"You're not going to kill him are you?" Lorna almost laughed hysterically. This was the weirdest conversation she thought she'd ever had, and with the life she led, that was saying something. It was like telling a five year old not to put something in their mouths when you knew it was their natural instinct.
"That's not my plan." The words were delivered in the way he normally spoke, but there was something underlying in them. This was just all kinds of screwed up, and she didn't know how to take anything. Was she being too sensitive, or did she really hear something sinister in Lucca's tone?
"That was a really sketchy answer," she said to him and waited for him to respond, but the answer didn't come as quickly as she thought it should have.
"Well this is very sketchy business. Like I said it's not my plan to kill him. I just need the bracelet to slow down their pursuit of you. I'm working with Aidan on some things to clean this mess up, but this shit is getting deep, and I'm not sure if it's not going to blow up in all of our faces. My advice to you is not to get too wrapped up in this guy. He's got a bad rep, and all your life you've done nothing but try your best to stay away from types like him. Keep that shit up; that guy is going to bring you down."
"You don't know that for sure," she said not willing to accept what her cousin was saying about Aidan as truth.
"You're right. I don't. The guy actually seems pretty cool for someone who was sent here to kill me, but the fact remains that you have defied the odds of staying out of trouble for this long, and now here you are with your first criminal type and you've disrespected your father, something you've never done before, and ran off to warn the enemy in your father's eyes. You've totally lost your senses. Don't let good dick make you change your life." Lucca hadn't ever talked to her like this, but she assumed that the man was trying to look out for her like he always did.
"Alright, Lucca, I'll think about what you said. I love you too," she said as she handed the phone to Aidan who was in the next room. The two men talked in hushed voices, or she should say that Aidan did. She couldn't hear Lucca, but she'd bet he was doing the same thing.
When she heard Aidan disconnect, she wanted go in there and try to find out what was going on. She would learn what she needed to know when she needed to know it. Damn it if she didn't sound like part of her family right now. She tried to go back to watching the animal life program, but now she was too distracted. After trying for a few more minutes she determined that this was something she was going to have to face, and she wanted some answers from Aidan.
Turning off the television, she went to find Aidan. He didn't look like he was fairing any better than she was in terms of worrying.
"What's up, Chuck?" She remembered her cousin saying that to her when he wanted her to laugh because upchuck was in the sentence and of course throwing up was funny as hell to some people. Not really her, but she was trying to butter him up so he would talk to her … really talk to her. Like a confidante and not like someone he was trying to keep safe.
He looked her way and then brought her down to sit on his lap. It was almost like he needed comfort, and she was the one who would give it to him for as long as she could. That touched her heart more than she would ever say. He wasn't a needy guy and was more focused on giving than receiving so this meant a lot.
"I'm sure your cousin told you he wants to meet to pick up some bracelet that is going to show the world that you are still alive." How this man could sound like a gruff grandfather and a sullen 4 year old was beyond her, but he had it down packed.
She looked at his face trying to determine the exact expressions that were crossing over it faster than she could catalog them. There was some tension, concern, worry, fret, sadness, and anxiety. That was to be expected, she guessed.
"That's what he told me, too. Do you think it's some kind of set up?" She wanted to know what he thought, and she wondered if he'd give her a straight answer.
"I hope not. It sounds like your cousin is looking out for you, and I think he thinks looking out for you means keeping me safe as well. At least for the time being." He squeezed her just a bit tighter in his arms, and she loved the solid feel of him.
"When are you supposed to go with him?" She turned in his arms to because she wanted to see his face.
"He had it planned to be late tomorrow night, but I wish it were sooner. Waiting makes me crazy. I want to do what has to be done now, and there is another reason I'd like to do this as soon as possible. The Devil's Stepbrothers are going to be sending in someone else to do my job, and I wanted to get the scoop on when the person would be coming in. I just don't want this guy to get to Lucca before we can work all this out."
"I just want everything to be okay." She snuggled back into him wishing this moment didn't have to end.
"That's the same thing that I want, but I don't know how it's going to happen." They were both quiet as they contemplated all of the possible scenarios that could come into play.
"Let's just wait and see what happens, but know that I've had more fun with you in these last few weeks than I've ever had with anyone." She didn't want this to sound like the farewell portion of the afterschool specials she'd seen when she was younger, but it couldn't be helped, and it had to be said.
"That sounds like I'm dead already. Let's not talk like that," he said with a chuckle.
She lifted her head and playfully smacked him in the chest before leaning in for a kiss. They had done so many different kisses, but she loved when she offered him one and he accepted so sweetly.
When she was done, she sat up and took off the bracelet that never left her arm. It was beautiful, but that wasn't why she loved it so much. It was given to her at a time when she was just sprouting her wings, and every time she looked at the sparkling jewels it reminded her that she had to take the chance to sparkle no matter what the cost. Would she get the bracelet back? She hoped so, but if she never did she'd remember how it felt to hold such beauty in her hand and that she should make sure she continued to sparkle without the beautiful reminder.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Aidan had agreed to the set up time to meet up with Lucca to give him the bracelet that looked like it cost millions of dollars. He almost didn't want to give it to the man because he'd seen how much the bracelet meant to Lorna. It wasn't like it was about the money either. That piece of jewelry had some special meaning for her. She fondled it and held it up to the light before she'd handed it over like it was her prized pup.
Why Lucca wanted to meet in a dark storage facility was beyond him, but he was going to trust that this thing was going to work out the way it was supposed to and he'd be able to tell Lucca about the other man that was on the way and hopefully hammer out a plan.
"Mr. Barnes?" The voice came from a bit of a distance and Aidan got a feeling in the pit of his stomach that signaled bad happenings. Shit. He hated when that happened. At least he knew that Lorna was in a safe place and she had enough money to either get home or try to make a new start somewhere.
"Who's asking?" In Aidan's line of business, you didn't answer questions like that if the person knew who you were they didn't need to ask questions.
"The man you were supposed to kill." Lucca said as he stepped out of the shadows. He looked just like the picture, but he didn't look as jovial in the picture as he did now. That was the weird part. What the hell was he in such good spirits about?
"Good to see you in such good spirits," Aidan stood back because he didn't know where the bad vibes were coming from.
"How many times do you actually get to see the person you were supposed to put down like a dog in the street?" Lucca's eyes were focused on him, and it felt like a stare off was going to ensue. He didn't know the man, so whether this was the type of behavior he normally had or if this was some strange anomaly was unknown to him, but he was just going to continue to play it by ear. If this was to be his last day, he was happy for all the things that he'd accomplished and all the people he'd met. The only thing he regretted was not being about to share with Lorna how he really felt about her.
The man had a pleasant demeanor and a happy face, but the words seemed hostile. He walked closer, and the bad feelings increased. Aidan didn't stay alive this long not listening to his intuition, so there was something off but he didn't feel like it was coming from Lucca.
"Do you have Lorna's bracelet?" Lucca held out his hand, and Aidan withdrew the jeweled piece from his pocket. The sparkling pink gems seemed to gleam ridiculously in the dark room, almost like it could find any little piece of light to make it shine. That reminded him of Lorna.