by S King
“Boss,” Slade acknowledged as he kicked off the desk and grabbed the keys from his pocket.
“Slade,” I nodded to him out of respect.
Hoping he wasn’t going to try and make idle conversation. Granted, if he were going to speak it was going to be about approaching Royal Sapphire Courts for Svenia’s hand in marriage. Both of them were elite members of Gold and had earned their positions with hard work and dedication. So, the union would only make sense. Not to mention the move would keep Svenia off my back about dating after hours. Unfortunately, as we walked down the stairs to the deepest part of the Gold Guard HQ, he didn’t say anything. He didn’t even look my way.
Slade unlocked the door and stepped to the side to let me pass as we came to the room holding Lovett. A simple nod was the only parting sentiment he offered me and by god I was fine with that.
The holding cell in question was nothing outlandish or extravagant; dull slate colored walls, black flooring and a single chair for the dummy who found their way in the guard’s grasp backed against the far wall of the cell. Lovett, being the dummy of the hour—was sitting in the chair, staring at the floor like someone had slaughtered his puppy. Probably, wondering how he had found himself in such a position. Dumbass.
“Joker O’Qhuinn,” I sized him up as Slade closed the door behind me and locked us in the room.
Lovett looked up and rolled his eyes. To my surprise Svenia had heeded Dristan’s warning. She didn’t touch the Silver idiot sitting in front of me. There were no bruises, cuts or scrapes littering his body and from what I was able to see, he was just as cocky as ever.
“Why the hell am I here, Losett? I have my own business to tend to.” His tone was bored, and his look was arrogant at best. So, the kid had some nerve.
I raised a brow at him and leaned against the wall with my arms crossed over my chest, “were you not read the Diamond Order that had been placed on you?”
“I’m not going to even address that.” He mimicked my stance and stared at the wall.
“Then you’ll be wise to accept your punishment without complaints.” I pulled my sword from behind my back and twirled the thing to loosen my wrist.
He snorted and cut his eyes to me, “what’s my other options?”
The son of a bitch knew about the sole loophole that was in every Diamond Order for an elite member of any guard. I had never asked the courts about the why behind putting in the loophole, but in the back of my mind I knew it had to be for a good reason. Just my luck, Lovett knew what he was demanding of me and in turn, I had to tell him what his other option—his survival option—was. On the flip side, I was in control of deciding just what his out was going to be in order to survive.
Grinding my teeth, I narrowed my eyes at his smug smile and kept my tone even as I said, “everyone out.”
Dristan perked up from his bored stance by the door and looked between me and Lovett, “why do we have to leave?”
Cutting my eyes at him, I warned, “either take the direct order and leave, or get locked in your own cell.”
Svenia and Dristan looked at each other for a moment before taking the hint and marched their happy asses from the cell. When I was sure they were not only out of ear shot, but also unable to see me, I advanced on Lovett.
Grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, I hissed, “do you really want to know what your other option is?”
“I like life a little too much to just throw it away.” It didn’t matter that he was on the verge of getting strangled by me, he kept that cock sure smile on his face as he looked me in the eye.
Tilting my head, I gave him a smirk of my own, “you really love Luminous, don’t you?”
His face became serious as all of the color drained and he was brought to the reality I wasn’t playing his game.
“I can see it all over your face,” I let go of his shirt and stepped back from him. “The funny thing is, I don’t think she feels the same.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
I snorted and leaned against the wall, “do you not see it in her eyes? You’re not what she wants, Lovett. Simply put, you’re just something to do.”
“Get to the point, Losett. What the fuck do I have to do to stay alive?”
“Break your engagement with Luminous River and I’ll wipe the order from your name.”
“What?”
“Did I not speak clearly enough for you?”
“Why do you want me to break up with her?”
“Because you’re not what she deserves. You’re an elite member, not a sect leader.”
“So what?”
I laughed under my breath, but stayed where I was, “so, your relationship with her can only go so far before the courts step in.”
“They approved the engagement.”
“They did, but do you think they’re going to approve a family?”
He looked down at the floor, shifting his weight.
“Besides, she already cheated on you,” I had to smile at his shocked expression as his head snapped up. “Didn’t she tell you?”
“With whom?”
I stayed silent and simply stared at him. Let him figure out the pieces to his own puzzle.
He shook his head and backed away from me until his back hit the cold cement wall. “You? It was you, you trapped her into doing something she would never do.”
“Did I? Or was she doing something she would do?”
“I’m going to kill you,” he charged at me with his fingers clawed at my throat. But seeing as how I had a weapon, and he didn’t.
I lifted the sword and pointed the thing at him, leveling it to his jugular, “are you trying to die doing something stupid?”
He skidded, leaning back from the sharp point of the blade, “why did you do it?”
Keeping my arm steady, I looked at him, “ask yourself, Lovett, why did Luminous do it?”
“You forced her.” His eyes were wild with accusation and calculation for figuring out how to get around the blade.
“I am a lot of things, brutal and heartless being a few, but one thing I would never do is force a woman to do something she didn’t want to do.”
“What’d you promise her?”
My eyebrows popped at the question, “you think her so shallow she needs an incentive to do something? That’s a low blow for someone you claim to love.”
“I don’t buy it,” he shook his head again and started pacing the room, ignoring the sword.
Letting my arm drop, I leaned my weight on the grip, “you may not buy it, but I will tell you Luminous is out of this world.”
“You’re full of shit,” he snapped.
I shrugged, “go ask her yourself.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t believe you and who knows? You could’ve easily threatened her about speaking on this so called one-night stand.”
I rolled my eyes, tilting my head, “you have a lot of faith in someone that made sect leader history. How do you think she did that? It wasn’t because she’s something to look at or the fact she stands up for herself. The last thing she’s going to do is back down from a threat.”
His jaw clenched as my words hit home, “you did this on purpose.”
“If that’s how you want to look at it.”
“Why?”
A sly smile lifted the corners of my mouth, “have you seen her?”
“You son of a—”
I raised my sword again, bored with the back and forth. “What’s it going to be, Lovett?”
The tension in the cell was palpable; between Lovett’s hurt pride and my patience at their end we were a pair of jackasses. But if he wanted to fight to the death, who was I to deny him?
He took a shuddering breath, over the fact he had come to this and finally looked at me. “I’ll do it. But know this, Losett, I’m not doing it to admit you won. Nor am I doing this to say you bested me.”
“Oh, then why are
you doing it?”
“Because I love her enough to let her go. As long as she finds her happiness, I’m ok with not being the cause of it.”
I smirked, lowering my sword, “how poetic.” Tossing him the Diamond Order, I pointed to the thing, “your signature will say that you chose the alternative. At which point you have twenty-four hours to fulfill your end of the deal.”
“I know how this works, Losett.”
“Could’ve fooled me, now sign it so I can go about my business.”
§§§§§
Three hours later I was taking residence in a private room at The Mad Devil bar and grill indulging in a hearty steak dinner and a tall glass of Budweiser. What better way to end a night than with alcohol and food? Sex with Luminous my mind coughed up as I cut into the medium rare.
I rolled my eyes on the thought and stamped down the memories of what I had done with the Silver sect leader; I was not going to lose my taste for this steak and go hunt down Luminous. It was a one-night thing and nothing more.
“What’s wrong with you?” I glanced up to find Dristan coming into the private room.
“Nothing.”
He parked his ass in the seat across from me and grabbed a menu from the holder, “right. If you can’t stand to watch her walk down the aisle,” he sent his order to the kitchen on the iPad bolted to the wall before looking at me. “Don’t let her go.”
Slowly, I lifted a deadly gaze to him, “who the hell are you? Chris Young?”
As if just the mention of his name was a calling card, the famous country singer’s song came crooning out of the inlaid speakers within the room. The song began to play and with it, Dristan had the nerve to smile.
“You planned this?” I accused.
Raising his hands in defense, he laughed, “I didn’t.”
“Bullshit,” I reached for my sword.
“Seriously Demir, I didn’t, but don’t you think it’s an odd coincidence though? I mean, the stars align all the time and you do like her.”
Rolling my eyes on the notion, I had never wished so badly to be deaf.
“Funny how ole Chris makes you think,” he continued.
“Shut up,” I snapped turning my attention back to my meal.
He smirked again, thanking the waitress for his food and looked at me, “so, what’re you going to do now?”
“Nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing?”
“Just that, everything will work out as it needs to.”
“Meaning?”
Dropping my silverware on the table, I stared at him, “meaning he opted for the alternative.”
“Which was?”
I smirked, picking up my fork and knife again, “ending his engagement with Luminous.”
He stopped reaching for his own silverware as he stared at me, “what?”
“You didn’t honestly think I was going about this the wrong way that wouldn’t benefit me, did you?”
“You sly son of a bitch,” Dristan shook his head and started eating away on his steak and vegetables. “Tell me something, were you able to get her at the ball?”
Leave it to Dristan to take a grape and expect the entire field. I considered his question and finished off my beer, ringing for the waitress.
“No.”
“What do you mean no? I thought it was all done. I gave you the answer, the method and the execution. And you can’t even do such a simple plan?”
I narrowed my eyes on him, thanking the waitress and waited for her to leave before I lowered my voice. “I didn’t say I didn’t follow your plan, I simply said we didn’t do anything at the ball.”
“Why not?” The underlying meaning of my statement went over his head as realization answered his own question. “You saw her death?”
“Yes.”
“Was it that bad?” He shifted in his chair, uncomfortable with my talent.
In contrast, Dristan was able to sense someone’s feelings and see their most inner thoughts by looking into their eyes. Needless to say, he very rarely made eye contact with anyone and tried to make it a case and point to always avoid anyone he didn’t know on a personal level.
I took a deep breath and clenched my teeth, “something like that.”
Knowing I didn’t want to speak on what I had seen, he looked in my eyes and saw for himself just what Lumi’s final moments were going to be like. Like getting shoved from a room, Dristan jerked back in his chair and covered his mouth with his hand. Not only did he see Luminous’s death, but he saw what I had done earlier in the night as well.
“God damn…” he breathed after a moment.
I went back to cutting my steak and shrugged a shoulder, “it is what it is.”
“How the fuck is that even going to happen? You’re finding evidence for her innocence, so why did you kill her?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you think the courts are going to toss your evidence and push the Diamond Order through?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is there any way to change it?”
I slammed my fist on the table and stared at him, “I don’t fucking know, Dristan. Ok? I don’t know, all I know is I need to figure out what the fuck is going to happen for me to stab her along with…”
He raised a curious brow at me, “along with what?”
Taking a deep breath, I told him everything Jeffery Cardenas had told me on the back road. I spared no details and didn’t offer any room for questions until the end. When I was finally finished, Dristan had pushed his plate away after only eating a few bites of the overpriced meal and stared at me with a furrow playing on his brow.
“There you have it,” I said, downing my second beer and rang for another one.
“She was a test tube baby?”
“According to Jeffery, yes.”
“Specifically made for you?”
“Yes.”
“She was never going to be allowed to marry that kid in the first place?”
I nodded, tired of repeating the same word. Dristan had a way of asking five thousand questions and expecting a different answer with each question. The definition of insanity playing to the fullest through my best friend.
He ripped his fingers through his hair and shook his head, “but you saw her death? You were the one that kills her in the end.”
“Obviously.”
“How in the hell does this make any sense?”
“I don’t know, now, do you have any other questions that don’t involve the same answer to be repeated?”
“What’re you doing to do now?”
If that wasn’t one for the books. I didn’t know what I was expected to do when Luminous’s life was on the line. Yes, I was supposed to kill her. Yes, she was designed to be my perfect match. But how did I solve any of the problems laid out before me? I had no idea.
He brushed my silence aside and tilted his head toward me, “I don’t know if this question is allowed, but” he leaned his elbows on the table and rubbed his hands together. “Are you going to tell her?”
“No,” I snapped, shaking my head. “Absolutely not,” in an essence I knew why he was asking the obvious. But what would that make me look like? Telling her would do nothing of any benefit, to anyone, and what would make her believe me in the first place? I wouldn’t believe me if I were her either.
“Does she already know?” He asked with hope in his eyes for the possibility of Luminous already knowing the truth and was just hiding it.
I scrubbed my hands over my face and took a deep breath. The question was meant to be well intended, but the problem was obvious. Tapping my temple, I looked at my friend.
“And why would she willingly agree to marry Lovett if she knew about all of this shit?”
“Because that’s what a good friend does.”
“By marry them out of convenience?” I raised a brow to him and waited for him to come up with another fool’s statement.
Dristan opened his mouth and quickly
closed it again as he grabbed his plate and shrugged. “Well, shit, I don’t know then. Ok? Maybe I was trying to play devil’s advocate for your girlfriend, did you think about that?”
I rubbed my forehead, closing my eyes, “she’s not my girlfriend.”
“No, she’s going to be your wife. Sorry, my bad,” he raised his hands for a second before going back to cutting his steak. “The point is, you’re supposed to be honest with your wife and by not telling her the truth, boss? You’re opening yourself up for a can of I kick your ass from her. Keep being stupid and you’re going to be the one laid out over that cliff.”
Clenching my teeth, I had to fight the urge to not lash out at my best friend. Times like this I had to seriously consider why I was friends with him. Ok, if I wanted to split hairs about the situation laid in front of me. Yes, Luminous River was going to be my wife in some form or the other. According to Jeffery and the vision, she was going to be Mrs. Luminous Losett. But that didn’t mean I wanted Dristan to blast it for everyone to hear when Luminous didn’t even know about the truth herself. Still, Luminous Losett did sound a thousand times better than Luminous Joker O’Qhuinn
“Why do you have that stupid smile on your face?” Dristan’s voice snapped me out of the thoughts about Luminous carrying my last name.
Clearing my throat, I sat up in my seat, “nothing. Listen, I’m not going to tell her, and neither are you, got it?”
“I would have to get close to her in order to do that, Demir.”
“And I know how you are, Dristan. If something gets you tickled enough, you’ll spill it in a matter of seconds.”
A shit eating smile covered his lips as he went back to eating.
I glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed, “I have to go.”
“By the way, Svenia took up a black order tonight.”
I tossed some cash on the table and frowned at him, “whose?”
“Your wife’s sister.”