Pawned Virtue - #wattys2015 BK4 TPBS - Completed 1st draft

-54-

Not edited.

TWO DAYS!  Two damn days!

Lucas let his frustration get the better of him and once again there was a glass shattered to pieces against the wall. Grabbing his hair he yelled out an almost animalistic groan of despair before stalking around his office again.

What did she mean? Staying for him. What the hell does that mean?

He fought back the urge to get in his car and barge his way into Peter's house and demand that she explain.

He slumped into the leather lounge at the side of his office and buried his head in his hands as his mind searched for answers his heart was only too willing to give.

Is it possible?

No.

Maybe a little?

Possibly.

Did she care more than he knew?

Possibly.

A knock at the door had him breathing in a deep breath and sitting in a more 'boss like' manner before he called for them to come in.

Seeing that it was only Simeon he slumped down again... there's no secrets between friends.

"Boss, we have a problem"

Immediately Lucas' boss like manner became real and as he spoke he got up and walked back to his desk.

"Talk to me."

"Ellie's still in the city."

"Fúck! Where is she?"

Simeon braced himself for the fallout.

"Living on Herring Road in North Ryde."

Lucas went cold.

"She's where?" he asked in a deep and almost lethal way.

"You heard me."

His fists clenched and if this was a Disney cartoon then there would have been spurts of steam coming from his ears as his face turned ten different shades of red.

"How the fúck did she find out where Tara lived?"

"No idea boss."

"Who's on her?"

"Ellie? Dane and Chris at the moment. Danes already called Adam and filled him and Jones in on the situation."

Lucas nodded his approval.

"Boss, we need to get Tara out of there. Jones went over the place with a fine tooth comb and if Ellie's little arsé kickers wanted to they'd get in easily."

Lucas recalled the conversation he'd had with Jones after he'd checked out the house and spoken with Peter.

"Peter didn't want any major disruptions to their lives while Tara and Keiran were finishing school."

"Commendable but you need to speak to him yourself Lucas. He either lets our guys lock the place down or we take Tara out of there for her own safety."

Lucas unclenched the jaw he idn't realise he'd clenched.

"Taking her out of there wouldn't work. That bítch is likely to use Peter and Keiran as leverage against Tara."

Simeon stood watching Lucas. He knew that Lucas' first instinct was to go and drag Tara back here and never let her out of his sight again. It was the caring side that was reserved for the people who were closest to him that held him back so he didn't scare Tara away from him again.

"There's another option boss."

Lucas didn't hear him. His mind was already on the conversation he was going to have with Peter about security systems and added man power.

"Boss?" Simeon prompted.

"What?" Lucas dragged himself back to the present.

"There's another option."

Lucas looked at him, eyes dark as he waited.

"We take them all."

"All?"

"Yep. Tara, Peter and Keiran. We take them all back to the beach house. It's big enough."

Lucas thought about this and it was only seconds that passed until his thinned out mouth started to curl. He smiled widely.

"Best idea ever Simeon!"

"Maybe I should be in the top job then" Simeon joked.

Lucas scowled in a friendly manner "Don't push your luck Petralia."

Simeon laughed.

"Seriously though, I'll go talk with Peter. You come with me and find out exactly how far away that bítch is from my wife."

"What are we going to do about Ellie?"

"I spoke to my father and he said he'd handle it."

"He's got a soft spot for her boss, she gets what she wants from him."

Lucas smiled a smug smile.

"My father is no longer in charge here Simeon. If the bítch doesn't leave I'll kill her."

Simeon grinned a grin that matched Lucas' and when Lucas picked up his keys the pair walked from the office together.

Lucas spotted the young cleaner before Simeon and had to smile to himself. She couldn't take her eyes off Simeon, he'd seen it before. He'd also seen Simeon watching her.

"Hey Piper."

Her eyes immediately went to Lucas.

"Hey Mr Porter."

Simeon chuckled as he forced himself to turn around calmly.

"God Pip, don't call him that. It'll go to his head."

Lucas trie to swipe Simeon across the back of his head resulting in a giggle from Piper that almost had Simeon closing his eyes on a moan.

"Well Piper, you're welcome to call me Lucas but I just wanted to let you know there's a broken glass in my office and..."

"Let me guess. It jumped from your hand and landed on the wall?"

Lucas' mouth dropped open as Simeon laughed loudly with his head thrown back.

"Piper! Did you just sass your boss?"

"Yep" she replied with a grin.

Lucas looked from her to Simeon and as much he would have loved to stand there and watch his friend fawn over the girl they had something far more important they needed to be doing.

"Good help's hard to find hey boss?"

"That's enough of you Simeon. See you later Piper."

"Bye Lucas, Simeon. Oh and don't worry I ordered more glasses last week and I'm assured that these ones don't have a habit of jumping."

Lucas stood with his mouth wide open as Piper went in the direction of the kitchen to get what she needed to clean up the glass.

Simeon's hand landed on his shoulder.

"Come on boss. We have work to do."

*********

Okeys pricelings as you may have guessed I just set up the possibility of another story in the future. As yet I don't know if I'll follow through with it but the fact is I can see us all wanting to return to visit with the Price brothers in the future and see what they're up to. There may be another set up or two :)