Chapter 7: The heart wants what it shouldn't...

Chapter 7

I was in love with Adrian.

I’d actually gone and fallen for the guy, I couldn’t believe it. I’d tried so hard to put in as little effort as possible. I’d gone into this relationship with my eyes wide open, my head on my body and my heart locked and sealed away yet here I was practically drooling over the man.

I’d told myself that after Laken that was it but I suppose I made my first mistake when I got into the relationship with Adrian in the first place.

With a sigh I ran my free hand through my hair and gripped the steering wheel with the other. How could I not have realized  my feelings toward him were changing from just caring to full blown, heart pumping, stone fucking cold love?

Fuck.

This was just a whole pot of mess and when I remembered the smile on Adrian’s face as I’d left his place this morning, I found myself getting even more frustrated. He was clearly happy about this turn of events. I would be lying if I said my traitorous heart didn’t jump a little when I saw that smile, I guess it all came with the package; he was happy so I unconsciously felt great about it.

I really should have realized though because now that I thought about it, I had been feeling this for at least a few months now but I guess I was just so caught up with the thought of never loving that when I had actually fallen I hadn’t even realized it.

Seeing another man wrapped around him had removed the shades from my eyes so to speak and I couldn’t say it was a good feeling.

I was scared…no try terrified. I didn’t know how I’d deal with another heartbreak. If Adrian were to suddenly up and leave or if God forbid something happened to him I honestly had no idea how I’d cope. This was the reason I hadn’t wanted love again.

I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the road. I had to clear my head for this mission. No more thinking about the lover I left at home, no more thinking about my traitorous heart or worrying about it breaking. Today I was to begin my assignment.

My agency friend had dropped off another file and I had to go out of town for this one and if what I read in the file was true –and I had no doubt it was- then I was in for a long one, a week at the least and the thought that I’d miss Adrian angered me.

It was strange because before I had realized I loved him I never had him constantly on my mind, I never missed him as much and I never kept replaying all the little things he….shit.

I had done all those things, I just hadn’t really thought much about it. Yeah I was screwed.

My hands tightened on the steering wheel, what made it worse was the fact that I didn’t trust Adrian. One day he’d do something so terrible I’d have no choice but to either walk away or take him down and neither of those options appealed to me. Maybe I could quit while I was ahead.

End it before he got the chance to but even the very thought or ending things sent a shot of pain through my chest. I was running scared like a damn coward and I honestly had no idea what to do. End it? Or Stay and risk my heart?

……………………………………

~Adrian’s POV~

“So you’re saying he told you he loved you? Just like that? What happened to the other night?” My brother Scottie question, his eyes wide with disbelief.

I laughed, “No he didn’t tell me we both just figured it out.” I tried to explain but I could tell from his raised eyebrow that he didn’t get it, so I turned to Marcus for help but he was too busy glaring at the ceiling from where he lay on my office coach.

He’d been like that ever since my little announcement but we all knew he hated Lucas so his behavior was no surprise.

“I can’t really explain it, but just trust me, he loves me, I love him and I’ve never been happier.” I assured Scottie and after looking at me seriously within the space of a minute he finally shrugged and turned away.

“I’m going to ask him to move in with me.” I spoke up again and Marcus let out a curse.

“Can we get on with this meeting please.” He asked but it really didn’t sound like a question. He was frowning and his eyes glinted.

If I hadn’t been in such good spirits I probably would have called him out on it but as it turned out nothing could get me down today. I was dying to finally get the chance to ask Lucas to move in with me.

He’d been gone for a little over a week and I missed him terribly but I promised myself that I wouldn’t hesitate to ask him the moment he came back. So for now I put that out of my mind and moved to take my place around my desk.

“Alright, break it down for me.” I said, my tone businesslike and all expression wiped from my face as I looked between my partners.

Marcus was the first to speak. “The wolves are getting care less, a few of the head dealers in the states claim two of our guys were attacked by a werewolf. They’re writing it off as hallucination from the ‘high’ but we know better. How stupid can these wolves get showing themselves to humans like that?” Marcus asked clearly annoyed and I nodded.

It was risky indeed because if the humans got wind of the werewolves existence that could also be detrimental to our wellbeing as shifters.

“Okay, we can’t do much about that for now. Hopefully the wolves are dealing with it on their end. Is production okay?” I questioned further and Marcus nodded.

“Yeah, one guy’s dead but otherwise production and distribution is running smoothly.” He reported and I turned to Scottie who looked at me with wide eyes.

I didn’t even have to ask him what was wrong when I saw that look. He was behind. I took a deep breath but couldn’t help the glare I sent in his direction.

“I’ll get it done, I swear.” He was saying, his hands up in front of him as if to ward off my glare and Marcus growled.

“We gave you one assignment boy. One, why isn’t it done?” he questioned Scottie who seemed to sink deeper into his seat at Marcus’s words.

“There was this girl.” He said softly, looking away from Marcus and at me, his eyes pleading.

“A  girl? Jesus looks like this entire operation is going to dust because you two can’t seem to keep your eyes in your head.” Marcus said harshly and as usual I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

“ Just the other day you were saying there aren’t any out there worth your time, what the hell changed?” Marcus continued grilling him, “Who is she?” he asked and Scottie stuttered.

“Why do you wanna know?” he questioned instantly but Marcus remained silent, simply looking at my younger brother who caved under his intimidated stare.

“It doesn’t matter, we didn’t work out anyway.” He said rather than give up the name and when Marcus was about to cut into him again I held up my hand silencing him.

“It’s fine. When will you have it done?” I questioned and Scottie visibly relaxed.

“A week maybe” he began but when he caught Marcus’s glare he rephrased. “No, three days for sure, maybe four.” He said and I nodded.

It wasn’t Scottie was a wimp. Trust me when I say he was anything but. I’d seen him take on men more than twice his size, he only seemed to act this way with us.

He didn’t like to let us down and I was convinced that even though they were close, he was slightly afraid of Marcus, who I had to admit was one of the most intimidating men I had ever come across. I on the other hand couldn’t care less about his little temper problem.

“Okay what else?” I threw out and Marcus spoke.

“I’m getting rid of Jerry, this is the second time his turn in has come up short. I think he’s stealing from us.” Marcus said casually and I nodded.

“But I liked jerry.” Scottie spoke up and we both chose to ignore him. It was that kind of attitude that got you nowhere in this business. Never get attached to your employees because sooner or later they had to go.

“We’ll start by giving him a warning, that doesn’t work, go ahead with your plan.” I told Marcus and from the way his mouth tightened I could tell he wasn’t pleased with my answer but he chose to keep his mouth shut.

When I was in business mode, no one questioned my actions.

“I’m thinking of opening a few more legitimate businesses. Restaurants mainly, we want the legit businesses to overshadow the others under the radar. So far no detective can prove anything beyond hearsay, let’s keep it that way.”

“Are you saying you’ve thrown out our idea to expand the drug trade?” Marcus questioned with narrowed eyes and I nodded.

We were doing okay already. I saw no need to get greedy that’s what got you caught. If we expanded the business, that would mean I would need to hire a few more guys and that meant greater risk. How it worked was I had a main man who dealt with all the hiring and dishing out orders.

He was ultimately the face of my ‘organization’ but everyone knew my name. He hired a few trusted guys who in turn hired other guys and the list went on.

Getting to me would be next to impossible for any investigator since I didn’t leave a paper trail and beyond knowing my name, my employers didn’t deal directly with me, well unless you counted the guys I killed but who would they tell from six feet under?. And my main man, Jerry  and the guards didn’t have much to give away regardless.

“Adrian, think about what you’re saying, we’ve planned this for months and now-” Marcus started but was interrupted when the door to my office flew open and we all looked to the intruder.

……………………………………………

~Lucas’s POV~

I couldn’t believe it. To say I was shocked was an understatement. The anger all but consumed me as I thought about what Carson told me a few hours ago. I had quit the mission half way through and rushed back as soon as I could and right now I was ready to tear somebody apart.

I burst into his study, pushing pass the guards who tried to block my entry but one of them grabbed my arm while the other jumped in front of me, acting all macho like he owned the place.

“Let him go.” The man around the large mahogany desk spoke and in an instant the arms fell away and the guards retreated.

“What game are you playing at Corsetti?” I asked, the anger billowing off me in waves. The man in question simply sat up straighter in his chair and appraised me with one raise eyebrow.

“Really Lucas? We’re back to last names after all we’ve been through?” he questioned in amusement and I glared at him, gritting my teeth. The bastard actually had the gall to sit before me smiling after what he had done.

“Stop with the bullshit, how could you?” I asked, my voice had risen and my hands were clenched in fists at my side.

By now the smile had fallen off his face and I watched as he pushed away from his desk and walked over to where I stood, stopping inches away from me.

“Are you going to tell me what exactly you’re accusing me of or am I to guess?” he asked, his tone serious and I took a deep breath before I answered him but it did nothing to calm me.

“I just got a call from Carson.” I began, watching his expression as I tried to detect some sign of guilt but he only stared blankly at me.

“Don’t you have anything to say?” I asked in disbelief.

“Am I supposed to know who this Carson person is?” he asked impatiently and my eyes narrowed.

“He’s Laken’s mate and he called to tell me that some of your guys have been messing with his pack members. One of them shot the Beta a few weeks ago.” I said seething, it was taking everything in my power not to reach over and throttle him, he knew what that pack meant to me, they were as close to being family as my actual blood relatives and if someone messed with them, they messed with me.

Adrian shook his head and crossed his hands at his chest. “It’s always about Laken isn’t it? Every time I turn around, you’re texting him or emailing him and now this?” he asked, his voice low and his eyes narrowed. He was pissed, I could see it in the dangerous glint in his eyes but I didn’t back down.

“So you don’t deny it then? You sent your men after them because-”

“Stop right there, get your fucking facts straight before you start throwing around accusations. If your little werewolf friends, got mixed up with my men then they caused it on themselves. I don’t have the time to be going around and ordering hits on crazy werewolves.” He said cutting me off.

I bristled; “Fine then, you didn’t do it directly but it’s still your fault they got hurt. Carson took down three of them but you know how this works, the others will only go after them, call off your men.” I told him.

“I told you when we started out what my job entailed. This isn’t a pack, my men are free to do as they please so long as they take care of my main business and if they got into something with the wolves then it’s probably because they messed with my business. I’m not about to screw up what I’ve got going because your little friends can’t keep their noses to themselves, got that?” he all but shouted. The veins were standing up in his neck as he glared down at me and I knew from experience it meant he was close to losing his temper.

I chuckled; a harsh sound that in no way meant I was amused, then looked directly into his eyes as I spoke my next words.

“We’re done.” Was all I said and I watched as his hands fell to his side and his expression, changed from anger to uncertainty.

“You’re breaking up with me over this? Lucas, they got themselves into this, I can’t have people messing with my trade. You interfere, you die, that’s how it is in my world.” He said, not quite pleading but more like trying to get me on his side.

I shook my head. “I knew this was a mistake. You’re a criminal, a fucking drug Lord for god’s sake! I knew I should have just walked away.”

“I told you what you were getting into with me and you were fine with it and now as soon as it gets tough you wanna bail?” he said in frustration and I backed up a step.

“You mess with my family, you mess with me, like I said…we’re done.” I said adamantly and turned to go. I walked across the room and threw open the door but stopped short when I came face to face with about seven armed guards, all looking down at me with purpose and I spun to face Adrian once more as I realized what was going on here.

“I’m sorry Lucas, but I can’t let you leave.” He told me and all I could do was stand there glaring at him and cursing myself for getting into this mess in the first place.

I was always a man of the law. I even helped the police with tough cases when they came to me with them yet I’d gone against my instincts and found myself in bed with a criminal. For the second time in my life my heart had lead me into a situation that could only end badly for me. Maybe it was time I stopped listening to it.

“I buzzed in the guards. Adrian’s right, we can’t just let you leave. You broke up with him which means you could easily use what you know against us.” Marcus spoke up and Adrian shot him a glare.

“Mind your fucking business Marc.” Adrian told him then turned back to face me.

“You love me, I know you do. You can’t throw away what we have over this.” He said, his voice growing gentle.

“Call off your men.” I told him again and he bristled.

“The wolves can take care of themselves.” He gritted out and I could see that he was annoyed now but that didn’t beat my mood in the least.

“I swear to God if Laken gets hurt I’ll-” I started but he didn’t allow me to finish.

“You know what I’m just about sick of hearing about this kid. I think it’s time we paid him a little visit.” Adrian told me, his eyes glinting and I froze...

AUTHOR'S NOTES

THERE YOU HAVE IT LOVIES! I'M STILL IN THE PROCESS OF READING THE STORIES YOU ALL ASKED ME TO READ AND I WILL BE COMMENTING ON THEM ALL JUST BE PATIENT BECAUSE I'M ALSO STUDYING. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR KIND WORDS THEY MEAN SO MUCH TO ME!

NOW ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR NIGHT OR MORNING OR WHATEVER,GO  SNUGGLE UP WITH YOUR SWEETHEARTS OR IF YOU'RE SINGLE GRAB THAT CUTE LITTLE STUFFED ANIMAL WE ALL KNOW YOU HAVE AND TAKE THE TIME OUT TO SMILE. LIFE'S TOO SHORT TO WASTE IT FROWNING.

KEEP SWEET LOVIES! <3

-DoUbLe.A

-unedited.