Page 54 of Lucas (The Valeur Billionaires #2)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

LUCAS

“ H ey, Dad.” I find him sitting in the living room, reading a newspaper. He’s one of the last people who still reads a physical paper.

He folds the pages and sets them on the table, his brow furrowed. “Lucas. What was so urgent?”

“I need to talk to you.” I remain standing, my hands shoved in my pockets to hide their trembling.

“I’m listening.” He leans back, crossing his legs.

“We should do this in private.” I glance around the room, my nerves stretched taut.

“There’s no one here.” He waves his hands at the space, confusion flickering in his eyes.

No, there’s no one here, but he has an entire staff of employees who, I’m sure, listen to every word. I remain standing, my jaw clenched.

“Okay.” He gets to his feet with a heavy sigh, his Italian leather shoes sinking into the plush Persian rug. “Let’s go to my office, if it will make you feel better.”

I follow him down the long, portrait-lined hallway, our footsteps muffled by the thick carpeting. I close the door behind us, making sure it’s shut tight so no one can overhear like I did.

I turn to face him, my heart pounding against my ribs. “I’m transferring Gant back to Ava. I’m not going to dismantle it. I love her, and I want her to be okay.”

Dad tilts his head, studying me with an inscrutable expression. “Did you come to ask for my permission?”

“No. I came to inform you.” I lift my chin, meeting his gaze head-on.

A smile spreads across his face, surprising me. “I’m glad.”

I narrow my eyes, suspicion coiling in my gut. “You’re glad I’m giving her the company back?”

“No. I’m glad you decided without me and that you’re willing to stand against me.

That’s what I’ve always wanted from you.

To show some backbone. To fight for what’s important to you.

Now I know you’re ready to take my place at the helm of our empire, and I can step back.

” Pride gleams in his eyes, warming his stern features.

I stare at him, baffled. “So you wanted me to fight you?”

He laughs, the sound jarring in the tense atmosphere. “Not exactly. I wanted you to fight for yourself. I’m not thrilled that you chose someone from the Gant family, but I’m willing to accept that she’s good for you. You’ve changed. And I’m happy about that.”

I nod, processing his words. “I love her.” The admission falls from my lips, raw and honest .

“I know. I also know she left the house.” He raises an eyebrow, a silent question.

“How do you know that?” I shake my head, marveling at his omniscience.

“There aren’t many things that escape my notice.

Fight for her, Son. I told you before that there aren’t many things in life more valuable than love.

Love is something worth fighting for. Love has driven the world since the dawn of time.

” His voice is fervent, his eyes distant as if remembering something long past.

He’s right. Ava is worth fighting for.

I lick my lips, steeling myself. There’s no easy way to approach this, no way to soften what I’m about to ask. Better to just rip off the bandage.

“Dad.” My voice cracks on the word, and I clear my throat. “I need to know. Did you... Did you murder someone?”

His eyes widen, and he turns as pale as the wall behind him. “Why would you ask me something like that? Where is this coming from?”

“That’s not an answer,” I point out, my voice steady. “Did you kill someone? It’s a simple question. Yes or no.”

“Where did you hear that?” he demands, leaning forward, his hands gripping the edge of his desk.

I sigh, the weight of the world pressing on my shoulders. “From you. You were talking about it on the phone.”

“Who else knows?”

I shake my head, holding his gaze.

“Did you tell anyone else? One of your siblings?” he presses, urgency bleeding into his tone.

“No. I wanted to talk to you first. To give you the benefit of the doubt. So, did you murder someone?” I ask again, each word like shards of glass in my throat.

He nods, then turns his chair to face the window, his back to me. “It’s not what you think, Lucas. It’s complicated.”

“Then uncomplicate it for me,” I snap.

God, it’s true. He killed someone.

“It was years ago. Many, many years.”

“So it’s true? You murdered someone?” I need him to say it, need the confirmation.

“I had no choice. You have to understand. He wasn’t a good man,” he pleads, desperation cracking his words. “He did something terrible to our family.”

“So instead of going to the police, you killed him?” Disbelief colors my voice, tinged with growing horror.

“I didn’t plan to. It wasn’t that simple.” His voice trembles, and for a moment, he looks every bit his age, the lines of his face deepened by the weight of his guilt. “Believe me, Son. If there had been any other way...”

“Then tell me.” I lean forward. “Make me understand how my father, the brilliant billionaire I’ve looked up to my entire life, could take another life in cold blood.”

“I can’t.” He shakes his head, his eyes pleading. “If I tell you, you’ll be an accomplice. An accessory to murder. There’s a reason I’ve kept this secret for so long, Lucas. I was trying to protect you. All of you.”

“Oh, really? That’s the reason? Not because you were hiding a murder and didn’t want to go to jail?

” I stand up and start pacing the room, agitation thrumming through my veins.

Everything I thought about this man, my rock, my guiding light.

..it’s all shattering, the pieces cutting me to ribbons. What’s left now? Who is he? Who am I ?

“Yes!” He whirls back around to face me, his eyes wild and desperate.

“That is the reason. If you knew, you would have killed him yourself. Anyone would have done what I did. But I didn’t want you to bear my burden.

Please, don’t dig deeper, I’m begging you.

Nothing good will come of it. The things you’ll uncover will only hurt you.

I’m still your father, I still love you and our family. Nothing has changed.”

It’s like he’s reading my mind, voicing my darkest fears. “If this was years ago, why were you talking about it on the phone now? Who was that? A lawyer? Why were you worried about being sued? What’s changed?”

He purses his lips, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

“Something happened, didn’t it? You didn’t just bring this up out of the blue? Does it put me in danger? Liam? Cora? Ava?” Panic claws at my throat, icy tendrils of dread unfurling in my stomach.

“No. I don’t think so,” he mumbles, avoiding my eyes.

“You don’t think so? That’s not good enough!” I shout, slamming my hand on his desk. The sound cracks like a gunshot in the tense silence. “Is this related?” I pull the envelope I received from my pocket and toss it on his desk, the paper skidding across the polished wood.

He glances at me, then at the envelope, his brow furrowed. With shaking hands, he opens it and stares at the note inside.

Your turn now.

He drops the letter like it just burned him, his face ashen. “What is this? Where did you get it?”

“It showed up at my office. And that’s after someone carved the same message on my car. And then someone ran me down. So, Dad...does what you did put me in danger or not? ”

“You think there’s a connection between your hit and run and this note?” he asks, his eyes searching mine.

“I don’t fucking know what to think, but I’ve been getting threats, and then this happened. Do I need protection?” I rake a hand through my hair.

“It’s been twenty years. What’s done is done,” he says, but there’s a tremor in his voice, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

I stare at him. Is this my life now, untangling decades-old murder plots and fearing for my safety, for the safety of those I love?

“Look, Lucas... This is a shock. You must have a million questions and a million doubts. I need you to trust me. I need you to let this go.” He leans forward. “Nothing good will come of digging into this. It will only bring pain and heartache. Please, Son. Let the past stay buried.”

I shake my head, my throat tight with emotion. “I don’t know if I can do that, Dad. I don’t know if I can just forget what I heard.”

“You have to. For all our sakes. This secret, it’s not just mine. It’s bigger than me. If it gets out...” He trails off, a haunted look in his eyes. “Just trust me, Lucas. I did what I had to do. I’m not proud of it, but I’d do it again to protect the ones I love. To protect our family.”

I close my eyes, my head pounding. I want to believe him. Want to take him at his word, to cling to the image of the father I thought I knew.

But I can’t. I can’t unknow this, can’t unsee the cracks in the facade.

“I need time. I need to think,” I say, my voice hollow and distant to my own ears. “I won’t say anything, not yet. I can’t promise I’ll let this go, though. If it puts the people I care about at risk, I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep them safe. Even if it means going against you.”

He nods, a flash of pain crossing his face before he masks it. “I understand. Take the time you need. But Lucas, be careful. Don’t go poking at sleeping bears. It will only end in tragedy.”

A shiver runs down my spine at his ominous words, but I force myself to meet his gaze.

With that, I turn and walk out, my footsteps heavy and leaden. I feel his eyes on my back, boring into me, but I don’t turn around.

I climb into my car and grip the steering wheel, my knuckles white and straining.

What now? Where do I go from here?

I have no fucking clue.

All I know is my world has tilted on its axis, plunging me into a reality I never could have imagined.

I decide to dedicate the next several weeks to reminding Ava that I’m still here, that my love for her hasn’t wavered, and that I’m never giving up on us.

“Good morning,” I greet her as she exits the house, a smirk playing on my lips. “Need a ride to conquer the world?”

She doesn’t respond, her green eyes guarded and filled with a pain that cuts me to the core. I know I’m the reason for that pain, and it kills me inside.

“Silent treatment, huh? That’s okay, I can talk enough for the both of us. ”

The next morning, I’m back at her door, a cup of coffee in hand.

“Good morning, Wifey.” I hold out a cup as she approaches, her hair gleaming in the early light. “Vanilla latte, extra foam. Just the way you like it.”

She eyes me but takes the offered cup. “Thanks.”

Her voice is guarded, but I don’t miss the way her fingers linger on mine a beat too long.

“Anytime.” I wink, relishing the flash of exasperation in her green eyes. “Sure you don’t want a ride? I promise I’ll let you pick the music.”

She snorts, shaking her head. “I think I can manage.” She turns toward her Jeep, but I catch the hint of a smile playing about her lips.

It’s not much, but it’s a start.

I wait until she’s out of sight and pump my fist in victory. “Yes!”

Emboldened by my success, I up my game the following day.

“Good morning, sunshine.” I smile, holding out a paper bag. “I brought you breakfast. A sesame bagel with honey walnut schmear. And before you ask, yes, I requested no olives in my most charming voice. The barista was putty in my hands.”

She eyes me, then the bag, her brow furrows. “Don’t you get tired of sitting here every morning?”

“Tired of seeing your beautiful face? Never. Besides, I consider it my daily cardio. Chasing after you is quite the workout.”

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the twitch of her lips. “You’re ridiculous. ”

“Ridiculously handsome? I know. It’s a curse.” I sigh.

She snorts, shaking her head. “I’m going to work.”

“Have a fabulous day, Wifey. Don’t work too hard!” I wave as she drives off, a silly grin on my face.

The next morning, she emerges to find me waiting as usual.

“You’re still here,” she says as I approach, two cups of coffee and a bag of pastries in hand.

“And I always will be.” I hold out her cup, my heart racing as her fingers brush mine. “I meant what I said, Ava. I’m not going anywhere.”

She studies me for a long moment, her green eyes searching. “Why?” she asks at last, her voice barely above a whisper.

I set the coffees on the hood of her car and take a step closer.

“Because I love you. Because you’re it for me. Because I will spend the rest of my life proving that to you if that’s what it takes.”

Her breath hitches, her lips parting. For a moment, I think she might reach for me.

But then she steps back, shaking her head. “I can’t do this, Lucas. I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?” I challenge.

She meets my gaze, pain and longing etched into every line of her face. “Both.”

She reaches out, running a finger along my cheek, and I shiver. “You had an eyelash,” she says, holding out her finger.

I catch her wrist, both of us frozen in the moment.

“Let me make a wish,” I breathe, my heart pounding.

She arches a brow. “You can’t possibly believe in that. ”

I smile and lean forward, closing my eyes and blowing on her hand, the eyelash fluttering away.

“Perhaps I do.”

On the next day, I change tactics.

“Go out with me.”

She blinks. “What?”

“Go out with me. On a date. You and me. What do you say?”

“Why would I do that?” She crosses her arms, challenging me.

I take a step closer, my body humming with her proximity. “Because, Wifey, it’s in the contract. Section eighteen, subsection B. You’re required to accompany me to social events once a week. Until the contract is fulfilled.”

She huffs, her eyes narrowing. “You’re serious.”

“As a heart attack. Though, let’s avoid those, shall we? I’d like to keep you around for a long, long time.”

“Fine. But it’s not a date.”

I shrug, holding up my hands. “Call it what you will. A business meeting, a contractual obligation, a chance to bask in my glorious presence. I’m not picky.”

She purses her lips, considering. “Fine. Send me the details.”

“I will. Wear something pretty. Or don’t. You look stunning in anything. Or nothing at all.” I wiggle my eyebrows.

She rolls her eyes, fighting a smile. “Goodbye, Lucas.”

“Hey, Ava!” I call after her.

She stops, glancing back at me over her shoulder.

“It worked. You know? The eyelash. I got my wish.”