“You’re doing it too, talking in circles!”
Josh smiled with genuine pleasure, his dimples on display. He didn’t derive pleasure because the topic of their conversation was humorous, but because it took seconds for her to bounce back. That was one of the things he’d always loved about her.
“It didn’t happen overnight but Sam works for an organization that I can’t tell you about.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Can’t.”
“So where do we go from here?”
Knowing he didn’t have a chance in hell of swaying her, he went for it anyway. “I suggest that we let Sam deal with his life and we deal with ours.”
“Are you kidding me, Kingdom? You and my brother think I’m going to be fobbed off with that lame ass story and go sit in a corner and accept it!”
“I would never put Luxandria in a corner,” Josh teased with a smile.
“Cute… but I need something, Josh.” Lux said not reacting to his attempt at moving the focus of their conversation.
While he understood her position, he needed a moment to determine what he could say that would appease her. His mind made up, Josh decided to tell her only enough to satisfy her need for, not seeing him and her brother in shades of black and white. “On two occasions, Sam asked me to help him extract–”
“Extract?”
“Poor choice of word… I mean relocate people who were in danger.”
“No better, Joshua!”
“Well, that’s all I’ve got!” Josh threw back unwilling to spend any more time seeking the word that would appease her.
“Okay, relocate is good.”
“We, I mean, I–” Josh corrected himself.
“No, you meant, we. Who’s we, Joshua?”
“Ask me another question and I swear to God, I’m done telling you another damn thing. You’re just going to have to live your life in ignorance of this whole situation.” He didn’t raise his voice because he didn’t need to. The way he voiced the statement was proof of his seriousness.
“Well, I’m not about to apologize for butting in, but I hear you.”
“When your brother called me, he wanted help in relocating two people. I was his only option at the time because he didn’t want Matthaeus to know what he was doing. My family had the means to help him out. After hearing what he had to say, I took the decision to do as he asked.
I know you still have issues with Sam; he’s far from an angel, but I assure you, I’ve seen much worse. So much worse, Lux.”
Something in his expression must have resonated with her because when he next looked up, it seemed as though she were looking into the deepest part of his soul.
“Do you mean your childhood, Josh, is that what you’re talking about?”
“Amongst other things,” he replied. Whenever he thought too deeply about his and his brother’s past, it filled him with rage. Yes, Sam might have done some reprehensible deeds in his life, but Josh knew he could tell her about pillars of society who did much worse and all in the name of greed, perversion or the greater good.
“I’ve lost interest in this line of conversation so listen well. I have only met your brother a handful of times. I don’t much care for him, but, believe it or not, I understand him.
You say you hate Sam, but I know better. He’s the only blood relation you have and that means something, I saw it in the way you looked at him when your guard slipped and you hugged him. If you ever see him again and you’re still curious, you can question him.” Josh said as he watched her.
“Do you swear that you don’t have anything else to do with him?”
“Never question my integrity, Luxandria,” he replied in deadly earnest, making no attempt to hide his anger.
“I’m sorry.”
Those two simple words were all it took for his irritation to disappear. His point made, Josh lightening the mood with a smile and teased, “I accept your apology, but I know you can do better than that.”
When she got to her feet, he hoped she was coming to join him in their once favorite chair. Seeing her walk towards the door, he immediately tensed before he realized she made no attempt to gather her coat.
“Please excuse me for a while.”
“Are you okay, Luxie?”
“I’m fine; I just need a few minutes.”
Chapter 28
Lux was gone for so long Josh began to worry. When he opened the door, he saw a trail of her clothing leading to their old bedroom door.
His heart immediately began beating double time, but he hesitated. The last time they were in that room together was the day, she left him. Behind that door was a place of memories that still haunted him.