“Something is on your mind.”
“No shit. How can you even think straight with everything that is going on around here? Dane and all the problems with Dominic, I feel like I’m going to explode.” James vented to the other man. He didn’t know why he was finding it difficult to comprehend everything that had happened in the last few months. All he knew was how it was affecting his life. Nothing was the same. Nothing felt the same to him anymore. It was a never ending waste of time to him. His club, his pride and joy, no longer held any appeal.
It was like he was stuck in limbo with no chance of escape.
He grunted then ran his fingers through his hair. What would his father do in this situation?
“You can’t let it get to you, James,” Lucas said.
“Easier said than done. I can’t move without thinking the press is riding my ass. More and more members want to join the club. Vetting them is becoming a problem. I do not want to put my people at risk because of everything that is happening over there.”
“Do you think Stephen is not going through the same thing?”
“It’s different. He has Ursula.”
Lucas laughed. “There is nothing different. She’s had to give up studying because of the press hounding her at college. Her teachers didn’t want to teach someone associated with him, let alone on the verge of marrying him. Cadeon is part of this mess, too. Violet is expecting their first child in a few months, and he’s getting stuck at work.”
James listened to everything Lucas had to say, shocked by the news. He’d thought he’d been in the loop. From what Lucas was saying, he was nowhere close to understanding what was going on. Lucas continued on.
“Then we have the problem with Sean. He’s going off the rails big time. My sister, Isabella, being back has set him off. Isabella spends most of her time locked away in her room refusing to talk to anyone, least of all me. Then we come to Rebecca. She’s staying at Possession and she is terrified to say one word out of place. The people around you are suffering, James. You’re just not around to see it.”
“Why haven’t you told me? None of you have come to me.”
“Why should we? You lock yourself away here and never give a thought to the pain or damage your friends may be going through. Ravage has become your whole life. You don’t go anywhere. When was the last time you visited Possession to simply have a drink and chat with the men there?”
James thought about the question. Visiting Possession hadn’t been high on his list of things to do. Unless it was to deal with the shit they’d put themselves in, he’d not been there in over two years.
“Look, I don’t know you like the others, and I appreciate you taking me on when I don’t have the money to back my name, but I think you need to take a step back and see what we’ve still got.”
Lucas finished his coffee and stood.
“I’ve got to get back to Possession. Think about what I’ve said.”
“Will do.”
He sat there another few minutes before he couldn’t take it anymore. James made his way up from the dungeon and went to his office.
The moment he sat down in his chair to start looking at figures his phone rang.
“James,” he said, picking up the receiver.
“Sir, Veronica’s sister is here again with her friends,” Leo said.
“Where?”
“She’s at the bar while her friends are on the dance floor.”
James put the phone down, cursing. It was Monday night, and she’d been plaguing his thoughts all weekend. He felt like a sick bastard for wanting her. James moved toward the filing cabinet in the corner of his office and pulled out the file on Veronica. He typed her number into his cell phone and rang her.
“Hello,” she said. He hated the way her voice sounded nervous. She knew it was him.
“Your sister is here again. I made you a promise, but I can’t keep throwing out good paying customers.”
“I’m so sorry, James. Did you get my letter?” she asked.
“Yes, I haven’t had chance to open it.”
“Please, open it. It is important to me.”
“I will. What do you want me to do about your sister?”
There was silence on the other line.
“She hates that I interfered with her life. I can’t force you to do anything. Just keep her safe, will you?”
James ground his teeth together. At one time, her words would have cut deep whereas now they only angered him.
“We’re not monsters, Veronica. Your sister is in good hands here.”
She mumbled something.
His anger rose. “Maybe next time you should bring me your crap yourself, and that way you won’t be putting your sister in harm’s way.”
Slamming his phone shut he tore up her file, finally feeling closure over his ex. He wasn’t ashamed of who he was, however Lucas’s words had opened him up.
One year he’d been pulling away. He’d not gotten regular updates, and he needed to keep in the loop. This wasn’t anyone’s fault. His friends needed his help, and he was going to start by helping them.
First, he needed to get Prudence out of the picture. She was messing with his head, and he didn’t like it.
****
Another night and she was waiting at the bar for the owner to come down and remove her. She shivered at having James touch her again. Becky and Anya had convinced her to go to the club after work.
She’d wanted to see James again. Her thoughts were constantly veering toward him. He was like a never-ending wet dream.
Leo stood over her.
“You can go and do your job, you know?”
“I don’t think so. I left you alone last time, and you escaped.”
“Am I under arrest or something?”
He glared at her, arms folded, and stared towards the far end of the bar. She shrugged her shoulders, sipping the iced water that Jermaine had given her.
“I’m not even going to answer that.”
She sipped on her drink watching her friends on the dance floor. James came and sat in the stool next to her. Leo left to go back on guard duty. Prue refused to look at him. Instead she watched her friends getting all the attention on the floor.
“Do you have another letter to give me?” he asked.
“Nope.” Prue still hadn’t looked at him.
It was easier to answer him when she didn’t have to stare into his eyes.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
She ignored the question watching one of the guys touch her friend’s hips.