Chapter 21: Just a hot mess

Chapter 21

~Adrian’s POV~

“Seven weeks, Seven fucking weeks and you have nothing to show for it.”  I said dropping the file on the desk in disgust. The man standing before me shifted uncomfortably on the spot.

“Sir with all due respect, we’re doing everything we can. This guy doesn’t want to be found and he’s doing a good job of it but it’s only a matter of time before he comes up for air and when he does we’ll take care of it.” He assured me and I clenched my fists to prevent myself from reaching over to strangle to useless prick before me. This was the same bullshit they’d been spouting for weeks and I was more than sick of it.

“This man shot my brother with the intent to kill and you have yet to prove to me that you aren’t as inept as you look. Get out.” I said, turning away from him.

“Sir I assure you we will-“

“I said get out.” I said firmly this time and without another word he turned and pushed through the door of my study.

“Calm down Adrian, he can’t hide forever.” Marcus said from his perch on my couch.

“You were shot and it’s like you don’t even care.”

“Well forgive me if I’m not particularly in the mood for your revenge schemes right now.” He said cheekily and I shook my head, moving so that I was standing before the only window in the room to overlook the city below.

“We have more than half our guys on this, you know what I think?” he asked and I inclined my head slightly in his direction.

“I think you’re just so wound up over your break up that you’re using this revenge plot as a distraction.” He said and I actually rolled my eyes.

“You’re the one who’s hearing voices and I’m the one getting psychologically evaluated?” I questioned in a bored tone and he sighed.

“We’ve got competent people on this, all I’m asking is that you focus on what’s important here; that being the operation.” He said seriously, his tone businesslike.

“I’ll do both.” I finished and when he opened his mouth to argue I held up a hand to stop him. This particular line of conversation was going nowhere and I had important things to attend to.

Just as I was about to plop myself around my work desk, the phone rang and Marcus moved to answer it. I watched him as he greeted the person on the other line and when he turned to me and put it on speaker I was no longer in the dark. Scottie’s voice came through loud and clear and teeming with excitement.

“Okay Scottie, we’re both here.” Marcus said and after his excited greetings died down he got into the matter at hand.

“Guess what?” he asked and I looked at Marcus who shrugged.

“I don’t know Scottie, what?” I said in a bored tone and I could picture the huge smile on his face because of whatever exciting surprise he had to tell us.

“Grady and Thomas are doing the mating ceremony next weekend and so are we! We’ll be the first to attempt a double ceremony and I want you both to be there.” He finished on a high and shook my head.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit too early for that? You just met the girl.” Marcus said, his tone disapproving and after a brief pause Scottie spoke again, the excitement in his voice had dimmed a little.

“I met her two months ago Marc and besides we’re mates it doesn’t work like everybody else, we won’t ever get tired of each other and we’re in love so why not?” it was a rhetorical question and Marcus opened his mouth then snapped it shut. I assumed that was because he was just about tired of arguing with Scottie over the matter.

“Alright, we’ll be there.” I announced and looked at Marcus who shrugged in answer.

Maybe I needed to get away after all, the hunt for Marcus’ shooter wasn’t going well and going away for a week wouldn’t change that anyway.

When I didn’t hear Scottie’s excited shout of delight at our acceptance my brows furrowed.

“You don’t sound too excited, what’s up?” I questioned and after a brief pause he spoke.

“Well the thing is… Thomas invited Lucas.” He said carefully and at the very sound of his name the pain slammed into my chest rendering me speechless for the second it took me to slump in my seat.

“Adrian? You there?” he asked and I nodded, forgetting that he couldn’t see me. Marcus took up the slack.

“Look, it’s fine Scottie, we’ll be there don’t worry about it.” He said and after a few more pleasantries were exchanged between the two Marcus dropped the phone into the couch and turned to face me.

“I need a drink.” I said before he could start his rant and he fell silent, looking on at me with what I could only describe as pity.

…………………………………..

~Lucas’ POV~

I thanked my lucky stars that the bar wasn’t overcrowded when I entered, all I wanted was a beer and a chance to relax after the stressful week I’d had and not having to wait half an hour for the damn beverage for once would be a plus.

“Beer.” I told the bartender when I sat down and he was quick to comply. Around me male bodies gyrated to the beat of the music while others chose to stay on the sidelines scoping out the potential lays. A few of those gazes travelled my way but I was quick to shoot them down, instead content to observe for the night.

I’d frequented this particular bar a lot over the past month, needing something outside of my quiet apartment to fill the void in my lonely existence. I’d chosen this particular spot on a whim; not necessarily because it was a gay bar but because it was the first bar I’d spotted after driving from the agency one night.

The people were friendly and even though the service tended to be piss poor the atmosphere offered me the relief I needed.

It was as I watched the couples around me, not paying attention to any in particular that I felt it; the prickle down my spine I tended to get whenever someone was watching me. I rolled my shoulders uncomfortably as I looked around trying to spot the culprit and when I did I almost choked on the liquid I’d just consumed.

I felt the slow burn travel through my body as it always did at the sight of him and I swallowed hard trying the combat the sudden dryness that attacked my throat.

I hadn’t laid eyes on him in almost two months and the sight of him now had me looking toward the exit, everything in my body telling me to bolt. I didn’t need this tonight, his presence was a setback I couldn’t afford but the thought of fleeing like a coward didn’t sit well with me and so I didn’t budge.

He was sitting alone at one of the tables at the far corner of the room, almost completely tucked away from sight. He had what looked like a half empty glass of some amber colored drink in front of him, his gaze penetrated mine and I found myself trapped under the intensity of his stare.

His face was completely devoid of emotion as he looked. My entire body flushed and I could practically hear my heart flying in my chest but I couldn’t look away; that is, until the bulky shape of one of the dancers stepped directly in my line of sight, blocking him from view.

“You look like you could use some company.” The voice boomed and I tilted my head slightly to look up at him. I took in his muscular frame, his tattoo clad biceps and the handsome face to go with it all.

When I said nothing but simply stared, the guy moved to take the seat beside me, ordering me another beer without asking  but I accepted it graciously all the while aware of my ex-lover’s eyes boring a hole in the side of my scull.

I felt a momentary prickle of guilt but as I looked at the guy beside me I swept it aside. Adrian and I were over and bottling myself up afraid to experience other people simply because of what we once had was ridiculous.

“Out for some fun or are you waiting for someone?” the muscle man asked and I offered him a small smile.

“Just thought I’d get out of the house for the night.”

He seemed pleased by this and as you’d expect from the usual bar scene he put down his drink and leaned closer making it painfully obvious he wasn’t just interested in conversation. This was confirmed when he spoke next.

“What do you say we get out of here for a bit.”

He was close enough that I could smell a faint whiff of cigarettes on his breath mingling with the alcohol and I opened my mouth to give him a friendly rejection but I was ‘saved’ from even that when we were interrupted by the man who’d spent the better half of ten minutes staring at me.

“Look buddy, he’s taken so how about you step off yeah?” Adrian spoke rudely to my bar mate and I was more than a little surprised when the guy; muscles, tattoos and all, simply got up and left, not even offering up a morsel of disagreement.

“What’re you doing Lucas?” was the first thing he asked, planting himself onto the stool he’d just chased muscle man from.

I looked at him in surprise. “I could ask you the same thing, what the hell was that?” I questioned motioning to the guy who’d now gone to chat up a drunken bloke at the other side of the room.

“This isn’t you, what’re you doing now? Picking up guys? What’re you trying to prove?” he questioned harshly even going as far as to pluck the beer from my hand and slamming it onto the counter between us.

I took offence “What the fuck is this? I don’t see you for weeks and this is what you have to say to me?” I practically shouted and as always Adrian remained calm and composed, only the flashing of his eyes signaling his true feelings.

“What else do you expect me to say when I see you here whoring yourself out to any available slab if meat?” he said it with malice this time his voice barely contained and his eyes glinting.

I took offense to the point where I couldn’t even raise my voice at him for his cruel words. Instead I reached into my pocket and slapped the cash for the beer onto the counter. I was almost halfway out the door when he grabbed hold of my arm and I shrugged him off violently and spun to face him.

“Jesus Lucas, I’m sorry that was out of line.” He said, eyes pleading and I said the only thing that was roaring through my mind.

“Fuck off Corsetti, I told you we were done and I bloody well mean it and don’t you fucking try that shit with me again.” I snarled and for an instant he seemed taken aback by my words but I was walking out the door before could catch a glimpse of his expression.

I made it exactly three blocks down the street before I even realized the liquid running down my face wasn’t sweat but tears. It felt as if I was back at my apartment that fateful night when I’d broken it off between us, only now, after such a long break from him, trying my best to push him from my mind, the pain only seemed much worse. I clutched at my chest at the ache I felt there and for a moment I feared I’d throw up.

God, seeing him tonight had brought me back exactly to the place I’d been weeks before. He’d looked just as handsome as always and everything about him had brought back memories best left forgotten. Then the things he’d said…

I broke off into a run, my heart pounding in my chest and my breath shallow, in an instant I shifted, my form twisting and changing as I shrank in size into my wolf, I bounded across the street narrowly missing the trunk that zoomed pass and not long after I was dashing through the trees trying to get as far away from the bar as I could.

…………………………………………….

~Scottie’s POV~                         Four days later

Rivers was sucking down some green tea shit while we stood at arrivals waiting for my brothers. The plane had landed twenty minutes ago and we still had yet to hear from them.

Rivers had long since gotten bored and had been talking non-stop as he always did and so I’d run over to a snack counter and bought him a green tea shake to give him something to occupy his mouth. He’d been silent for about four minutes already and it felt like a blessing.

Lucas had arrived early this morning; Thomas had picked him up and I found myself worrying how everything would go down once Adrian crossed paths with him. The mating ceremony would take place at the end of the week and I wanted everything to be perfect for Jessie leading up to that. I’d been tempted not to invite them at one point just to avoid any unwelcome confrontations but I hadn’t seen my brothers in weeks and I’d found myself longing for their presence.

I looked over at Rivers again who was mixing the green concoction with his straw, his eyes focused on his task and I felt grateful that he was somewhat back to normal. Yes he claimed he was hearing voices and had ended up spending more time in Jessie’s office than even I did but at least his anxiety attacks had stopped completely.

When I’d returned to the camp almost two weeks later he’d been in a bad way but I took pleasure in the fact that my Jessie had worked her magic and he was on his way to a full recovery. We still hadn’t figured out what triggered them but I could only hope they stayed away.

When I looked away from him again a smile blossomed on my face at the sight before me. The twins were here. Finally! I pushed up from the wall I’d been leaning on and watched as they took their time walking down the stretch. Adrian was out in front with Marcus bringing up the rear.

A small smile touched Adrian’s lips when he spotted us but Marcus was too busy glancing down at the paper in his hand to even notice. He’d be lucky if he didn’t walk right into a wall considering his lack of attention. They each held a bag and I was happy to see that Marcus looked much better than he had when I’d left weeks ago. He looked one hundred percent; no paleness in sight.

“They’re here.” I announced to my silent companion and he tore he gaze away from his drink to look at me. I nodded to my brothers and he followed my gaze.

It was right then that things got weird. Rivers’ shake was all over the floor, some of it covering my shoe and the guy in question had his hand latched onto my arm, squeezing as if for dear life. I’d just opened my mouth to berate him on the mess he’d made but the look on his face stopped me.

His face had gone pasty white and if his eyes were any wider they’d be falling out of his head.

“It’s…it’s him.” Rivers whispered in awe and I raised an eyebrow in question; concerned now.

“Rivers? Are you okay?” I asked, putting my free hand on his shoulder to shake him gently but he never looked at me.

“My m-mate…it’s him.” He whispered again and I followed his gaze in confusion.

Marcus.

My eyes widened and I glanced back at Rivers in shock.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

YUP YOU ALL GUESSED IT! CONGRATS!

IF I HAVEN'T RESPONDED TO YOUR MESSAGES I APOLOGIZE... MY NET'S STILL A BIT SPOTTY BUT I'M STILL TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE.

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE

ENJOY.

-DoUbLe.A

-unedited.