Élise led them along a stone path to a shaded pavilion at the far end of the lawn. Constantine sat without his jacket, his sleeves rolled to his forearms. Judith was beside him with a tablet on her lap, while Philip and Maria shared the opposite sofa. Venessa sat nearby, reviewing a folder of media briefing notes.
All five looked up as Louis and the others approached.
“Have a seat,” Constantine said. “Make yourselves comfortable.”
Venessa smiled. “Mr. Collins, glad you are back.” She nodded to the others. “Miss Bourbon, Sergeant Simington. And welcome to the rest of you.”
“Good to see you too, Venessa,” Louis said. He sat on one of the sofas, and the women took the seats around him.
“How’s everyone doing?” Constantine looked first at Louis, then at the others.
“We’re alive,” Gladice said. “That’s what counts.”
Constantine gave her a faint smile. “True.”
“Are we in trouble?” Cherish asked.
“Not at all,” Judith said gently. “We just need to coordinate our story.”
“Tonight we will release another statement,” Constantine said. “But we need you to understand what will be said so you are not surprised.”
Louis nodded.
Venessa glanced at her briefing notes. “The official line is this: Mr. Collins, Miss Bourbon and Sergeant Simington returned under Dominion protection with the companions who survived beside them. Everyone is alive, sheltered, and receiving care. The unnamed survivors will remain private.”
“Unnamed?” Maeve said, frowning. “We have names.”
“It is for your safety, Miss Fyres,” Venessa said. “The media will speculate. We will not confirm or deny anything personal. Not until you decide otherwise.”
Maeve glanced at Louis, and he nodded once.
“Okay,” she said.
“Sergeant Simington’s return will be framed as a successful rescue mission,” Venessa continued. “The other survivors will be referred to simply as ‘accompanying citizens.’ The details of where you were held, how you escaped, and what happened in between will be withheld.”
Gladice leaned forward. “So the people who held us get no public attention?”
“No.” Venessa tapped her pen on the folder. “That is a matter for intelligence and security.”
“I don’t like that,” Angelique said. “They should be named.”
“They will be,” Constantine said. “In our own way. Later.”
“Are we doing interviews?” Willa asked.
“No.” Venessa looked at her. “No interviews. No public appearances. Not until the media cycle shifts. We want to control this, not chase it.”
“This includes social media,” Philip said. “If you have accounts, set them to private or deactivate. We have a legal team to review existing content and remove anything problematic.”
Willa’s shoulders tightened.
“What constitutes problematic?” she asked.
“Anything identifying locations, sensitive information, or anything that could be misconstrued as political propaganda,” Venessa said. “We will give you a list.”
Willa nodded without speaking. Donya looked down at her lap.
Venessa turned a page. “The statement will also say all legal and security matters are being handled through formal diplomatic channels between the Dominion, the Collective, and the Alliance. We will not litigate anything in public. We will not answer questions about alleged Alliance custody claims. And we will not comment on rumors from the Holy States.”
Angelique shifted beside Louis. “That seems vague.”
“It is,” Judith said. “Vagueness is protection right now.”
Gladice leaned back. “That’s going to make people mad.”
“Yes,” Venessa said. “That is one of the few pleasures of this work.”
Willa laughed softly. Cherish relaxed slightly, though she still looked uncertain.
“So we just... do nothing?” she asked.
Constantine met her eyes. “No, you rest and recover. And you spend time with people who care about you until this storm passes.”
“Then what?” Maeve asked.
“Then you decide how much of your story you want to tell,” Constantine said. “But that comes later. Not today.”
Savannah watched him. “And if the Holy States say something first?”
“That is not your problem,” Judith said. “No one will believe them. And even if they did, it does not matter here.”
Savannah nodded.
Constantine turned to Louis and Angelique. “For the purposes of tonight’s statement, the Collins–Bourbon engagement remains in effect. There will be no wedding date. No confirmation. No denial. You will remain engaged until the media loses interest. Is that clear?”
Louis felt Angelique go still beside him. Gladice looked down, then at her. Savannah kept her eyes on Constantine.
“You cannot say it like that,” Angelique said.
Philip looked at his daughter. “Angelique—”
“No.” She looked at Constantine. “You have no idea what we went through.”
Constantine leaned back. “Then tell me what happened.”
Louis almost answered for her. Angelique closed her hand around his wrist, stopping him.
“They forced a wedding,” she said.
Judith stared at Angelique. Maria tightened her grip on Philip’s hand. Constantine did not move.
Angelique’s voice stayed level. “At the Hargrove estate. They dressed me for it. They brought a preacher. They threatened Gladice’s life if I refused. They made Louis stand there. They made us say what they wanted.”
Philip opened his mouth, then closed it. Maria stared at her daughter. Venessa stopped writing, her pen held above the page.
“Was the ceremony completed?” Constantine asked.
“No.” Angelique shook her head. “But it was close. I said yes. Louis didn’t say anything. Then General Vance stormed the estate and stopped it.”
Philip leaned forward. “Why did you not tell us yesterday?”
“Because I didn’t want to say it in front of everyone. There was too much.”
Philip looked down. Maria closed her eyes, then looked at Louis.
“And you want the engagement declared invalid?” she asked.
Louis answered carefully. “Yes.”
Philip looked at him.
“Because of the forced ceremony?” Philip asked.
“Partly,” Louis said.
Angelique’s hand tightened around his wrist. Louis looked around the pavilion, from his parents and the Bourbons to the women beside him.
“And because we did not come back as just a pair of heirs. We came back as a group. We survived as a group. And we love each other in a way that does not fit the old story.”
Gladice laughed softly. “Well said.”
Cherish nodded. Donya and Willa smiled. Savannah kept her eyes on Louis, while Maeve looked from him to Angelique and back again.
Constantine kept his eyes on Louis. “You all agreed on this?”
Louis met his eyes. “Yes.”
“And you are prepared for the consequences of breaking the agreement?”
“Yes,” Louis said. “Because I know you will protect us.”
Constantine rested an arm along the back of the sofa. “And what story do you want told instead?”
“That we are a family,” Louis said. “Not by politics or blood or inheritance. But by choice. By survival. By love.”
Gladice sat forward. “We all saved each other. We all belong together. And we are not hiding anymore.”
Maria looked over the group, then back at Angelique. “Are you certain this is what you want?”
Angelique nodded. “Yes, Mom. I have never been more certain.”
Philip looked from his daughter to Louis and the others. “And your dynastic line?”
Angelique smiled faintly. “There are still Charles and Jacques. I’m not the only one who can make babies.”
Philip let out a short, startled laugh. Maria covered her mouth, then lowered her hand and shook her head.
Constantine looked back at Louis. “What do you want, son?”
Louis felt everyone’s attention on him. He looked across the women around him. Cherish watched him closely, Maeve was scowling, and Angelique still held his wrist. The others waited without speaking.
“I want to live with them. I want to build a life with them. I want us to be who we are without hiding it,” Louis said.
Constantine watched him.
“Where do you want to live?” he asked.
“Hawaii,” Louis said.
Cherish’s breath caught. The others looked between him and Constantine.
“Kauai,” Louis added. “I’ll build us a commune there. Near the beach. Where no one can find us if we don’t want to be found.”
Savannah laughed quietly. “You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
Maeve’s nose wrinkled. “Sounds like People’s Army shit.”
Gladice snorted.
Louis smiled. “Not exactly.”
Constantine studied Louis for a moment.
“Commune is a romantic word. Compound is what the press will call it. Cult is what your enemies will call it. Which one are you actually building?”
Louis had no immediate answer. Angelique answered before he could think of one.
“He’s building a home. For us.”
Constantine looked at her. “A home that costs several hundred million dollars and needs staff and security and infrastructure.”
Angelique met his eyes. “We can do the work ourselves. We did it on the road. We can do it at home too.”
Gladice leaned forward. “I don’t mind a little labor if it means freedom.”
“Same,” Savannah said.
Donya nodded. “Me too.”
Constantine tapped a finger on the sofa arm. “And what is your role in this household?”
Louis took a breath. “Mine?”
“Yes. Yours. Not as the man everyone slept beside last night. As the person asking me to protect it.”
Louis felt his face grow hot. Gladice pressed her lips together. Savannah kept her eyes on him. Cherish flushed from her neck to her cheeks. Maeve stared down at the grass between the paving stones.
Louis forced himself to sit still. “I am responsible for them.”
“No,” Constantine said. “That is not enough.”
Louis said nothing. His father continued.
“Responsibility is a passive word.” Constantine’s voice was quiet and sharp. “What will you do when someone tries to hurt them? When someone tries to use them against you? When someone tries to take them away?”
Louis saw it all again. Waking bound and naked aboard the ship. The three of them stripped and hosed against concrete. Bell pinning Angelique down. Theodore smiling when she was forced to say yes. Vance planning to leave Gladice behind. Jennifer reaching for him before the bullet tore into her chest. Willa and Donya waiting to be burned. The Klan driving Savannah from her home. Barlow selling her out. Savannah in the prison truck, ready to die before they took her to Montgomery. Savannah telling him she loved him as the soldiers led her outside. The two shots that followed. Cherish crying in the helicopter. Maeve tied to a chair while the Chairman beat her.
“I will kill them,” Louis said. His voice came out rough. “I will destroy them. I will end them before they get close.”
“Good,” Constantine said. “Now we have a foundation.”
Angelique still held Louis’s wrist. Cherish’s eyes shone, and the corners of her mouth trembled. Gladice exhaled slowly. Maeve finally looked up, her mouth slightly open.
“And what about the rest of us?” Judith asked.
Louis met her eyes. “We will visit. Often.” He paused. “And for parties.”
Judith smiled. Philip rubbed his chin, while Maria pressed her lips together to hide a laugh.
Constantine leaned forward. “Honolulu.”
Louis blinked. “What?”
“If you insist on Hawaii, then Honolulu. Kauai is too isolated. Too easy to disappear on. Honolulu has better security, better infrastructure, and better access to the Pacific Command. If you are going to build a compound, build it where you can still do more than just hide.”
Louis considered it, then nodded. “Okay.”
“We will acquire the land. Quietly,” Constantine said. “And you will handle the design. But I will review every detail.”
“Of course.”
“Security staff will be cleared by me. Support staff will be cleared by Judith. You will not add people without approval. Am I clear?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Constantine settled back. “Now. We need to decide how to tell the world your engagement is off.”
Venessa made a note. “And explain who the other women are.”
“Not as a cult,” Maria said.
“No,” Venessa agreed. “We will frame it as the future of the Dominion’s social model. A new kind of household. Innovative and progressive.”
Gladice laughed. “Can’t wait to see the headlines.”
“We decide what headlines they print,” Venessa said. “Not them.”
“We should take photos,” Judith said. “Of all of you. Looking happy. Looking like a family. We release them with the statement. Let the pictures tell the story first.”
Angelique squeezed Louis’s wrist. “We can do that.”
“We will,” Louis said.
Constantine looked around the group. “I envy you, you know. This is something I could never do.”
Judith touched his arm. “Because you are the Supreme President, my love.”
He smiled at her. “That too.” He looked back at Louis. “Alright. We need a name for the compound.”
“What do you mean?” Louis asked.
“A name. You cannot call it Louis’s beach house.”
“Villa Nova,” Willa said.
Gladice snorted. “Sounds like a retirement community.”
“The House,” Savannah said.
Angelique frowned. “Too simple.”
Cherish looked around the group. “Something about the Pacific?”
Louis thought for a moment. “Pax Pacifica.”
Gladice raised her eyebrows. “I like it.”
“Peace of the Pacific,” Angelique said.
Donya nodded. “It sounds strong.”
“Good,” Constantine said. “Pax Pacifica. We will start the paperwork.”
Maeve frowned. “Paperwork?”
“Land deeds,” Constantine said. “Security clearances. Residence filings. Trusts. Everything.”
“Oh.” Maeve’s frown eased. “Okay.”
Cherish looked at Louis. “It’s really happening.”
He smiled at her. “Yeah. It is.”
Venessa closed her folder and stood.
“I will draft the statement with your input. We will review it together before release. In the meantime, rest. Recover. The press will not be allowed near the property.”
“Thank you, Venessa,” Louis said.
She nodded. “Of course.”
“We deserve some celebrations, don’t we?” Judith stood and smoothed her dress. “A pool party, perhaps. Nothing official. Just family.”
Maeve looked alarmed. “A party?”
Angelique smiled. “It’s not the communist party. More like music, food, alcohol, and people being happy.”
Maeve hesitated. “Okay.”
Philip looked tired but smiled. “I think we all need one.”
“Why not this afternoon?” Constantine said. “The weather is good. We’ll call it a welcome-home event. Just us.”
The women exchanged looks. Gladice shrugged, Donya smiled, and Cherish nodded quickly.
“Good,” Constantine said. “It’s settled. We’ll gather by the pool in two hours.”
“Now,” Judith said. “The rest of the house is yours to explore. The staff will show you around. In the meantime, I’m going to take a nap.”
She kissed Louis on the cheek and left. Philip and Maria followed.
Constantine stood with Venessa. “We have work to do. We will see you at the pool.”
He nodded to Louis and left. Venessa gave them a small smile and followed.
Élise appeared as they walked back toward the house. “Our stylist, Auriel Klein, has arrived. She’s waiting for you in her bedroom.”
“Thank you, Élise,” Louis said.
“Her room?” Savannah asked.
“She sometimes stays here when she’s working on a project for my mom or dad,” Louis said. “She has her own suite.”
“Of course she does,” Willa said. “Why wouldn’t she?”
They followed Élise upstairs.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter