67. Chapter Sixty-Seven
Chapter sixty-seven
Adair
A couple of mornings later, Peter had already headed off to work, and I walked into the kitchen, pleased to see Ben, Quinn, and Jess in there, talking. “Good morning, everyone.”
Quinn looked up and grinned when she saw me. “Hey, Adair. You have perfect timing. We could use your help.”
“Oh?” I looked around the table. “What’s up?”
“Lianne and Lukas’s birthday.” Ben patted the empty seat next to him. “Sit down. I’ll get you some coffee."
I let out an excited squeak as I sat down. “Oh, this is so exciting! What’s the plan?” Uncertainty slammed into me as I clocked the hesitant expressions around the table. “Why don’t you all look excited? Should I not be?”
Ben let out a deep sigh as he placed a mug of coffee in front of me and sat down.
“You’re allowed to be excited. Hell, it’s nice to have someone else helping us pump up excitement for their birthday.”
I stared at them in confusion. “The twins used to love celebrating. What happened?”
Jess pressed her lips together before responding.
“Well, three years ago, when the family was leaving the restaurant after celebrating the twins’ birthday, they were ambushed.
Someone tried to grab and use Lianne as a pawn in their game, and while Lukas and George did what they are good at, Lianne still got really hurt in the process. ”
My eyes went wide. “What? How hurt?”
“She got shot and passed out in Lukas’s arms from blood loss.”
My heart constricted as I remembered being in a very similar situation. Thank god for Derek. Wait. I looked up at Ben. “Were you there?”
He shook his head, but the frustrated, angry expression on his face made me think he wanted to.
“It was before Li and I were a thing, but she was still recovering mentally when we met about eight months later. I’m not exaggerating when I tell people she is the strongest, bravest, most stubborn woman I know. ”
I nodded. “I find it hard to believe one bad birthday ruined their love of celebrating it.”
Ben leaned back in the chair and let out a tense breath.
“The next birthday was fine. It was right after we started dating, and everyone was playing nice, especially since Lianne was starting to come back into the family business, sort of. Then came last year. Lukas was still pissed at Liam for how things went down in Colorado, so the family gathering was tense and uncomfortable for everyone.”
Jess nodded and then rolled her eyes. “And then there was Lynette’s birthday right after that. She had to kick the boys out of the dining room for getting into it and end her own birthday celebration half-way through dinner.”
“It’s also another reason to hate her brother.” Ben’s gaze bore into me as he spoke. “Anyone else pulling half the shit Liam has would have been dead, but Li keeps holding back on that for whatever reason. We’re all wondering what will be that final straw.”
Jess snorted and rolled her eyes. “You’d think taking her dad out would have done it, but here we are.”
“What?” I leaned forward, almost falling off my chair in shock. “Did… Did you just say Liam is responsible for Mr. Agosti’s death?” I thought I'd heard someone mention it before, but I’d been processing so much, I brushed it off as mishearing them.
All the color drained from her face. “I… um… well… yeah.”
I forgot how to breathe.
Liam killed his father?
No.
It can’t be.
He loved that man… idolized him.
Why would he kill his father?
Why did my sister try to kill me?
What is wrong with those two?
Will they stop at nothing to get what they want?
My vision swam, and someone wrapped their arms around my shoulders when I swayed.
“Adair? Tori!”
I half-recognized Ben calling my name, but I couldn’t respond.
My mind was reeling with wave after wave of realizations and memories of being held at gunpoint.
A thought popped into my head at the same time something freezing cold landed on my chest, making me gasp.
It was enough to pull me back to the present, and the last whirling thought I had popped out of my mouth.
“Someone told me Ryan had been shot… and that he took the bullet for Lukas.”
Quinn’s brows furrowed in confusion as our eyes locked. “Yeah. Why do you ask?”
I clung to the ice pack, pressing it against my skin harder. “Who shot the bullet?”
The three of them exchanged nervous looks, and I spun to face Ben. “Who pulled the trigger? Tell me!”
Ben clenched his jaw tight. “Liam or Nolan. They were both aiming in the same direction and pulled their triggers at the same time. None of us are sure whose bullet hit Ryan. For what it’s worth, though, Lianne took care of Nolan.”
I closed my eyes and leaned against Ben, feeling my strength leaving me for a moment. The next thing I knew, he had picked me up, carried me somewhere, and sat down.
“We’re in the lounge now. It’s just you and me. Jess is getting Peter. Is there anything else I can do to help right now?”
“Please tell me someone has taken a swipe at that horrible excuse of a man.” I needed to know Liam had faced some kind of consequence.
Ben let out a tight chuckle. “Oh yeah. Chelsea, Phil’s girlfriend, punched him in the face. We all are proud and jealous of her for that one. Jess and Poppy have both successfully shot him, too. Both of them regret not taking him out.”
“Good.” I forced another breath in.
The door flew open as Peter rushed in and sat next to me and Ben, immediately pulling me into his arms. “Hey. What happened?”
I melted into his hold, feeling calmer being in his arms.
“She took a bit of a mental and emotional shock to her system about Liam.”
Peter kissed the side of my head and squeezed me tighter. “He can’t get you here.”
I leaned back and looked into his eyes. “I’m not afraid of that. I know he’d become a walking slice of swiss cheese before even setting eyes on me. I was just overwhelmed at how many family members he’s tried to take out. How wildly he’s spinning out of control.”
“He is.” Peter leaned forward and kissed my forehead. When I sat up again, his eyes met mine, searching. “Mind telling me what you were talking about before he came up?”
“Li and Lu’s birthday.” I smiled at him, and whether he knew it or not, that simple question redirected my brain and helped more than I could ever articulate.
How does he always know how to make me feel better?
“They used to love their birthdays. When I asked why not anymore, well, that’s when the conversation took a turn. ”
Peter nodded. “Okay. Do you want or need any help?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure what to do now.”
Ben cleared his throat. “I can let Quinn and Jess know that you are okay.”
I nodded. “Thanks.” When he had left the room, I looked back at Peter. “I’m so sorry I pulled you away from work.”
He shook his head and gave me a quick kiss. “Please don’t apologize. I'm never too busy for you. You’re too important to me.”
Several minutes passed before I scooted off Peter’s lap and sat next to him.
“Better?”
I nodded, staring at the ice pack in my hands. “Yeah. I feel a bit embarrassed, but better than earlier.”
Peter gently grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. “Don’t. Your feelings are valid, even the overwhelming ones.”
“I should let Ben, Quinn, and Jess know I'm ‘back’ now.”
“Want me to come with?”
A smile crossed my face. “Yes, please.”
As we walked back to the kitchen, I stopped in my tracks when I saw Lynette, Lianne, and Lukas sitting at the table.
“Come on. They’ll want to hear you’re okay, too.” Peter put his hand on my back and gently guided me into the kitchen.
Lynette hopped off her chair and rushed toward me, pulling me in a hug. “I heard about earlier. I’m so sorry, my dear.”
I returned the hug. “It’s not anyone’s fault. I just wanted to know why the twins weren’t excited about their birthday. Everyone should love their birthday.”
She leaned back, smiling at me. “They do need something fun and drama-free to look forward to. I won’t disagree with you there.”
“You know we’re sitting right here, right?”
Lynette turned and grinned at her children. “I’m well aware.” She looked at me again. “Did you want to talk about it?”
When I nodded, she led me the rest of the way into the room.
“Well, I’ve been made aware of some of the shit that has gone down during and after celebrating birthdays, and I’d be hesitant too, not wanting a repeat performance, either, but could I ask you two to give it one more try one more time as a favor for me? ”
The twins leaned forward and rested their chins on their knuckles. The mirrored reaction would have made me giggle had it not been for me trying not to talk myself out of my request.
“As a favor to you?” Lianne narrowed her eyes at me curiously.
I nodded. “It’s been years since I’ve been to a party, and I had to involuntarily step away right before your birthday seven years ago. I never got to celebrate with you.”
Her eyes went glassy with unshed tears as she nodded. “Okay.” She looked at Lukas. “We can do this for Tori, right?”
A grin appeared on his face. “Yeah. Let’s do it. Maybe we’ll even have some fun.”
Lianne arched an eyebrow. “Let’s not get too wild over here. I’d be happy if a celebration went off without a mountain of drama exploding twenty-four hours before and after it. Then, and only then, will I consider it a success.”
“At least forty-eight hours of drama-free fun?” I nodded. “Okay. Challenge accepted. Now, since I’m still being caught up on family drama and events, is there anything I should avoid so I don’t trigger anyone?”
Lukas grinned. “Please don’t invite Liam.”
I grimaced. “Absolutely not. Ew.”
Lianne snort laughed. “While we’re at it, please don’t invite Mrs. Ew, either.”
“You couldn’t pay me anything in the world to invite her.”
Lynette shook her head at us as we failed miserably at not laughing.
“What in the world is going on in here? Adair, you’re looking better.”
I turned to see Jess, Quinn, and Ryan walking into the kitchen. “I am. Lianne and Lukas agreed to us throwing them a birthday party as long as I don’t invite Liam or Susan.”
The trio stared at me.
Jess snapped out of the stunned silence first. “Li, what changed your mind? You were going off earlier about not needing to celebrate your birthday.”
“Two sentences from Tori.”
The brunette’s eyes went wide as she looked at me in awe. “You got Li to agree to a party in two sentences? And I thought I was magical. Well done, ma’am. I am impressed.”
I giggled. “I’m not so sure I’m magical, but okay?”
Ryan shook his head. “No. What you did there was pure magic. Lianne only ever agrees to go out with much bribing. Well, unless she gets to put someone in their place. Then she’s all about it from the get-go.”
Lianne stuck out her tongue at him. “You make me sound like a complete introvert. I have gone out several times without having to be bribed, thank you very much.”
Jess let out a dramatic sigh. “Whatever you want to tell yourself, Li. I’m just glad Tori has the magic touch today. It’s going to make planning so much easier.” She turned to me. “We can sit down tonight with Quinn, Ben, and Ellen in the otter office and start planning.”
“What about me? I don’t get to be part of this? I thought we were besties now, Adair.”
I chuckled at the borderline whiny tone of Ryan's voice. “Listen, I was invited to this meeting. Now I may have had some magic to convince Lianne to let me plan a party, but that doesn’t mean I have the power or security clearance to get you into this meeting.”
Lukas shook his head. “You can’t lie to Lianne or keep secrets from her. I swear it’s hard-wired into your DNA.”
Ryan glared at him. “And I thought you were my best friend.”
When all Lukas did was let out an irritated sigh, I giggled. “You really don’t hear the word no a lot, Ryan, do you?”
Lukas shook his head. “Nope. It drives him up the wall when it happens, though.”
“Kind of like you?” I smirked as Lukas treated me to an irritated glare.