Chapter Three
The walker had a built-in seat. Just like his mom’s.
It was depressing but oddly freeing. Ajax made him walk laps around the room.
He sat when the exhaustion beat him and then went back to walking when he caught his breath.
Ajax sat on the edge of the bed, looking like a proud papa.
Of course, he had shown up with the walker, so he probably patted himself on the back with each one of Lucas’ turns.
Lucas was the one who had to do all the damn walking.
He knew he needed to regain his strength.
Lucas genuinely didn’t want to stay stuck in bed forever feeble.
He just hated all this work to do things he had done his entire life.
It was bullshit. He wanted his life and freedom back.
Lucas felt like a prisoner trapped inside his own body.
That was the one place there was zero chance of escape.
But then Lucas’s gaze would lock on Ajax, and he felt an odd pang of… something. It was like all his senses lit. He smelled liberation.
As Lucas pushed his walker toward Ajax, a luminous smile lit Ajax’s features. “You’re looking chuffed to bits right now.”
“I always look this way. You know I’m cocky.”
Ajax chuckled as he helped Lucas steer the walker as closely as possible to Ajax.
Lucas sat.
Ajax helped him turn the walker to face him and pulled him even closer. Once he had Lucas where he obviously wanted him, Ajax ran his hands up Lucas’ thighs. “I’m not sure it’s cockiness if you live up to the hype.”
He felt the smirk that stretched his lips. The reaction was out of Lucas’ control. He had always been naughty all the way to his soul. Everyone had a talent. His was being very good at being bad. At the moment, Ajax was the forbidden fruit. Lucas wanted to taste him.
“Oh.” Ajax leaned back and reached into the inside pocket of his jacket. “I have something for you.” He passed Lucas a phone. “No luck finding your old phone. I bought you a new one. It’s unlimited everything and on Noir’s dime, so go wild.”
Lucas tried to not wince. Another connection to Noir. Every day, it looked less and less likely he’d ever escape this mess.
“Thank you.” Lucas turned the phone on and worked to set it up. By the time he had signed into all his accounts, he already had a message waiting. Lucas clicked on the message. A smile exploded across Lucas’ face. Ajax had sent him a gif of a penguin running at him like it intended to hug him.
Lucas shook his head. “You’re one of a kind, for sure.”
A light knock landed on the door before Ajax responded. The short warning gave Lucas just enough time to push his walker with his feet and away from Ajax before Izaak stuck his head inside the room. “You have a visitor, Lucas.”
That confused the fuck out of Lucas. He didn’t have friends beyond Ajax and—as far as he knew—no one knew he was here. “Uh. Okay. Send them in, I guess.” Even to his ears, Lucas sounded unsure.
Kash strolled into the room, looking exactly like the badass he was. “Hey! Look at you. You live. I had started thinking otherwise since you haven’t bothered to call.”
Lucas couldn’t help his smile. Kash was such a come and go guy.
Lucas never knew when he was in town. When he was, it was usually bad news for someone.
“Hey, Kash. I’d say the phone runs both ways, but this is my first time touching a phone in months.
” Lucas motioned toward the phone as he made the claim.
Ajax stood and squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll let you visit with your friend. Text me if you need anything.”
“Okay.” Lucas couldn’t help the way his gaze followed Ajax to the door. As Ajax passed Kash, Kash nodded at him, but didn’t acknowledge Ajax in any other way.
Kash didn’t speak again until they were alone. “The general of The Republic of Serveno, huh? That’s a hell of a guard. How did all this happen? I heard you were stabbed a few months back, but I never expected all this.”
Lucas used the last of his energy to shift from the walker into the bed. He didn’t respond until he was covered and caught his breath. “Yeah. It seems I died and everything, but here I am.”
Kash’s features hardened as he sat in the chair next to the bed. “Who do I need to kill?”
A smile snapped to Lucas’ lips. “Rumor has it he didn’t make it through the night, but who knows? You know how rumors are.” Lucas would not incriminate anyone or substantiate any stories. Lucas wasn’t a snitch, and Lucas had never been sure where Kash’s loyalty really lay.
Kash didn’t call him on it. “Do you at least know who attacked you?”
Lucas didn’t like this conversation. “Honestly, I don’t remember much about that night at all. I know I stopped somewhere on my way to celebrate Christmas with Mom, and I didn’t make it.”
Kash shook his head. “That’s crazy. How is your mom, by the way?”
The subject let Lucas’ smile turn real. “She’s doing great, actually.
Noir took us in, and she’s got all the guards smitten with her.
They dote on her and take her everywhere.
My guess is she’ll refuse to leave when the time comes.
Hell, Lazarus might not let me take her. It seems he’s claimed her as his own.”
Kash smiled. It didn’t dim throughout Lucas’ speech. “I don’t doubt it. There aren’t that many genuinely nice people in the world. Your mom is one of them.”
Lucas nodded. He couldn’t take it. Kash hadn’t come around in the three months Lucas had been at Noir’s. “What brings you by today?” He kept his expression as friendly as possible. Kash might be playing nice, but that could change any second.
Kash shrugged. “I just hadn’t seen you around for a while. So I put out some feelers and heard about what happened. Everyone talks like you’re still on death’s door. I had to see for myself.”
“Nah. I’m still kicking, but I’m always happy to see you.
” Lucas did it without thinking. His gaze slid down Kash’s body like second fucking nature.
Being a flirt had gotten him through life.
It was how he had met Noir, by blatantly flirting with a prince as if he had a single shot.
Even though Noir had been new to this country and only seventeen, he had already been more terrifying than anyone Lucas had ever met.
Lucas hadn’t let that deter him. Noir was sexy as hell with all his over-the-top confidence.
He was so polished and serious, Lucas never would’ve dreamed Noir was younger than him, much less only seventeen.
Noir had been impressed by his nerve and ability to speak to anyone, making them adore him. He was a chameleon.
The smile the slowly stretched Kash’s lips proved he wasn’t immune. Kash winked. “You should definitely get better soon. I’ve always got time on my hands…and stamina.”
Goddamn it. If Lucas knew how to do one thing, it was paint himself into a corner. Now all he could do was brazen things out.
Lucas’ expression turned sultry. He felt it happen. “You should hang out for a few.” So Lucas could figure out how in the hell he would weasel out of this.
The way Kash’s lids hooded didn’t give him hope. “I’m not running.”
Fuck. Lucas felt too bad to be the one who ran. It might be a long day.
Kash fucking Humphries. Ajax hated the bastard.
He loathed the guy’s stupid, sexy face and wicked personality.
For one thing, he was younger than Ajax, as in closer to Lucas’ age.
He always looked right through Ajax—like he knew Ajax could never compete.
But Ajax had money, soldiers, and the ability to make that motherfucker disappear.
He would too if that Lothario laid a goddamn finger on Lucas. Ajax would snap his thick neck.
“Whoa. I’d hate to be the person who caused that look.”
Ajax didn’t calm at Noir’s laughter-filled words. He filled a wingback chair in Noir’s private sitting room. Ajax hadn’t even checked to make sure he wouldn’t interrupt an intimate moment. Those happened a lot in this room.
Instead, Lazarus read Noir’s latest book while massaging Noir’s feet. He tossed a glance Ajax’s way. “Fuck, dude. Who pissed in your coffee this morning?”
Ajax didn’t humor the pair. He was too angry. “Why in the hell is Kash here?”
Noir looked confused. “Someone has had to cover for Lucas while he’s been down. Speaking of which, have you talked to him yet?”
Damn. He had been a little distracted by Lucas’ sexy personality. “I had literally just opened my mouth to do so when Kash arrived.”
Noir’s confused expression didn’t lessen. “What were you doing all day yesterday?”
Ajax had been with Noir since Noir had been a child.
He had his poker face down to a science.
“Exactly what you ordered me to do. I let him rest. He’s been walking around the room, trying to get stronger.
Yesterday, he pushed too hard and slept all day.
He’ll never heal properly if I don’t let him rest when he needs it. ”
Noir sighed. It was a put-upon sound. “I expect you to speak with him today. As much as I’d like for him to choose to stay, I’m not above forcing the matter.
Lazarus has never had a good mother. I’m not keen on the idea of him losing Wendy.
You know nothing comes between me and spoiling my husband. ”
Ajax was likely the only person alive—besides Lazarus—who ever questioned Noir’s decisions. “Is Wendy even aware you’ve unilaterally decided to keep her—like a new pet?”
Lazarus chuckled but stayed glued to his book.
Noir rolled his eyes. “Of course we discussed it. She’s happy here. There’s way more help to give her more freedom. But she insists her decision will hinge on Lucas, so get him on board… no matter what it takes.”
Not a single thing could show exactly how spoiled Noir was better than this entire conversation.
Ajax wasn’t sure he even saw other people as real.
Thankfully, Ajax fully intended to keep Lucas and wasn’t above using every dirty trick in the book.
He held Noir’s gaze and smirked. “No worries, mate. You know I can do this.” His smile vanished.
“But Kash needs to move along. He’s definitely trying to undermine me. ”
Noir made a dismissive motion. “You’re free to focus solely on Lucas for as long as it takes. Tell Kash I’m impatiently waiting for him to get to work. That should send him out the door.”
Ajax stood. He bit back his triumph. Kash would only be here if he was a guest of Noir.
Now Ajax had been given permission to kick him out.
“With pleasure, your highness.” Ajax felt his face hardening on the way back to his man.
His man. Ajax liked the sound of that. He hadn’t planned to move on Lucas.
Ajax had genuinely expected to carry his infatuation to the grave.
Now Lucas had kissed him, and all bets were off.
Lucas would be staying. Ajax planned to ensure it.
No pretty boy could beat him. Ajax had experience on his side. In truth, he held all the cards.