Song: Every Breath You take
By: Chase Holfelder
https://tinyurl.com/y9s5vmrh
Every time Jack closed her eyes all she could see was Lucan's dark eyes staring back at her. She tossed and turned till she dozed off only to wake at two am. I might as well get up. I should make Lucan and his associates something for the road. I have that whole chicken in the fridge. Might as well put it to use. Shower, coffee, and cooking. My life. Her morning routine is done. Snow/Traffic check, done. Lunch fixings packed in her travel box and she is ready. Off to work I go.
Her drive takes her 15 minutes today, just because she didn't shovel the driveway. Thank you, Jeep. Just as she turns down the private access road to the diner, Jack can see that everything is buttoned up and the lights are off. It is only three am, they have an hour to go. Technically, so do I. Thanks insomnia. Jack cuts her lights as she hit the parking lot and glided into the parking space near the back door. She grabbed her stuff and the box and exited the car, shutting the door as quietly as possible.
The only sound you could hear was the snow crunching under her feet and the click of the lock as she turned her key. Thanks, guys for locking up. Jack could feel the warmth from the heater being on all night as she opened the back door. Nice. She turned on the kitchen light and set about making lunch for her unexpected guests. But coffee first. She slips her headphones in and turned on her music.
Lucan kicked Marco and he finally stopped snoring. He noticed the flash of car lights across the window. He silently slipped on his shirt and holster, checking the gun. Checking outside the window he saw Jack getting out of her Jeep. A quick check of his watch indicated it was just past 3 am. He grabs his sweatshirt pulling it over his head. He can hear Angelo moving around in the other room. Lucan opens the main door as Angelo is looking outside.
"It's okay Angelo. It's her. Stay."
Angelo nods at Lucan and heads to the bathroom. Lucan headed downstairs, checking his phone. Several messages from Frankie. The Germanotti brothers finally settled down. Fuckers. I need coffee. I can smell something, chicken maybe as soon as I hit the kitchen. Smells good. I see movement through the small window on the door leading to the shop. As Lucan pushed the door, Jack came around the corner and jumps from Lucan startling her. She yanked her headphones out and put a hand to her chest.
"Lucan. You have GOT to stop doing that. You are going to give me a heart attack." Jack says as she turns to Lucan and smiled.
"I just assumed you heard me but I see you had your headphones in. I promise I'm not doing it on purpose." I could wake up to her every morning.
"Well, good morning, how did you sleep? Did I wake you?" She flashes Lucan a smile that could bring him to his knees. Fuck. "Would you like some coffee? And what is that noise?"
"Marco. Snoring, I thought I got him to stop. No, I didn't sleep well but you can see why. Coffee, but I can get my own. Do what you need to do." She looks gorgeous.
"If you don't mind getting your own, I need to check on something in the kitchen." Lucan disappears into his own thoughts. She smiles at me, again. The last time a smile affected me this much was Sophia. That fucking whore. Stop Lucan. This is a path that is closed. Deep breath. Coffee poured. I'm not ready to leave yet but we have to get to the casino. What the fuck is wrong with me. I know better than this. She's not from my world, she would never understand.
Fucking Sophia. She ruined what could have been the biggest joining of families in the history of Cosa Nostra. I should have put a bullet in her. Fuck. I can feel the rage slowly starting to burn. I walk to the door and survey the snow-covered landscape. Peaceful as fuck. I can use some fucking peace.
Lucan
I can hear her laugh. What the fuck is she doing up this late? I hear her laugh again. Is she talking to someone? Who the fuck is in my house? Frankie comes in behind me. "Is she talking to someone?"
I turn and look at Frankie who has his ear cocked. A male voice floats down the stairs as soon as I hit the first rung. "Lucan, stop. Let me go first."
I ignore Frankie while all I see is a veil of red. I tear my Jacket off and pull my gun out of the holster. I take the stairs two at a time as Frankie is trying to push past me. I burst through the door to the bedroom, Frankie yelling at me but I can't hear him with the blood rushing in my ears.
Sophia is looking at me with her grey eyes and her mouth hanging open. "Lucan!" And I see him. In my bedroom with my fucking fiancé two days before our wedding. Nicolas Abruzzi. Capo to Don Fanucci. Had it not been for Frankie, Nicolas and Sophia would have been gutted that night and the war of wars would have started.
Lucan can't believe that it was three years ago. It's been a while since a smile kicked his ass. Fuck. He looked at his watch. Where the fuck did this past hour go? He can hear Marco and Angelo thumping around and he can hear Jack singing quietly. Taylor Swift, again. Lucan watches as Angelo hits the bottom of the stairs and listens as Jack inquires about his sleep and if he would like coffee. I wonder how many times she says the word coffee in a day. Angelo comes in, grabbing a couple of cups and pouring for him and Marco.
Jack comes through the door. "I know you guys are going to be leaving soon, but could you give me like five more minutes before you do? Please?"
"Of course," Lucan tells her as she smiles at him. He felt a tiny sliver of peace when she smiled. Every smile Sophia gave him was a fucking lie. Marco comes down the stairs like a fucking Ox as she walks back in. Lucan listens as Jack greets him and asks the same of his sleep and need for coffee. Lucan looks at Angelo and he nods, striding into the kitchen and grabbing Marco before he can say anything stupid. "Marco, get the Caddy started and put our bags in the back."
"Yes, boss."
Jack comes out holding a box. "I couldn't sleep so I came early to make you some sandwiches to take on the road, here." She thrusts the Lucan. "It's um chicken pesto sandwich on ciabatta. I made the bread. And I also packed some cinnamon rolls for Marco. And you two of course." She smiles at Lucan, lighting him on fire. Angelo grabbed the box from her because she has Lucan frozen on the spot with her chocolate eyes and a shy smile. I'm fucking ruined. Jack sees me. Sophia looked through me.
"Grazie per la vostra ospitalità e generosità. Possa la vita continuare a benedirvi con la felicità e il successo continui." Sorry about that Jack, let me translate into English. Thank you for your hospitality and generosity. May life continue to bless you with continued happiness and success."
"Thank you, Angelo. It was my pleasure. Please, be sure to come back."
"Of course, Jack," Angelo says as he walks out the door, leaving Lucan alone with her.
"Thank you. I will not forget your kindness to me and my associates, Jack." I want to touch her. She's blushing furiously now.
"It really was no bother, Lucan. Please, it was nice to have company and cook some real food." Jack could feel the heat in her cheeks. I'm a dork. "I um, I checked the CDot report, and you guys should be clear. Utah has cleared up too."
"Thank you, Jack." Shit. I'm just standing here staring at her. "I have to get going. Thank you again." I have to turn around or I won't go.
"I'll walk you out, Lucan." Jack's voice lighting Lucan on fire.
"I should be back in a week or so." I have to see her again. I'm not due to be back in Denver for a month.
"I'm closed on Sundays but um, if you come, I can open up or something." Lucan watches as the blush creeps up her neck onto her face.
"I don't want to interfere in your day off." Yes, I do. I want to interfere in your life. Lucan could see Angelo eyeballing him and Marco shoving a cinnamon roll in his face. Fucking nightmare.
"It wouldn't be interference at all," Jack tells him. I can smell her perfume from here. Intoxicating. Calm down, Lucan.
Lucan is just standing here staring at her. Wanting to touch her so fucking bad it's taking everything he has to not reach out and touch her hair. Angelo is still eyeballing him. Leave Lucan. "I need to go. Be well Jack." Be well? Where the fuck did that come from. What fuck is wrong with me? Cazzo idiota. Fucking idiot.
"Be well Lucan." she smiled at Lucan. My God this woman. He nods at her and Marco jumps out of the front, opening Lucan's door and he waves at me.
Wow, what a start to my morning. Mayson will be here in a bit. Jack flips on the light to her open sign, bringing the shop to life. She got the other pots going and get the day started. I know it's going to be busy. Her first group hits and it's all the plow drivers heading back. Good crew, she knows a lot of these guys. She gets busy with their breakfast sandwiches.
��Mayson. I swear, as soon as we close, I will tell you everything but we need to get through this crowd first."
"Ugh, fine!" Mayson turned on her heel and stomped out of the kitchen. She came in early and Jack put her to work and she knew she wasn't expecting that.
Jack didn't know where the day had gone but they were finally shutting down. The snow melted which was a shame, it was so pretty and lent to a bit of coziness while eating with Lucan. Jack found her thoughts drifting to him throughout the day. Almost to the point of distraction. Oh boy. She sees Mayson heading straight for the kitchen. Here goes an hour of dissection.
"Okay, Jack. Spill it." Jack could hear the annoyance in her voice.
"Let's sit Mayson."
Two and a half hours later with Mayson asking about every detail, she has come to the conclusion that Lucan likes Jack and he probably didn't want to leave and he was raised well if he made her a plate and then helped clean up and then walked her to the Jeep.
"But who is he, Jack? Do you know his last name? Do you know what exactly hospitality is? And agriculture? Who says that? Why not say I'm a farmer?"
"I don't know Mays. I have never met anyone like him in my life. Ever. Hey, I'm exhausted, I didn't sleep. Let's finish up and get out of here."
"Okay but I still have questions for you, Jack."
"I know Mays. I just don't have the answers. And I may not see him again. You never know."
"You will. I can feel it. Trust me, Jack. I don't know what this is, but I feel it. He's coming. Be prepared."
"I hate when you do that Mayson." I really hate when she feels things. It's a little bit creepy but I would never tell her that. She shrugged her shoulders at me as I watched her walk away.