Lucas:I love you too.
Lucas:I’ll be waiting with bells on for this tailor.
Ajax:You’ll be the sexiest man in Serveno. Everyone will be jealous of me.
Lucas was absolutely certain no one would even notice him in Serveno. At least, he hoped that was true. Logically, Lucas understood he dated the general of Noir’s royal guard. A soldier that had risen in the ranks so fast and young, he impressed an entire kingdom and landed the lofty position as Noir’s personal guard. Lucas had always been fully aware he lived with an actual prince. It was just easy as hell to forget those things since they lived in America and Noir was just a normal person at home. For the most part. Kind of. He was the typical ridiculously wealthy person who could and would slaughter a person in a heartbeat and immediately get back to his breakfast. All of that aside, Lucas hadn’t once considered what it truly meant to live as part of the royal family. He never thought he would meet a king. Lucas definitely never saw himself on the arm of someone as powerful as Ajax. Butterflies stirred in Lucas’ stomach. He really got to fuck that anytime he wanted. It was sad how much Lucas wanted to hunt down Ajax and throw him over his shoulder caveman style. Lucas just couldn’t seem to get enough. Ajax was a sickness. Lucas desperately wanted to feel this forever.
Lucas lifted his booted foot and set it on the chair. As he tied the black leather combat-style boot, the bedroom door opened. A very pissed-off-looking Ajax strolled into the room. His rage-filled gaze skimmed the room. First, his stare locked in the leather bag, waiting for Lucas on the bed. Then his total fury focused on Lucas.
“I’d hoped Portland had been taking the mickey out when he called, asking for the time and place of your arrival. What in the fuck are you doing? You’remine. This shite is done.”
While the growl in Ajax’s tone was sexy as hell, Lucas had worried about this. He was finally well enough to get back to work, and he needed to do just that. Noir did everything for Lucas’ mom and him. Lucas needed to be useful. He couldn’t be a charity case.
“Noir asked this of me. Even if I was positive I could say no, I can’t. Knowing Noir’s taste and expectations, the clothes from that tailor alone probably cost every bit of a million dollars. That’s just a tiny blip of what he’s done for Mom and me. It’s just a quick trip to meet Portland. I’ve done it countless times with zero issues. It’ll likely take less than half an hour.”
“You’re not going. Noir can send your little flirty friend, Kash. He’ll do anything for a pound.”
Lucas cocked his head to one side. A thought occurred to him. “Does Serveno use UK currency? It seems that’s something I should know before our trip.”
“Yes. Don’t change the subject. I forbid you from doing this. I almost lost you once. That’s not something I can do twice.”
Lucas dropped his foot to the floor. He closed the distance between them, snagging Ajax’s waist and hauling his other half against him. “Sexy, please stop. This is Portland we’re talkingabout. While he can be vicious when crossed, it’s me. I’m perfectly safe.”
Ajax’s eyes burned with something Lucas couldn’t explain. He was truly scared and hurt that Lucas would do this to him. “Please don’t go.”
Lucas’ chest ached. He knew Ajax would never lower himself to begging, but he had done so for Lucas. This mattered to him.
He took a deep breath and slowly released it. “I’ve already told Noir I’ll do the run. You know I can’t take it back.”
Ajax pulled out of Lucas’ hold, looking like a man ready to tear down everything he knew and possessed. “I fucking can. He’s not pulling you back into this bullshit. I love Noir like a son, but he’s not doing this to me. This is too much to demand of anyone.” Ajax snatched up the leather satchel and stormed from the room.
Lucas pinched the spot between his eyes and blew out a sigh. This was way too much drama over a simple drop. Lucas could see Ajax reacting like this if Lucas had been sent to collect on a debt, or to make a point about missed payments not being tolerated. But this drop was a cakewalk.
With an aggravated huff, Lucas went after Ajax. Ajax must have used one hell of an angry long stride. Lucas had only seen Ajax walk like that once when someone didn’t show up for their shift. The guy was gone. Luckily, he caught sight of him as he steppedinside Noir’s private sitting room. The guard outside the door held the leather bag, looking bored.
Lucas flashed him a smile as he moved toward the door. He wasn’t entirely sure he would be allowed inside. Ajax’s yelled voice reached him before Lucas even made it to the doorway.
“How fucking dare you put Lucas in the position of running again?”
Lucas peeked inside the room, hoping like hell his mom wasn’t in there. She would have questions he couldn’t answer. Thankfully, it was only Noir and Ajax inside.
Noir’s response froze Lucas’ feet to the floor before he stepped fully into view. “Your part is done, Ajax. The boy fell into line, agreeing to stay and regaining his strength. You no longer have to pretend to be the lovesick fool.”
Lucas’ entire body seized for half a second before the pain hit him so hard, the blow rocked him on his feet. His pulse pounded in his ears. Each breath he took gave him less oxygen than the last. Hyperventilating loomed. Then the rage hit. He should have known. He fucking should have known.
Lucas took the bag from the guard and stormed off. He already had his wallet, phone, and keys. Lucas could just walk away now. That was exactly what he did. On his deathbed, Lucas had possessed a clearer mind than he had since he kissed Ajax. He had known when he was on his final breath that Noir never cared about him. Lucas had been fully aware that he was nothing toany of these people. If he had died, they wouldn’t have batted a fucking eye. They wouldn’t have even thought about him again.
Lucas was in his car and on his way in under a minute. He would do this one drop and hope it was enough for the prince to keep helping his mom. Lucas didn’t care about many things in this world. He had let love blind him. The pains in his chest might very well kill him. He wasn’t sure he wasn’t actually having a heart attack. Lucas had never felt this much pain, and he had been stabbed repeatedly. Noir wanted this job done so goddamn badly that he had fucked with Lucas’ head and heart in a way Lucas couldn’t handle.
Lucas called the first name that came to mind. His call was answered on the first ring.
“Hello?”
“I want out.”
Thankfully, no questions were asked. Lucas might have driven into a tree if there had been a single inquiry. “I’ll text you a meeting spot. Come to me. I’ll keep you safe.”
A weight lifted from Lucas’ chest. The lessened pressure didn’t help much, but he stayed conscious. He was scared as hell of what he might do when the shock went away. He might kill someone. No matter what happened, Lucas knew one damn thing. They had finally broken him. He was done.
