He was about to turn to leave when something caught his eye. A small book, bound in worn brown leather that looked well used and well loved. It pulled at some distant memory, drawing him closer and before he realized what he was doing Adrien had walked to the book shelf and pulled the tiny book into his hands.
The binding was soft and cracked as if bent open time and time again. He felt a thrill of something shoot through him as he opened the cover to find not a book, but a journal. He traced his father’s scrawled handwriting with a trembling finger as he flipped through the crowded, ink stained pages. It was his father’s journal, something remembered from the depths of his past. Dominic’s nightly routine had been to scribble in the thing while Adrien played on the floor in front of the giant stone fireplace. If he closed his eyes he could almost hear the scratching of the pen against the textured surface of the yellowed paper.
On a whim he opened up to a section in the middle and his breath stalled in his lungs as he read the words written over twenty years ago.
…He is so much more like you than he is me, and I’m grateful for that. Everyday I can see you in him, in his kindness, his sense of fairness and justice, he’s strong like you. You always knew how to find the best in people, how to compromise. Not exactly my strong suit…
Adrian gasped as he realized what he was reading. His father had been writing letters to his mother, dead since he was just a baby. And he was writing about his son. Dominic was writing about him.
…I wish I knew how to tell him how proud I am of him, of the man he is becoming. We grow farther and farther apart and I don’t know what to do about it. It seems like everything I do is wrong, and now with the council growing restless and these incidences occurring with more frequency, I’m not sure what will happen.
He closed the book as his father’s words continued on about the politics of being tribe leader, but his earlier statement flashed bright in front of his eyes over and over. I wish I knew how to tell him how proud I am of him, of the man he is becoming. Words his father had never spoken aloud, at least, not that he could ever remember and Adrien was pretty sure he would have remembered something that momentous.
Adrien cradled the journal in his hands, his resolve firming, his father’s words giving him strength as he slowly walked out of the study. He paused, giving it one last look before walking down the stairs, dialing his cell phone as he went. Adrien looked down at the journal still clutched in his hand, feeling a connection to his father that he hadn’t felt in…well, he couldn’t even remember how long to be perfectly honest. As he walked outside he turned to lock up behind him. He had a feeling he wouldn’t be back to the cabin in some time. He glanced around the empty parking space, reminded once again of Morgan’s expression as she drove away in his jeep.
“Hey, what’s up?” the voice on the other end finally answered.
“Grant, it’s Adrien. I’m going to need a ride.”
Harris could have squealed in delight as he threw himself back against the sturdy throne, reclining arrogantly with his boots propped up across one arm.
“What are you so happy about, father?” Sera swept into the room, her face carrying a discontented sulk that was her normal expression but Harris barely noticed her as he replayed his masterful manipulation over and over again in his head.
“I am happy, daughter, because I have solved our problems.” He did chuckle this time, the noise grating and nasal.
“What? You mean we’re moving out of this dump and into the palace you keep promising me?” His eyes narrowed on his daughter. He hated that she was ruining his good mood.
“No, Sera. But I did just guarantee you the perfect mate.” Her vapid eyes lit with malice and greed.
“Adrien? You finally convinced him?”
“Please,” Harris snorted, “I can’t do everything myself. But I did get rid of that pesky little human for you. She shouldn’t be a problem for us anymore.”
Father and daughter both shared identically vile grins before Sera laughed, clapping her hands in glee
“Oh, father, that is good news.”
“Now it’s up to you. Go find Adrien. He’s heartbroken and wounded,” Harris grin widened even farther, “He should be easy prey for you, Sera.”
“Don’t worry. He’ll be mine before the end of the month.”
“Make it sooner, the clan is getting restless.” Harris shifted, uncomfortable at the reminder of his fragile hold on the tribe. Sera nodded, still grinning maliciously as she skipped from the room.
Everything was finally going to plan. He just needed to get his hands a little dirty, that was all. And that had never been a problem for him. Harris smiled at the warm memories, but then another recollection rose, of a small, brown leather journal that held too many of his own secrets and enough evidence to incriminate him, or at least throw suspicion on him for a crime more than a decade gone.
Harris shivered as he thought of it. Maybe he would just have to arrange for another sweep of Adrien’s apartment. He needed to get his hands on that damned journal. Before someone else did.
Chapter 2
Adrien wiped down the bar top with the white cloth, losing himself in the mindless task, his thoughts miles away on one stubborn, gorgeous green eyed vixen who refused to take his calls, or his emails, or the flowers he’d sent. Nothing. Nothing he did seemed to get through to her. He knew if he could just talk to her face to face, just once, then he could explain everything, make her see that he wasn’t the monster Harris had made him out to be.
The heartbreak inside him warred with the budding excitement of finally being behind the bar again. He had returned, thanks to Grant who had to sit through the entire four hour car ride of Adrien moping about how much he already missed Morgan. Every word he’d said had been true, but even his best friend had had to cut him off at one point, telling him that he breaking Grant’s heart and he needed to shut up about it for a little while.
Adrien picked up the half empty bottle of simple syrup, refilling it as he eased into the same old routines that had got him through every other problem and trouble in his life. He knew this wasn’t the same, but even still, the simple repetitive motions relaxed him a little. He wondered briefly if she would come in that night. She must have found out that the bar was reopening, he had signs posted all over town and had even hired some college kids home for the summer to go out handing promotional flyers.
He looked around the renovated bar. It was finally up to date and exactly what he had pictured in his head for all of those years. It looked fantastic, and he was going to make sure that every seat was filled that night, and every night for as long as he could. He really did owe it to the place. Because if not for the bar, he never would have met Morgan, would never have asked her to be his pretend fiancé, would never have found his mate.
The bell above the door jingled and his heart skipped a beat, hoping it was her, that it was Morgan, but the feeling slowly dissipated, morphing into an emotion much less kind as he recognized Sera, Harris’ self-centered daughter. She stopped a step inside the bar, looking at everything with an upturned nose and an expression of disgust until she realized he was looking at her. It melted into a saccharine sweet smile that had him hiding a grimace as she sauntered up to the bar. Great. He really didn’t need this right now.
“What do you want, Sera?” She sniffed at him, giving him what he imagined was supposed to be a coy smile but really just looked like a shark with a mouth full of teeth.
“Now, is that any way to treat a paying customer, sweetheart?” she slid a twenty dollar bill across the table, still shooting that toothy grin at him and he just shook his head, taking the money.
“What do you want?” He asked again, barely moderating his tone and she just giggled, high pitched and nasal.
“I’ll take…sex on the beach.” She said the words breathlessly and he barely held back the laugh at her sad attempt at seduction. Adrien quickly made the cocktail, desperately trying not to make eye contact, a
nd slid it over to her with the remainder of her change. He could her open her mouth and he sighed in relief when another group of customer walked in, cutting off whatever ridiculous remark she had been about to make.
“Adrien, you should know–.”
“Sorry, Sera. Duty calls.” He said the words, not sorry at all as he walked around the bar to take their orders. He ignored her and her pout altogether as the bar continued to fill. Adrien lost himself to the work he loved as more and more customers filled the bar. He grinned in delight, almost forgetting for a moment the whole left when Morgan had run away from him, but not quite. There was no doubt that the re-opening was a success. He just wished he could share it with her.
Sera was still sitting gingerly on a bar stool in the front, studiously ignoring her surroundings and looking around with a disgusted expression at everything. He just shook his head. It was suddenly obvious to him. Harris wasn’t going to be content with just coming between him and Morgan. Anger simmered in him at the thought. As if Harris hadn’t already done enough damage, now he was sending his daughter here, using her like a pawn in whatever sick game he was playing.
He turned away, determined to ignore her and the sinking feeling in his gut as yet another crowd of bar hoppers walked in, the tiny bell ringing out their entrance. He smiled and continued to work, thinking all the while that he was going to have to find another bar tender if things kept up this way.
An hour later, Adrien had almost forgotten about Sera completely as he shot from table to table with a tray full of drinks when she was suddenly in front of him.
“What the hell?” He demanded, just barely halting before he spilled the remaining drinks on a nearby table.
“I’m tired of you ignoring me, sweetheart.” Adrien grit his teeth at her words.
“I am not your sweetheart. I am not your anything, for that matter.” He tried to walk around her but she side stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
“Really, Sera, I don’t have time for this.”
“Listen, Adrien. I don’t go after just anyone,” She said, as if her hounding him was some sort of honor. “In fact, you should consider yourself lucky that you caught my eye. You’re a little rough around the edges, but once we move into the palace, all that will change.”
“Wait a minute, palace? What are you talking about?” He shook his head, forestalling her as his temper began to get the better of him, “You know what, it doesn’t matter. I don’t care. I will never care. Do you know why? Because I’m mated, Sera. I’m mated to Morgan and I could never be with anyone else, palace or no palace, because my heart doesn’t belong to be anymore. It belongs to her, and it will for the rest of her life.”
Sera stared at him for a long moment with narrowed eyes after he finished his speech, spoken low enough that no one else in the loud, crowded bar could hear. Her face took on the petulant look of a child not used to being told no and she huffed out a breath as she turned towards the door, her cocktail still untouched at the bar.
“I’ll be back, Adrien. I’ll be back, and then you’ll see.”
“Don’t waste your time. And you can tell daddy dearest that he can just stay the hell away from me and my bar.” Sera glared at him again before pushing the door open and disappearing into the warm night outside.
Chapter 3
Adrien walked around in aimless circles before he realized where his feet were taking him. It was Sunday and the bar was closed and he’d woken up with a restless itch in the middle of his chest that he couldn’t get rid of no matter what he’d done. He’d cooked breakfast, cleaned his entire apartment, which granted hadn’t taken all that long considering it was basically a studio. He’d tried to read some more of his father’s journal but he couldn’t focus on the words. The television hadn’t been able to hold him and finally giving up he’d grabbed his keys and cell phone and headed outside. He hoped a brisk walk in the late summer afternoon sun would cure him.
It hadn’t worked. It felt like he had a hook buried deep inside him, dragging him closer and closer. And now he knew what it was that was drawing him. Morgan. An hour later he found himself walking down her block, past the stop sign they had kissed under. He walked passed the giant oak tree that shot at least sixty feet into the air and had probably been there long before the houses and apartment buildings that had cropped up around it.
Finally, he turned the corner and he could see it. Morgan’s second floor apartment. He could picture her in there, making coffee in the little four cup coffee pot from the seventies that she treated like a national treasure. Adrien shook his head at himself, knowing he was being foolish, but also knowing there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.
He had tried to call her over and over again the past few weeks. He had gone to her apartment before too and every time she refused to see him, refused to answer his calls. He wasn’t even going to try this time. He just needed to feel close to her for a little while, to ease the ache that had become his constant companion since that terrible day at the cabin.
His cell phone buzzed in his pocket and he answered it without look at he caller id. For a bare moment, he thought it might be Morgan, but that hope was dashed when Grant spoke.
“Hey, Adrien. Just wanted to see how things were going, since…you know.” His swords trailed off.
“Yeah, I know,” Adrien said shortly.
“Hey, what are you doing today? I know the bars closed today so I was thinking I would swing by and we could go check out that new spot in Westmont.” Adrien knew what bar Grant was talking about but he just shook his head.
“No, no. That’s okay. I’m not at home anyways.”
“You’re not at…Wait a minute, tell me you’re not standing in front of Morgan’s apartment again.” Adrien didn’t say anything but that was answer enough, “Come on man, you got to stop this.”
“What else am I supposed to do, Fish?” Adrien asked, frustration and pain filling his voice.
“You can’t give up, Adrien. She’s your mate, and you love her. Sometimes, you have to fight for what you love.” His friend said the words as if it was so simple, so easy, but it was anything but. He quickly said goodbye and hung up his end of the line. He knew Grant meant well, but Adrien was at a loss. He looked up at her building once more before slowly turning and walking back the way he had come.
Morgan watched Adrien’s retreating back until it disappeared around a curve in the road. She knew she should mind more, but she hadn’t been surprised when she had glanced out of the front window to see Adrien standing outside her apartment…again. She shook her head as she turned away. There were a million thoughts and emotions all tangled together in her head and she still hadn’t been able to separate them yet, make sense of them. It seemed like nothing made sense anymore. Her whole world had been flipped upside down. She had just found out that an entirely different species existed!
Morgan thought she deserved a little time to sort out her own feelings before facing Adrien. She just wasn’t ready to yet. Everything that had happened at the cabin rushed through her mind, as it did so often the past weeks. She walked over to the couch in her living room and threw herself down, staring up at the white ceiling, but not really seeing it.
Those weeks in the cabin with Adrien had been the best of her entire life, and that last day had been the worst. Her mind still reeled from the news that Harris had told her. Bear…people. There were bear people, and Adrien was one of them. Morgan shook her head, squeezing her eyes tight. What the hell had happened to her normal, sane world? It had all dissolved the moment that guy Harris had barged into the kitchen and dropped that nuclear bomb.
Her heart lurched a little, a painful remainder that her feelings for Adrien were still in full effect, despite her rational brain telling her she needed to get over him. He was nothing but a big lying…bear. Her eyes popped open. She still just couldn’t make heads or tails of anything anymore and that was what frightened her the most. Because despite everything, she wasn’t afra
id of Adrien. There had even been times over those past weeks spend at the cabin that she herself had noticed something a little strange.
Morgan recalled that night in the bar, months ago now, where some biker guys had tried to give her a hard time and Adrien had stepped in, single-handedly fighting them off. And she had seen something then, even if her mind had refused to believe it. She had seen his arm actually change, fur where skin should be, and claws replacing finger nails.
With a curse she jumped up and once again began pacing her apartment. She glanced to the side that was lined with canvases covered in paint. It was her only way to make sense of what had happened because she sure as hell couldn’t talk to anyone about it. She paused in the middle of her living room. Well, there was one person she could talk to, who would be able to explain everything to her. She shook off the idea. But she couldn’t shake the tiny electric thrill that shot through her off as easily.
She wasn’t exactly sure what had kept her away from him so long. She wasn’t afraid of him, she knew that he would never hurt her, somehow she knew that in her bones. Maybe she just hadn’t known which questions to ask, but now she did. And now she needed answers.
Morgan looked down at the painting she had stopped in front of. A scene she could picture so clearly in her head still. That day when she had tried to surprise Adrien with dinner and had walked down to that stream to catch fish. She couldn’t help the small smile that twisted her lips at that epic failure, but he had been so sweet that even now, even with everything, it shot a bolt of warmth through her body.
She stared at the painting, a swath of blue at the bottom, the stream. Sun dappled its surface and made everything look dreamlike, but that was how she remembered it that day. Standing there on the shore with that old rusty fishing pole in hand and freezing as the large bear came into view on the other side. She remembered the exact bronze shade of his fur, the way his ears had perked up as he’d noticed her. It had been obvious that the animal had been as surprised as she was to stumble upon each other there beside the stream. But what she remembered most where his eyes, golden amber eyes that had stared at her. Just like Adrien’s.
BAD BOY ROMANCE: DIESEL: Contemporary Bad Boy Biker MC Romance (Box Set) (New Adult Sports Romance Short Stories Boxset) Page 64