Page 62 of Luke's Revenge (Walker Security - Lucifer's Trilogy 3)

Chapter Forty-Two

Luke

Every part of me wants to make Ana skip this meeting, but I know my woman. She will never find peace in anything that goes right or wrong, if she’s not present. But as we pull to the back alleyway behind the cellar, as instructed, I battle my protective side with Ana. Kurt will never let her get hurt, I tell myself. I believe he loves her.

Adam parks the SUV in front of the rear door, and exits. I kiss Ana, and do the same. She follows and steps to my side. Turns out, we don’t have to go inside at all. The door opens and Kurt exits, followed by several men in black, packing obvious weapons. Another SUV pulls across the drive, blocking entry or exit, which makes me twitchy.

Kurt halts and the door behind him opens again. A tall, thin man appears, and you might as well call his suit “money” it’s so obviously expensive. I motion to Ana and we step in front of the two men.

“I am Louis,” he greets, and flashes Ana a smile. “You are right, Kurt. She is as lovely as her mother, or even more so.” He holds up a hand. “No offense.”

Ana tenses ever so slightly and I know she’s thinking what I’m thinking. Did this man have anything to do with her mother’s murder? But I dismiss that idea instantly. Kurt loved her mother. He talks about her. He softens with her name on his lips.

Louis offers me his hand. “Lucifer,” he greets. “I’ve heard much about you. I need you to fly my fleet for me, but I hear I can’t pay you enough to win you over.”

“You’ll win a favor of my choice, not yours, if this goes my way today,” I assure him.

Louis eyes Kurt. “You were right. He holds nothing back. I like him for Ana.” He winks at Ana.

“I didn’t know I had the coin,” Ana tells him. “It was on my brother’s person when he died. I thought it was just a coin. I’m sorry if this caused you distress.” She delivers this with the sweetness of a woman who would never kill a man. But she would. She’d kill him right now if she thought it necessary.

His eyes soften on her. “I appreciate that. Where is it now?”

“I gave it to Walker Security to protect, for the both of us. Michael Phillips seems quite desperate.”

His lips twist. “Is he now?” He doesn’t wait for an answer. “I need proof you have the coin. If I get that, I’ll end your trouble with Phillips.”

“How can we be sure they’re ended?” I ask.

“You’ll be sure or you won’t hand me the coin,” he replies.

Adam presents his phone with a photo of himself holding the coin. Louis eyes it and then Kurt. “You, my man, always come through, even from the grave.” He retrieves his phone from his pocket and punches in a number. It rings on speakerphone. He allows us to hear Phillips answer the phone before he says, “You are to leave Ana and Luke alone until further notice, and that means anyone they even speak to, let alone know intimately. Understand?”

Silence fills the line several beats before Phillips says, “That’s complicated.”

“It isn’t complicated at all,” Louis replies tightly. “No contact. No harm. The end.” He disconnects and says, “Once I have the coin, one of my men will visit him in an unforgettable way, not that this is even necessary. When will I receive my treasure?”

“Tonight,” Adam replies. “It’s in our office safe.”

Louis’s eyes light. “Well take me there now.” He offers Ana his hand. “A pleasure, my dear. You will be safe.” He inclines his head at me and motions to Adam. “I’ll ride with you.” He then waves at his guards, who follow him to the SUV.

Kurt steps closer. “I’m going with him. I’ll call you when it’s done.” He starts to walk away and Ana catches his arm.

“Don’t disappear.”

“I won’t leave you in the dark ever again.” With that, he dislodges her hand and heads to the SUV.

When the SUV blocking the driveway moves, and Adam pulls out of sight, Ana and I face each other. “He’s going to leave.”

“There’s more to Kurt’s story than we know, baby. There always has been. But maybe, just maybe, he doesn’t want to be at the beck and call of men like Louis. And who can blame him?” I stroke her hair. “Let’s go home, and tomorrow, we’ll figure out what comes next.”

“We have no car.”

It’s right then that another SUV pulls in. “Now we do. We’ll always find a way, baby. Don’t you doubt it.”

We load up in the vehicle with Dexter driving.

It’s an hour later, when we’re sitting at the kitchen island eating pizza that my cellphone rings, with Kurt on caller ID. “It’s done. I’m going back to Denver in the morning. You going to fly me there?”

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