24
I got back home at two am and the house was dark. I had a slight buzz and I felt happier than I did before I left. Business was good, my family was safe and most importantly, they were happy. I was content with just that, for the moment at least.
Rylee had the lamp on in the room and she was still awake when I walked into my room. I barely registered her presence as I thought about the hotel and how I could make Carson and JD pay for their crimes.
I undressed in the cupboard and stopped in my tracks as Rylee watched me. I was too tired to fight with her and I climbed into bed and turned my back to her. I didn’t want to fight with her at all but she infuriated me so much.
“Are you done ignoring me?” she asked.
“Are you done yelling at me?” I asked back.
“Yes,” she said and I turned on my back and looked at her.
“I spoke to Cindy, she met her bonded half, that’s why she phoned,” I said and I had no idea why I was telling her that. It didn’t really matter but for some reason I wanted to clear the air.
“She seemed nice over the phone,” she said.
“She is nice,” I said and closed my eyes.
“What is it that you want Lucas?” she asked me and I opened my eyes again.
“I want someone that doesn’t hate being around me,” I said finally.
“I don’t hate you,” she said softly.
“Could’ve fooled me,” I said.
“Why do you always have to ruin every conversation we have?” she asked me with a sigh.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly, “why do you play so hard to get?”
“I’m playing hard to get; I didn’t disappear for three days with some random whore. I’m really trying here,” she said to me.
“What do you want Rylee?” I asked her ignoring the random whore statement.
“I want someone I can talk to, someone I can trust, someone that will treat me the way I need to be treated, someone that’s actually nice to me,” she said.
“I tried being all that six years ago and you still left me,” I said to her bitterly.
“Are you ever going to let go of the past?” she asked me.
“You’re only here now because you have no choice in the matter. You’d go back to Colin and West Virginia in the blink of an eye,” I said.
“I left because I felt like I had no choice. I thought if you knew what they’d done to me you’d see me differently, broken and used,” she said and I could feel the pain in her heart as she said those words.
“I still don’t know what they did to you and you probably shouldn’t tell me either because I’ll kill them slowly,” I said.
“Why do you care so much when I’ve only ever hurt you?” she asked me.
“That I don’t know either. I’ve hurt you too,” I said.
“We’re both very screwed up,” she said and I laughed.
“I’m sorry I hurt you Rylee,” I said.
“I’m sorry too,” she said and turned around.
I looked at the back of her head for a moment and then I moved closer. I snaked my arm underneath her pillow and pulled her up against me tucking my arm around her waist.
“Is this okay?” I asked her.
“Sure, as long as you don’t get any funny ideas,” she said and I chuckled softly.
“Just as long as you keep your hands to yourself too, you have a tendency to sleep half on top of me,” I said and she slapped my arm playfully.
“Goodnight Lucas,” she said with a smile.
“Goodnight,” I said and closed my eyes.
The following morning we all ate breakfast together and there were no tensions. The mood dissipated the moment I stepped into my office and read the email from the Elders. I was livid to say the least. I ignored them for as long as possible throughout the day.
“Are you going out again?” Rylee asked me as she walked into the bedroom and found me buttoning up my shirt.
“Yes, I have a dinner,” I said.
“Am I allowed to ask who with?” she asked.
“Rylee, you can ask me whatever you want. I might not always answer you depending on the situation. You’re not officially a part of our lair and some things I have to keep confidential. Can you accept that?”
“I understand that, I just want to have an open flow of communication between us, you know, at least try and talk. It might help if we get to know each other this time,” she said and I turned to her.
“I’m going to dinner with Cindy and her bonded half Marcus Livingstone, he asked for the meeting,” I said to her.
“I didn’t realize you and Cindy parted on such amicable terms,” she said drily and I chose to ignore the way she said it.
“She knew about you from the beginning, we were just spending time together until she met her half, nothing more, nothing less,” I said as I pulled my jacket on.
“Is that why you didn’t invite me to go with you?” she asked.
“I honestly didn’t think you’d want to go,” I said.
“I don’t really,” she admitted and I smiled slightly.
“I’ll be back,” I said as I took my phone and put it in my pocket.
Rylee surprised me then by giving me a kiss on my cheek and straightening my tie. Maybe this was how it could be between us if I didn’t lose my temper or yell at her and if I were as honest as I could be. The next six months could be bearable.
I drove to the restaurant and saw that Cindy and Marcus were already seated at the table. Cindy had chosen a restaurant in my territory and I was silently grateful for that. I knew everyone, human and non-human that resided here.
“Good evening Mr. Grey,” the woman said as I walked into the restaurant.
“Evening Gloria, I see my party,” I said and smiled at her.
I made my way over to their table, greeting people I knew on the way there. Cindy and Marcus watched me silently. Cindy stood up and I kissed her cheek and then I turned my attention to Marcus, not wanting to irritate him immediately.
“Lucas Grey,” I said and shook his hand.
“Good to meet you Lucas, Marcus Livingstone,” he said and we sat down opposite each other.
We ordered drinks and entrees and made small talk about the weather, their travelling to Aurora and how they met. There was a slight twinkle in his eye every time he looked at Cindy and I felt better now that I’d met him.
“I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised that jealousy isn’t eating me up,” Marcus said and I laughed.
“I’m no threat to you Marcus. I will admit I do care about Cindy’s wellbeing but I have my own bonded half and my wish for her is to be happy, which she seems to be,” I said to him and he smiled.
“So now that we got all the awkwardness out of the way, let’s talk business,” he said and I leaned back in my seat.
“What did you have in mind? I don’t think we’ve ever done business with a lair outside of the States,” I said.
“True, this would be a first but your reputation precedes you,” he said.
“All of it probably true,” I said with a smile.
“You’re considered to be the strongest Sire at the moment in one of the smallest places, that takes work and dedication, things I look for in a business partner. Honesty, respect and honor, you’ll get it from me too,” he said.
“Legitimate business it is,” I said and he laughed.
“Always, the underground business you keep close to home,” he added and I decided I liked him.
“My primary business at this stage are hotels and from what I hear yours is import and export,” I said.
“You were right love, Lucas does his homework,” Marcus said and smiled at her.
“We want to establish a better foothold in the States, Marcus also has shares in a very successful vineyard in Europe, we want to export his wines to your hotels, exclusively,” Cindy said as she looked at me.
“A signature wine for a signature hotel,” I mused and Marcus smiled.
“I like where your mind’s going with this,” he said.
“I like exclusivity,” I said.
“We can do that, change the labels for each hotel to suit the location and the menu,” he said and I nodded.
“Marcus, send me samples of what you have in mind, I’ll have my people contact yours with regards to locations and local fare and then we can meet up again and discuss the contract,” I said to him.
“I have a feeling this is the start to being good business partners,” he said.
I took my phone out and sent a message to Hannah with the details of this business agreement. She would take the reins on this as she did with most of my business dealings. Hannah had a natural flair for business and I gave her more control over things. Chris was content becoming a mother and supporting Jax with his duties, she didn’t want a significant role in the lair.
The dinner was a success and I walked out of the restaurant having gained a new friend. Marcus and I got along and I knew that Cindy would be happy with him. His face was open and honest and already it seemed that he shared everything with her.
“Take care of yourself,” I said shaking her hand lightly, respecting the boundaries by not hugging her goodbye.
“Marcus, here’s to the future,” I said and shook his hand.
“I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other soon,” he said and led Cindy to their car.
I drove to the Drake since I still had an hour and a half to kill before my next appointment which was at midnight. I checked in with Rev who confirmed that everything at the house was fine and that Rylee was asleep.
“Thanks Rev,” I said to him over the phone.
“What’s going on Lucas?” he asked me.
“Don’t worry about it, just something I have to do,” I said.
“Why do I get the idea you’re lying to me?” he asked so I lied some more.
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