Travis and Chace looked and Kyle’s eyes were open, he had regained consciousness.
“Hey, partner.”
“Bro, told you so.”
“Happy you proved me wrong, this time. Where’s…”
“Your wife and kids are on their way home, they were at her cousin’s remember? I’m going to call her now and tell her that you’re awake. You try to convince this one here to get his ass to the airport.”
Travis stood up, punched Chace in the arm and walked out.
“He’s right, you should get out of here.”
“You’re my partner. I’m senior man, I say when I leave.” Chace laughed.
“Chace, please go. I’m fine and once my wife gets here, I’ll be even better. Shane needs you now, not me.”
“You sure?”
“If you were laying here and I had a plane to catch wouldn’t you be telling me the same thing?”
“Yeah, I would.”
“Then get your ugly ass out of here.”
“Kyle, thanks for pulling through. I’d hate to have to train another partner.” Chace winked.
Kyle smiled, “Go, get out! Wish Shane luck for me.”
“Will do. I’ll call you later.”
Chace left to run home and pack.
Lucy’s brother Jake picked her up from the hospital. She was so happy to see him and not her overbearing parents.
“Lucy, it really upsets me to see you like this.”
“The doctor said I’m ok, don’t worry.”
“No, I mean miserable, heartbroken.”
“That’s Mom and Dad’s fault, if they wouldn’t have kicked Ace to the curb and…”
“Ace is responsible for his actions, not Mom and Dad.”
“Ace didn’t do anything wrong or illegal. I don’t like that he is a stripper, it bothers me. Ace loves it though and he isn’t sleeping with those women, he is coming home to me, so I’ve learned to live with it. He never lied to me about any of it. I found him and pursued him. He is the reason I broke up with Tom.”
“What? I didn’t know any of…”
“Yes, because Mom and Dad gave you their version of the story.”
“Maybe their version is all they see. I know Dad was really angry that Ace never told him.”
“I understand that Dad was upset but you know what, it wasn’t Ace’s responsibility to tell Dad about every aspect of his life.”
“Lucy, if you really love Ace and you accept his lifestyle, then why did you break up?”
“Ace left me because he refused to come between me and my family knowing how much you all mean to me.”
“Do Mom and Dad know that?”
“Yes.”
“Then our parents are morons. Who the hell would let someone who loves you and our family as much as Ace does, walk out the door?”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It matters to me. I don’t want to see you look like this or even worse, end up with a fucking loser like Tom again. I love you and I want you to be happy.”
“I love you too.”
“I’m going to talk to Jon and tell him everything when we get home and then we are going to have an intervention with Mom and Dad.”
“Jake, I love you for wanting to help but…”
“No buts, Sis. Not this time.”
Shane’s last stop before the airport was the gym to grab his gloves. He couldn’t believe that he forgot to take his gloves.
“Good luck, Saturday.”
Shane looked up and Andy was standing there holding a duffle bag.
“You left so fast this morning. I never got to say goodbye.”
“I’m not big into goodbyes.”
“So you’re all packed up?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure you won’t…”
“I’m sure, if you’re sure?”
“I’m with Luke.”
“Like I said, good luck at your fight.”
Andy turned his back to Shane and walked out. Shane just stood there staring until he couldn’t see him anymore, then he muttered, “Goodbye, Andy.”
Declan brought Kaylee breakfast before he left for the airport. She was doing much better but was still in need of the wheelchair because her wounds were still too tender to use the crutches. Knowing that the person who did this to her was now dead helped to put her mind somewhat at ease.
“I wish I didn’t have to leave you like this.”
“I’m fine now, really. In fact, I think I should move back to my apartment.”
“No, absolutely not!”
“But, I’m not in danger anymore, so there isn’t any reason for me to be here.”
“Please stay here at least until you are out of that wheelchair. I can provide you everything you need.”
“Declan, you’ve already done so much for me. I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness. I don’t know when I will even be able to repay you for all you’ve done so far.”
Declan walked over and sat down next to Kaylee.
“You’re not taking advantage of me. I’ve told you that and I mean it. God blessed me with wealth and I’m sharing it. Please let us help you. I know the rest of the guys will be upset too if you leave, especially while we are gone and can’t check up on you.”
“Ok, I’ll stay but only until you get back.”
“We can renegotiate then on Monday.”
“You’re impossible.”
“Pretty much, why do you think I live alone, I have yet to find anyone who could put up with me.”
Kaylee didn’t feel comfortable talking about Declan’s private life. She decided to change the subject.
“Please thank Ace, Shane and Chace for me and wish Shane good luck at his fight.”
“I will. Can I get you anything before I leave?”
“No thank you.”
Declan stood up and then looked down at Kaylee and smiled.
“Take care of yourself, see you in a few days.”
Ace was the first one to arrive at the airport. As he sat waiting for the other guys he thought about how Lucy was supposed to be there with him for her first trip to Vegas. He had promised to show her the sights and take her to a show. Now, he sat here alone with his empty promises.
“You look miserable.”
“Chace, how kind of you to point that out.”
“We’re going to have fun this weekend. No thoughts about women unless we’re having sex with them, deal?”
“Deal.”
Declan, Buddy, Shane and Luke came walking over together.
“I want to thank you all for coming with me, it means the world to have you all here with me.”
“You know there’s no place else we’d be, Shane.”
“Thanks, Dec.”
Shane hugged Declan. Ace and Chace joined in. Luke stepped back and watched the four of them. Buddy walked over to Luke, “They’ve got a four way bromance going on there.”
“Looks that way.”
Shane caught a glimpse of Luke standing there out of the corner of his eye looking left out. When they were all done hugging he walked over to Luke, grabbed him and kissed him. Luke pulled away.
“Shane, not here in the middle of the airport.”
“Why not?”
“Do you really want a picture of us kissing plastered all over social media?”
“I don’t care.”
The guys all started towards the exit door where the jet was, leaving Shane and Luke to have their discussion in private or at least without them standing listening.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”
“Not ready for people to know you’re with me? Or not ready to have your privacy invaded over social media?”
Shane was getting himself upset.
“I just need a bit of time to adjust. This is new to me.”
“Being with me or is it that you never broadcasted that you were gay before?”
“Maybe a little of both?”
“Luke, I asked you to come as my boyfriend. Am I supposed to pretend you’re just an acquaintance and not spend time with you or introduce you as such? Am I supposed to say you’re my doctor?”
“Shane, calm down. Please.”
“I’m going now, if you want to come as my boyfriend then come with me. If you can’t handle that then stay here.”
Shane reached down and grabbed his bags and walked off to catch his flight, leaving Luke behind.
Luke watched as Shane got farther and farther from him and in those few moments he realized the only thing that mattered was Shane and if the world couldn’t accept their relationship or him, then so be it. He picked up his bags and began to shout, “Hey, Shane Hart, wait up.”
Shane turned around. By the time Luke arrived to where Shane was standing there were people watching Shane now that he had been called out by Luke.
“Yeah.”
Luke dropped his bags and pulled Shane into a hug, then he kissed him while everyone watched and snapped pictures.
“I don’t want to lose you.”
“I feel the same way.”
“Let’s get going, Vegas awaits us.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you?”
“For caring about me more than you care about what other people think.”
“I care about you, Shane.”
“Ditto. Now let’s go before Declan comes and kicks my ass for holding up the flight.”
Shane reached down and picked up both his and Luke’s bags and headed towards the plane with Luke by his side.
DECLAN REACHED FOR HIS phone to see what time it was.
“It’s six o’clock.”
Declan turned his head and Shane was sitting on his bed.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m nervous, I couldn’t sleep, now I feel fatigued. I don’t think I’m going to win this fight.”
Declan reached out for Shane’s arm and pulled him down on the bed. He moved over and wrapped his arm around Shane and rubbed his belly.
“Ok, calm down. You’re going to win this fight because you’re Shane ‘Hartless’ Hart, remember. You are the champion, you work your ass off and you got this. Now relax, close your eyes and exhale.”
Shane started to relax as soon as Declan held him. Declan knew him better than he knew himself.
“Dec, what if I lose?”
“I don’t think you’re going to lose but so what if you do? You just train harder and you win the next fight.”
“Thanks, Dec.”
Declan hoped to hell Shane won because he couldn’t imagine consoling him if he didn’t. Shane had never lost a wrestling match in high school or college. Then when he decided to jump into MMA nothing changed, he just continued winning. Tonight better be no different.
“Shane, you awake?”
Shane didn’t answer. Declan pulled up the blanket to cover Shane, closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
Ace was running on the treadmill, it was all he could really do since his wrist was broken. He decided when he got back home he was going to resign from the fire department and move on. He needed to start over. He’d miss the guys but he couldn’t handle being in town knowing he could run into Lucy.
“Once a runner, always a runner.”
Ace looked up and Chace was standing there drinking a protein shake.
“Running was always my escape, sometimes literally. If it wasn’t for my Track Scholarship, we wouldn’t be here together now.”
“I can’t even remember what life was like without you guys. You’re my brothers.”
“Chace, I’ve been thinking and when we get back home I’m resigning from my job and…”
“Running away?”
“You don’t understand.”
“Don’t you think I wanted to run away after Kim broke up with me? But I didn’t, I leaned on you guys, we went out, drank, talked and in time life became bearable again.”
“I just don’t think I can do it.”
“Have you two seen Shane?”
“Hey, Luke.”
“Chace.”
“We haven’t seen Shane today. He’s probably just working off some nervous energy pacing somewhere.”
“If you see him, tell him I was looking for him.”
Luke walked off. Ace waited for him to get out of earshot before he spoke.
“I bet he’s with Declan.”
“Yeah, Shane always runs to Declan whenever he needs guidance or reassurance.”
“I’m going to go hit the shower, I’ll catch up to you later.”
Ace left and Chace headed for the weights.
Declan was lying in bed replying to emails while he waited for eight o’clock to come around to wake up Shane. He had texted Buddy earlier to see what time he needed to get him to the gym. Buddy said it was more important for him to be well rested than train so to give him a few hours to sleep. There was a knock on the door. Declan slipped out of the bed and went to answer the door.
“Luke.”
“I’m looking for Shane, have you seen him?”
“Yeah, come in.”
“I’ve been looking all over for him.”
“He’s been asleep for almost two hours now.”
“Asleep?”
Luke looked around and Shane wasn’t on the couch.
“He was anxious about the fight. He fell asleep while we were talking. Buddy said to give him a few hours.”
“You were talking and Shane fell asleep?”
“Right.”
“Where is he?”
“In my bed.”
“Where did he fall asleep?”
“In my bed.”
“And where were you?”
“I was asleep, I woke up to Shane sitting on my bed. He was upset, I told him to lay down and relax and while we were talking he fell asleep. Nothing happened, if that’s what you think?”
“I don’t know what I think or why my boyfriend couldn’t talk to me and had to come running to you?”
Shane woke up and heard Declan and Luke talking. He grabbed his phone and walked out of the bedroom.
“Thanks, Dec. Luke let’s go talk about this in our room.”
“Let’s talk about this now.”
“I’m going to go take a shower.”
Declan walked into the bedroom and closed the door.
“Luke, nothing happened. Dec has been the one who has always been there for me, for every fight.”
“I shouldn’t have come.”
Luke turned around to walk out. Shane grabbed his arm.
“Please don’t leave.”
“Why, you don’t need me.”
“I do need you, Luke.”
“For what?”
“This.”
Shane kissed Luke. Luke pulled away.
“I just want to be as important to you as you are to me.”
“You are important to me. I’ve never had a guy who actually cared. I’ve just always worked through everything with Declan. I’m sorry. I should’ve woken you up and talked to you. I never meant to hurt you. Please Luke, don’t leave me.”
“Come here.”
Luke hugged Shane.
“I’m sorry. I overreacted. I was upset that I couldn’t find you and then when I did, I got jealous. I know it was stupid. I want to be there for you, not Declan.”
“Don’t be jealous, he’s not the one I keep thinking about having sex with tonight after my fight.”
“I think I’m falling in love with you, Shane.”
Shane didn’t reply he just grabbed Luke’s face and kissed him.
Chace, Declan, Buddy and Ace were waiting for Shane and Luke in the lobby to go and eat. Shane would typically eat about four hours before his fight and then not again until after the fight.
“How’s our kid after his nap, Declan?”
“To be truthful, Buddy, I’m not sure. Luke showed up and I didn’t really get to talk to Shane again after that.”
“I hope Luke is as nice as he appears and he isn’t going to fuck our kid up.”
“I think he really cares about Shane but he’s struggling with being the outsider here.”
“Well then we just have to make a conscious effort to include him.”
“You’re right, Ace.”
“I ran a quick background check on him and I didn’t find anything.”
“Chace, seriously?”
“Hell yeah.”
“Here they come now.”
Buddy walked over to Shane and hugged him.
“How you doing, Kid?”
“Last fight, I felt off. I know it was because of Robert. But Buddy, I’m not confident I can win this fight. I couldn’t sleep last night. Once I did my weigh in…”
Declan walked over and rubbed Shane’s back.
“Shane, look at me.”
Shane looked at Declan. Luke stood there becoming jealous again. He hated that he couldn’t help Shane, he was a doctor for Christ’s sake.
“You can do this. We’re all here to support you. Luke’s going to be front row cheering you on and you’re going to show your man exactly what a winner is made of. Then later on you two can celebrate.” Declan winked.
“I love you, Dec. You always know what I need to hear.”
Shane hugged Declan and then turned around and kissed Luke quickly on the lips and held his hand.
“Thank you all for being here with me, now let’s go eat. I have a fight to win.”
Robert showed up at the hotel, he tried to find out what room Shane was in so he could pay him a visit. He knew if he tried hard enough that he could get Shane back, at least long enough to use him to his advantage and piss Declan the hell off. He was standing in the lobby pissed that the front desk wouldn’t give him Shane’s room number when he overheard some girls passing by.
“I can’t believe I got my t-shirt signed by Shane Hart.”
“I know, he is so fucking hot.”
“Excuse me, did you say Shane Hart?”
“Yes, we just saw him in the restaurant.”
“Really? I’m a huge fan. Which one?”
“Fiamma Trattoria & Bar.”
“Thanks.”
Robert headed off to the restaurant. He should have known Shane would be packing in the pasta and steamed veggies about now.
Ace of Spades (Underground Affair Series Book 1) Page 22
