The engines hummed to life as Nora sat beside Shaw, her hands gripping the armrest like it was her last lifeline. Asher had already buckled his seatbelt, casually chewing gum like he'd done this a thousand times.
Shaw's phone buzzed.
Zayan:
She doesn't know what a plane is or how it works. Guide her. Watch her. Make sure nothing happens to her, or I'll come there myself.
Shaw swallowed hard. The message alone made his palms sweat. Zayan wasn't just a man—he was a force, and Shaw wasn't about to test his patience.
Shaw:
Got it.
The moment the plane began to ascend, Nora tensed and clutched the seat.
"The HELL is h…h…happening?" she gasped, eyes wide with panic.
"Nora?" Shaw called gently.
She turned to him, her voice shaking. "W-why is it going… up?"
He blinked. "Wait… you've never been on a plane before?"
She shook her head. Her lips were pale, knuckles white from how tightly she gripped the chair.
But moments later, her fear faded as she glanced out the window. Her eyes sparkled with wonder.
"I'm… actually in the sky…" she whispered, her lips curving into a genuine smile.
Shaw smiled too, quietly recording a short video of her in awe and sent it to Zayan. Asher, meanwhile, had already fallen asleep like the world was weightless.
When they landed in Poland, sleek black cars and a line of armed guards greeted them on the runway. Nora stepped off the plane holding Asher's hand tightly, her gaze overwhelmed as they were escorted to a massive mansion—no, a castle.
Waiting at the entrance were six men.
Shaw walked ahead and said casually, "You guys—meet Nora."
She froze, instinctively pulling Asher behind her as her eyes darted between the unfamiliar faces. All boys. Tall. Serious. Handsome—and intimidating.
One of them stepped closer, and she flinched slightly, shielding Asher. He simply patted her head gently.
One by one, they approached and… hugged her.
She blinked, confused.
They had all seen the video—of her crying for Nana, of the funeral. Their expressions softened, and for a moment, she wasn't scared anymore.
Inside the lavish living room, they introduced themselves.
Shaw: the eldest.
Damian: second.
Maverick: third.
Kiernan: fourth.
Rex: fifth.
Neal: sixth.
Then Rex pointed to Asher. "Who's the child?"
"Tf are you calling a child, man?" Asher snapped with a heavy British accent.
Everyone blinked.
"Ash!" Nora hissed.
"Sorry," he muttered.
"He's my brother," she explained.
They nodded, now more respectful, asking questions about her life. She told them everything—about the orphanage, her struggles, her scars.
That evening, Maverick showed Nora and Asher to their room. Asher fell asleep quickly, exhausted from the flight.
Her phone rang.
Zayan was calling—video call.
She stared at the screen, unsure what to do. Panic rising, she walked downstairs and found Rex and Neal in the lounge.
"I… don't know how to answer this," she said, her eyes big. "It's showing my face too…"
Rex raised a brow. "It's a video call."
"Video… what?"
Neal stared at her. "Y-you don't know what a video call is?"
She shook her head.
The phone rang again. Rex picked it up—and there he was. Zayan.
His face appeared on screen, cold and unreadable, until he saw Nora standing behind them.
His expression shifted to shock. "It's the devil…"
Neal laughed. "Devil? What do you—"
Then his eyes widened too.
"Where is she?" Zayan demanded.
Nora stepped forward. "Zayan? Is that you?"
"Yeah, darling. It's me."
Rex and Neal froze. She was smiling. She looked happy.
"Wait… Zayan Kai?" Rex asked.
Shaw, Kiernan, and Maverick walked in just as she turned the phone to face them. "Look—it's Shaw."
Zayan smiled at Shaw. "Take care of her."
"I'm not a little baby," Nora pouted.
"But you're my baby," Zayan teased.
She turned red.
"I miss you. The mansion's boring. And dirty."
"Naaaaaaaa," she stuck her tongue out. "It's not."
"Where's Asher?"
"Sleeping."
"You should get some rest too. Okay?"
"Bye, Master," she said, saluting playfully.
He chuckled before ending the call.
The boys sat in silence, stunned.
"How do you know Zayan Kai?" Maverick asked.
"I work as a maid in his mansion," Nora replied casually.
"MAID?" they all yelled.
She nodded. "That's my job."
"F*ck no!" Maverick shouted. "You're not working as a maid ever again."
They all agreed.
"It's not that bad actually," Nora mumbled.
"Uhmmm—it is," Neal muttered.
Shaw added, "We're all relocating to London in a month. Where she lived. Where Zayan rules."
They began discussing plans to sell the mansion and settle permanently in London.
Later, Rex and Nora spoke about her education. She confessed that she couldn't write well and struggled with pronunciation.
"I'll teach you everything," Kiernan offered. "I'm a professor."
They all started to chime in.
Shaw was the CEO of the Lilith family company.
Rex ran a massive oil empire.
Neal, though a party boy, managed real estate properties.
Maverick owned a five-star restaurant.
Nora stared at them, overwhelmed—but for once, she didn't feel alone.