Chapter 47 Unfinished Business
Unfinished Business
LIAM
EIGHT YEARS AGO:
Alpha Kings Mansion: Ballroom
Ileave the dance floor in search of Luke.
I need to talk to him before I leave. I need to ensure he has his shit straight and stops fighting with Jessica.
I search everywhere for him, even outside of the ballroom, to no avail.
I find the rest of the recruits and Ean lingering by the balcony entrance.
“You were planning to let them threaten you, hold your life over your head?” Emily shouts, her hands fisted at her sides. She stand just a few feet in front of Jessica. Jessica meets Emily’s angry glare with her own steely-eyed gaze.
I glance at Ean. “What the hell did I miss?”
He shrugs. “Not exactly sure, but I think the Greystones had a word with Jessica. Elaine Powers got involved. Emily broke her nose and the other one who had her hooks in you earlier.”
My spine stiffens, and my palms tingle. “Are you fucking kidding me?” The rage builds. If Marcus laid a hand on her…
Ean shakes his head and places a hand on my shoulder. “Calm down. This is why we didn’t look for you. Uncle Nathan and the leads are handling it. You need to focus on you right now.”
Focus on me? How the fuck am I supposed to do that when nothing is resolved?
Jessica steps forward, closing the distance between her and Emily.
“Yes! If it means protecting all of you, then yes! If it means that I die so that you can live, then yes! You each mean something to someone, your family, to me. My life, my protection, is not worth losing any of you. I’m just a stray, some poor girl who should have died anyway.
No one misses me from where I came from.
No one cares that I’m not home. There’s no missing child reported.
No one on the news is crying for me. I am not worth putting your lives at stake. ”
I wince at her words. After our moment early this morning, how can she possibly still feel that way?
“You’re wrong!” Emily yells and tears streak down her face.
“I love all of you. If I have to sacrifice my own happiness or my life for all of you, then that’s what I will do,” Jessica admits.
“You’re an idiot!” Emily bites.
Shock and pain flash across Jessica’s face before she replies, “I never said I wasn’t one.”
I press my lips together to keep from laughing out loud. I didn’t expect that out of her mouth.
Emily, however, isn’t amused. “No, you’re an idiot because you think no one would hurt if something happened to you!
How the hell do you think we all felt when you went missing?
! We didn’t just sit around and wait for you to come back.
We worried. We cried. We searched. We banded together.
We fucking lost sleep. Your mother was devastated.
Your father was ready to start a war! Anders prepared to kill anyone who hurt you.
My father, my brothers, Charlie, Uncle Chris, all the guards would have been right there with him, too.
You have no idea how it affected all of us, especially me!
” She grabs Jessica by the arm and pulls her into a ferocious hug. “You are our fucking family, too!”
Jessica buries her face into Emily’s shoulder and wraps her arms around her. Emotions and tears on everyone’s faces say a lot about this woman, who appeared one stormy night and tornadoed her way into our hearts.
I shake my head. My sister and my girl—so different and yet so similar. She will always be my girl, will always be my family.
Ean bumps my shoulder. “We got this. Xavier is ready when you are. No rush. All of your belongings are packed in the car.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m not one for sentiment, but should you change your mind, you will always be welcomed back home. You’re our family, too.”
I crack a thin smile and hold out my hand to him.
He looks down at it and frowns. Gripping my forearm, he pulls me into a hug. “Brother, safe travels, and keep in touch. Don’t forget family always has each other’s back.”
I slap him on the back and nod. Pulling back, I guess it’s my time to go. I turn for one last look at my girl, who cries in Emily’s arms. She lifts her head as if she can sense my stare. I mouth the words, “I love you.”
Then, I quickly turn away, not waiting for her response, for her rejection, for her tears. Because I fear I will tear her from Emily and kiss her senseless until I convince myself I shouldn’t leave.
I still need to find Luke. I walk down the hall leading to the private quarters and offices when I hear loud voices.
“Luke, calm down!” Nathan booms in his commanding tone.
“Calm down?! They threatened her. We can’t just let this go!”
“We aren’t. However, we must proceed cautiously with the Alpha from Territory Six. Now, he has Territory Three involved. Our hands are tied.”
“This is bullshit. We can’t let them get away with this kind of crap, not just because of Jessica, but for everyone else they hurt. We have to stop them!”
“I completely agree, but as the Alpha King, I can’t simply execute every asshole who exists. What they do in their own territory is out of my hands.”
“This was done on our territory! You’re going to stand behind political bullshit?!”
Good for Luke. I give him credit for his stance. I’m not sure what I would do if in his shoes. I know what I want to do.
I turn to leave, knowing Luke won’t exit that room until he reaches a satisfactory outcome.
He will do what’s right by Jessica—well, I hope so.
My mind wanders back to when she ran out of the mansion, scared and frantic and still reassuring me it was fine.
I still want to discuss it with Luke, but for now, I’ll leave it alone.
Maybe I should talk to Sodie before I go. He wasn’t on the balcony when I left, so I search for him. I find him outside on the phone.
“No! You fucked up, twice! You were supposed to keep her there. How the hell did you let her escape?!”
What the hell? Is he referring to Jessica?
“All I know is that when you get into the recruit program, you do your job. There’s been a change in plans. I won’t be here like I planned, which is why you were supposed to take her—”
Take her? Was he part of Jessica’s kidnapping? We never really figured who was responsible. Hell, so much shit remains unfinished. How can I leave her now? How can I keep her safe if I am not here to protect her?
“She won’t remember you. She doesn’t even remember me.”
Remember him? From her past, before she came here?
“Stop sniveling. I can’t help you. I’m already in enough shit! Well, figure it out. You’re on your own. I’m done talking.” He disconnects the call and pockets his phone.
I retreat deeper into the shadows and watch him leave. I debate whether to follow and confront him. A hand on my shoulder stops me before take a step. Adopting a defensive stance, I whip around.
“Whoa! I didn’t mean to startle you,” Shadow says. His hands raise in front of him in a nonthreatening manner.
I loosen my posture, slightly, not completely lowering my guard.
He inclines his head toward Sodie. “I think you and I need to talk.”
I cock my head to the side, glancing at Sodie’s figure growing smaller in the distance.
“Relax. I heard the same one-sided conversation. We should find some place a little more private. You’re going to have to trust me, especially if you want to help me keep her safe.”