23
I didn’t go home for three days and Jax phoned on the second day. I had to go home today because it was Hannah’s birthday and she and Rev would leave for Chicago in a few hours to spend her birthday alone with each other.
I was still mad at Rylee but between Tessa and Joanne and Liv I had plenty to keep me busy. I was in time for breakfast and I could hear voices from the dining room as I closed the front door behind me.
“Where have you been?” Chris asked as I took my seat at the head of the table.
“Out,” I said not looking at Rylee.
“Are you back now?” Rylee asked me but I ignored her.
“Happy Birthday Hannah, are you ready for your trip?” I asked.
“I can’t wait,” she said and I shook my head as I smiled. Rev only grunted in response but he looked better and happier.
I ate breakfast in silence as Preston glanced at me and I barely paid attention to the conversation around me. I was exhausted, I hadn’t exactly slept in the last three days and as soon as I was done eating I went upstairs to my room.
I showered and pulled on a pair of sweats and climbed into my bed after lowering the blinds to darken the room. Tonight I would probably have to meet with Jasper again so we could discuss the changes we wanted at the new hotel which he would oversee.
My eyes closed involuntarily and I fell into a dreamless sleep for hours. I was aware of Hannah kissing me lightly on my cheek before she left but I didn’t really fully wake up. I woke up a few hours later to the insistent ringing of my phone.
“This is Lucas,” I answered.
“Were you asleep?” Cindy asked me.
“It’s fine, what’s up?” I asked her.
“I have a random request and I’d really understand if you said no but Marcus wants to meet you,” she said and now I was fully awake.
“Why?” I asked her.
“We were both in a relationship when we met and when I mentioned your name he knew all about you. I think he wants to talk business, there’s no malice Lucas and it’s definitely not about our relationship,” she said.
“Why not, I’m always open to new business,” I said to her.
“Great, we’ll be in Aurora tomorrow, I’ll forward you the reservation,” she said.
“Great see you tomorrow night,” I said and ended the call.
I showered again and got dressed in my trademark suit. It was near eight pm as I descended the stairs and I heard Rylee and Chris talking in the living room and I stopped on the bottom stair.
“The next six months are going to be hell for me,” Rylee said.
“Just give it time Rylee, I’m sure it’s awkward for both of you,” Chris said.
“It’s not just about the awkwardness, he’s always so angry with me,” she said.
“That’s just Lucas’s way, he took over when he was really young and it really messed with his head when you left,” Chris said and I closed my eyes at her revelation.
“You talk like he loved me Chris,” she said.
“I think he still does. Lucas is a very strong Sire, most of the other Elders fear him, there’s no way he would’ve agreed to this six month thing if he didn’t feel anything for you,” Chris said.
“Do you know why I really left?” Rylee asked.
“Because you couldn’t stand to be in Aurora?” Chris asked back.
“No, because I really thought that Lucas couldn’t possibly fall in love with someone like me especially after what they did to me,” Rylee said.
“Why would you ever think that?” Chris asked her.
“I was so in love with him for so long, he’s the only one I’ve ever slept with,” she said and I looked towards the living room.
“It doesn’t matter who you’ve slept with or not and Lucas doesn’t care what happened to you, not in the way you think, he just wanted to be there for you and help you. You’re both so stubborn that you actually refuse to be honest with each other,” she said and sighed.
“Him being an asshole doesn’t exactly make it easier,” Rylee said and I took that as my cue to make my presence known.
“Evening,” I said as I stopped in the doorway of the living room.
“You’re going out again?” Chris asked.
“I’m meeting Jasper about the hotel, I’ll be back later,” I said as I took my car keys from the bowl on the table in the foyer.
“Drive safe,” Chris yelled as I opened the front door.
I found a classical station, adjusted the volume on the radio, and got on the highway to Chicago. The music was soothing and calming. Rylee really had some twisted ideas about me but Baz was nudging me inside my head.
“What?” I asked him finally.
“I’m telling you now halfling, try harder with Rylee, she needs us, we need her,” he said to me.
“I hear you Baz, she doesn’t want me to try harder though,” I said to him.
“She’s just emotional, you know women,” he said and I laughed aloud.
“Do you have any idea how many women would kick your ass right about now?” I asked him.
“Pfft, I’m strong halfling but Rylee is our other half and aside from you just having random sex with her you’re not even trying to bond,” he said.
“So what do you suggest big guy?” I asked.
“Take her on a date or something, show her your nice side,” he said.
“Hmm maybe,” I said.
“It could work if you had a nice side,” Baz laughed in my head and I rolled my eyes at him.
“Idiot,” I mumbled as he kept laughing.
“You’re such a moron halfling, asking a dragon for dating advice,” he said and rolled over on his side as he kept laughing.
“Fuck Baz you’re supposed to be on my side,” I said with a smile.
“I’m on your side halfling but don’t expect me to keep quiet when you do stupid stuff like this,” he said.
I ignored him and parked my car in a parking lot across from the restaurant where Jasper wanted to meet. I smiled at the hostess as I opened the door and saw Jasper immediately as he spoke animatedly to two women at the bar.
“O’Connell table,” I said and she smiled at me.
“Right this way Sir, your party’s waiting at the bar,” she said.
“Yeah I see the idiot,” I said and she laughed slightly.
“Mr. O’Connell, your party’s here,” the woman said to Jasper as he turned around and smiled at me. We shook hands and he carried his drink to the table.
“I’ll take a scotch on the rocks,” I said to the woman as she handed us menus.
“I’m flying back to New York tomorrow so I hope you’ve looked at the proposals,” Jasper said as my drink arrived.
“Of course I did, have I ever not checked the proposals?” I asked him.
“First time for everything,” he said and I shook my head.
“So Cindy met her bonded half,” I said and Jasper choked.
“And how are you taking it?” he asked me.
“I’m meeting him tomorrow night, she says he’s a good guy so I’m happy for her,” I said.
“Really?” he asked me sarcastically.
“Yes, really. She’s a good woman, she deserves happiness and we both know that wasn’t with me,” I said and Jasper laughed.
“Yeah no shit Lucas. If I had a daughter I’d kill myself if she brought you home,” he said and I smiled.
“I could say the same about you,” I retorted.
“Stop, you’re going to make me blush,” he said and we laughed.
“So back to the proposal, I’m happy with most of it, but I think we need a facelift in the foyer, new owners, fresh look,” I said.
“I’ve thought about that but the colours kind of work for me,” he said.
“Are you into interior design now?” I asked him.
“No but Claire is,” he said to me and I laughed again.
“Ah Claire, you’re still seeing her?” I asked him.
“On and off, well whenever we buy a new hotel,” he said and I shook my head again.
“No wonder we’re friends, we’re both assholes,” I said and we clinked our glasses together.
“So Claire can go ahead?” he asked me.
“Sure, she does excellent work,” I said.
We ordered food and I filled him in on the situation with Rylee and the Elders and our fight. Jasper was sometimes a wild card and even though he had an alliance with Joseph a few years ago the tables had turned and now he hated them as much as I did.
His advice though was to hire someone to take Carson and JD out and I could only laugh when he told me that he knew a guy, an expensive guy, but obviously the best.
“You know I can’t do that. The Elders would know it was me immediately,” I said to him.
“Deny, deny, deny,” he said with a smile.
“I’ll have to get rid of them another way, the right way, you know me, I’m not going to lose everything I worked for just for a quick revenge trip,” I said and he nodded.
“If for some reason you can declare war, I’m with you. I’ve wanted a piece of Joseph McIntyre ever since he threatened me when we became allies,” he said.
“Trust me, I know the feeling. I’ve never wanted to kill someone as badly as those two,” I said.
“You never said how the reunion went with Hannah and Rev,” he said changing the subject.
“She cried, he cried and right now he’s probably marking her as we speak,” I said.
“Lucky bastard,” Jasper said.
“I’m just glad he’s home,” I said.
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