On the Ropes (Windy City Nights)

by Dania Voss

  Luke and the rest of the room clapped. Abbey deserved better than what OSG did to her. For ten long years she’d worked her ass off.

  “You should work for us, Abbey. Don’t you agree, Luke?” Darren asked.

  “We’ve already discussed it. We’ll see where Abbey feels most comfortable in the organization or the foundation. There are plenty of opportunities for her.” Luke kissed her softly. He felt her smile against his lips. His cock twitched. Down boy, not now.

  “All right then. I agree, fuck OSG if they’re stupid enough to let this Tim Webber asshole get rid of you. And this Brenna bullshit, Luke?”

  “Yes, what about that? I got the impression you and Abbey were back together? You know, I’ve always liked you Luke, but I won’t stand for your hurting my girl. So I’m with Jake on this one.” Abbey’s father glared at Luke. He’d never done that before. Luke didn’t like it one bit.

  “Dad, don’t be mad at Luke,” Abbey pleaded.

  Luke kissed the hand he’d been holding and she smiled weakly at him. “Phil, Monica, everyone—I’m sorry about the entire Brenna Sinclair fiasco. I promise you all there is nothing going on between Brenna and me.”

  “Come on, Luke. You’ve been dating her, or you were, for three years. It’s not like you’ve been hiding that fact.” Phil looked at Luke with such disgust his stomach dropped to his feet. This isn’t good.

  “I know it appeared that way, but I promise you, it was all just for the press. We never had a romantic relationship. In fact, she’ll speak first at tomorrow’s press conference and admit everything publically. I would never disrespect Abbey like that. In fact, I asked your little girl to marry me earlier and she accepted. I wanted to get your and Monica’s blessing first, but this weekend didn’t go as planned. I hope you can find it in yourselves to give us your blessing now?” Luke held out Abbey’s left hand, allowing everyone to see the shimmery engagement ring.

  “Wow! That’s some rock,” Grandma Ruth exclaimed.

  “What is that, ten carats or something?” Grandma Beverly asked excitedly.

  “I had originally wanted a ten-carat center stone, but I knew Abbey would feel uncomfortable with something that big. It’s seven carats.” Luke kissed the knuckles on Abbey’s left hand.

  “It’s plenty big, too big actually, but I know Luke too. He would never settle for something small.”

  Leah clapped her hands. “Congratulations! This is great news.”

  “Good going, little brother,” Heath added.

  “Welcome to the family, right, Dad?” Cassie asked cautiously.

  Phil didn’t look convinced or happy. Monica nudged him with her elbow, but he didn’t budge.

  “Dad, Luke’s telling the truth about Brenna. I spoke to her earlier. She admitted everything and I believe her and Luke. She’s a nice person. She’s thrilled Luke and I are together. It’s all going to come out at tomorrow’s press conference.”

  “See Phil, Brenna’s going to tell everyone she’s a lesbian tomorrow. Don’t be an ass and give Luke your blessing.” Grandma Ruth glared at her son and waited.

  “Mom! Fine. If Abbey believes Luke and Brenna, then I believe them too. You have my blessing, but treat my girl right.” Phil stood and walked toward him and Abbey. Luke and Abbey stood and held hands, presenting a united front.

  Phil extended a hand and Luke sighed in relief. He shook Phil’s hand and then his future father-in-law brought him in for a hug. He clapped Luke’s sore shoulder a little too hard, but Luke didn’t mind. Phil wasn’t angry at him. He considered it a win. The room erupted in applause.

  “I’ll do right by your girl, Phil. She won’t want for anything,” Luke whispered as they broke apart.

  “That’s all I ask. Welcome to the family, Luke.” Phil hugged his daughter and inspected the rock Luke put on Abbey’s finger. That’s right, Phil, a ring fit for a princess. My princess.

  Suddenly he and Abbey were surrounded by the rest of their family. Everyone offered their congratulations and hugs. So many hugs. Luke would have to apply more emu oil cream and take more pain reliever once he and Abbey returned to his suite. The ladies oohed and aahed over Abbey’s ring and his woman beamed with pride.

  Jake and Cassie’s secret reveal received the attention it deserved too as everyone turned their attention to the newlyweds and expectant parents. The ladies all wanted to touch Cassie’s still-flat stomach. Pretty soon they’ll be touching Abbey’s pregnant belly too. The thought had Luke stiffening in his jeans. Unfortunately, fucking Abbey again would have to wait as he saw Jake regroup. Their family conference wasn’t over yet.

  “All right, I don’t think our meeting is over just yet. Does anyone else want to share anything?” Jake looked directly at his sister Leah and Heath.

  Heath blushed and looked at his shoes. Leah, not surprisingly, took the lead. “Heath and I want to see if we can make a relationship work, right?” Leah turned to Heath, encouraging him with a bright smile.

  Heath looked at a confused Dan Tyler, Jake and Leah’s father. “Yes, it’s true. Dan, I hope you’re not angry with me. You’ve known me for a long, long time…”

  “Since when have you two been dating? I don’t understand.” Dan scratched his head, as though he was unsure of whether to be angry or accepting.

  “Dad, I’ve loved Heath all my life. He’s always put me off because he didn’t want to betray Jake or our family.”

  “But I knew Heath’s had feelings for Leah for a while now. I told him that as long as he made an honest effort with Leah, regardless of the outcome, he wouldn’t have an issue from me. I think the two of them should give it a try,” Jake told his father.

  Jake and Leah’s mother Sara nodded and smiled. “I can actually see the two of you together. It’s really up to the two of you though. You both know what’s best.” She looked at her husband.

  Dan shrugged. “You’re both adults. It’s not my place to dictate who you date. We’ve been friends or rather family for a long time. Let’s agree to not let whatever happens between the two of you affect our relationship.”

  Both Heath and Leah smiled. “Agreed,” they both said to Dan.

  “All right, anyone else have something they need to come clean about?” Jake asked everyone standing around each other.

  Luke looked to his uncle, hoping he would speak up. He saw the hesitation in his eyes. Come on, Dad. Obviously, he wasn’t ready. Luke assumed there would be an aggressive treatment regime that would begin next week. Darren needed to say something now. Luke would have to ease his father into sharing his devastating news.

  “Abbey and I have been having unprotected sex all weekend, trying to get pregnant,” Luke blurted out.

  “Luke!” Abbey’s face bloomed with the prettiest blush.

  “Can’t you wait? You just got engaged,” Phil asked.

  “First, Cassie got pregnant before she got married. Second, I’m planning on marrying your little girl as soon as possible, so you won’t be walking her down the aisle with a visible baby bump. Third, I want Abbey pregnant with our first little Viking as soon as possible, giving Darren as much time as he can to be a grandpa.” Luke didn’t want to force the issue, but Darren couldn’t sit on the information any longer.

  Darren’s eyes went wide and Maureen began to cry. “I’ll be an amazing grandpa,” he whispered.

  Abbey started crying and Luke’s eyes stung. “I know you will, Dad. I know you will.”

  Jake’s brows furrowed and he shook his head. “Why the fuck are Maureen and Abbey crying? And what the hell did you mean about Darren being a grandpa as long as he can?”

  Come on, Dad. Now’s the time to speak up.

  Jake looked between Darren and Luke, his eyes narrowed. The attorney was not missing a thing. “With all due respect, seeing that you’re my boss. But we’re on family time now, so Darren, what the hell is going on? Does this have something to do with the press conference tomorrow? And I don’t mean the crap about Brenna.”

  Maureen
wiped her eyes with her hands and put an arm around Darren’s waist. “Go on, Darren. They should be told before tomorrow’s press conference. They’re family.”

  When Darren looked at him, Luke nodded his head. “Go on, Dad. It’ll be all right.”

  Darren nodded in agreement. “Yes, you’re right, Jake. Why don’t we all pull our chairs closer together and we’ll talk about what’s going on?”

  When everyone were seated closer together, Luke’s heart raced. In a few minutes, everything would be out in the open to the people who mattered the most. Everything would be real. Abbey’s tight grip of his hand gave Luke the strength he needed. She’d always been his strength, his love, his everything.

  Darren took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Tomorrow after Brenna speaks, I’ll be announcing that effective immediately, ownership of the Chicago Cobras, the Windy City Rattlers, the children’s foundation, and Stryker Real Estate Holdings will be transferred to Luke and I’ll be stepping down.”

  Jake raised a skeptical brow. “Because Luke hurt his shoulder? Bullshit. I don’t buy it. It isn’t even anything serious. He’ll be back on the field in no time.”

  Darren shook his head sadly. “It was always the plan for Luke to take over, you all know that. We’re transitioning now because I’ve been diagnosed with stage 1B exocrine pancreatic cancer.”

  The room was stunned silent. Aside from the sound of some women in the room crying, no one said a word. Luke didn’t hold back his own tears. Not this time. Now that the news was out, Luke felt like a burden had been lifted off his shoulders. It was bad news. Really bad. But they’d deal with it together, as a family.

  Jake collected himself and wiped a few of his own tears away. Everyone in the room waited for Jake to ask the next few inevitable questions. He blew out a breath. “Well, fuck me. What exactly does that mean? What are the treatment options and typical survival rates?”

  Everyone in the room sat quietly as Darren Stryker calmly explained the shit hand his life had dealt him. He had developed a cancerous tumor nearly three centimeters large in his pancreas. The tumor was located at the head of his pancreas. Surgery to remove the tumor or as much of it that could be removed, was scheduled for Tuesday morning. Depending on the outcome from surgery, chemotherapy or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation treatments would follow. Unfortunately, the five-year survival rate for Darren’s cancer was about twelve percent. And that sucked.

  Grandma Ruth blew her nose and cleared her throat. “Well, if anyone can beat this bitch, it’s Darren Stryker. Whatever I can do to help you through this, you can count on me.”

  Grandma Beverly nodded in agreement. “Me too. Whatever you need, I’m there.”

  Jake put a hand up before anyone else could offer their assistance. “Look Darren, before you tell all of us not to worry, and that you don’t need our help—let me stop you. You’re going to let us help you through this because that’s what this family does. I know you and Luke are used to taking care of everything and everyone, but this time, you’re going to let us do the helping. Understood?”

  Luke was thankful as hell for his family and for Jake’s support and levelheadedness at such an emotional moment. He was the luckiest man in the world.

  Darren choked up, shed a few tears, and nodded.

  Jake nodded back in affirmation. “I almost hate to ask, but is anyone else keeping any secrets? Now is the time to lay it all out there.”

  Both grandmothers looked at each other, silently communicating. If one or both of them was sick too, Luke would lose it.

  ****

  Abbey’s stomach roiled and her heart raced, waiting for the grandmothers to say something. They were hiding something. If either one of them was sick, she didn’t know what she’d do. Darren’s diagnosis was bad enough.

  She was grateful that with Luke’s encouragement, Darren had admitted how sick he was. Although his prognosis wasn’t good, Abbey could sense both Darren and Luke were relieved the news was out in the open. She knew Darren would put up a good fight. He could very well be part of the lucky twelve percent that survived after five years. That was what Abbey and the rest of their family would pray for.

  It turned out the grandmothers weren’t sick, but had booked themselves on a senior’s cruise with some of their friends. It departed from Miami a week after Jake and Cassie returned from their honeymoon. After some heated discussion and objections regarding the ladies’ health and safety from Abbey’s and Jake’s fathers, Darren got everyone to agree he would hire a competent doctor and nurse to accompany the feisty women on their cruise as a safeguard, not to babysit them.

  When a few stomachs growled, it was decided rather than risk another scene in one of the hotel restaurants, they would order room service.

  Everyone was somber as they ate, Darren’s condition likely weighing on everybody’s mind. “Luke, you and Abbey need to start making wedding plans. You said you wanted to get married as soon as possible, didn’t you?” Darren asked.

  Abbey wasn’t so sure how fast they should move now. With Darren’s surgery coming up and his treatments following, maybe they needed to reconsider their timeline. She wanted Darren to be able to enjoy the day with her and Luke.

  “No, Abbey, don’t second-guess your plans. Move forward. I’ll do my best to be there with you both in person, but if I can’t be, with your technical know-how, we can live stream the entire day so I won’t miss anything,” Darren insisted and then took a bite of grilled chicken.

  Luke picked up his cell phone and scrolled through his contact list until he found what he was looking for. “You good with having our reception at Cucina Antonetti’s, too, but at their Barrington location?”

  Jake and Cassie’s reception had been so wonderful. Antonetti’s Barrington location was newer and fancier than their Elmhurst restaurant. Abbey didn’t want to step on Jake’s and Cassie’s toes. She didn’t want them to think she and Luke were copying them.

  “We’re fine with it, Abbey. They do a great job with weddings and banquets,” Cassie said around a mouthful of steak stir fry.

  Luke pressed the call button and put his phone on speaker. After two rings, Carlo Antonetti’s voice came on the line. “Cucina Antonetti’s, this is Carlo.”

  “Carlo, it’s Luke Stryker. You’re on speaker with Abbey and our family. I need your help. When’s the soonest you can host our wedding reception at your Barrington restaurant with the large combined room?”

  “Congratulations! Let me see what we have. One second.” They heard the click of the keyboard as Carlo must have looked up the restaurant’s event calendar.

  Abbey heard Carlo sigh. That didn’t sound good. “Luke, it’s party and wedding season, and the rooms get reserved far in advance.” Abbey’s heart sank. This was going to be a problem. Carlo was right about booking. Jake and Cassie booked their own reception a year in advance.

  “Wait, I think I might have something. Does the day of the week matter?” Carlo asked.

  Abbey and Luke looked at each other and shrugged. “No, not really. What do you have for us?” Luke asked and took a hold of Abbey’s hand.

  “I have the large combination room for you on Wednesday, September sixth. It’ll hold four hundred guests. There’s a small business dinner in one of the smaller rooms. I can block out the other rooms like we did for Jake and Cassie.”

  Luke cupped her cheek with his strong, warm hand and looked at her tenderly. “Do we have ourselves a wedding date, princess?”

  Abbey felt a tear slide down her cheek. She nodded and smiled at her amazing Viking fiancé. “Yes, we have ourselves a wedding date.” The room cheered and Abbey cried.

  “All right, Carlo, mark the groom’s name down as Lucas Morrison.”

  Lucas was Luke’s legal first name. Abbey knew Morrison to be his mother’s maiden name. To avoid another fiasco, they would have to be careful. Different names were a must. She didn’t want to think about what kind of extensive security detail they would need.

>   “Mark the bride’s name down as Leann Reynolds,” Abbey’s mother called out. Leann was her mother’s middle name and Reynolds her maiden name. Abbey saw Cassie immediately make a call and speak in hushed tones.

  “All right, we’re set.”

  “One other thing, and don’t argue because you know I’m right, Carlo,” Luke began. Abbey had no idea what he meant. “We’ll pay you to close the restaurant for the day. We have no choice and you know it.”

  Carlo sighed over the line. “Fine. If you’re not able to find a church, we can remove the tables from the main dining room, set up chairs, an altar, and make due. Call me when you’re ready and we’ll work out the details.”

  “Thanks, Carlo. I’ll call you by the end of the week.”

  Cassie disconnected her call and clapped her hands. “I spoke to Pastor Jenkins at Grace of God. The church is available for Leann and Lucas on Wednesday September sixth. You can have the rehearsal on Monday September fourth! That’s Labor Day. You should have your rehearsal dinner at Golden Horns.”

  Their wedding day was taking shape. Abbey couldn’t believe it. But what about a dress? It took Cassie months to receive hers. “Luke, I won’t be able to get a dress in time.” Abbey felt tears pricking her eyes.

  Luke kissed her cheek and flashed her a cocky grin. “No worries, princess.” Luke scrolled through his phone contacts again and pressed the call button.

  After the first ring, a southern man’s voice Abbey didn’t recognize spoke. “Asher.”

  Kyle Asher? From Golden Horns? The Dom who owned Club Envidious and that Twisted Tea Society ladies social group?