Ruthless rebel black hal.., p.6
Ruthless Rebel (Black Hallows Book 5), page 6
“They’re good, man, working hard as always,” I reply.
“Good, that’s what I like to hear, gotta keep my reputation clean,” he replies with a wink, and Zack laughs.
“Like that could ever happen,” he muses to his best friend, and Max pretends to be offended.
“That’s just earned you one-hundred more push ups, prick,” he tells him with warning, before turning back to us. “Anyway, let’s get this wedding finalized, hey?”
Marcus and Elle are getting married in the Maldives in a couple of weeks time, and have rented out a whole portion of an island for the affair. The island has a hotel with beach villas, water villas, a gym, a spa, multiple restaurants and bars, and a whole hoard of activities for everyone to indulge in. The newlyweds will be spending just over two weeks there, with the wedding taking place in the first one, and their honeymoon in the days after. Cassie will stay with them for the wedding and part of the honeymoon, but then will fly home with Asher to give them a few days alone together.
Everyone is flying out for the wedding and a few days on either side of it, but we just need to finalize everyone's dates and travel arrangements. Of course Max and Zack run through all the security procedures in place both for traveling and on the island, and they send both Asher and I a copy of all the details being discussed as they go, along with the rest of the security team.
Elle planned the wedding as close to Christmas break as she could to accommodate everyone, and none of us missed the checks she wrote to soften the blow. As a result, it’s decided that Elle, Marcus, and Cassie will fly out first, accompanied by Arthur, Helen, Lily, Logan, and Zack, with Max, Owen and Josh as their security detail.
Jace’s little sister is in school another day, so he will wait and join Riley, Sofia, Gerry, and Ava, along with Elijah and Liam as their security the following day once Sofia gets home. Max’s guys Oliver and Alex drew the short straw, and are being left behind to man his New York office, while Seb, Harry, and Landon drew the same fate to stay and man the office here.
I presumed Asher would be traveling out with Elle and Cass, but when both his and my name don’t get mentioned, I start to wonder. The first lot are traveling out on a Thursday, and the second on the Friday, but I know I have clients that I couldn’t move on Monday morning, so I won’t be traveling until Monday afternoon much to my annoyance, but then I figured I could get some of my other work done over that weekend uninterrupted.
“You two both have other engagements running through to that Monday, so rather than you traveling alone, I thought it would be easier to group you together, so you’ll both catch a private plane on Monday afternoon at 3pm, sound good?” Max finishes with, and I practically feel Asher flinch beside me.
“What? Are you certain of my schedule? I bet I could move things around,” he pushes, but Max cuts him off.
“I already had Eliza check with all your clients, and certain ones won’t budge, especially given the amount of time you’ll both be away from the office, but it’s fine, it works out well. We’ll charter you a smaller aircraft, it will be less stressful,” Max continues on, oblivious to Asher’s outrage, much to my amusement, and once again I feel Elle’s watchful eyes on me.
The rest of the meeting is wrapped up quickly after that. We discuss some more details like catering, the bachelor and bachelorette parties etc, by the end two hours have flown by and the whole thing is pretty much set in stone with flights booked.
Asher storms from the room pretty much as soon as Zack and Max say goodbye, and Elle looks at me and rolls her eyes, more than used to his particular brand of moods, before she settles her focus on me.
“How are things, Superman?” she asks, and though the question sounds innocent enough, I can’t help but feel under interrogation.
“I’m fine,” I reply smoothly with a shrug, forcing my tone to remain unchanged and casual, and all she does is laugh.
“That’s your problem, Lincoln, you’re always fine,” she says, shaking her head before she adds, “How are things with Logan?”
Again her question feels like an interrogation because she has never asked me about him before. “Things with Logan are fine,” I reply calmly, and she laughs again.
“Fine, of course they are.” She packs up her laptop and places it in her bag before she stands, and I stand with her. We both move towards the door to leave before she pauses to look at me. “I know you never wanted this, Lincoln,” she starts, and I must look confused because she confirms, “A family. I know you had some kind of fucked up childhood and that whatever happened made you lose your family, and you were never in the market for another one. I know you didn’t want Marcus and Jace, and you definitely didn’t sign on for me and Cassie, but we are your family, and we love you, no matter what, I hope you know that.”
I nod because despite how right she is, I do know that. I did lose everything, but I gained so much more in return. Things I never imagined, things I never dreamed of, and I don’t think anyone will ever understand how grateful I feel for it, but it doesn’t stop the things I lost from haunting me.
Elle doesn't push any further, just leans up and embraces me, placing a soft kiss on my cheek before she turns to leave, but I call out before I can stop myself, “You never did a background check on me, did you?” She pauses, turning to look at me in wonder before slowly shaking her head, and I ask, “Why?”
She sighs, closing the distance between us again and looking up at me to say simply, “Because I trusted you.”
I should have expected her answer, I know she trusted me, I saw it in her the week we met, but I never questioned it, not until now. “Yes, but why?” I push, needing the answer more than I have ever realized.
Elle sighs again and some of that emotion inside of her rushes to the surface as she admits, “Because when I looked at you, I saw myself looking back. I saw pain and grief, but I also saw fight and strength, I just knew you were one of the good ones.”
One of the good ones.
Her words slice through me, because I don't think I have ever been referred to as one of the good ones before. People know me as being regal, rage-infused, ruthless, but never good, and I can’t help but think back to the nights spent with my father and every time he called me useless, a waste of space, and made me feel nothing but completely worthless.
All thoughts that must be clear on my face, because Elle reaches out to grab my hand as she implores, “I know you, Lincoln, I think I know you better than you even realize I do. You came to me when I needed you most and you have saved me more times than I care to admit,” she laughs, tears gathering in her eyes at her declaration, and unwanted emotion clogs in the back of my throat. “I see you, all of you, even the darkest parts of you, and I accept you.” Her eyes travel past where we are standing before they come back to me as she adds, “And so does he, so don’t be scared of taking a risk and going after what you want, no, what you need to survive, because it might just be the best thing that happened to you.”
With that she turns and walks away, and it’s only then I notice Asher standing by his office door with his eyes on us. He watches her leave, and then brings his stare to mine and it’s filled with something I don’t recognize and I can’t help but wonder, was Elle talking about Logan, or him?
5
LOGAN
Ithought graduating AGU in the summer would mean that life would slow down, especially since we no longer had men trying to kill us, but you know what’s worse than war? Medical school. I am only a few months in and already feeling the effects of the heavy workload, and that’s even with bribing some of the officials to give me most weekends off. Granted, I always get my work and research done on time and I never ask for my rotations off, yet still exhaustion clings to me like it did when we were fighting for our lives. The only thing getting me through the slog of it is Lincoln, and I hate to admit that, even to myself, but it’s true. Being with him makes me forget everything except just being alive and free.
I’m not ashamed to admit I have looked at my phone at least a hundred times today to see if he called, which of course he hasn’t, he never does, and until this morning I’d never asked him to. I’m not sure what came over me, well that’s a lie, I am sure. Asher Donovan has been distracting me for years, but no more so when he is around Lincoln. I see a change in him, in both of them really, and it’s like I can see a future I am desperate for, but wouldn’t dare to admit to, not even to myself. Yet for once it feels just within reach, and with the wedding coming up I find myself feeling hopeful.
Staying in Black Hallows until today was most definitely a mistake, and I guess staying up most of the night getting fucked didn’t help either, I feel like I have been chasing my tail all day trying to catch up. I should have driven back last night, that was my original plan, but if you saw a naked Lincoln Blackwell you would know why that went right out the window. Inked and scarred to perfection, he is truly one of the most beautiful humans I have ever seen in my life, and to see him sweating and writhing above me? Yeah, I was staying in that damn bed.
Just the memory of him brings a smile to my face as I let myself into my penthouse, dropping my book-filled bags to the floor right by the door, and kicking off my shoes right next to it. All I want to do is collapse in bed, but for the second time today I am running late, and I need to shower and get changed so I can go and meet Lily, Zack, and Max for dinner.
My penthouse resides in one of the buildings close to school for obvious reasons, and luckily it isn’t too far from both Lily and Zack. I don’t see Zack as much given he is running his company, but Lily and I manage to have dinner together a few times a week whenever our schedules align, and I love that we still get to spend a lot of time together. She got her degree in psychology and is now doing an internship that specializes in child psychology. I think what happened with Elle affected her more than she would ever admit to, plus we both have our own share of childhood trauma thanks to losing our birth parents, so I think it suits her perfectly. We both just want to help people, especially the ones who aren’t as lucky as we are.
I shower quickly, washing away the stress of the day, and then get dressed, and head right back out the door to meet my siblings. I check my phone yet again in the elevator and almost bump right into my doorman Stanley as I leave.
“Sorry, Stan, I didn’t see you there,” I apologize, as he steps out of my way before I can crash right into him, and I pocket my phone with a sincere smile.
“No need to apologize, Mr. Royton,” he smiles in return, just as polite and formal as always, and I almost roll my eyes as he adds, “We have a car waiting for you as per your request.” I nod my thanks as he holds open the door for me and extends a hand towards the sleek black town car waiting kerbside for me. “Have a nice evening, sir.”
The formality of people around me never ceases to amaze me and I should be used to it by now, I’ve been a Royton since I was five years old. Hell, up until a few months ago I was a member of the Kinghood, and I might have given away my King coin, but my stature within their circle hasn’t changed, my last name still holds just as much power as it ever did. I feel it everyday with my fellow students and teachers, with people like Stanley, they respect me, fear me in some ways, but sometimes fear and respect go hand in hand, you only have to look at Elle King to know that. Yet despite outer appearances, I find it hard to get used to.
Climbing into the car, I greet my usual driver, and then I can’t help but shoot off a text to my second favorite sister at the thought of her.
Logan: It’s not too late to jilt the wedding sis, just say the word and you can have me instead, keep it in the family 😉
Her reply comes within seconds as expected.
Elle: I thought you were already keeping it in my family with the Rebel you have been sleeping with…
Logan: Oh King, there has been very little sleeping 🍆
Elle: 🙄🙄🙄🙄
Logan: See you on Friday?
Elle: If by Friday you mean when you come home and stalk your boyfriend all weekend, then yes I will see you Friday.
Logan: 🖕🏼🖕🏼🖕🏼
Boyfriend. The word bothers me more than it should, but I don’t quite know why. It’s not like I haven’t had a boyfriend before, or a girlfriend for that matter. There have been plenty of high school and college flings over the years that would constitute the term, hell there was even that fling with my professor, but none of them have felt like this. Like free falling and never knowing if you will be caught, again it’s something I should be familiar with. I have been sinking into the bottomless pit that is Asher Donovan for years, yet it didn’t stop me from jumping head first into Lincoln Blackwell.
With Asher I know there is no hope, or if there is it is very minuscule. He is more fucked up than all of us, despite what he wants us to believe. I don’t think he knows any true human affection outside of Elle and Cassie, and who can blame him, I only know half the horrors he must have experienced at the hands of his father and brother thanks to Elle. His mom abandoned him with those devils and they took a child and turned him into his own brand of evil. A monster molded by their hatred and neglect, who somehow still has a light inside of him that burns for his daughter and her mother. I don’t know if he will ever have room for anything more, despite how much I wish he did.
Lincoln is another story entirely. I know nothing of his childhood, just that both of his parents are dead and he was in foster care for most of his life, but I think Marcus and Jace saved him from himself. I see the silent monster lurking beneath the surface, but then I see the other part of him, the one who was quite clearly pulled from the depths of hell by his brothers and has chosen to stay on top. I felt it the first time I laid eyes on him. Granted he had me by the throat and shoved hard against a wall, so I was feeling a lot of things that day, but I knew when we locked eyes that he was a survivor. He doesn’t let the monsters of his past define him, no, he defines them, and he does it without restraint. If he wants something, he takes it, and I am more than willing to give him whatever he wants.
By the time I make it to the restaurant, I have shamelessly checked our text thread once again, before switching my phone to silent and focusing on my family dinner. I don’t bother giving my name to the hostess, she recognizes me instantly and leads me to our usual table at the back where I find Max and Zack already waiting.
“There he is,” Zack booms, standing up to greet me, and pulling me into a one-armed hug, which is his new norm ever since he took a bullet to the shoulder last year. I try not to think about that night too often, I still remember all the blood, and thankfully he distracts me. “You look tired,” he scolds, and I have to smile because he reminds me so much of our dad these days.
“Yeah, school is kicking my ass,” I admit freely, pulling back from him, and then leaning over to fist bump Max, before I take a seat.
“I bet that’s not the only thing kicking your ass,” Max beams with a knowing smile, and I shake my head with a laugh.
“Jesus christ,” Zack mutters under his breath as he reclaims his seat. “You guys know this is a Michelin star restaurant right?”
I hold my hands up in defense. “Hey, I didn’t say anything.” I signal to the waiter for a drink and then look between the two of them. “Where’s, Lils?” I ask, wondering how in the hell I made it here before my sister. We might be twins, but most of the time we are polar opposites. I am always running late, and somehow she is always annoyingly early, yet for once I have beaten her somewhere.
Zack opens his mouth to respond, but then pauses as he looks past me, and when I turn my head I see why. Lily is being led through the restaurant by the same hostess from a moment ago, turning every head as she goes. My sister is beautiful, and I say that in an unbiased way. She just has that strikingly pretty look about her, but it’s never something she exaggerates, not usually anyway. Yet as she walks towards us I can’t help but stare along with everyone else. She is wearing a figure-hugging black dress that reaches her mid thigh, with a pair of black pantyhose, and matching stilettos. Her hair falls in waves down her back and her makeup is heavier than anything she ever usually wears, and I can’t help but whistle.
“Well, damn, Lils, you look hot,” I praise her, standing up to pull her into a hug, and I swear I can feel her heart racing against my chest, and I pull back and frown.
“Thanks,” she mutters, appraising me in return considering she hasn’t seen me in almost a week. “You look tired,” she echoes Zack’s earlier assessment and I have to roll my eyes.
“Yeah I had a busy weekend,” I mutter, pulling out a chair for her to take a seat. “Why are you so dressed up anyway?” I ask, and her eyes flash to mine in a panic. I feel like a dick for making her feel insecure, but before I can defend myself, my brother beats him to it.
“Ignore him, Lily, you look beautiful, Sweetheart,” Zack tells her, as she fidgets with her fingers beneath the table, and he nudges his best friend. “Doesn’t she?”
Max is already staring at her but flinches when Zack nudges him. “Stunning,” he blurts, before coughing to clear his throat. “She looks stunning,” he nods, dropping his stare to his drink and taking a hefty swill of it as Zack eyes him with an assertive stare.
I keep my eyes on my sister though and don’t miss the blush that stains her cheeks at their praise. She has never been good with attention from the opposite sex. Like I said, we are polar opposites.
We quickly order food and catch one another up on what we have all been up to, and it isn’t long before Max and Zack start talking about the new security procedures they have been working on and I quickly zone out. I don’t hear anything they say until the mention of Lincoln’s name.
