[lost-lover]

CHAPTER 10

Last night Jack and I checked into a hotel in Central London. We were a reasonable distance to St. Pauls, where my meet with Alex would be taking place tomorrow afternoon, so I was staking out the site. Not that Alex had much chance of escaping or anything, I just wanting to know where I could arrive without drawing any unnecessary attention. I also wanted to know the layout, I'm pretty good at spotting cops, but I didn't want to risk one eyeballing me when I went to the graveyard. Anymore than was possible, I mean, of course I'll be seen by cops if I go an talk to a criminal on day-release, but I'm still being careful. I've spent the past two hours staring at this place and three hours before that planning my disguise for tomorrow; for some reason, Jack thinks I'm trying to keep my mindbusy. Now, after spending the last 120 minutes in the church, and, after the minister tried to give me a sermon, the graveyard, I'm forced to accept he may have a point.
I leave the graveyard and begin walking the path back to the hotel, barely even noticing the crowds, reflecting on Jack's words. He's right, I'm keeping my mind occupied on purpose. I don't want to think about anything important. Alex, Leo, Ben. It's all there at the back of my mind, because I know it's all coming to a head. Tomorrow, with the meet I'll see Alex and, however painful it will be, I'm certain Ben will be mentioned, but first, today, I have to face Leo for running out on him. I know that if I don't get back soon Leo will arrive at the hotel and be alone with Jack. That doesn't bode well, so, panicking, I sprint back. When I arrive at the hotel, I'm sweating and out of breath, much to Jack's amusement.
"Been practising for the marathon Cass?" He said, smirking at me.
I glared at him, grabbed some clothes from my room and headed into the shower before he could get another word in. When I came out again ten minutes later, no longer sweating but still annoyed about everything, Jack was just ending a phone call.
"No worries, I've been taking care of her. No, she's in the shower, I think she's doing marathon practise. " He was saying. A small pause. "No, she hasn't tried too. Maybe she just prefers my company to yours." A longer pause. I could hear an angry voice on the other end. I didn't need to guess who it was. Jack turned, grinning, and saw me watching him, his grin faded. "Okay, okay, bye." He hung up annd looked at me. "How long were you stood there."
"Maybe she just prefers my company to yours." I quoted. "I don't need to ask who was on the other end, do I?"
"You know I was joking around." He said, eyes imploring me not to get mad. It may work on calming down most women he meets, but not me.
"For God's sake Jack, Leo's got enough reasons to be pissed at us without you baiting him!" I snarled.
"Sure, cause he never baits me." Retorted Jack sarcastically.
"I know he's just as bad as you." I said, holding up a hand to stop Jack interrupting. "But don't you think we've got enough on our plates without you scoring points over on each other? Of course, if you decide to let me go alone tomorrow then I'll be more than happy to let the games continue."
"Nice try Cass. Not gonna work." He replied, grinning at me.
"Balls." I said.
"Balls?" He repeated. "You English need to learn to swear."
"Please. If I do that I'll turn into you." I shot back.
Jack laughed, then immediatley became serious. "You done planning for tomorrow?"
"Yeah. All set. I meant what I said though. I don't want you and Leo to come."
"We're coming and nothing you say's going to change that Cassandra." Whereas Leo called me Cassie when he got nervous, Jack called me by my full name.
"You ever consider that I'm doing this to protect you?" I asked. "Or maybe, just maybe, that the reason I'm going to see my dear brother is because I have things I want to say to him. In private." I stressed the last to words before adding, "I'm risking 10 years of fighting for my privacy and security, of making it clear I want nothing to do with my family for what's likely to be a 5 minute conversation monitered by the cops. Doesn't that tell you how serious I am about this?"
"It's dangerous Cass." Jack replied quietly.
"Yes, Jack. I know it's dangerous. And that's why I left Leo. That's why I'm telling you I don't want either of you there."
"We're not leaving you to face this alone." He said.
I hate it when Jack's stubborn. He reminds me of me.
"Then just watch from a distance." I said desperately. Jack raised an eyebrow at me. "I don't need you standing two steps behind me and it's not like he's going to attack me on sight. I have things that I'll only say to Alex, that I need to say to Alex. Just give me some space Jack, please."
Jack looked uncomfortable and I knew he was weakening. Unlike me and Leo, Jack has trouble hiding his emotions, it's one of the reasons he couldn't bluff his way out of the conviction Leo always goads him about. I sat in silence watching him, waiting for him to crack.
"I'll talk to Shad - Leo - when he shows up." He said eventually. "He'll be here in-" He paused and checked his watch. "Five minutes, if he's on time."
My stomach lurched. I was dreading this brief reunion with Leo almost as much as tommorow's one with Alex. We've been apart for just over a day but, what with the reunion with Jack and my mudane, extra length stake out of St Pauls, it seems like longer. It wasn't that though, it was the thought of what I would soon be facing, tomorrow, that made me realise how much I wanted to see him again, and how much I dreaded it.
"You sure you're not dating him?" Jack muttered. "You look like a school kid waiting for her date to arrive."
I threw a cushion at him and was immensly grateful I wasn't blushing. My relationship with Leo is rather complicated. As Jack has guessed, or half guessed, me and Leo were together once, a few years before we met Jack. In the end, after alot of complications, we split up and went back to just being friends, but there's still a spark there, ignored but not forgotten. For now, some things are better left alone.
Jack and I lasped into silence; Jack reading a room service menu - I think it's a male thing that he always needs to eat - while I sat in nervous anticipation of Leo's arrival. I kept my face blank, but from the way Jack was smirking at his menu I could tell he knew, to a degree, what I was thinking. Damn.
After what felt like an hour, but was really just a few minutes, there was a knock on the door. Me and Jack both looked up. I looked to Jack then indicated the door with my eyes. Jack sighed and muttered something incomprehensible - I could guess what - under his breath, before pushing himself from his seat and opening the door. I stood up uncertainly while the pair exchanged a few words. Then, shutting the door, they both moved into the room and I found myself face-to-face with an unreadble Leo.