"He is my father,
but I do not know him."
C H A P T E R 1 5
L U C I A N A
After the encounter with Nathan, I took a shower, got dressed and a little breakfast.
And guess who I met there?
"Good morning, Luce!"
"Hey, Miranda," I said. "I haven't seen you around in a while, where were you?"
"It's not me that has not been around, it's you!"
Okay, maybe that's true.
I took a seat and Miranda handed me a plate of fluffy pancakes.
I may not like her, but I'll play around to stay on her good side even if it was just for the food.
It was fantastic.
"How is it?" she asked, looking hopeful.
My face stuffed, so instead of answering, I gave her a thumbs up.
Alex walked in and plopped himself down next to me. "Those look so good! Can you please make some for me as well, Miranda, please?"
"Sure thing, Alex." she said and went back to counter.
The minute Miranda's back was turned to us, Alex passed a piece of paper to me.
Meet me
~D.M
I looked at Alex and mouthed 'when'. He just shrugged, looking right in front of us. I followed his line of vision and saw that Miranda was done plating Alex's pancakes. She would turn around any second now.
She walked over and set his plate in front of him, smiling sweetly. Then she looks at me. "Do you think I should go and call the newbies? I mean it's still 8 a.m but seeing as we're all up, I guess they should be too."
"That might be a little cruel." Alex said.
"Why?"
"Because sleep is precious. Training can wait, sleep can't."
I gave out a small chuckle and focused on my pancakes.
"Are you not going to make any for me, Miranda?"
I turned around and saw Amber entering the kitchen. She took the seat opposite to mine, close enough to talk to me but far enough to ignore me, if necessary.
I sighed, I'd almost forgotten she was mad at me.
I finished my pancakes and thanked Miranda. I placed a hand on Alex's shoulder and get to my feet. Before turning around and walking, I gave his shoulder a little squeeze, indicating I was going to meet David. He didn't react, but I knew he understood what I meant.
As I reached David's door, I was about to walk right in, not bothering to knock.
"I will not ask again, where is she?"
My hand froze on the door knob, I would know that voice anywhere.
"You have to understand-"
I cut David off by barging into his office and shutting the door behind me.
"Luciana!"
I didn't have time to reply. I was wrapped in a very tight, bone-crushing hug, but I didn't respond by hugging back, instead I just let my arms hang limply by my side.
"Can't breathe." I said and push him back a little.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, sweetie."
I let out a humorless chuckle. "Sweetie? Do you even remember the last time you called me that? Does it take me being dead for you to care about me?"
"Luciana, you don't understand-" he started, but I was in no mood to listen to him.
"Have you seen Nathan at least once in the past five years? Or did you just not bother about him, just like you didn't about me?"
"I couldn't visit him because-"
"I don't want to hear any of your reasons."
I looked at David, hoping for an explanation. He caught me looking at him and shook his head. "I'll give you both a little privacy."
With that, he walked out.
I looked at the floor, not wanting to look at him. "Why did you send me on that mission?"
"I didn't have a choice!"
I glared at him, my eyes filled with hatred. "Of course you had a choice! You always did!"
He said nothing, so I continued. "You sent me on a suicide mission. Just like you did to her."
He seemed to have found his voice again. "I admit it was my fault she died, but I did not want you to go on that mission."
"Then why did you force me?" I asked.
"I cannot tell you that." he looked sad when he said that and I almost wanted to forgive him for everything he had done and hug him.
"Why are you even here?"
"I found out you were alive, Luciana! Is it too much if I came all the way here just to see you?"
"I don't believe you."
"Please, tell me what I can do to get you to forgive me. I will do anything."
I'll do anything, please just let her go.
My face hardened. I won't forgive him, no matter what he agrees to do.
"If you came here to gain forgiveness, then I'm sorry to disappoint you but I'm not the forgiving kind, maybe you should go to Nathan, he was always much better at this than me."
He walked over to one of the chairs and took a seat. I saw a small smile playing on his face.
"You were always stubborn."
I shifted my eyes from his and said. "I learned from the best."
I gave him one final glance before walking out. He looked a lot older than he did the last time I saw him.
On the way back I ran into Nathan, like literally ran into him.
"Whoa there, careful," he said, steadying me. "Where are you coming from? And why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
"Trust me, it would've been better if I'd actually seen a ghost."
His cheerful expression morphed into one of confusion. "What happened?"
"Let's just say I met someone and that certain someone ruined my entire day."
"Will I be getting the name of this certain someone?"
"I don't think you want to."
"Oh, I do."
I saw Angela walking by and she noticed me looking at her. Instead of walking towards me, she turned around and walked away.
"What's up with her?" I asked Nathan.
He laughed at this. "She thought you were a poor accident victim, Jade Stone, and was helping you recover. And then one day she finds out your Luciana Crest, and that you've been lying to her the whole time, now she's scared."
I groaned. "She shouldn't be scared of me! I didn't do anything!"
"Okay, enough of that. Will you tell me who ruined my little sister's morning?"
Sighing, I told him.
"Our beloved father."