43. Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter forty-three
Adair
My brain was reeling for more than one reason right now. First, I hadn’t intended to tell him about Derek. Secoind, Peter made me feel seen, and it scared the crap out of me. It also felt amazing. “I’m still working on accepting that.”
Peter let out a small sigh and nodded. “That’s fair.”
I needed something warm and comforting… that wasn’t just me wrapped in Peter’s arms. It surprised me how quickly I’d become comfortable with him. I also felt guilty about enjoying the physical contact, even if it had innocent, wholesome intentions. Derek’s words, once again, echoed in my mind.
Promise me if something takes me away from you that you don’t waste away your amazing life mourning. Promise me you’ll move on and grab onto every adventure thrown your way. Promise me you’ll do more than just live. Promise me you’ll thrive.
I didn’t know if hugging Peter was the definition of thriving or not, but it felt like more than baseline living.
Was feeling safe in the arms of another man me moving on from the amazing life I had with Derek?
I didn’t know, but I was tired of fighting my demons alone.
It’s not like Peter and I had feelings for each other.
The light in the staircase turned on, and the sound of someone coming downstairs had us jumping apart. Moments later, Lukas walked into the basement and looked around, letting out an audible sigh when he locked eyes on me. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
A shaky laugh came out. “I am, too.” It was then I realized he was standing there in shorts and a fitted t-shirt that showed off well-defined muscles.
It was almost enough to make me snicker.
Lukas had always prided himself on staying in shape and looking his best. It was oddly comforting to see something else that had stayed the same while I was gone.
It was then I shivered, not entirely sure if it was from the cold or the night’s most recent events. “How are you not cold right now?”
He glanced down and then chuckled as he walked over. “I run really warm. Quinn loves it, especially in winter.”
Peter looked at me and nodded. “She’s referred to him as her personal heater on more than one occasion.”
Lukas smirked. “Yeah.” He let out a tense breath. “Back to why I’m down here. I’m assuming someone from Chicago has been in touch?”
“Yeah.”
He locked eyes with me. “How are you doing?”
I shrugged. “I’m alive and unharmed, so I can’t complain.”
Within seconds, he was in front of me, pulling me into a hug. “I’m glad you are, too. I meant what I said the other day. I can’t lose you again.”
I leaned into his embrace for a moment before letting out a sigh and standing straight again. “Not that I don’t mind you checking in on me and giving me a hug, but was there another reason you came down here?”
Lukas nodded. “I’m expected to be in the war room via video conference call in a few minutes. I wanted to ask if you two wanted to come up to my office and listen in.”
My eyes went wide. “Me, too? Did Lynette say it was okay?”
“She didn’t say, and I didn’t ask, but honestly, I don’t care. I want you there. Hell, it was your house, Tori. You deserve answers.” The intensity in Lukas’s response surprised me as he rubbed his hand over his face. “That was one hell of a wake-up call.”
Peter let out a tense chuckle. “You’re telling me. Do we have time to make coffee? I’m guessing this is going to be a long night.”
“Quinn’s already on it. She was in the kitchen, texting someone when I headed down here.”
I narrowed my eyes at Lukas. “Who?”
“Probably Ben or Ellen. They’ve all bonded over being on the ‘other side’ of all the mafia bullshit.”
Hearing about how well the significant others were taking care of their people gave me hope. Maybe Liam and Susan are the outliers. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Well, let’s get to your office and into this meeting.”
After grabbing my ‘Lynette blanket,’ Peter and I headed upstairs, swinging by the kitchen to grab some coffee. I didn’t want or need the caffeine, but it was comforting to hold something warm.
When Peter and I walked into Lukas’s office, he was already seated behind his desk, laptop open. He gestured to a tablet on the corner, which Peter picked up. “Yeah, I told Quinn to go back to bed, but I doubt she will go back to sleep until I’m out of my office.”
“Same for Ben.”
I smiled at hearing Lianne’s voice, even if it sounded stressed. It was another piece of my past I missed terribly.
As I settled on the small leather couch, Peter had pulled up something on the tablet. It looked like a video chat. Wait a second. I glanced up at Lukas and then back at the screen before leaning toward Peter. “Is this what Lukas is seeing?”
He nodded and moved the tablet closer to me so I could see better. One of the boxes showed the smoldering remains of what used to be a structure of some kind.
My safe house.
My heartbreak was eclipsed by joy and trepidation when I saw Lianne, Lynette, Ryan, and Gage sitting at a large conference table.
It was strange seeing them all, especially knowing they had no idea I was alive and watching them.
I also struggled seeing more of my past in front of me in vibrant technicolor.
Lianne leaned forward. “I want eyes on the property. Like the boots on the ground type.”
“I won’t send anyone tonight. They’ll be expecting that.
It’s also dark, and too easy for an ambush to happen.
I’ll wait until morning, and even then I’m going to send one of my contacts.
It’s too dangerous for one of us to show up.
It would shatter our cover… though, I think that ship may have sailed. ”
A man walked in with an armload of coffee supplies and what looked like a container of some kind of food. Lianne smiled at him as she quickly grabbed the container and took something out. “Thanks, Nash.”
“I’m merely the delivery boy, but you’re welcome.” He walked to Ryan. “Ellen requested you check your phone.”
Guilt flashed across his face as he looked down at it, lying on the table next to his laptop. “She is a fucking saint.”
“They all are.” The words came out of Lianne as a tired sigh.
“Some days, I wonder why Quinn puts up with it all.”
I glanced up at Lukas, who was looking toward his closed office door.
Lynette let out a deep breath. “Because their love is bigger than the danger.”
The room fell silent, which was fine, as my thoughts went straight to Derek.
His love was so much greater than all the shit we had to do to keep me safe and alive.
It had been a privilege and an honor being married to him.
My hand went to Peter’s thigh, and I squeezed, taking some comfort in his touch as well.
I glanced up when he covered my hand with his, returning the gesture, and saw a small smile lift the corner of his lip.
Someone cleared their throat. “Any update on what you’d like me to do?”
I glanced back at the screen as Lianne looked at the man who had brought in the coffee and shook her head. “No. It’s still business as usual here for the moment. We’ll update if that changes.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Not long after, Quinn walked into the office and set a plate of muffins on the corner of Lukas’s desk. “Here. Please eat something.”
Ryan chuckled. “I see you have your own version of Ben.”
Quinn leaned over so her face was on camera. “I could act like someone a lot worse. Besides, I see the allure of stress baking. It’s part aromatherapy.”
I sat up and whispered, “Stress baking?”
Quinn nodded and then waved for me to follow her out of the room.
Peter gave my hand one more gentle squeeze before I picked up my blanket and headed out.
Once we were in the hallway, she shut the door and led me to the kitchen.
“I didn’t want to disrupt them, but yes, Ben is our original stress baker.
When the chaos is on the rise, and if there’s nothing else he can do to help the situation, you can find him in the kitchen, baking something.
It gives him a productive way to burn off some of the stress and anxiety, and everyone gets something comforting to eat. It works out pretty well.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “That must be who Tech was talking about. He mentioned wanting to introduce me to someone.”
“Tech?”
“I…” I paused. “It’s the code name for one of the people who had been helping Lynette keep me secret and alive.”
She nodded. “What was yours?”
I grinned. “Hummingbird.”
“Colorful. Sought after. Elusive. I can see that.” She chuckled, looked toward Lukas’s office, and let out a long breath. “The boys are probably going to be a bit. I know I won’t be able to sleep anytime soon. Let’s go sit down in the living room.”
We made our way out there, and I grabbed my Lynette blanket. When she was done getting the fireplace going, I threw it over our laps. Her fingers ran over it, and she smiled. “So, do you know if or when I will get to know about what happened tonight?”
I chuckled at her question. “I don’t know what is or isn’t allowed but fuck it. I’ll tell you? My safe house got blown to hell.”
Her mouth dropped open as her head snapped up. “Holy shit!”
“Yeah.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Quinn sat up and grabbed my hand. “Wait. Is this where you were living a few days ago?”
I nodded.
She let out a shaky breath of her own as she shook her head. “Who would want to hurt you? I don’t get it.”
I pressed my lips into a tight line, debating how much to say. “That is something I can’t tell you right now, but I'm guessing you won’t have to wait much longer.”