Ace of Spades (Underground Affair Series Book 1) (21 page)

Shane continued walking down the hall with Declan and Chace who were now wondering what the hell was going on between the two of them.

Ace sat in his hospital room staring at the four walls. He couldn’t stop thinking about Lucy. Maybe they could work things out. She did come to see him at the hospital. No, she was probably there for her father and came by to see him so she could report back to the Chief. If she really cared then she would have come back at some point during the past two days to check in on him.

“Hello, Mr. Dean. I’m Cassie, your nurse for the evening. So tell me how are we doing tonight, any pain or complaints?”

“I feel like someone ripped my throat out, when I cough I see stars and I want to go home and sleep in my own bed.”

“Sounds about right for someone who has severe smoke inhalation and some cracked ribs.”

“How long do you think they’re going to keep me in this place?”

“I’d say a few more days. You know we lost you a few times.”

“Bet there are a few people who are saddened by my resurrection.”

“Not any that I saw. Your friends were frantic and that poor girlfriend of yours, she never left for a minute until the doctor said you were going to make it.”

“What? Lucy? Lucy was here?”

“I never asked her name but she sat vigil outside your room. Dark hair, blue eyes about 5’7”?”

“Lucy.”

“Well, she definitely would have been heartbroken if you didn’t make it.”

Ace smiled. “Thank you.”

“Here. Call her. I know you want to.” The nurse smiled.

Ace smiled as he took the phone from the nurse’s hand.

“Maybe later.”

“Haven’t the last few days taught you that life is too short? Now call that woman and work out whatever it is that needs to be worked out. I will be back in later to check on you.”

“Thank you.”

Ace decided he’d call the Chief and see how he was doing. Maybe he would test the waters and ask about Lucy.

Lucy was making her father a cup of tea when the phone rang. She reached for it but her father must have answered it first. She continued making the tea and then headed into her dad’s office.

“You scared the crap out of me son. I really thought we lost you.”

Lucy entered the room and immediately knew it must be Ace on the phone. She walked over to the desk and placed down her father’s tea cup.

“Thank you, Sweetheart.”

Lucy smiled at her father and turned to leave.

“Lucy, Ace said to say hello and thank you for visiting him at the hospital.”

Now Lucy had a huge smile on her face. Maybe there was hope that Ace could forgive her.

“Tell him I said hello and I am happy he is going to be alright.”

Lucy’s father took a sip of his tea and began to cough. He shook his head and held out the phone for Lucy to take. She looked at it twice before taking it from her still coughing father.

“Hi.”

Ace smiled as soon as he heard Lucy’s voice.

“Hi.”

“Dad seems to have come down with a fake cough so that I would have to take the phone.”

“The nurse just told me you never left…me, thank you, Lucy.”

“I couldn’t have been anywhere else.”

“I can’t talk anymore, it hurts too much.”

“Can I come see you?”

“I’d like that.”

“I’m on my way.”

Lucy hung up the phone, kissed her father on the forehead and hummed as she walked out of his office. Her father sat there and smiled.

Shane was about to back his car out of the parking space when he saw Luke standing behind his car. He waited a minute but Luke just smiled. Shane threw the car into park and got out yelling.

“I have nothing to say to you!”

“Shane, let me explain, please?”

“Luke, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you. It won’t happen again.”

Shane turned around and walked back towards his car. As he reached for the door handle Luke grabbed his arm. Shane turned around ready to fight. Luke jumped back.

“What if I want it to happen again?”

Luke could see the look of surprise on Shane’s face as he moved closer. He nodded before grabbing Shane by the back of his head and crashing his lips against his. Shane sought out Luke’s tongue and sucked on it as they kissed. Luke reached down and began to rub Shane’s cock through his jeans.

“I fucking called it.”

Shane pulled away from Luke to see Chace sitting in his car smiling. Shane walked over to Chace’s car and stuck his head in the window. Luke was nervous now that Chace was going to be angry that he was kissing Shane.

“Chace, look it just happened.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“No, really. I was about to leave and Luke came along.”

“Yeah, I bet you want him to cum along.” Chace winked.

Shane laughed. “Yeah, maybe.”

“I’m happy you’re moving on.”

“We’ll see.”

“Get back to him before he thinks I’m a jealous lover.”

“Eww…never. You’re so not my type.” Shane winked and then walked back to Luke.

“I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t get you in any trouble?”

“Trouble? With Chace?”

“You kissed me first so I figured it was allowed.”

“Allowed? Luke, what the hell are you talking about?”

“Your partnership.”

“We might be partners but that has no bearing on who I choose to sleep with.”

“How many partners do you have right now?”

“Just Ace, Declan and Chace. It’s always been us four, that will never change.”

“Then where do I factor in?” Luke was now confused and beginning to get upset.

“You only wanted to get close to me so that you could become a partner?”

Shane felt sick to his stomach. It was like Robert all over again. He walked around Luke and again reached for the door handle.

“I’m not understanding. You said you can sleep with whoever you want, you kiss me but then say it will always be just the four of you and then look angry that I want you?”

Shane’s eyes bugged out of his head and then he started to laugh. It made no sense but it all made sense at the same time. Luke stood there speechless and feeling like a bit of a fool that Shane was laughing at him.

“Goodbye Shane.” Luke turned around and headed off.

“Wait, wait, wait!”

Luke stopped but refused to turn around.

“You have ten seconds.”

“You have it all wrong, our partnership is for the Underground…ONLY. They’re all straight.”

Luke started to laugh as he turned around.

“I feel pretty stupid about now.”

“You look pretty hot when you’re stupid.”

Shane kissed Luke. When he pulled back he smiled. Luke looked like a child in a candy shop.

“So…no boyfriends then?”

“Nope. Just three best friends who are my business only partners.”

“Good because I don’t like to share.”

“I don’t share well with others either.”

“I have to get back to work. Call me later when you wake up?”

“I can do that.”

Luke kissed Shane on his cheek and then headed back towards the hospital. Shane got in the car. As he backed out he chuckled to himself about all the partnership references and how Luke misunderstood them. He couldn’t wait to tell the guys about it.

Lucy walked quietly into Ace’s room. The nurse had told her that she had given him some pain killers not too long ago and he was probably asleep. As she approached the bed Ace looked over at her and smiled. Then he reached out his hand. Lucy grabbed it and smiled back.

“I thought you were asleep.”

“I’ve been trying to keep myself awake. I wanted to see you.”

Lucy leaned over and kissed Ace gently on his lips. They were chapped and the corner of his mouth was cut from the tube the doctors had there to keep him breathing. She reached for the lip ointment next to his bed. She rubbed some on his lips. He was so sleepy he barely had his eyes opened.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay right here while you rest.”

“I meant it when I said, I loved you.”

Ace fell asleep before Lucy even had a minute to respond.

Chace got home, undressed and headed for the shower. He was exhausted. He toweled off, laid down, closed his eyes and his phone rang.

“McQueen.”

“Chace, I’m outside. We’ve got another body.”

“Fuck, Kyle. I’ll be right out.”

Chace threw his pillow across the room. He dragged himself up and out of the bed and started getting dressed. This was their fifth victim and still no solid leads to go on. He grabbed his badge and gun and headed out of the house.