his ear. I take his seat in front of his monitor and grin at my best friend.

"How's it going, motherfucker?"

"Worse, now that you're here."

I place my hand on my chest and feign mock hurt. "You know, Charlie, I'm hurt that you didn't even bother to call me or send a pigeon."

She snorts. "Bitch please, your musician boyfriend has kept your mind off my existence. So much so that you missed our anniversary."

My eyes land on the calendar icon on the screen. "Walter's balls."

"Bringing a dead man's genitals into the conversation won't save your sorry ass sis." she crosses her hands and glares at me.

In layman's words, the anniversary she is referring to is the day we broke our high school's record of the most consecutive pranks in a session. Our principal wanted our heads on a silver platter while it scared the student body to stand in the same vicinity as us or were trying to hop on the destructive bandwagon we started for street credit.

Charlie Sandel has been and will always be my sister by choice and friend by chance. I hate to admit it, but I got sidetracked while here and forgot about our anniversary.

No people, Caleb and I weren't acting like Simba and Narla.

I don't know how he did it, but Caleb convinced the older members of the Lealtad household to give us a brief family tree and some documents belonging to the adopted family members. It took us two whole days, but Danny and I dug up Valentiá's past from scratch. School certificates, national documents, bank accounts, you name it.

This woman spends more money on clothes made from animal hide than Cruella de Vil. The bottom line is we have figured out her schedule. She's been lying low since she knocked Marci out. We need to either draw her out or get something to lead us to her.

It's between Marci and Marcel. I don't know who will be easier to convince to turn themselves into the bait, but my money is on Marcel.

"That was really unnecessary," Danny grumbles when he joins us.

Charlie giggles, "Your mistake was thinking it was no one important."

He scoffs and sits on the bed when he sees my determination to remain in the chair.

"So, when are you two coming back?"

Danny exchanges eye contact with me. Trust me, if we knew the answer, we'd have said it.

"Soon," Danny answers her question.

"How soon?" she huffs. "My mom's been on my ass about how I should allow Sam to train me in combat. I was close to breaking out my collection of black belts and awards that I've got from karate, but this woman flipped me off..."

The rest of Charlie's rants don't agree to make sense in my ears because my mind focuses on one thing.

Sam wants to train Charlie.

My grandfather is many things. Raging from a ruthless dealer to a caring grandfather. I'm yet to admit this to Danny -even though I think he knows already, given how observant he is- or myself, but I think that man broke me.

"Don't worry, Charlie, we will be home before you know it. I promise to give you a heads-up." Danny tells her before ending the call.

He abruptly jumps on the bed and lies facing up. I copy his actions and together we stare at the ceiling.

"All aboard the 'keep Charlie from training with Sam' train." I humour my stepbrother.

He snickers. "So apart from trying to switch our DNA, what brought you here?"

"Jacob wants us to go clubbing, so I came to ensure you come."

He turns to face me. "And why will I want to go clubbing?"

"You've been acting more irritated recently. A change of environment would do you some good."

"Fair point. Was Caleb successful in defusing the ticking time bomb?"

I shrug. "Should have stuck with his music."

"You know, I still don't know what your problem with her is."

I turn my head to look him in the eye as I speak. "How about a deal? If I tell you why I have a bone to pick with the short woman, you tell me why Carlos has been blowing off my office phone."

It wasn't ethical, nor was it a big option, but I asked Charlie to help me out with my Empire duties, which included answering my calls while avoiding my grandfather like the plague. I understand that the agreement between the British Empire and the Spanish Mafia is very crucial, especially since we have a Nurse with a few loose screws wandering the streets with a vendetta against us.

Carlos and I have only met a handful of times. His wedding with my other half was the first and the deal breaker.

Who would have thought my former brother-in-law could command an army with just a snap of his fingers?

Danny hums, "Forget I ever asked."

Scoffing, I tell him. "You're not the only one with secrets, brother. We made a deal to be loyal and protect each other at every turn. Keeping secrets from each other isn't new to either of us, especially when people's lives are at stake. Tell me one thing, Danny."

"What?"

"Why does knowing the answers bring you so much joy?"

"Because Penny, my ignorance has made me die a thousand deaths."

-

"So, what do you think?" I reapply my lip gloss and turn away from the full-length mirror.

Caleb makes a noise of approval as I step to him and wrap my hands around his neck while his hands find their place on my waist.

"How's your alcohol tolerance?" I ask.

"About as high as a small sandcastle. Why do you ask?"

"No reason. You ready for tonight?"

He sighs and avoids my question by not replying. I raise a brow at his behaviour.

"Mind sharing what's on your mind, Blondie."

"Well, I know you and Taryn are going to talk before you go back home. I need to know that I won't have to get myself a new girlfriend or babysitter when you guys talk."

I huff and wipe off imaginary dust from his dress shirt. "I can assure you, I won't be pulling any stunt on her. Besides, I doubt she'd want to fight with me."

Not that she will win.

"Before I forget, I have a favour to ask of you. Has anyone adopted Lucy yet?"

Caleb frowns, "Not yet."

"Good. I was hoping you could keep it that way till I could adopt her when I leave the Empire for good."

His eyes bulge out of their sockets as he offers me a once-over. "You plan on leaving?"

If it were me of last year, I'd get bitchy and put up a brave front. But Caleb has already seen all of my scars and he didn't run for the hills. I'm dammed if I didn't fight for a chance to be with him.

"I can't be the leader they want me to be if it means I'll forever be living in misery. Once Lola comes out of hiding, I'll hand over the crown to her and come live with you. I'll open a babysitting service here to earn my keep-"

A pair of warm lips cut my explanation off. Caleb's hand tightens on my waist and he pulls me closer to him. He tilts his head to the side to deepen the kiss, but he doesn't get to go far because a knock on the door interrupts us.

"Bro, you can bang her when we get back. Time to move it or lose it." Jacob hollers from the open door and moves down the hall to get Danny.

The man was adamant about us going clubbing. He even phoned the Hispanics earlier this evening to give them a heads up while reminding us to get dressed or he would strip and dress us himself like an excited mother of her first kid.

His taste in fashion is exquisite, but I prefer my leather dress with boots better.

"I take it you're thrilled?"

"More than thrilled." He kisses me again before leading us out of the room and into the hallway.

We bump into Danny as he heads for the stairs. The two long-lost brothers look more alike as the days pass. Save for the haircuts and fashion styles, I'd think they were twins. Although Danny's playboy charm is working for him while Caleb has girls clawing each other's eyes out for his attention once they hear his net worth.

"Everybody in the kitchen!" Jacob yells while placing a bottle of tequila on the dining table.

He rests his knuckles on the table and taps his feet on the floor impatiently while he waits for the rest of the household.

Shawn walks in with a sleeping Abigail in his arms, with Jack and Taryn behind him.

Jacob fills up seven shot glasses and passes them out to each of us. "A toast of luck to who gets wasted first."

"Because getting drunk before leaving for the club is a bright idea," Shawn grumbles but accepts his drink.

"Don't be a downer, brother." Jacob says before turning back to the rest of us, "To a good night."

We raise our glasses and say, "To a good night."

We down our drinks in one gulp while Shawn readjusts Gail as she stirs.

"To the club." Jacob hollers and heads off to the elevator.

We follow him and cram into the tiny box that surprising takes all of us. The reception is empty save for the doorman who opens the door for us. A minivan waits for us in front of the building and we get into it.

The car stops in a townhouse in midtown where we drop off Abigail with the Lealtads before heading for the club.

"Now remember lads, make sure you do not leave the lassies alone for too long," Jacob says before opening the door and coming out of the car.

He keeps the door open for us and we come out to stand on a sidewalk that vibrates along with the dimly lit building beside it.

The bouncer lets us in after exchanging pleasantries with Jacob. The smell of sweat, alcohol and immorality reaches my nostrils, but it isn't something I'm not familiar with.

My other half had a bad habit of drinking away her sorrows, so every once in a while when she wasn't working her shift as a stripper, I'd be dragging her ass from a bar.

Jacob disappears into the grinding bodies, clearly in his element. Taryn and Jack head off to one of the secluded corners of the club while Shawn awkwardly stands to the side. A couple of girls who looked to be high schoolers -judging from their stuffed bras- walk up to him and start babbling. He stares at us, his eyes begging for help.

I wiggle my fingers at him before leading Caleb to the dance floor after seeing Danny head over to the bar.

I wrap Caleb's hands on my hips while I place my hands on his neck and grind on him. The sensual music fuels my actions as I rock the rockstar's world. Caleb's heavy breathing and erratic movements were like special effects that urged me to continue. Were it not because we are holding off till we are married, I bet we could rival the noise Taryn and Jack make daily.

After some time, Caleb excuses himself to find the restroom. I move side to side while searching for a particular woman. Her height would have made her impossible to notice in the room, but I found her looking at me across the room.

Like a woman on a mission, I made my way to her while avoiding wandering hands and drinks. I take a seat beside her in the bar and offer her a drink as a peace offering.

"Remind me again why we are repulsed by each other's presence?" she humours me as she twirls her drink in the glass and takes a small sip.

I drop mine on the counter beside me. "Let's start with your beef with my best friend."

"Charlie and I have issues, but they don't concern you. If you think about it, I have no reason to get pissed by your presence."

"That's funny. I'm resisting the urge to stab your throat with your own heel." I offer her a smile. "You throw as well as a Sandel. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the connection."

"True. Your stepbrother is no fool. Charlie and I go way back and our hatred towards each other is more of a family matter."

"Discussing family problems in public is a rookie mistake, even for you, sis."

The boyish version of Taryn comes to stand in our midst with a smirk on his face. "It's a miracle you and our cousin haven't destroyed cities yet."

The smile on Taryn's face looks painful as she turns her attention from me to the newcomer in our conversation. "If I wanted your input on the matter, Terry, I'll shoot myself in the head before asking."

The boy's smirk becomes wider. "You were always the act first and ask questions later kind of girl." He turns to me. "Who's your friend over here?"

"None of your business, brother. Mind telling me why you are here?"

"The family back home demand your presence and that of Charlie. I'm no Einstein, but I know you won't contact her even if it could solve the extinction of the human face."

Taryn snorts in agreement before downing the rest of her drink. "You're not wrong. I'm sure if Charlie really wanted to come home, she wouldn't have dropped off the face of the earth."

Terry tuts and says to me. "I see Charlie is a mutual friend of ours. When next you see her, help me tell her to contact me, alright?"

I nod. He turns to Taryn and glares, "You and I have unfinished business."

That's all he says before slipping into the crowd and disappearing. Taryn turns back to the bartender and flags him down for another drink.

"Not a wise decision, Alden," I tell her and sip my drink while searching for Caleb in the crowd.

"No one asked you, Griffin. I can hold my alcohol better than a whale can hold water." She smiles at the bartender after getting her drink.

"You know, the shit that is eating you and Charlie up is going to come to light someday."

"I'm aware."

Caleb waves at me from our former spot on the dance floor and starts coming over. I turn my head to admire the side profile of Taryn Alden. She wears a jean dress that has no sleeves, allowing the glitter on her neck and cleavage to sparkle in the light. The small converse on her legs completes the look with a tiny clutch.

"Truce?" she asks

"Until I leave."

Caleb reaches us in time to hear my parting words, making him frown at the two of us. I drop my drink on the counter and wrap my hands around his neck.

"More dancing please."

I ignore the protest he sends at the babysitter as I pull him to the dance floor and enjoy the few minutes I have with a clear head.

It was fun while it lasted.

Before I curl into Caleb's arms and sleep, I shoot a quick text to Charlie and glare at my phone, half hoping for her to answer immediately.

'Bitch, we need to talk.'

I felt like Peyton's point of things was needed, so please tell me what you think?