Page 9 of Until You

“Doesn’t look like nothing.”

“Just some trouble with the local Triad. Nothing we can’t handle.”

Sebastian frowned. “I thought you workedwiththese organized crime guys,” he said in a low voice.

Lucian chuckled and took a sip of the scotch a server had just set down in front of him. “Not anymore.” He sighed and shook his head. “This weekend isn’t the time to get into all of that. What did you want to talk to me about? Do you need help?”

A part of Sebastian cringed at Lucian’s question and assumption that Sebastian had fucked up again. Not that he could blame him. He’d lost count of how many times Lucian had bailed him out, which was what he wanted to talk to him about now, the night before his wedding.

Sebastian sighed, suddenly struggling to find the words. Emotion clogged his throat and he took a sip of his sparkling water. “I just wanted to say thank you. For everything you’ve done for me. I don’t even know how many times you bailed me out or made sure I was safe when I was hellbent on destruction.” He met Lucian’s eyes. “You were the father I never had, and I’m alive and healthy today because of you. I owe you my happiness, my health, my life. I owe you everything. You’re my brother, but you’re so much more than that. And I just wanted you to know that I’ll always be grateful to you for everything you did for me. Always.”

Lucian smiled tightly at him, his eyes bright. “I love you, Bastian, and I’ll always look out for you. Nothing will ever change that.”

Sebastian blinked rapidly, his eyes stinging. “Anyway. I just needed you to know.”

Lucian nodded slowly. “I do.” Then he sat back, sipped his drink, and surveyed the party happening around them, letting the warmth of the moment hang in the air between them. Theo and Lauren were dancing to the upbeat Hall and Oates song playing, Kayla and Willa were cooing over Cora, and Olivia was chatting with her father. “So. When are you asking her?”

“What?”

Lucian turned and looked at him. “When are you asking Kayla to marry you, Bastian? It’s been two years.”

“Oh,” said Sebastian, letting out a little chuckle. “Uh, this weekend, actually.”

Lucian’s face lit up, and he clapped Sebastian on the back. “Good. It’s about time.”

“I know. I was…waiting.”

“For?”

“I just needed to make sure that I could keep it together. That I’m not going to let her down or put her in danger ever again because of my fuck ups.”

“And you’re sure now?”

He nodded, thinking about the ring in his pocket. “I am. And I think she’s getting impatient,” he added with a soft laugh.

“Kayla Bristowe is a patient woman. She’d have to be to be with you,” he added with a smirk, and Sebastian shot him a look of mock hurt.

“I know. But even Kayla has her limits.”

“You know, you could ask her tonight. There’s a rooftop terrace we’re not using tonight for…security reasons. I thought it would be better to have the party inside. But you’re welcome to use it, if you want.”

Sebastian nodded, a thrill shooting through him. “It’s safe?”

Lucian snorted into his scotch. “You’re not the one who pissed off the Triad.”

“What did you do?”

Lucian shrugged. “Disrupted their entire business by shutting down their drug smuggling operation.”

Sebastian’s eyes widened. “How did you do that?”

“Don’t ask. The less you know, the better.”

“I see.” Sebastian tilted his head. “Lucian Prescott, you are the most fascinating person I know.”

Lucian laughed, a genuine belly laugh that made the skin around his eyes crinkle and his white teeth flash. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Then he rose from the table and tilted his head in Kayla’s direction. “Go get your woman. Seize the day. Well, the night, anyway.” He winked and then wove his way through the crowd back to his fiancée and daughter. He lifted Cora out of Olivia’s arms and kissed the baby girl on the cheek, then slid his arm around Olivia’s waist, pulling her in for a kiss. Sebastian watched as he pressed his forehead to Olivia’s and said something that had her rising up on her toes to kiss him again.

With his heart pounding wildly, Sebastian took another sip of his water and then rose from the table. He found Kayla chatting with Theo and two of Olivia’s friends who were serving as bridesmaids, Whitney and Madison. Whitney had been flirty with him during the ceremony rehearsal, but he’d pretended he hadn’t noticed. She’d backed off once she’d seen him with his arm around Kayla’s waist.

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