Chapter 19: Evidence

Chapter 19

~Lucas’ POV~

After heartfelt goodbyes and hugs in abundance-for me and Scottie- we were on the first flight out. By the time we were ready to leave Rivers had calmed down a bit but was unresponsive at most and so that particular goodbye had been wholly awkward and insubstantial.

After Adrian had finally snapped out of the shock which had taken hold of him earlier he’d made a few phone calls and had been on the phone ever since.

I found myself seated between the two brothers in first class, waiting anxiously for the flight to be over. Scottie was looking rather pale and drawn which was understandable in light of the recent news.

I wasn’t sure how to offer my support to him and I had a feeling that a hug or a pat on the shoulder wouldn’t be appreciated in that moment and so I sat there; tense and waiting while the brothers’ worlds fell apart.

My mind drifted back to the phone call I’d received last night and I had to wonder if it was just a coincidence that Marcus had been shot after I’d received the news that he along with his brothers were under investigation but of course it could have been any of those guys assigned to the case, just as easily as it could have been a random hit from some faceless enemy.

I scrubbed my hand over my face then turned my head slightly to eavesdrop on Adrian’s conversation.

Whoever he was talking to was getting more than an ear full from him but just as soon as he raised his voice his rant was cut off abruptly and he glanced at me, his expression one of disbelief.

“The fuckers actually hung up on me.” He said as if being hung up on was something totally beyond his comprehension.

“What do you expect with the way you were carrying on?”

He let out a breath then settled back into his seat. “They still won’t tell me anything about his condition. All she told me was that he’s in surgery. I don’t know where he was hit, whether the surgery’s major, nothing.” He said in obvious frustration and I took hold of his arm and squeezed gently.

“What if he dies thinking I chose the pack over him? That I betrayed him?” Scottie whispered from his corner and we both looked at him. He’d spoken so softly that he could only have been speaking to himself but the anguish written across his face was clear.

“Don’t talk like that. Marcus will be fine.” Adrian told him and Scottie’s eyes flashed to us, wide with unshed tears.

“But what if-” he began.

“I said he’ll be fine, now drop it.” Adrian retorted firmly and they both fell silent.

I allowed myself to think about Marcus, his body cold and still with death and it left a bitter taste in my mouth. I had no love for the guy but even he didn’t deserve to go out like that. I glanced between the two again then let out a breath before dropping my head onto the pull out table attached to the seat in front of me.

“I swear to God I’m going to kill the bastard who did this.” He uttered fiercely and I didn’t have to glance up at his expression to know he was serious.

……………………………………

Visiting hours were over by the time we arrived at the hospital in London later that night but with a few carefully placed words and some greens Adrian managed to get us in to see Marcus. He’d undergone several hours of surgery and had yet to awaken.

Seeing him stretched out still and pale on the small hospital bed was disconcerting. I was accustomed to seeing him active and brooding, not helpless and unmoving.

Scottie was the first by his side, pulling up a nearby chair and taking hold of Marcus’ hand while he slept. He kissed the back, then squeezed and as he gazed up at him, that’s when the tears came and I turned to leave. I couldn’t stand to see people in grief. They would comfort each other and hopefully my presence wouldn’t be missed.

The nurse had explained earlier that he’d been shot twice- shoulder and just above his right hip; he was lucky to be alive and once again I found myself wondering if it had anything to do with the call I’d gotten yesterday. I hadn’t called my guy from the agency since then but it was definitely something I had to get out of the way...and soon.

I dropped down on the chair in the waiting room and ran my hand through my hair. What a day, things never seemed to get better where these three were concerned. I could even picture this whole thing another way. Adrian being shot and me being the one weeping over his still body in the small room, all because of his lust for the business, all because he was stupid enough not to know when it was time to let something go.

I looked up when the door I’d come through opened and I stood to watch Adrian make his way over to me.

“There’s not much I can do right now, the good news is he’s stable, Scottie’s going to stay with him for a few hours, I need to go talk to my men.” He announced then turned to go.

“Your men? Don’t tell me you’re going to do what I think you’re gonna do.” I said, my voice slightly pleading.

He stopped but didn’t turn back to me. “My brother was shot Lucas, I’m going to find the people responsible and if your plan is to try to persuade me change my mind then I think it’s best you don’t come with me.” He said, his tone brooking no argument. This was the Adrian I was used to; the cold-hearted son of a bitch I’d met almost a year ago and this was me, following him like a damn fool once again.

I took a deep breath and put a hand on his shoulder, letting him know without words that I wasn’t going anywhere.

…………………………………………..

The easiest way to break a man down was to go after the ones he loved, equally so, the easiest way to face regret was to turn traitor on a man like Adrian Corsetti. Five minutes with the him and the people standing before us were already squealing. I would have been impressed if I wasn’t so worried about the life of the boy standing there. He could have been no more than eighteen and he’d already landed himself in a world of hurt.

“Please sir, he’s my son, he didn’t mean for this to happen.” The old man pleaded; actually going down on his knees before Adrian, while his son stood glaring at my lover in complete defiance, but only a fool could miss the slight shaking of his hands and wobble of his lips. He was scared; as well he should be in light of what he had done.

“If the job was only offered to you, then why would you foolishly get your son involved?” Adrian asked and when the man began to answer he held up his hand cutting him off.

“Let me explain something to you old man, my secrets are mine and mine alone. If I give you a job to do, it’s yours, you do not pass it on to anyone and you do not let anyone know who employed you.” He said, shifting the weapon in his lap, thereby forcing everyone to look at it nervously.

“Yes sir, I understand, I’m sorry, please sir, he’s my only child, please.”

“Your son gave information to the person who had my brother shot. He didn’t care whether Marcus lived or died and for what? Twenty-five pounds? He almost got my brother killed for twenty-five pounds?” Adrian’s voice had risen now and the man to whom he spoke jumped slightly.

He turned to the boy, “You’re eighteen years old and as far as I’m concerned that makes you a man; old enough to answer to his own mistakes.” Adrian said.

The old man was crying in earnest now and I bit my lip to prevent myself from saying something to Adrian that I might regret.

“The only way you’ll get out of this is by telling me everything, how the person approached you and why. I want to know what he looks like and where he’s staying, where you both met up and everything he said to you.” Adrian spoke and the boy was nodding his head vigorously, the tears now trailing down his face. The tough guy act had completely vanished now.

He told us how he’d heard some guys in a bar on the far side of town talking about Adrian and his brothers, how he’d listened in on them mouthing off about the Corsettis’ and decided to and offer his two cents as well. While the tears flowed he told us how one of the guys had paid him twenty-five pounds to keep in touch with them and let them know where Marcus would be at all times.

Ten minutes later we had the details and the man’s number as well as the name of the bar the guys frequented. It was just up to Adrian t decide how he wanted to proceed.

“Listen to me carefully, there are only a few people in this world that I care about and you made the decision to hurt one of them, I should end your life right here for that.” he was saying and the boy let out a whimper, “A few weeks ago I wouldn’t have hesitated but I’m going let you go…both of you. You keep what happened here to yourselves because I assure you, finding out where you live won’t be a problem and before the night is out I’ll have the names and addresses of every member of you family so it would be in your best interests to keep your mouths shut but remember if you cross me again,  you’re done are we clear?”

………………………………………………………………

~Marcus’ POV~

“Something’s wrong, something’s wrong!”

The screaming, no matter what I did, it just wouldn’t go away.

“Please please please!”

They were agonized cries that tore at me and had be writhing and praying for the sounds to disappear. I didn’t understand what it all meant. It was all in my mind and I needed it to stop!

My eyes snapped open and I was instantly brought back to reality. The first thing I noticed was that the screaming had vanished, then came to aches and pains. My body felt sore and wrung out as if I’s spent the better half of my night wrestling with bulls.

The beeping of machines and the pungent smell of disinfectant told me I was in a hospital. Beside me Scottie snored, his head resting by my side and my hand clasped in his.

I’d been shot; the scene played out in my mind as I remembered everything but the shooter’s face however, what bothered me the most wasn’t even the fact that I had almost lost my life, what bothered me was the fact that when I’d been shot there had been no one there but me and my shooter, yet the screams had sounded so very real and the voice so very familiar.

……………………………………………….

~Lucas’ POV~

“So I did some digging…you want to tell me why it is you’ve been spotted with The Corsetti’s on more than one occasion?” he asked, looking more worried than anything else.

“Leeds you do realize I’m not a paid agent right? That you’re not the only one who lands me cases? Well I got a lead on the brothers a while back so I’ve been working their case for awhile now” I said, it was the best thing I could up with under the circumstances and I prayed he believed me because if I didn’t get that file there’s no way I’d know what they had on Adrian so far.

He looked at me skeptically, “and you didn’t think to mention this the night I called?”

“If you remember correctlty you didn’t exactly give me a chance.” I replied hastily.

“If you’re already looking into it then why should I give you the file?”

“Does it matter? I mean we’re all trying to get this guy aren’t we?” I said, looking him in the eyes so that he began to squirm under my gaze.

“Alright, but whatever you’ve found you send it to us, Deal?” he questioned and I was slightly surprised but how easily he bought it.

I took the folder from him before he could come to his senses “No problem.” Then I was out.

Two hours later I was bent over my cabinet, pulling a large file jacket from my its hidden compartment. I deposited it onto my desk and stared down at it for a few minutes, taking a calming breath.

I knew I should have gotten rid of it a long time ago, I knew that keeping it was a huge risk, yet I had and as I stared down at the shiny blue file jacket I found myself wondering why I’d really kept it after all this time, even after I’d found myself caring for him but the answer was simple; he was a criminal and despite everything we’d been through, I was still a man who believe in justice, who believed in the law and I had need to keep it just in case things changed for the worse and I had no choice but to use it against him.

I picked it up, running my hand over the rough surface. Within the confines of the folder housed evidence I’d gathered on the brothers dating back a few months, evidence that I’d put together as a safeguard earlier on in our relationship.

The last time I’d even gone through it was about four months ago but what I had was enough to put them away for good and If Adrian found out about it, I was a dead man which was why I needed to dispose of it because this one item had the potential to destroy not only our relationship but our very lives and that was just not a risk I could take…not anymore.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

I'M GONNA HAVE TO RE-READ THIS IN THE MORN BECAUSE I GET THE FEELING I DIDN'T DO THIS CHAPTER JUSTICE...BUT I'M TOO TIRED TO GO THROUGH TONIGHT..HOPE YALL LIKE IT THOUGH.

-Check out  my new story: 'Cell Mates' on my profile..really excited about it

-DoUbLe.A

-unedited (like duh!)