Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance novel Chapter 1613

Mia and Andre left, taking Anya with them.

At home, Blake was sobbing so hard he could barely catch his breath. It was bad enough his sister was gone, but now his tiger brother had left too, and he was back to being the only kid in the house.

Seeing her little brother crying his heart out, Anya almost considered just grabbing him and bringing him along to Havenbrook. But that thought barely formed before she had to let it go. She had to study, finish her thesis, and defend it. Leo had school and work, and she couldn’t keep asking others to look after her brother.

Reluctantly, Anya hugged Blake tight and took him to the woods they loved as kids. She kissed his tear-streaked face, not wanting to let go. “Blake, you’ll always be your sister’s favorite. I don’t want to leave you either.”

Blake cried, took a breath, then started up again.

Soon, Anya was on her flight back to Havenbrook.

Leo waited outside arrivals at the airport, and, by chance, bumped into Noah, who was there to pick someone up too. Since they were both waiting for the same person, they parked next to each other.

Noah asked, “So, have you hit the market yet?”

Leo shook his head. “Tech side’s finally sorted, but the team isn’t all there yet.”

Noah, who’d been through it all before, offered a few pointers. Then, glancing at Leo’s car, he asked, “You got any smokes?”

Leo froze for a second, then said, “No.”

Noah went back to his own car, pulled out a pack, handed Leo a cigarette, and lit one for himself. “If you’re doing business, you gotta keep these on hand.”

Leo rolled the cigarette between his fingers, lost in thought.

—

Half an hour later, a little tiger cub came barreling out of the crowd. “Big bro! Noah!” Henry yelled, running full tilt.

Leo crouched down, arms wide, and caught Henry as he launched himself, swinging him up high. “Sweetie, did you have fun?”

“Nope!”

Leo grinned. “So why aren’t you still playing?”

Anya couldn’t help pleading, “Auntie, let me play with him a little longer.”

Leo, seeing Henry’s puppy-dog eyes, didn’t have the heart to send him away either.

So, thanks to one stubborn little rascal, Mia ended up riding in Leo’s car too.

Andre just shook his head. “If you two aren’t coming home, I’ll just go straight to the office. I’ll pick you up tonight.”

He drove off alone, heading to work.

On the way, Andre asked, “Did you give him a cigarette?”

Noah hesitated. “…Boss, did I mess up?”

Andre was quiet for a moment. “No, you didn’t.” He just realized the kid he watched grow up was now a man.

Meanwhile, back at home, Hansen sat waiting for his precious grandson, but the little guy didn’t come home for a long time.