Mended (Lucian & Lia #3)(4)
I smile, thinking my aunt knows Lia very well. “No doubt about it,” I agree. We both finish our coffee, making small talk. Truthfully, I’m dragging my feet like a * and talking to my aunt gives me a convenient excuse to do it. Her knowing look, when I continue to stall, lets me know she’s well aware of what I’m doing but is too nice to call me on it.
“If it’s okay with you, Luc, I’m going to talk to a friend of mine who runs an alcohol treatment program. I know cocaine is different, but some of the withdrawal symptoms are similar I would imagine. Unless you plan to enter a facility to withdraw, which of course I would recommend, then we need a plan. I think Jeff would even see you on an outpatient basis.”
“I’m not doing anything inpatient,” I reply immediately. “I know it might be better if I did, but there is just too much going on right now for that. If you trust this guy, I’m willing to talk to him about treatment. I’m not naive enough to think I can do it on my own. I didn’t use anything while Lia was in the hospital, but I was about to climb the walls. Stress is a trigger for me, which, of course, is impossible to avoid.”
“I’ll talk to him today then. Call me later if you can and let me know how things go with Lia. Just remember that she’s been through a lot lately. Even if you want to order her to come back home with you immediately, you shouldn’t. If she needs time, then give it to her.”
Frowning, I shake my head. “I can’t do that, Fae. I can’t fuc—breathe without her.”
My aunt smiles at my attempt to cover my curse word. It’s not as if I don’t cuss around her, but I try to avoid the F-word. Holding a hand in the air, she asks, “Then why are we still here? I’m waiting for you to grab a paper and start reading it next. For a man on a mission, you’re rather slow-moving.”
“As long as I’m here, I still have hope that she’s coming back home with me. Soon, all bets are off.” I get to my feet, knowing I can no longer delay.
My aunt tells me that she’s going to stay and return some emails for a bit. “Good luck, Luc. Remember, just let Lia listen to you and then you do the same. Sometimes it’s as simple as that.” When I nod slowly, she gives me an encouraging smile. “Call me later.” Surprising us both, I drop a kiss onto her cheek before leaving. If my aunt’s reaction to a simple act of affection is any indication, I’ve been failing both of the women I love. Would the one woman I love more than anyone else in the world forgive my failings?
Chapter Two
Lia
“So, are we talking castration here or just a bullet to the ass?” Rose asks, looking deadly serious. “I’m telling you, after being cheated on by pencil-dick Jake, I’m happy to take care of this for you.”
I flop down onto the sofa next to her and run a hand through my hair. The fact that I don’t even know where to start is somewhat scary considering the shit I’ve lived through. Will there ever be a time that my life will be uneventful and boring? Most people wouldn’t wish for that like I do. Not that life with Lucian Quinn could ever be humdrum, but I’d be more than happy to meet him at the door each evening with a standard, “How was your day, dear?” No, not us though. I had to go and discover an absentee parent. When Rose sticks me in the side with her finger, I finally say, “I’m not ready to do him any bodily harm at this point, so hang tight.”
“For you to leave him, Lia¸ it must be something major. You two are crazy about each other.”
I rub absently at my chest, wondering if I’m too young to have pains there. I fear it’s actually just my heart hurting though. I’m reeling from my discovery today and I desperately need the man I love. Unfortunately, he discovered my father’s identify weeks ago and didn’t tell me. Because of him, I was completely blindsided earlier. I’m so angry and hurt that I alternate between wanting to scream and hit something to feeling the overwhelming urge to cry.
Never in a million years could I have imagined a meeting with my college advisor would inadvertently trigger the revelation of my biological father’s identity. My mother had guarded his identity like a national secret. I had long ago resolved myself to the fact that I would never know who he was. In truth, after living with an abusive mother and then an even worse stepfather, I’d come to hate all thoughts of my real father. What kind of man would leave his child to endure the cruelty and malevolence I had? Certainly not a man I’d ever want to meet. Now though, everything I believed had been blown to bits. My father is a rich and powerful man, if the appearance of his offices were any indication. He had seemed genuinely shaken and distressed when I’d blasted him about leaving me behind with my mother. He claimed to have never had any knowledge of my existence and a part of me believed him, knowing how evil my mother was. Still though, it was a bit surprising she would choose to live a lesser lifestyle just to get back at him for leaving her behind. Maybe she thought he wouldn’t care or support her, but I had to think that the man I met today, who surrounded himself with his brother and niece, would have taken care of his obligations. She had even named me after him, either from some bit of nostalgia or as a sick joke. Knowing her, I would almost bet on the latter.
Turning on the sofa to face Rose, I say, “I met my father today.”
Her face goes ashen before color blooms back into her cheeks. Her mouth moves, but no sounds escape. She visibly swallows before saying huskily, “What? I thought you didn’t know who he was?”