radicalducati 2.69
2.69
Lucas’s POV
I could sense her answer to mom’s request before she opened her mouth.
I knew I have to take plan B from the second my eyes met Jenny’s and I saw her slightly shake her head to tell me that her talk wasn’t very helpful to change her mind.
I was not even counting on it. I knew how stubborn she can be, add in how extremely betrayed and angry she feels because of me, and I knew she’d want to leave just to get away from me. But hell if I’m going to let that happen and grant her that wish.
She lifted up her head and looked at mom in anguish as she said gravely “I’m really sorry Diana. But I cannot stay here. I’ve already made my decision and I’m afraid there’s no going back from that. I know you mean well, and I know you’re scared for me, but I can take care of myself”
I resisted the urge to snort loudly and contradict those words. She cannot take care of her self, not against Zade’s men. If someone manages to escape both traps we set up here and in Toronto, they’ll be coming for her. Well, they’ll probably come for us too but at least we’re prepared to take on anyone, unlike her.
I decided to set my plan in motion right this second.
I got up and said cheerfully; even though that was so not my mood in reality, as I addressed everyone except her “Shall we have a bite to eat before we go to our meeting? I can’t concentrate on anything with a growling stomach”
Jenny shot me a glare and Alex looked at me questioningly, but I ignored everyone and walked ahead towards the dining room.
I had no appetite whatsoever, and my stomach wasn’t growling or anything but I forced myself to eat and filled my plate more than once.
I was acting like I had no care in the world because that’s what she’s expecting me to do exactly. And I was done groveling and begging for forgiveness in that way. Not that she doesn’t deserve me getting down on my knees for her, she’s the only one who can probably get me down on my fucking knees for her and beg her heartily without feeling degraded or ashamed, but it wasn’t going to affect her. So I had to take the other way. The crazier way.
Crazy always worked for me so far. It might go a little extreme sometimes. But it always got the job done. No reason for it not to work this time as well….right?
We finished breakfast and each of us headed to their rooms to get ready.
After I got out of the shower and changed my clothes, I heard a knock on the door.
I don’t know how I knew, but I was positive it was Angel knocking on the other side.
I opened the door and came face to face with her.
She had a blank expression on her face but I could see right through it. Pissed off and resentful with just the hint of physical violence that was barely being contained judging by the tight fists draped by her sides.
I put on my most provocative, smug smile, and leaned against the door frame as I asked her softly “Yes, Angel? Something I can do for you?”
She rolled her eyes at me and said stiffly as she opened up the palm of her hand “My ID, Lucas. Right now”
“I’ll give it to you once we’re done with Zade and his men” I said casually.
“No, you’ll hand it to me right now” she said determinedly.
“Or what?” I asked challengingly.
“You’ll force me to include your mother in this. But I’m pretty sure you don’t want to cause her anymore pain and sadness. So how about you do the right thing for once and give me back what belongs to me?” she snapped at me.
Ouch, that sent a direct punch straight to my heart, but I didn’t let it show of course.
I disappeared from view as I went to my nightstand, opened the first drawer, and retrieved both her and her mother’s phones along with her ID, then returned back to her and handed them silently.
When she saw both phones, she looked up at me in anger as she said through gritted teeth “You had them all along and you never thought about giving them to me?”
“Well, I had to be careful so you don’t receive any phone calls before the meeting” I said firmly.
She gave me a death glare before she turned around and went back to her room, closing the door behind her angrily.
Something told me I’ll be seeing a lot of that anger today…maybe even tomorrow as well if I don’t get myself chocked to death by her first.
Half an hour before the clock strikes ten, I get out of my room and knock on hers.
She answers immediately and without letting me speak, she got out of her room and walked ahead towards the stairs.
I shook my head and walked behind her.
We descended the last few stairs and saw Jenny hugging Alex tightly.
“Please be careful” she said softly.
“Always am” he said as he kissed her on her forehead.
Mom came over towards Angel who was hanging back to give Alex and Jenny their privacy.
“Are you coming back after the meeting?” mom asked softly.
She shook her head and said in a thick voice “No, I’m afraid not” she held mom’s hands and carried on in the same tone “Thank you so much for caring about me and loving me, you have no idea how much you really mean to me Diana”
“Oh honey, you mean so much to me too. I wish you don’t have to leave like this, but I don’t want to force you. I just want you to know that you will always have a place here with us, no matter how much time passes, if you feel like you are in danger, or if life gets too rough on your own, please come back here and live with us. Don’t even hesitate, okay? Promise me”
She nodded her head as two tears slid down her face.
“I promise”
“One of our boys will transport you to Fairbanks after the meeting is over” mom said gently as she pulled out a credit card from her pocket and handed it to her.
“This card is yours. I want you to use it and…” mom started to say gently before Angel cut her off adamantly “Diana, I can’t. It’s not right for me to use it. I want to be able to stand up on my own without anyone’s help. It’s what my mom would have wanted”
“Your mom would have wanted you to have it. You think if she had someone to help her through her problem, she would have refused? At least keep it with you in case of an emergency, please, for me?” mom said emotionally.
She finally took it and stuffed it inside the small, black, cross body bag she had on her, and hugged her tightly before she whispered I love you in her ear ever so softly.
My mom tightened her hold on her and her eyes shifted to meet mine with a questioning look.
I told her this morning that she wasn’t going anywhere and yet, I haven’t said a word to stop her.
If I didn’t know any better I’d say she was asking me to do whatever it takes to convince her not to go. Even though she’s not my number one fan when it comes to my crazy methods. But it looks like she has no problems with them this time.
I nodded my head at her in a gesture that I will do whatever it takes to get her to stay with us… for a long time to come.