8. Chapter Eight #2
As if on cue, Quinn walked back into the room.
“We have three tickets for the 7:45 morning flight out of Denver. We are leaving here no later than 5am, though, if Lukas has anything to say about it, I’m sure it will be closer to 4:30.
” She walked across the room and stood in front of him, gently taking his face in her hands.
“I know I got bossy earlier, and I know since this is technically Agosti business, it’s your show, but will this plan work?
Remember, Ryan is at your mom’s house and not in the hospital.
This is not the same situation as your dad. ”
Tears flooded Lukas’s eyes again before he nodded. “I know. And the plan is perfect. Thank you.”
She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss. “I love you.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Love you, too, gorgeous.”
“Then come help me with dinner, since I’m sure you’ve already tasked Peter with something.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
Once Quinn had led Lukas out of the office, I took out my phone and called Phil.
“About time you called.”
I smirked and shook my head. “Listen, it’s been a wild hour, okay?”
He scoffed. “What was so important that you had to run out of the lodge like a bat out of hell and not stick around to do the shift change meeting with me?”
“Lynette called me.” After giving him the rundown, there was silence for a moment before the expected explosion.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
I paced the office. “Not even a little. Quinn is making dinner now and then she and Lukas are going to pack their bags. The three of us are heading out between four and five tomorrow morning.”
Phil let out a low whistle. “Damn. Anything else I need to know?”
“Yeah. Lynette asked that I accompany them to Chicago, so I’ll be gone for… well, however long I’m gone. Cole will be here. I’m sure Lukas will have special instructions, but he made it sound like it would be pretty much business as usual.”
He let out a hum of agreement. “Okay. Keep me updated?”
“Will do.”
Dinner was a quiet affair, and as soon as Lukas was done eating, he disappeared into his bedroom. When the door clicked shut, Quinn let out a sigh, closing her eyes as she leaned back in the dining room chair.
I was worried about her. “How are you holding up?”
She let out another deep sigh. “I’m doing my best.”
“We all are.”
Her eyes popped open, and she sat up with a start, staring at me with the intensity of a woman ready to declare war.
“If I find out his brother had anything to do with Ryan getting hurt, it’s going to be the last thing that shitty excuse of a man ever does.
I’ve had to talk Lukas off a ledge too many times since his dad died.
I’m not complaining about that part. Lukas is the love of my life.
I would do anything for him, just like he has and would do for me. ”
“But you’re tired of the same person causing you extra and unnecessary work.”
Quinn nodded. “Exactly.”
I glanced down the hall, looking at their closed bedroom door. “How long do you think we’ll be out there?”
She shrugged. “I won’t know for sure until we get there. Lukas might stay longer, but I can only be gone for one or two days.”
“I’m sure we’ll have a much better idea of Ryan’s prognosis by then.”
As Quinn had predicted, we were out the door and on the way to the airport by 4:40 the next morning. She and Lukas sat in the back seat, her head resting on his shoulder.
Once we were on the highway, headed toward Denver, I glanced up in the rear-view mirror. “Do you have an update on Ryan?”
Lukas sighed, not taking his eyes off his phone. “He’s in one of the guest rooms at the house. He shut out Li last night after coming back around… and he refused to talk to Mom.”
I furrowed my brow. “What?”
My boss shook his head. “He’s not speaking at all. Li said it’s like he’s locked in his thoughts, like he was after Ross. It’s not good. She’s hoping Jess can get through to him. If not, I'm up next.”
The update made the unease in my stomach grow. Ryan was one of the strongest people on our team.
Strong, but not invincible.
I glanced into the backseat again, checking on Quinn. She was another strong person who had been pushed past her breaking point not all that long ago. I’d seen what she became, and none of us wanted that to happen again.
The rest of the drive to the airport was quiet, as was getting through security and boarding the plane. Lukas never stopped checking his phone, and Quinn never let go of his hand. I’m not sure how, but she managed to get him to relax enough to take a nap after we took off.
“You can sleep, too, you know.”
She gave me a tight smile and gave Lukas’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I know, but I’m too worried about him.”
I nodded. “We all are. And we’re worried about you, too.”
Quinn let out a deep sigh as she rested her head on the top of Lukas’s. “I appreciate that.”
We fell into a comfortable silence, and the rest of the flight was uneventful.
After landing, we grabbed our carry-on bags and headed to the pickup area where Connor already waited for us.
He gave me a tight smile as he took Lukas and Quinn’s things, walked to the back of the truck, and opened the door.
“I was hoping to see all of you again, but not like this.”
“Same.”
Lukas was already in the front passenger seat when we rounded the vehicle, and Quinn smirked as I hopped into the back seat. “Apparently, sitting next to me for the flight was enough ‘together time’ for him.”
Lukas glanced over his shoulder and gave her a playful glare. “That’s not true, and you know it.”
She stuck her tongue out at him, making me snicker.
“He’s only sitting in the front because he knows Connor won’t let him drive. It’s a control thing.”
Lukas turned his glare on me. “Is not.”
Quinn snickered. “Yeah. Sure, whatever you want to tell yourself.”
Connor just shook his head. “We ready to roll?”
At Lukas’s nod, he pulled out into traffic.
He then proceeded to grill Connor about Ryan and the events leading up to and following his injury before Quinn reached over and squeezed his arm.
“You two are on the same team. You know that, right? I’ll ask you again, would your mom and sister lie to you about Ryan and his condition? ”
He let out a tense sigh. “No.”
“Then can you please calm the fuck down? There is nothing you can do right now to change the situation and wearing yourself ragged by worrying like a momma hen isn’t going to help anyone, either.”
There was a moment of tense silence before Lukas nodded. “Okay.”
When we pulled into the garage at the Agosti house, Lynette and Lianne waited for us, and I didn't miss Gage hovering behind them.
The hell he must be living through right now.
Lukas jumped out of the SUV and rushed up to his mom, hugging her tight. By the time I was out of the truck and opening the door for Quinn, he was wrapped around his sister. After a moment, Lianne released her brother and practically pulled him inside.
Quinn let out a tense huff. “I’m not even sure I’m useful right now.”
“You are more than you know.” I gave her a side hug, hoping to provide some kind of comfort and reassurance. “I think the only thing useful right now is Lukas getting eyes on Ryan. Where would you like to go?”
“How about we start in the kitchen? I’m sure my favorite Quinn could benefit from some hot tea and something comforting to eat.” Lynnette looked up at me, her soft blue-grey eyes locking onto mine. “Gage and Dante are in the war room waiting for you. I made sure there was coffee.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Dante looked up and smiled as Connor and I walked in. “Glad to see you made it safely.”
“Thanks.” I glanced at the screens, noting that several showed different angles of the same location within a parking garage. “Is this what I think it is?”
Gage nodded as he took a seat. “Yeah. We finally got our hands on the security footage and have been going over it.”
My mouth dropped as I watched the explosion happen in slow motion. “Shit. Ryan’s damn lucky he didn’t get hurt worse.”
Dante leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “As upset as he was that Ellen and Blake yanked him away, they saved his ass.”
Connor also nodded, his attention still fixed on the wall of screens. “Ellen pissed off a lot of people with her actions, but I don’t blame her for doing what she did.” He chuckled. “She’s a lot like Jess in that way.”
I turned to look at him. “What do you mean?” I knew Jess well enough, but hadn’t spent much time with Ellen yet.
“Jess will frequently compromise or outright disregard her safety to protect her people. Ellen has proven more than once to be the same way with Lianne and Ben, and now Ryan. She’s good for him.”
“Are they dating?”
Connor shrugged. “Not sure what the official word is, but Jess has made her opinions on the topic known to him.” He glanced at me. “And as someone who’s almost messed it up before, he’d be an idiot not to date her.”
Interesting.
Not long later, my phone buzzed.
Lukas:
Peter:
I stood up. “Well, I’ve been summoned. See you later.”
Connor looked over. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
I made my way upstairs, pausing before I opened the door. It felt strange just walking into this particular room. The last time I was in here was when George and Lukas brought me on board. When I finally entered, Lukas was sitting in one of the leather chairs, sipping on whiskey. “How’s it going?”