“Of course. So, Sabine and I were talking, and we heard a voice from behind us asking why we didn’t invite her into our pow wow, that we’re all out to get her.”
“Is that all she said?” Scott asks his voice isn’t as gentle this time.
“No, she just said that we’re out to get her, that I stole Luke from her and we’re all keeping him away from her and that we want to destroy her,” I tell them and sit back in my seat and look out the front window.
“We’ll sort it out tomorrow,” Scott says, and I see Luke nod out of the corner of my eye.
“Oh, we have our last fitting next week for the suits.” Scott sounds not so cheerful as they speak about Sophia’s upcoming wedding. I block them out and close my eyes. I don’t even give Luke another look. I’m so mad at him right now.
***
I feel someone touching my shoulder, and I open my eyes to see Sabine looking at me with happy eyes. “Hey sleepy head, we’re here, time to wake up.”
I smile at her, so happy to see her looking so happy. “Oh shit, sorry Sim, I didn’t mean to fall asleep. You okay?” I feel bad that she was left to make small talk.
“Yes, I’m fine. How come you never told me that Luke has a hot brother?” She quickly shuts up as she realizes that she said that out loud while sitting beside Scott.
“Yeah, how come you never told her that I was hot?” Scott says jokingly.
“I never really noticed.”
Luke gets out of the driver’s side, and the smile I had disappears. I open my door and say, “I suppose you could be considered hot.” Before quickly getting out of the car. I don’t find him attractive, you can tell that he works out and looks after himself, he’s all muscle.
As I close the door, I see Luke looking at me, I take a tentative step towards him, hoping that he doesn’t reject me. He doesn’t. Instead, he walks towards me and kisses me on my forehead.
“What’s that supposed to mean? I could be considered hot?” Scott asks acting as if I hurt his feelings.
Luke throws his arms around my shoulders, and I sigh as I lean into him. “Just I prefer my men to have their brain in the head at the top of their bodies.”
I hear Sabine laugh and feel Luke’s chuckle. “What’s so funny, I don’t get it?”
I ignore Scott and turn in Luke’s arm. “Can we talk?” He looks down at me and has a funny look on his face, probably wondering what I want to talk about, he however obliges and moves us away from Sabine and Scott.
“I don’t want you to get mad again, but I need to tell you something. That wasn’t all that Alex said this morning. She also told me that I wouldn’t get away with stealing you from under her nose and that I won’t be yours much longer.”
Luke pulls my body to his and hugs me. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier Morgan?”
I sigh as I put my arms around him. “You got angry at me for something that I didn’t do. You were so rude, and I didn’t want to talk to you like that. It wasn’t my fault that we bumped into her, and I didn’t mean not tell you.”
His arms tighten around me, and he kisses the top of my head. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t angry at you. I was angry that you were put into that situation. She has something planned, that much I am sure of, I just wish I knew what it was. I can’t have you hurt because of her, it’ll kill me.”
“We know what her end game is going to be. She wants you Luke, and she isn’t going to stop until she gets what she wants.” I tell him honestly.
He swallows hard; the sound is harsh as my ear is right beside his throat. “I know. I’d still like to know what she has planned.”
“We know that whatever she has planned it involves either you or me, if not the two of us.” His hands convulse around me, and I feel bad for saying it, but it’s the truth.
“I’m saying this so we can be vigilant and stay alert. I can’t lose you, Luke, I honestly think I’d break if anything were to happen to you.” Just thinking about it has my heart racing.
“Don’t, nothing is going to happen to either of us. She isn’t going to get the chance to do anything.” He’s trying to reassure me, but deep down I know that it’s just words. Words that are said in love, he’s trying to keep me safe and secure. But my gut tells a different story. It’s screaming at me that he’s wrong, that she’s going to get to one of us.
“Are you two lovebirds finished yet?” A voice calls from the house, and I turn and see that it's Luke’s sister Sophia. She’s standing there with a huge grin on her face.
“Hurry, before everyone else gets here, we want to get to know Morgan and Sabine before it’s too late.”
We start walking towards the house, but before we make it to the door, Luke stops and pulls me to a halt with him.
“I’m stupidly in love with you Morgan, and that isn’t going to change. You are my future and I sure as hell am not going to let that bitch ruin it.”
I lean towards him and give him a chaste kiss; his eyes are sparkling as I pull away. “I stupidly love you too. I have a quick question, does Sophia know who Alex is?”
He’s already shaking his head, and I can’t believe it. “No, and it wasn’t my choice. I wanted to tell her from the beginning. Dad and Nathan didn’t, and then she was pregnant so they just never told her.”
“Okay, but you do know that it’ll come out eventually, and she’s going to be so angry at all of you for knowing and never telling her. I sure as hell would be.” I don’t think I could get over that secret or that my whole family kept it from me.
“That is what I’m dreading. She’s going to hate us, and there is nothing that I can do about it. Come on, let’s go in and you can be properly introduced to my family. I’ll have to tell Nathan and Dad that Alex is back on the scene.” He takes my hand as we walk into the house.
There are loads of people here already. My eyes go directly to Sabine, her body is relaxed, and she has a genuine smile on her face as she talks with Scott and Nathan. She must sense me staring at her as she turns towards me and winks at me.
Yeah, she’s fine.
My eyes then go to Winter, who I haven’t seen since the day she was attacked, she too has a smile on her face. It’s the first time I have seen her look at peace. With the man who raped her and stalked her for years dead, I don’t blame her for being happy. He was shanked in his cell. They don’t know why his cell mate did it, but we think he was paid off, although there’s no money trail.
My eyes then finally land on Steven; he’s talking to Luke but staring at me. “I always thought you were a special lady from the moment I met you. Then I heard you were dating my son and I knew that you had to be special, you pulled him from the torment he has been putting himself through. But watching you since you came into this room, it’s proof, you looked directly to your friend to make sure she was okay, then to Winter, again to see if she was okay, all before looking at us. Most people meeting their partner’s family would try and suck up to them, not you. You needed to make sure the girls were okay. Welcome to the family.” With that, he kisses my cheek and then walks off.
I look to Luke with a raised eyebrow, wondering what the hell just happened when we get interrupted by Sophia who hugs me.
“I know that you went above and beyond the day Winter was kidnapped, and not one of us thanked you. Instead, we all ignored you, and some even treated you like crap, for that I’ll be forever sorry. Thank you for saving my best friend and taking the crap my family threw at you and still sticking by Luke.” She too says what she has to and then leaves us.
“You have the seal of approval from all Dallas’. Well, you did have it from Scott until you told him you didn’t find him attractive. I never asked you, what happened with Sabine? Why does she need cheering up?”
“Ah, she met someone last night, and when he didn’t contact her this morning, she got upset. However, crisis averted as he texted her while I was on the phone with you. Oh yeah, then she almost had a breakdown because he’s younger than her. Like that even matter
s,” I still can’t believe that she thought it was a big deal.
“Why how much younger is he?” He asks quietly while throwing a glance towards Sabine, just making sure that she isn’t listening.
“Seven years,” I tell him as I watch Sabine laugh at whatever Scott is saying to her.
“We had a really good talk today, and she feels happy. She had been in a funk for a while now, and she finally started to get out of it, and going out last night proved that and her meeting Dwayne has definitely cheered her up.” I feel eyes on me, and I see Sam looking at me. I know that Luke said he’s sorry for how he spoke to me when Winter was kidnapped, but I still believe that he meant what he said.
“Really, so who is this Dwayne guy?” Luke asks with a glint in his eye, I don’t like that look, it’s something I’ve not seen him have before.
“What do you know about him?”
“He does something to do with computers, I don’t really know. Why do you have a funny look in your eyes?” They’re practically dancing, he knows something.
“Let’s just say this will be an interesting evening. We’ll have Skye who will be avoiding Ryder like the plague and Hailey who’ll pretend everything is okay while Scott stares at her incessantly and Sabine will have a shock, in about ten minutes.” Sam says from beside me and I wonder when the hell he sneaked up beside us.
“It won’t just be Sabine, the kid will also get a surprise, he’s been none stop talking about her all day, we haven’t been able to get him to shut up about her.”
“Wait, you know Dwayne? He’s coming here?” I’m actually in shock, my mouth is slightly open.
“Yeah, Dwayne is Nathan’s computer geek for P.I.G.S the Private Investigator business. He was here this morning talking about this woman he met last night. We thought he was full of shit. But then when you were describing him and that he was younger than her, it clicked. Dwayne really did meet a girl, he usually gets rejected.” Sam tells me shaking his head in disbelief. The fucker eavesdropped, he heard everything.
“Oh, I have to tell Sabine.” I’m so excited for her, I really hope that he’s a decent guy and not stringing her along, although from what Sam is saying, he seems to be into her as much as she’s into him.
I start to walk away from Luke and Sam when a someone holds onto my arm and stops me. “Baby, please don’t. Let it be a surprise for them.” Luke whispers into my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
“Fine, I won’t say a word to her. If this goes wrong, I know nothing! Now, who is Skye and why is she avoiding Ryder?” I know that Ryder is Sam and Sophia’s boss, well he was their sergeant while they were in the Army, and they all are in business together now. They own Smithy International, it’s a security and intelligence firm.
“Skye works with Ryder, Sophia and I along with Oscar who you met” I nod as I met him and Ryder when Winter was having trouble.
“Anyway, they went to Vegas and slept together, Ryder told her the next morning that it was a mistake,” Sam tells me, and I can see that he really cares about Skye. She must mean a lot to him.
“Skye is and has always been in love with Ryder for as long as I’ve known her. Things have happened between them, but him telling her it was a mistake was the last straw. She’s had enough, and she’s not talking to him.” Luke tells me as he pulls me closer to him and I snuggle into his side.
I can’t say I blame Skye for not talking to him, from the sound of things he’s been a dick to her.
“Oh, we’re all pissed with Ryder for what he’s done. Skye has lost at least ten pounds if not more since it happened and him not getting the marriage annulled is an asshole move!” Sophia says coolly, she sounds evil, if she could get away with it, she’d kill him.
“Married?” I ask, I’ve definitely missed something.
“Yeah, that was our reaction too. You see when they went on a business trip to Vegas just over a month ago; they got drunk and ended up sleeping together. The next morning, he told her they were married and that it was a mistake, but the moron won’t get it annulled. Ever since that morning, they haven’t seen each other. She’s coming here tonight, and I swear if he makes her cry he won’t be coming to my wedding!” She stamps her foot as she says it and just as she does, Winter shushes her.
We all turn toward the big bay window that looks out onto the drive, I watch as a beautiful blonde woman walks towards the house.
“She’s here; I honestly didn’t think she would be coming.” I hear a voice from behind me and see Nathan has joined our group, he walks up behind Sophia and wraps his arms around her waist, whispering to her as he does.
“Hmm, well would you look at that. Ryder’s just texted; he won’t be able to make it.” Sam tells us, and I watch the disappointment come across Sophia’s face.
“Great at least I don’t have to see him.” I spin around in Luke’s arms and see Skye standing in the doorway with a sad smile on her face. She looks pale and has bags under her eyes, even so, she is absolutely gorgeous.
“Hey Skye, this is Morgan. Luke’s girlfriend” Sophia says to her, and she gives me a small wave, I nod back to her, “and this is Morgan’s friend Sabine.” Again, Skye just gives a small wave.
“How are you feeling? Still sick?” Sophia asks her with her head tilted to the side, she’s studying her like she can’t figure her out.
Skye is nodding, “Yeah, I still feel like crap. I must be coming down with something. Is Hailey coming, when I saw her earlier, she said she would be? I thought she would have been here by now.”
“Yeah, she’ll be here soon,” Sophia says and looks over at Scott, who is still talking to Sabine.
“When is Dwayne getting here? Usually, he’s the first one. He hates upsetting the boss lady!” Sam says making Nathan, Luke and Skye laugh.
“How many times have I told you. I am not his boss lady and he better not even think of calling me that again.” She glares at Sam, but then she narrows her eyes at him.
“Why are you so interested in when Dwayne will be here? You hardly even talk to him!”
“Oh, that will be because Sabine’s here. Turns out the kid wasn’t lying when he told us he met someone last night. So, we’re waiting to see his face when he sees Sabine.” Luke tells her, and I elbow him in his stomach. I hear the ‘Oomph’, and he looks down at me.
“What the hell was that for?”
“You deserved it! I can’t believe I agreed to not say anything to her, and you…” I point towards Luke “think that it’s funny? How would you like it if everyone was all in our business?”
“It’s nothing bad baby, Sabine is going to be happy to see him, and he’ll be happy to see her.” He kisses my head, trying to placate me. I’m nervous, I hate that everyone is going to witness this. What if he doesn’t want to see her? What if he brings someone else? My mind starts racing at the possibility that my best friend could be hurt tonight.
“Morgan,” I feel someone touch my arm, and I turn and see Winter looking at me with a smile, “Dwayne is a really nice guy. He’s so sweet and caring. The guys are right when they tell you that he’ll be happy to see her. I promise you that he is excited to see her again. He talked about how amazing she is this morning.”
“Thank you. My mind was racing there.” I tell her honestly.
“I kind of guessed, I know that if it were Soph in this situation that Sabine’s in, I’d be doing the exact same as you, worrying. But we know Dwayne and what he’s like, and there is no way that Luke would let anything happen to Sabine. He loves you too much to have your best friend hurt and humiliated like that.” I raise my eyebrows, wondering how in the hell did she know what I was thinking.
“I know, I’d be thinking the same thing.”
I smile at her, she really does look happy. I want to ask her how she is, but I don’t want to bring up bad memories. I’m torn, but I take the plunge and ask her, “How are you? I must ask what Maui is like. I have never been to Hawaii before.”
Her smile brightens a
s I ask about Maui. After she was kidnapped, she only wanted one thing, to return to Maui.
“I’m really good thanks, I feel as though I’m free, it’s hard to understand, but ever since David died, I feel different. I’m not as scared anymore, does that make sense?” She shrugs her shoulders as if she doesn’t know herself.
“It makes perfect sense. You look really good.” I tell her but before either of us can say anything else we’re interrupted.
“Well, that’s not hard to see since the last time you saw her she was in the hospital bed,” Sam says, his voice is hard. Luke hears it and pulls me even closer into his body, protecting me. I don’t need him to, but it feels good to have that. However, when I look at his face, all I see is guilt and remorse.
“Morgan, I’m sorry for how I treated you that day. You did everything you could to help Winter and to help us find her. I...”
“You don’t have to apologize, I understand.” I honestly do understand. He was scared; the woman he loves was kidnapped, and they had no idea where she was. He took his anger and fear out on me, and I get it, I really do, but I still feel that he meant what he said.
The room is filled with an awkward silence as everyone is looking at us. Sam looks relieved and gives me a smile; it doesn’t really reach his eyes unlike Winter’s whose smile lights up her whole face and her eyes twinkle. She is happy, and all I can think is how much she deserves this happiness.
I search the room for Sabine and see her still talking to Scott, she looks as if they are having a serious conversation, I move out of Luke’s embrace and walk over to them, I shake my head as I hear what they are talking about.
“No Scott, only Kim is married at the moment. Khloe divorced Lamar and Kourtney didn’t marry Scott.” Sabine tells him, and I can’t help but smile, she knows absolutely everything about the Kardashians, she’s a reality TV junkie, and she reads every magazine that features them.
Scott is shaking his head at her. “No way, Kourtney, and Scott have to be married, they’ve got like nine kids.”
“No, they aren’t married, and they only have three children. Mason, Penelope, and Reign.” Sabine tells him, looking slightly disappointed that he doesn’t know this already.
Deadly Past Page 16
