Chapter 26

Courtney

It’s been a week since Alec found out that Tony fathered his sister’s child. I’ll never forget the look on his face when he told me the news. His eyes burned with rage and his body shook so badly you would think he was having a seizure. He felt betrayed by one of the few people he trusted and just like that it was severed.
“Courtney.” Lucien let out a sigh of relief, “Need a favor. Alec is drunk." He paused, “I need you to get him in the back.”
“What?” Why would he be drunk at noon? Lucien motioned to the bar where Alec was drinking and chatting up the new bartender.
The man behind the bar was about thirty who had just been kicked out of the military for some bogus charges. Apparently, Giovanni knew him so he gave him a job. His shaven head had a few scars and one down on his right cheek. He didn’t seem to be annoyed by the looks of it. His name was Kade.
I finished collecting the empty bottles and glasses and set them on the cart.
“You go.” He took the towel from me pushing me in the direction to the bar. “I’ll have someone take care of this.”
I dusted my hands on the uniform and made my way over. I sat next to Alec and he pulled me to his lap.
“Courtney.” His hands found my waist as slurred his words. “I’ve missed you.” He whispered in the shell of my ear.
Oh yeah, he was definitely drunk.
“Kade. I’ve got a replacement to take care of the tables. There she is.” Lucien pointed in the direction of a blonde. Kade began clenching his jaw and narrowing his eyes was enough to know that he knew her.
I raised a brow to him and he shook his head telling me it was for another time. They must have a history or maybe he just hated the girl. I twisted my body to look at Alec.
“Let’s get you to the back.” I stood up and he gladly followed me. Like a lost puppy.
It took us ten damn minutes to make it to a room because he wanted to stop and talk to everyone he knew. That was pretty much all the men in the club. “Why are you drunk at noon?” I narrowed my eyes at him and still nothing from him.
Not a word.
That’s fine Alec.
I’ll find out my way.
I pushed him down on the sofa and straddling him. “Are you going to tell me?” My fingers worked on the buttons of his shirt. His head was thrown back and lips were parted. I pushed his shirt open and pressed my palm to his chest.
“What’s got you so stressed out, baby?”
“Everything.” He ground out pressing his face in my chest. “I’m drowning here and all I can think of is how I want to kill Sergei and be done with him.” He bitterly laughed as he looked up to me. “I want to kill Tony for having sex with my sister, but I know if I do then I’ll lose her forever."
I knew he wasn’t okay with Tony being with his sister. “Tell me, Courtney. What do I do?
He wanted me to make the choice for him. “You can kill Sergei and maybe just stay away from Tony for a while and let things cool down. You have to understand she’s dealing with a lot too. I think Tony will be good for her.” I kissed down his neck. “He didn’t know she was your sister.”
His eyes were closed and I heard a faint whisper escape his lips. “At the end of the day, all I want is you. I love you, Courtney.”
I heard him snore the second he finished talking. He had passed out on me. I lifted myself up and leaned to down kiss his cheek. He looked so calm and innocent when he slept. He was far from that though.
He was my devil.
My murderer.
He was also my savior and I wouldn’t trade that for the world.
I walked to the office and Lucien looked up from his phone. “He passed out.”
He nods and points to the chair. “Do you love him?”
His question catches me off guard, but I don’t even have to second guess my love for Alec. “Yes.”
I know things between me and Alec didn’t start out well, but it all worked in the end. I, Courtney, had fallen for the very man I used to hate. I was completely and madly in love with him.
“Why don’t you catch a ride with Caterina and I’ll be sure to deliver Alec to you.”
Caterina and Lucien were still awkward around each other at dinner. If they had already slept together, why was it such a big deal? He was in love with her and she wanted him. So what was the problem with that? Caterina wasn’t the usual chatty person she was the whole ride home. Never said one word. As we were walking to the entrance, I stopped her. “Why don’t you just fuck him already.”
She rolled her eyes. “Back to this?” Ever since the incident Lucien and Caterina have been avoiding each other like the plague.
“Lucien is on his way here right now and you are going to march your ass right up to his room and fuck his brains out.” Her eyes widened and with cheeks tinted pink.
I stepped in the guest room I was sleeping in and changed out of my uniform into sweats and a red tank top. I opened the door and Lucien was making his way dragging a staggering Alec. His hair was disheveled and his shirt was still unbuttoned. “Here ya go.” He was about to walk out when he stopped. “Take care of him.”
I traced his jaw as he slept. “What is going on with you?”
I laid next to him running my fingers through his damp hair. I was about to fall asleep when I heard him whimper.
“No.” Sweat dripped down his face and he fisted the sheets. “Please don’t do this.”
I lightly slapped his face to wake him up from his hell. He had tears pouring out his eyes. “Come back to me Courtney.”
He was having a nightmare about me?
“Alec!” Please wake up I thought to myself. His eyes shot open as he jerked forward gasping for air. He clung to my body fisting whispering over and over. “She’s gone!”
“Alec!” I held him as my heart broke for him. He was still in his nightmare and there wasn’t anything I could do to bring him back. I cupped his face and pressed my lips to his. His eyes glistened and whispered.
“You’re here.” I nodded. “Don’t ever leave me.”
“Never.” We held onto one another not wanting to ever let go.
I was his.
He was mine.
We were one.