44. Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter forty-four
Adair
Quinn and I stayed on the couch for a while, eventually falling asleep.
It wasn’t until a ray of sunshine hit my face that I woke up.
I sat up slowly, a little surprised to see Lukas was now on the other end of the couch, where Quinn had been.
Looking around, there was no one else around, and the house was completely silent.
“Lukas?” I whispered his name, not entirely sure how hard or easy it was going to be to wake him.
The man jumped like I'd shouted his name. “What happened now? Are you okay?”
Reaching over, I grabbed his hand. “Nothing happened and I’m fine. I'm confused why you and I were sleeping on the couch.”
He rubbed his face as he sat up. “You and Quinn were fast asleep by the time Peter and I finished our meeting. You two looked so peaceful. We didn’t have the heart to wake you.
I snuggled in next to Quinn, and Peter got comfy on the chair until she had to be up for work.
I promised them both I’d stay out here with you until you woke up. ”
I looked around again. “What time is it?”
Lukas grabbed his phone off the coffee table. “A little after ten.”
My eyes went wide. “I don’t know if I've ever slept in this late.”
He stood and held out his hand. “There’s a first time for everything. Come on. Let’s get something to eat.” After having a late breakfast, we headed back to Lukas’s office. “I’m not saying my house isn’t safe, but everyone would feel better if there were eyes on you today.”
“No complaints here.” I curled up under my blanket on the small couch and settled in to do some more reading.
“Before you get wrapped up in your book, can I ask you about your blanket?”
I glanced up at Lukas, who was sitting at his desk. “What about it?”
He leaned forward on his elbows. “When did you get it?”
“It was my birthday present from your mom this year. Why?”
A sad smile appeared on Lukas’s face as he nodded.
“I remember Mom working on it while she was sitting with my dad at the hospital. I asked her about it on one of my last trips home when I didn’t see her working on it anymore, but on a blue scarf instead.
She said it had been sent to the person who needed it. I’m glad it went to you.”
“Me, too.”
Lukas spent the next few hours working on his laptop and being on calls. I didn't pay much attention to him but instead reveled in the opportunity to try distracting myself with reading.
Peter and Quinn both checked in on me during the day. It was very sweet. After relaying a message about dinner preferences, Lukas chuckled and shook his head. “I love how much she loves you.”
I grinned. “You have an amazing wife.”
He nodded. “I do. I can’t wait for you to meet Ben. Li and I are the luckiest people in the world.”
Sometime later, I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, I was opening my eyes to a quiet and relatively dark room.
How long was I asleep this time?
Just then, I heard Peter’s voice. “Where’s Adair?”
“She’s napping in my office. I didn’t have the heart to stay in there in case I woke her up.”
Lukas’s reply made me feel a little warm and fuzzy on the inside. He still was the same caring person I knew.
A few moments later, Peter walked into the room and crouched down in front of me, smiling. “Hey, sleepyhead. Have a good nap?”
“Yeah. I guess I relaxed enough to fall asleep again.”
His eyes roamed over my face, and I swore I saw something more than concern flash in his eyes before he asked. “You hungry for some dinner? Edith sent home a few things.”
I nearly jumped off the couch.
We were finishing up dinner and settling into the couches in the living room when Lukas’s phone rang.
His eyes went wide as he glanced at the screen and answered immediately.
“Momma, is everything okay?” He looked up at me and smiled.
“Yeah, she’s right here.” Lukas handed me the phone. “Mom wants to talk to you.”
I let out a nervous laugh as I held the phone to my ear. “Hi, Lynette.”
“Hello, my dear. I’m going to jump to the point. I need you to come back to Chicago with Lukas and Quinn. I can’t make you, but this situation is rapidly deteriorating, and I’d like all my children in one place.”
My heart lurched in my chest, and I walked down the hallway to get away from the three sets of eyes watching me. “Are… Are you sure?” I hadn't been home in years.
Lynette let out a deep sigh. “The two responsible for ruining your life are up to something, a lot of things, actually, and none of them are good. They’ve gone off the deep end.
” There was silence for a moment, before she continued, her voice a bit more strained than I’d heard it in a long time.
“I’m having a difficult time having my children scattered so far apart. ”
Liam and Susan always had their plans for power and glory, and while there had been more than one grey element in their actions, I wish I had been surprised they had gone rogue.
Another deep breath came out as I paced.
“What have they done now? How bad is it?” There was silence on the call for several seconds, and I didn’t like it.
“Lynette? What haven’t you told me?” I swallowed hard, desperately trying to stay calm.
I knew I had been hiding and doing everything possible to keep a low profile, and I knew shit had been happening since my attempted murder and forced disappearance.
Peter appeared at my side and wrapped his hand around mine, and I squeezed it hard, desperate for something to ground me in the present and happy it was him. “What did he do?”
“He’s chosen her mission over ours.”
My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes, spilled over, and ran down my cheeks. “No. He… I… What?”
“So much has happened over the last several years, and even more in the past few months. I hate what it’s come to.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks, and Peter rubbed his thumb across my knuckles as I leaned against the wall, both angry and not surprised by the man I once knew.
“Now what happens? What do we do? What can we do?” I glanced up at Lukas, who looked stressed, as he stood several feet away from me, watching me talk to his mom.
“I want… No. I need you to come home. Please?”
I let out a shaky breath. It wasn’t like Lynette to ask people to do things, not when their health and safety were at stake.
“Are you sure that’s the safest thing to do?
It’s going to put a target on your head.
” I shifted my attention from Lukas to Quinn, then to Peter.
My heart clenched at the thought of something happening to any of them. “On several peoples’ heads.”
“There are always targets, my dear. Your location won’t change that or make it worse.”
A choked sob came out. “I’m so sorry, Lynette. I never wanted it to come to this.”
“I know, my dear. None of us did. Still, will you come?”
“Of course, I’ll come.” I let out a shaky breath. “I’m tired of living in the shadows.”
Lukas had walked over by this point. “Can this be put on speaker? Please?”
Lynette chuckled. “My son is about to pop an artery, isn’t he?”
I couldn’t suppress my small grin as I stared at the man in question. “Pretty much.”
She sighed. “Hand the phone back, please.”
As soon as I did, Lukas put it to his ear.
“Momma, what is going on?” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, nodding a few times as he listened.
“I understand…. Yeah… Should I bring Quinn with me?” A deep sigh came out as he nodded.
“Okay. Timeline?… Does Lianne know?… I see. Okay. How fast does this need to happen, and how many options are we talking about?” He glanced up, his eyes wide.
“Momma, that's… Yes, ma’am… Okay…. I love you, too.” He ended the call and slid his phone back into his pocket.
“Well, looks you’ll be getting one hell of a reunion party by the week’s end.
” A small smile appeared on his face. “Li is going to lose her mind when she sees you.”
“I can’t wait.” And I actually meant it. For as terrified as I was, the excitement was bigger.