“Yes, Chef,” the kitchen responded. Lia stopped at a mini fridge, pulled out a bottle of already open wine, and held it in the air. I nodded. Quickly she filled glasses, Munroe taking one and offering it to me, and then nodded toward an arched doorway that was partially cracked open to the night. Following her outside to what must be a table for the employees to take quick breaks, I dropped down into a chair and heaved out a sigh.
“Brice came and warned me. What the hell happened?” Lia went right to the point, glancing over her shoulder at her kitchen. I winced. My drama was taking her from a very busy night.
“Tough looking group,” Munroe observed, leaning back to absentmindedly rub a hand over Lia’s shoulder. She leaned into him, and he dug deeper, working out whatever knots she had there. I’d met Munroe a few times at the weekly dinners now, and though I was told he had an obscene amount of money, he’d always been kind and seemed down-to-earth to me.
“Luch’s father and brothers. They came here to order him to come home and offer me money to stay away from him.”
Lia shot Munroe a knowing look. “Sounds like the ice queen.”
I raised an eyebrow in question.
“My mum. She’s… tricky.”
“Tricky is an understatement. In fact, she’d probably fit in just fine with Luch’s family. It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? That such great people could come from … that?”
“I don’t know Luch all that well, but from the times our paths have crossed he seems class. Honestly, I’msurprised he went after them and didn’t stay with you,” Munroe observed, and I took a deep gulp of the wine. There was a chill to the night air and I crossed my arms over my chest. Maybe it was just a chill in my bones from the run-in. I couldn’t be sure.
“I needed to make sure they were leaving.”
I started and turned to see Luch walking up, his shoulders slumped, hands in his pockets.
“Luch.”
“Do you want us to?—”
“No, you can stay.” I threw a glance at Lia. I didn’t like whatever had just happened with Luch, and I wasn’t sure I could trust him now. But Lia? I trusted her. “I might need backup.”
“Happy to help. I own many knives.” Lia gave Luch a scary grin, and he sighed, wrenching a hand through his hair while Munroe bit back a chuckle.
“I, obviously, didn’t know they’d be here tonight.” Luch didn’t sit, instead he paced in front of the table, his face impossible to read.
“That’s a relief,” I said, somewhat mollified. I watched him pace. Five steps forward, five steps back.
“I … I don’t know how to explain why they are the way that they are.” Luch pressed his lips together before continuing. “At least, I can’t.”
“Not a great excuse, buddy. You’re not giving Faelan much to go on,” Lia said and I could have applauded her.
“I am both a part of my family and at the same time I want nothing to do with what they want for me. Their blood runs in my veins, but that’s where the similarities stop. They can’t … won’t … accept that.” Luch continued hispacing, mulling over his words, and my heart felt like it was bleeding out with every step he took. “Something broke in them, my father particularly, the day I was born. I’ve been living with the guilt of it my whole life.”
At that, Lia looked at me in question, but I just gave a subtle shake of my head. I didn’t want to interrupt Luch.
“It turned him cold. Colder than he was, I’m told. The only soft spot I’ve ever seen in him is for my mum. His inability to help her has soured something inside of him. He’s looking for an outlet—someone to blame. And if it isn’t me, for being born, then it’s for the healer that stood in his place because he didn’t make it from his surgery in time to help.”
At that, Lia’s mouth rounded, and again, I shook my head.
“I’ve lived my whole life with the guilt of being born.”
“Does your mum feel the same way?” Munroe asked, and Luch stopped, surprised at the question. It was almost as if he’d forgotten Lia and Munroe were even there.
“No, she doesn’t. She’s bottled sunshine. You’d never know she was in a wheelchair or had any difficulties in her life if you didn’t see her. She’s never made me feel like I was a burden.”
“Well that’s something, isn’t it?” Lia asked, quickly glancing at her watch.
“It is. But not when I have the rest of them to deal with. You saw for yourself how they are. They’re relentless.”
“But why?” I burst out, frustrated, and stood. “Why, Luch? Why do you need to go home? This was beyond anything a normal family would request. What aren’t you telling me?”
At that, Lia and Munroe both stood as well.
