Inceptive

by M. D. Melai

  “Well, James saw Nikolas digging around in some old documents that he wasn’t supposed to have access to,” she explained. “When he saw what Nikolas was looking up, he knew it had to have been because of Lucas. Why else would Nikolas care about Lucas’s family? From what I’ve heard, James went to my father and told him everything. My father has put out an APB on the location of Lucas. I’m not sure what he wants with him, but I know it isn’t good. Frankly, I think Lucas is lucky to still be alive at this point.”

  My breath hitched as if all the life in me had just left. I couldn’t move as I tried to react to what she had just said. I couldn’t even feel the burn on my hand anymore from the coffee cup being so hot.

  Faith stared at me like I had just had a stroke. I wasn’t completely sure I hadn’t either.

  She snapped her fingers in front of my eyes, and it caused me to blink, bringing me back to reality.

  “Do they know where to find him?” was the first thing I asked.

  “No,” she said, sure of herself. “Nikolas has already warned Lucas. The only thing good about this situation is Lucas seems to be pretty well protected by your family. I know that will make it hard to get to him. Thank goodness.”

  “But not impossible?” I added on.

  “No, not impossible,” she agreed.

  I nodded my head as my heart dropped once more. Fate was playing a cruel joke on me, and I didn’t like it very much. Heinrich was determined to take someone from me one way or the other. I needed to start playing his game with him—play smarter, but how?

  “Just know that he’s getting close, Lily,” Faith said after a few minutes of me trying to wrap my head around everything.

  “What? Sorry, I didn’t hear you,” I said as I put myself back into reality.

  “Lucas is getting very close to the truth. My father wouldn’t be taking this much of a drastic measure if Lucas wasn’t close to some very important information. He has bigger things to worry about.”

  “Do you know what it is?” I asked.

  “No,” Faith said. “Nikolas only got so much information before he, too, was warned.”

  “Your father wouldn’t hurt Nikolas, would he?”

  “He killed Adela,” she reminded me. “He’s capable of anything.”

  At that statement, I knew that not only was I scared for Lucas’s life, but Faith was scared for Nikolas’s. This was all starting to get too real. No one was safe anymore.

  Faith and I said our goodbyes as we walked out of the shop. The waiter was about to lock it when I realized that I had left my phone inside. I needed to call Emilio immediately and tell him what Faith had just told me.

  “Do you want me to stay?” Faith asked as I opened the door to the shop.

  “No, it’s okay. I’ll be safe,” I said as I held up my locket. “This is my family’s territory.”

  “Okay, be safe and call if you need anything or find out anything else,” she said as she started toward her car.

  I nodded and gave her a wave before I turned around and headed back into the shop. I found my phone on top of the table where I had laid it earlier. Thanking the waiter as I left, I let him know I would let Benito know what he had done for me and my friend. He thanked me and walked me to the door.

  I checked my phone as soon as he closed the door and locked it. Violet had texted me to let me know that everything was okay back home and not to worry. I texted her back and let her know that I was on my way home and would be there shortly.

  The street had no cars passing through as I looked both ways before I started to cross. My foot didn’t even leave the curb as I looked up and saw a dark figure across the street, blocking the entrance to the parking garage.

  My breaths became shallow and my heart rate started to pick up as his face came into view, and I realized who it was. His blue eyes were just as taunting, even from across the street, as they were when I looked into them that night at Insanity, and the day I went to meet Viktor. I instantly knew who was watching me.

  James.

  He stood there and just stared at me, not making a single move, a devilish grin curled on his face.

  Sweat started to bead on my forehead as I started to contemplate how I was going to escape without him taking me. I tried to think about where I was and the closest place I could go without getting caught.

  I searched the area, but nothing was open. This was New York, why wasn’t there a place open? I needed to go somewhere that had good security—somewhere he couldn’t get to me.

  I moved without thinking as I turned to my right and started to walk as quickly as I could toward my destination.

  When I glanced back over my shoulder, James was crossing the street, tailing me—too close for comfort.

  My body, understanding the situation, picked up speed, and I started to run as fast as I could to escape his view. I made a quick turn down an alley that I knew was a shortcut. It was dark and there was no sign of any lights. I heard bangs off of surfaces as if he was trying to hit me with something—barely missing.

  I finally neared the end of the alley, and luckily, there was a streetlight that was still lit. I stopped as I looked back down the alley. I couldn’t see him, but I could hear his boots pound the ground as they were jogging toward me. I wasted no time lingering there before I took off again.

  My heart pounded even harder as I raced down the street. My adrenaline found a new wave, and I pushed my body as hard as I could until I reached the building I had been longing to see.

  I couldn’t hear him behind me anymore, but with one glance across the street to the brick wall, I saw his shadow. He was watching me intently.

  The doorman quickly opened the door and let me in. I told him how there was a man following me, and then I told him not to allow anyone into the building if he didn’t recognize them.

  The elevators were on the other side of the lobby, and I pressed the button as soon as I reached them. It took ages before it finally dinged for me to get on. I turned and pressed the button, and then I glanced out to the front door. There James stood, at the front door looking in, smiling wickedly at me—his eyes glaring at me.

  His eyes.

  It was like something finally clicked. I knew, now, why they haunted me so much, and why every time he looked at me my skin crawled.

  I hurried and pushed four different level buttons as the doors closed, none of them the floor I was actually looking to get off at. I didn’t want James to even remotely know what floor I would be on—I would use the stairs to reach my destination.

  I needed to get to Lucas. We needed to talk, now.

  As I walked down the building’s hallway, the only thing I could hear over the sound of my heavy breathing was my thoughts. I had ran up three flights of stairs to his floor.

  I had to get to his apartment as soon as possible.

  I frantically knocked three times, hoping that he was home. I heard footsteps moving inside. They were so quiet, and I could tell that he was being cautious before answering the door.

  Within seconds of the footsteps stopping just on the other side of the door, it flew open.

  “Lily?” Lucas said, full of surprise and relief as a gun rested at his side. “What are you doing here?”

  “We need to talk,” I said, pushing past him and into his living room.

  Lucas looked up and down the hall before he shut the door quietly. He turned to face me and saw that I was close to hysteria. In two swift steps, he was in front of me.

  “What happened? Why are you breathing so hard? What’s going on?” he asked as he let go of my waist and cupped the sides of my face.

  “I went to meet Faith, and when I was leaving, James was there. Faith had already left, and I couldn’t get to my car. I thought that this was the safest place for me to go,” I pathetically explained. “He followed me here and—” I paused, trying to collect my thoughts. I didn’t know how to start this conversation. My heart was racing, my palms started to sweat, and I could feel heat start t
o rise within me.

  “And what?” Lucas asked “Did he hurt you?”

  Yes, but not tonight.

  “You know ever since I met him at the club with Nikolas that one night something was off about him,” I said, looking down at the ground trying to make sure what I had to say came out right. “Just his presence sent chills down my spine. His eyes—they made me feel so uncomfortable, and every time I’ve seen him since, he’s given me the same feeling. And for some reason, nothing clicked—until tonight.”

  I looked up to see Lucas standing there, frozen in place, staring straight at me—shock written on his face. His recognition of my findings was clear.

  “So, you know?” Lucas breathed out.

  “Yes, I know,” I confirmed. “You weren’t the one who hurt me Halloween night.”

  Chapter 19

  He didn’t say a word as he stood there, shame showing on his face as he looked back at me. So, I continued.

  “I just want to know what happened and why you have lied to me about it for the past two years,” I said as my breath became deeper and my anger started to show itself.

  Lucas started to pace around his living room, wiping his forehead a few times. I could tell that he was nervous about this conversation, and wasn’t quite sure where to begin. Maybe he thought we would never be having this conversation. Honestly, I didn’t either.

  “It was James,” he said as he exhaled, before turning toward me. “It was our mission to try and find the documents in the basement that night,” he started. “That’s why I told you that I couldn’t make it. It was our job. There was nothing in Viktor’s plan about you getting hurt, I swear. No one from the party was even supposed to be downstairs.”

  “So, why weren’t you there to help him?” I asked confused. When I was down there I only saw one person—my attacker.

  “I was, but that was before you came down,” Lucas sighed. “I didn’t even want to do it in the first place. At that point in time, I had been working with your family for a while, and it just felt wrong to betray them like that. I had already grown to like you a lot, even love you by that point, and every time I was given a mission involving your family, from Viktor, I could only see you and how much I was hurting you by hurting your family. But, in the end, you did end up getting hurt.”

  “You’re right, I did,” I responded coldly. “I can’t believe you kept something this big from me. You promised you would never keep anything from me!”

  Most women in my situation would be thrilled to know that someone they loved didn’t hurt them, but at this moment, I wasn’t sure that was the case. I had fallen back in love with Lucas despite what I thought had been a mistake—a fall out from him being caught up in-between two worlds.

  “I know…and I’m so sorry. I know that you’re upset, but will you try to let me explain?” he asked.

  I closed my eyes and exhaled as much negative energy as I could. My anger was starting to consume me, but I did as Lucas asked and quieted down as much as I could at the moment.

  “James and I didn’t find anything that night. I told him that we should just give up and leave. Try back another time when so many people weren’t around. He insisted he stay and take one last sweep of the place, and against my better judgement, I left to start the car—I knew I shouldn’t have left him, but I didn’t expect anything else to happen.

  “In the time that I was gone, you came down the stairs and James attacked you. I was coming back through the basement door to tell James to hurry up when I saw you lying on the ground. He was standing over you. I started running to you, and I even screamed out your name, but before I could get to you, James hit me over the head and I fell unconscious.”

  He suddenly stopped pacing; obviously feeling a little better that he was slowly getting this off his chest. In two swift strides, he was standing in front of me, reaching for my hands, but I backed away from him.

  I was speechless. I couldn’t believe this.

  He backed away, giving me space before continuing.

  “When we returned back to Viktor’s house and I came to, James explained everything that happened. He told Viktor that we didn’t get the document and that you were hurt in the process. Viktor was furious—saying he needed you alive.”

  “So why did you take the fall for James?” I said snarky. I knew that Lucas was a good man, but he shouldn’t have done that. He was smarter than that.

  “Because I wanted a go at James myself. I felt responsible for what happened to you. I wanted to be the one to get back at him. I knew Viktor wouldn’t hurt me, because I was still a vital piece in his plan. But after that night, a part of Viktor was always hesitant when it came to giving me an assignment. That was why he ordered Nikolas to introduce himself to you. It was plan B, since I was slowly screwing up plan A.”

  “You had months Lucas… months to tell me the truth. You could have told me on the cliff, or when we were in Europe, but you didn’t.”

  That was the one thing that I couldn’t understand. We had spent months together with no one around but the two of us. I had even forgiven him when he explained everything. He had multiple opportunities.

  “I was going to the night of your kidnapping, but all of Viktor’s men were there and I couldn’t. If Viktor found out that I lied to him, then I’d be dead. And as far as Europe goes, you had already forgiven me for it and we were in a good place.” He paused, taking in a deep breath before he continued.

  “I’ve just always felt responsible for it, because I should have stayed with James that night,” he said so quietly I could barely hear him. There was only one way to describe his feeling—ashamed. “I could have prevented it. If I wouldn’t have left him, then you wouldn’t have been hurt.”

  “You know you aren’t making any sense right now?” I snapped at him. Now I was the one pacing the room. “Lucas, you should have told me the truth a long time ago. You lied to me. I can’t stand that, and you of all people know that. How many times have I confided in you about all the secrets from my own family?”

  “Lily, I’m so sorry. I get it, I screwed up.”

  “Things could have been so different by now.”

  “Things wouldn’t have been any different, Lil. You would still be torn between Emilio and me. There’s no doubt about that.”

  He turned around and lifted his hand to his face, before wiping some of the sweat away.

  “Damn it, Lil,” Lucas said, closing the distance between us. “Can you not see how much I love you? How much I’ve sacrificed trying to keep you safe?”

  “I know you love me, but right now I…,” I said as I started to back away from him and head towards the bathroom.

  “Please, Lil, don’t walk away from me. I’m sorry— for everything,” Lucas pleaded as he grabbed my hand.

  “I know you are, and since you know and love me, you will give me some time,” I said with a tight smile, before turning around, walking into the bathroom, and closing the door.

  I grabbed my phone and immediately called Emilio.

  “Hello?” his voice answered after just two rings.

  “Emilio, can you please come and get me?” I asked, holding back tears.

  “I’m on my way,” was all he said as he hung up the phone.

  He didn’t need to ask me where I was—he already knew. I grabbed my necklace and held it tightly in my hands as tears silently rolled down my cheeks.

  I sat on the edge of the bathtub consumed by my own thoughts. Lucas didn’t hurt me, but he had lied to me. I had so many questions still, but the one I had to answer for myself was which one was worse—the original thought of Lucas hurting me, or the truth of him not.

  ***

  Emilio must have been close by, or maybe I had lost all track of time, because, before I could even decide which one was worse, a soft knock and his voice calling my name sprung me from that decision.

  I stood up quickly and opened the door to find Emilio standing there.

  “I’m ready to go hom
e,” I said as I swiftly passed him and stood by the front door.

  I lingered by the door while Emilio and Lucas had a quick conversation—never looking up to meet Lucas’s face. I should have been paying attention to what they were talking about, but all I could think about was getting home, crawling into my bed, and trying to take in everything Lucas had said to me. I knew it wasn’t the whole story, but it was enough for me. I didn’t need to know everything—I just needed to know the truth.

  Emilio eventually made his way over to me, and before I knew it, we were in his car and headed home.

  “Want to talk about it?” Emilio finally asked, breaking the silence.

  I couldn’t stop myself as I told him about my entire night: meeting Faith, our conversation, James, running, his eyes, and Lucas.

  All at once all my emotions poured out of me. I was scared, mad, confused, and part of me relieved.

  Emilio sat there the entire time—never interrupting.

  When I was finished, I turned to him, my voice calm and even.

  “You could have told me,” I said quietly. “I know it wasn’t your place. I’m learning that, but…” I trailed off. I wasn’t quite sure what I was trying to say.

  “I tried, remember?” He glanced sideways at me for a second. “I told you that the two of you needed to talk, and when you came back from Europe—I thought you had.”

  “Emilio—” I began, but he cut me off.

  “If he had really done it, do you think your family or I would have kept him around if he had? He would have been swimming with the damn fish—no matter how much of an asset he was to us.”

  “No,” I sighed, knowing that made perfect sense.

  “And as crazy as this is about to sound, just forgive him and move on. I’m not saying that what he did wasn’t stupid, because it was, but I can see where he was coming from.”

  I turned completely in my seat and looked at Emilio.

  He glanced at me and even half laughed.

  “Don’t look so surprised there, Liliana.”