Ties of Betrayal

[lost-lover]

CHAPTER 6

I stared at the screen for a second confirming what I'd known since the phone began to ring. Jack was calling me. The question was why? He wasn't the type to call just for a chat - we both viewed mobile phones as a necessity but we hadbn't exactly embraces the new technical age. I think the correct term is technophobic. I used my phone for business rather than to chat about the weather or whatever crap the fad-following sheep did. Jack called me in two situations: in an emergency or to offer my a job - and no, I don't mean something on the government payroll. Like me and Leo, Jack is more at home in the criminal world. Since Jack knew I was otherwise occupied right now I'd have to say this was an emergency. Bollocks.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Leo staring at the phone warily. I should probably mention that, as I've said before, I trust both Leo and Jack with my life. However, they wouldn't trust each other with anything - let alone me. To say they're friends would be something both would consider an insult. I'll admit, I trust, and like, Leo more; probably because I've known him for years and we've been through alot together. I've known Jack for 3 years and surprisingly, we met through a fully legal job. Jack was looking to invest some money into some legitimate businesses. Just incase the criminal aspects of his life fell to peices, you understand. I was his accountant, and I got abit loose-tongued when he asked me how well the bank would after his money; he twigged onto the fact that I'm a con, in a way only other cons could. I should have hated him - after all he'd sussed me out when I was playing the legal citizen! As it was, we got on well and I ended up with a brand new contact in the underworld, pretty soon, I only trusted Leo more than him. That still hasn't changed, and for that reason, Jack hates Leo's guts.
"Gonna answer it or you want me to?" Leo's voice snapped me back from memory lane.
"Like hell will I let you answer it, you two are like a pair of schoolkids, always wanting the upperhand." I said.
"Exactly. So if I answer I have the upperhand against him." Grinned Leo.
I rolled my eyes and answered the phone with a cheerful 'hello'.
"My deepest condolences for your loss Cassandra." Jack's American accent rang through the phone. Jack's a New York native, and would have been disgusted at my earlier attempt to fake his accent. "Why the hell didn't you invite me down to help you out?"
"I had help, Jack." I said, then immediatley regretted it. Jack would know I meant Leo.
"I'm guessing you still haven't lost the shadow then. That's another guy I'd be glad to see gone." He snarled.
"Leave him alone Jack." I said, painfully aware of Leo listening to every word I was saying. "I couldn't have done it without him."
"Okay fine. Tell Wonderboy I'm sorry for wanting to help you not get thrown into the federal marshlands when you decided to play at being an assassin."
Jack's sarcasm was seriously pissing me off. Leo, sadly, heard the 'Wonderboy' remark and grabbed the phone from my hand.
"How about you play hide and seek? You hide, we don't seek. We get peace, you go screw yourself. How's that sound?" Roared Leo. I fought back a laugh as Jack's response echoed down the phone. "Yeah, well you wanna talk to her again then stop acting all high and mighty. In case you've forgotten Jack-ass, you the only one of us who's actually been inside of the federal swamp! So don't go making out Cass is the one who causes all the trouble!"
"Leo. Give me back the phone." I said quietly.
Leo had just stepped over the mark. Yes, Jack's been in prison. Yes, he was guilty. It was only a year but Leo loves to point it out every time they argue; it's his trump card and it drives Jack crazy.Normally though, they're at least marginally polite to one another. Today, I guess neither could be asked. So, all in all, not the best start to my reunion conversation with him.
"Yeah okay. Hope I don't hear from you soon Jack." Leo handed over the phone grinning like the Chesire cat; that just made his day.
"Sorry about that." I said. Leo rolled his eyes and I gave him a V sign.
"Don't worry. I can handle Wonderwoman." I winced. "I called to check what you're doing and Alex."
Alex is my oldest brother. 31years old with a psychotic temper and a lethal level of protection for his family. He was inside when the police finally managed to get a guy who was working in the Ritcher family business - aka crimewave - to reveal all in court about the family. Everything. Alex and my other brother - 29year old Richard, were sent down. The police couldn't get enough to catch Andy - he was smart enough to cover his tracks. I caught him instead. Alex is currently in the highest secure prison in England. I wondered what Jack meant. I asked him.
"You haven't heard?" He asked, incredulous.
"Heard what?" I said warily.
"Alex is being released for your Dad's funeral. One of my contacts told me he wants to set up a meet with you."
This was really not my day.

[firebreathingfishies]

Just caught up with this and it's still really good! I love how just when she thinks she's gotten away with it something else comes and bites her in the backside

[lost-lover]

CHAPTER 7

I closed my phone with a snap, cutting off in midsentence. He'd said more than enough. Alex was getting a day release?
"God damn it!" I yelled, unable to stop myself. Several people turned and gave me dirty looks.
"So am I to take it that Jailbait delivered some bad news?" Asked Leo.
"Alex." I whispered.
Leo went pale. One word and he'd gone from a cocky joker to a terrified boy. My brother doesn't promote fond memories for me or Leo. Last time Alex crossed paths with Leo he'd made it clear he didn't want me left alone, and I don't mean he gave Leo a good talking too. Alex takes the protective big brother routine to a whole new level. I don't flatter myself that it's because he actually cares for me; he did once, but our brief reunion and reaccquaintance was broken after I found out Alex was behind Leo being in hospital with a broken arm and a ton of bruises - all because he was doing a job out of town and I hadn't heard from him in a couple of weeks. That little incident shattered my rose-coloured glasses for good.
Of course Alex fails to see what he's done wrong - to him family comes first and therefore family must be protected. Leo is not viewed as family; to Alex, and the rest of the Ritchers, he's my bodyguard. Friendship is a concept they all have trouble grasping. Friends are to aid you at all times, be business associates, lovers, whatever you want. That's where it ends. Friendships are not to have any emotional involvment unless they are proven to be absolutley loyal. This includes taking the fall for your crimes. Another thing I disagreed with. Another thing that set us apart. Enter Ben. More on that later though.
With a family like mine, it's surprising I turned out as well as I did.
"Drink this." Said Leo.
I blinked. While I'd been lost in my thoughts he'd walked us right back to his hotel room. I took a sip of what he'd just handed me and nearly gagged. Brandy. I hate brandy.
"Brandy?" I coughed.
"I gave you brandy?" He said, checking the bottle. He swore and put it back in the minibar, removing a bottle of whisky. "This better?"
I nodded. "As long as it's not brandy."
"Think they'll still charge me for the brandy?" He asked, downing his drink in one.
"It's not like your short of cash Leo." I said.
"Doesn't mean I like to spend it." He grinned, then immediatley became serious. "Stop changing the subject, tell me what Jack said about Alex that's got you looking so Gothic."
I glared at him. Not so much for the "Gothic" comment as for the fact he knew I was distracting him. I don't want Leo involved with Alex. My psycho brother has caused him enough damage for one lifetime and what's more, knows Leo is - sorry, was - less-than-fond of Andy. He's somehow manages to fool himself that I liked Daddy Dearest. Like I said - serious mental issues.
"Tell me Cass, or I'll phone up Boy Wonder myself." He said.
He was serious, and what's more, I know that however much they my hate each other, Jack and Leo will always agree when it comes to keeping me safe. If that means Jack has to spill the beans to Leo and tell him about the day-release to help keep me safe then that's what he'll do. At least until he's near enough to protect me himself; I was in no doubt that Jack was on a fast track route to Leeds.
"Fine." I sighed. I'd tell him, but I wasn't going to let him help me. "Alex is being given a day release for Andy's funeral." Leo's eyes filled with fear. "And he wants to set up a meet with me."
Leo looked ready to down the whiskey, the brandy and any other form of alcohol he could get his hands on. I know I wanted to. I may be an expert at faking and hiding my emotions, but that didn't mean I didn't feel them. Right now I was terrified, but what's more, I was angry with the nerve of my brother for thinking he could just waltz back into my life as if he'd done nothing wrong.
"Well he can't expect you to show up." Said Leo, sounding panicked despite his best efforts to hide it. "When's he want to meet you?"
"Don't know. I hung up before Jack could tell me." I said. It was a mark of the seriousness of the situation that Leo didn't laugh at me hanging up on Jack. "He'll ring back soon."
"But he'll have a cop with him the whole time, he can't do anything. Besides, your not going to reveal yourself to a cop. What does he expect you to walk up to him and say 'Hi Alex, so bad about Dad isn't it? By the way Officer, I'm his little sister, out Daddy kept me hidden because he views girls as a sign of weakness and a way for our enemies to get to him.' I mean, come on!" Said Leo, sounding marginally confident.
I laughed. "We both know he'll get any officer watching him to turn a blind eye and , if he's really serious, he'll get them toleave us alone for a while." I said. I was exaggerating, I knew Alex could do it.
We continued talking for a while, during which time I tried to convince Leo that I wouldn't go to the meet. I don't think he believed me, considering he kept talking about stratedgies for making a sharp exit incase Alex was trying to trap us. Us. Leo wasn't going to leave me. I was going to this meet, because I wanted to see what Alex wanted. I was going, I'd hear him out, and I'd leave. Alex wasn't going to regain his hold on me. After Ben, I cut ties with Big Bro and family forever.
"What times the cop shop shut?" I asked, slurring my words and faking a yawn. I knew what I had to do.
"Why?"
"Rebecca Summers needs to take in her stuff for forensics today." I yawned again, pointing to a backpack with the offending clothes in.
"I'll take it." Said Leo, I pretended to protest. "NO I'll take it. You've had a rough day, go to sleep or you'll be hungover."
"So will you." I said in a sing-song voice.
"We'll see." Said Leo laughing. "Wait for me here, if you're still awake when I get back, I'll buy you dinner."
Leo left the hotel room and I quickly gathered up my things. Most of my clothes we're packed; we were due to leave soon anyway. I had about 10 minutes. I gathered everything into a suitcase - there wasn't much to find, then I found a notepad of hotel stationary and trying to ignore the sense of guilt in my gut, wrote three words in my flowing script: I'm sorry Leo.
I grabbed my suitcase and left the hotel room, the offending note on top of the minibar where I knew Leo would find it sooner or later. Wiping my eyes against the tears threatening to come free I walked through the lobby and towards the exit.
"Goodbye Leo."

[firebreathingfishies]

I'm surprised she isn't a complete nutcase I like how you're getting a bit of background into each one. And poor Leo He's not going to be very happy - probably won't be too long before he catches up with her though Another good chapter

It's your turn on the Changing Fate too, isn't it? I get confused with the order

[lost-lover]

CHAPTER 8

I left the hotel and just kept walking, on and on with no idea where I was heading, just as long as it put distance between myself and Leo. Actually, I knew where I was heading - the train station - I just didn't have a damn clue how to get there. I'd been walking for over an hour and I think I've just gone in a big circle - I really didn't know my way around this place. On top of my hopeless sense of direction, I still hadn't worked up the nerve to call Jack back; at the moment he was a link to Alex, and that was the problem. If I didn't call him soon, Leo would. If Leo called him first and told him I'd done a runner then I didn't know what Jack would do - only that it would either send me back to Leo, or towards him - depending on who was nearest - and would not involve me getting any info on the meet that Alex wanted. If I knew one thing, it was that I didn't want Jack or Leo anywhere near this meet or near my brother. I have enough blood on my hands, and not just my father's.
More than ever, I was struggling to keep my emotional mask in place. Since I'd killed Andy I'd gone from out of the frying pan into the fire. Killing my father tested my limits to what I thought was the max, but the aftermath - mainly this upcoming reunion with Alex - is pushing me further than I thought I could go. For only the second time since I was a child, I'm not fully in control of my emotions, or my life, and I hate it. One thing I've been determined to gain since cutting ties with the family was control of myself - freedom, independence. Well, I've been doing pretty well with that, but I've almost always had Leo there for me. If I'm honest with myself, without him I don't know where I'd be now.
I saw - finally - the train station in the distance, once outside I stood a little way off from a group of smokers, and forced myself to dial Jack's number. With each little ring my gut clenched as I prayed he hadn't already heard from Leo. After what seemed like an eternity, he answered.
"Cass?" He yelled, his New York accent was more pronounced than normal; he was clearly worried. "Thank God! I wondered what the hell happened. I swear I thought you knew about Alex."
"I'm fine Jack, I was just a little shocked, you know? Sorry for hanging up on you." I said, trying to sound normal.
"Forget about it darlin', I was just worried you we're going to do something stupid." A small pause. "You're not gonna do anything stupid are you?"
I've abandoned Leo, and I'm now trying to trick you into telling me where Alex want's to meet me."Of course not, what do you take me for?" I said, as scornfully as I could.
He chuckled. "Had to check, love, had to check. Talking of stupid, why's the shadow not stole your phone yet?" He asked.
My gut dropped like a stone. I fought to sound like nothing had changed. "Don't call him that Jack. I'm in the hotel waiting for him to get back from the cop shop; he's just taken my clothes in for forensics so I could catch a break." The smokers looked over at that. I gave a small wave and walked further away from them.
"Ok." Jack sounded shocked. I realised he was still clueless about Mr Pervert Cartwright's assault claim against me. "You'll have to explain that to me when I meet up with you two."
See what I mean? These two will be watching me like a hawk if they catch up with me. I decided to get to the point of the conversation - Leo would have found out I'd checked out of the hotel by now. "Don't worry I'm not gonna get caught. Talking of prisoners though, about Alex - do you know where and when he wants to meet with me?"
"Yeah. I checked it all again after you hung up on me. He wants to meet you at the funeral, probably to talk to you after it. In case you didn't know, it's in London in 2 days time. Starts at 3PM, at St. Pauls." He paused, I heard him swear quietly, no doubt realising he'd told me everything I needed to know. I couldn't hang up yet though - I needed to be careful; one wrong move and he'd be straight on the phone to Leo. "Cass, you're not planning on going are you?"
"I'm not a fool Jack. I wanted to know where it was so I could get as far as I could in the opposite direction. I broke my ties with my family a few months before I met you, in case you forgot me telling you." I said quietly.
"I know you're not a fool and I know you broke your ties with them, but you got history and knowing you like I do, I'd say you're more likely to go up there so you can spit in the guy's face, then on the old man's grave." Said Jack.
"Do you think I'm suicidal?" I asked.
"I'm exagerrating and you know it. But, you did kill the old man. You tell me if you're suicidal."
"I'm not suicidal Jack, and I'm not going to the meet. My rosy glasses broke a long time ago." I said through gritted teeth.
"After Al beat up Leo?" Asked Jack, though he knew the answer. As much as he dislikes Leo, even he got mad when me and Leo told him about that little situation. I don't share my family history much, for good reason, but we were all talking, and as I've said, Jack's earned my trust to a level that's only surpassed by Leo.
"Yeah, after that. And any remains of the glasses were smashed after what happened to Ben." I said, speaking my thoughts, forgetting I was talking to Jack not Leo.
"Who's Ben?" He asked.
I gripped the phone so tight in threatened to smash. Leo knows alot of my history that Jack doesn't know. The only part I never wanted anyone else to find about was Ben. It's a painful topic, and people knowing would mean talking about it. I do it rarely, and with good reason. "Never mind Jack. Listen, I gotta go, me and Leo are gonna grab a late dinner." I made to hang up when I decided to check how far away Jack was. "Hold on. You said you were coming to meet us. How far away are you?"
"I'll be there by tomorrow morning, I could drive through the night, but I like sleep too much." He said.
"You lazy American." I grinned.
Jack luaghed. "Watch it or you'll pay tomorrow. See you soon Cass. I never thought I would say this, but stick with the shadow til I get there."
I forced a laugh and hung up, letting out a slow breath.
London. 2 days.
Plently of time for Leo and Jack to catch me, especially since Jack knows all the details, and Leo knows I'll definatley to go to the funeral, if only to see what Alex wants. I can trick anyone in the world, anyone I've ever met, into believing what I want them to believe just through the image I project to them. Anyone apart from the two people I needed to convince right now. I'd betrayed the only people I'd trust with my life. For the first time in 3 years my tears nearly overcame me.
I shuddered violently and forced my mask in place. If I was a smoker, I would really be needing a nicotine fix right now. Failing that, I walked into the station, ignoring the ever-hated crowds and searched for a ticket machine. I couldn't find one. Mentally scowling while holding up my mask, I sought out a security guard. It was the luck of the day that when I did find one, he was a young new guy who didn't have the slightest idea where anything was, he did however, express a severe interest in my chest area. I decided breaking a guy's arm in the train station would attract too much attention, especially considering the police are already following up one accusation against me. So, I faked ignorance against his stares and asked him if he knew where I could find the toilets, just to get away. He pointed me in the right direction and I walked off, guessing his stares would now be focussed on my rear end. A quick look back proved my guess right.
In what I saw as my only stroke of luck today, there was a ticket machine right next to the toilets. I doubt that's good hygeine, but I wasn't in the mood to question the station's layout or theit health and safety issues. I purchased a ticket on the next train to Central London and wondered to the arrivals screen. My train was due to arrive in 5 minutes. Maybe my luck for the day was changing.
While I waited I tried to keep my thoughts from Leo and Jack, as well as the upcoming meet and funeral. I failed on both accounts. When the train arrived I was feeling so guilty my nerves almost made me miss it. Almost. Luckily, I made it just in time. It was late in the day, nearly 10PM by now, so the train wasn't too crowded, thank God. My carridge was half empty. I chose one of the four-seat areas which were deserted, dragging my suitcase onto the overhead compartment before sitting down next to the window. The train pulled away from the station and I let out a sigh, half-relief and half-guilt. I pulled a magazine towards me as a man with a paper in front of his face sat opposite me. I mentally sighed and opened the magazine - why couldn't the guy just sit somewhere else? I didn't want to make a scene so I stayed silent. I felt someone sit next to me and gave them a half glance from behind the magazine. I froze as I saw who it was.
"Hi Cass, going somewhere?"

[lost-lover]

Sat next to me, was a man in his late twenties dressed in an Armani suit and a pair of, doubtless, very expensive leather shoes. His face was lightly tanned, immuminating deep blues eyes and showing off the dark brown hair which fell into his eyes with a casual elegance most men would kill for. He was grinning at me like the Chesire cat, I knew enough about him to know his smile was a guenuine mixture of amusement, exsperation and well hidden behind the other two emotions, happiness.
Keeping as true as I could to my unflappable nature, my freeze only lasted a split second before I composed myself. "You're early." I said.
Jack Masters shrugged with that casual elegance, his smile growing so wide I'm suprised his face didn't break in half. "I may have lied about how far away I was."
"No kidding." I grumbled. "Considering I was 10 minutes away from getting a train I'd say you lied alot. How did you know I was here?"
"Shadow called me." He replied, this time watching my reaction.
"Don't call him that for God's sake, his name is-" I began, but I froze before I could finish the sentence. Oh God, how could I have left behind the one guy who's been with me through all of this?
"Leo." Finished Jack quietly.
"How did he know where I was?" I whispered.
"You think he really went to Fed Town?" He said incredulously. Not waiting for an answer. "Hell Cass, he wasn't gonna leave you alone any longer than necessary after you found out Big Brother's getting out of prison for a day."
The man sat opposite gaped at us from the top of his paper. For a wild moment I thought it would be Leo, but it was a man in his forties with a receding hairline and the type of moustache that only looks good on a walrus. In that brief moment I don't know what I really felt. Hope? Relief? Guilt? Whatever it was, I didn't like it thrown into such sharp relief in front of a nosy wanna-be-walrus.
"I know, but I really want to see him." I said turning to Jack and blatently ignoring the gaping man. Jack shock at my statement only showed in his eyes; he could tell what I was up to. I leant towards Jack and continued in a stage whisper, just loud enough for my audience to hear me. "I mean, I can't believe he took the wrap for me." Walrus-man's eyes widened.
Jack decided to join in the fun. "I know, darling, I can't believe it either. He got a pretty good sentence though, considering the crime."
I could practically sense the man straining to hear our every word. "I know, I thought you got a lot longer for attacking someone so bad they go into a coma." I gushed. "I couldn't help it though, you know what I'm like with my condition. It's not my fault, if people didn't always stare at me or question me I'd control it better and that guy wouldn't be a veg right now." I gave a thearectical sigh and a fake look of remorse, head hanging low.
A rustling of paper less than a second later annouced Mr Walrus making an arrupt exit to a compartment that didn't contain psychotic, overly-paranoid young women and their partners. I heard Jack let out a low laugh and looked up smiling. A woman a few seats away was eying him up hopefully but his attention was now back on me. Bad luck sweetheart.
"Okay, now you've scared off our audience we can get back to business." He said, still laughing.
"You haven't explained how Leo knew where I'd be going." I said, instantly bringing Jack to the point that was most firmly in my mind.
"Okay. Well, he got to Fed Town, and realised you were probably gonna make a run for it without him. He ran back to the hotal, found your note and called me, told me what you were up to. I told him I'd call him as soon as I found out anything, cause we figured you'd need to call me to know where Alex would be heading. You called, I told you everything, admittedly a bit more than I planned too." He half-grinned, looking sheepish. "Then I called back Shadow and he knew you'd be heading to London, he was thinking out loud, so I knew everything he did. I don't think he planned it that way but who am I to question my good fortune?"
"If you could say on topic Jack?" I said, teeth gritted at the thought of Leo running around trying to track me down.
"Certainly. So Shadow - sorry, Leo - was thinking out loud. I heard him say you hadn't come by car, you wouldn't take a bus cause you hate crowds and you wouldn't take a taxi all the way to London. So he guessed you'd probably be taking a train. Now I was already in Leeds by this point, I just ... forgot to mention it." He threw me another grin. "So I asked a couple of people where the nearest train station was to that hotel Leo was in, and I made my way down to it. Almost got shut in the train doors. I went through every compartment hoping to find you. If you weren't on here I would've tracked you in London." Jack finished speaking and gave his admirer a lazy smile. She straightened up in her seat and smiledback, instantly smitten. Jack has that effect on people.
While Jack was testing his skill as Casonova, I was silent, digesting all this new information. I soon realised Jack still hadn't told me the thing I most wanted to know.
"So where's Leo?" I asked, shaking him out of his game.
"What's that?" He asked.
"Where - is - Le - o?" I said, grounding out each syllable.
"How should I know? Probably still at your hotel." He answered, looking supremely unconcerned about his - our - desertion of my best friend.
"You left him?" I asked, disbelieving. "But he knows where we are, right?"
"Not unless you've called him. I haven't had a chance." He said.
"Haven't-" I chocked on the words, fighting back my anger at his nonchalence.
"He knows you're heading to London, he'll probably meet us down there tomorrow." Said Jack.
He was now fully focussed on me again. His admirer looked less-than-pleased. Such is Jack's effect on women, kind of like me with men. The difference is, he enjoys it. So he must have realised just how upset I am about Leo to give up his games.
"Call him for me Jack, tell him where we're going." I said.
"Why can't you call Shadow?" He asked, confused.
"I can't face him yet." I said. "Please Jack, just let him know where to meet us." I stared at him eyes pleading in a way I knew he couldn't fight. He looked away and I knew I'd won.
"Okay." He grumbled. He got up and went to the toilet to make the call. Wow, I must have really convinced him. Jack hates public restrooms almost as much as me. Ten minutes later, Jack came back, looking slightly abashed. "He told me he'll be in London first thing tomorrow. After he just the last 5 minutes yelling at me for not calling him sooner." He growled, shaking his head. "You'd think the guy would be more greatful."
I shook my head in disbelief. Men.
"So how mad is he?" I asked tentively.
"At you or me?" He asked grinning. "He's not mad at you Cass." I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Okay, he's a little mad. He's more mad at himself for not clocking that you were gonna try your own version of the Great Escape. That, and everyone stared at him for trying to do an Olympic sprint back to your hotel room."
I couldn't help but laugh at that. Jack instantly puts people at ease. It's in his nature, and it's one of the reasons that made me acidentally reveal the fact that I was a con when I first met him. I'm more wary nowadays, especailly now I've got all this stuff going on, but I still couldn't help relaxing a little bit with Jack, despite my guilt about Leo.
"So, you and Leo, you guys together these days?" He asked.
"No Jack we're not. You asked me that last time we met up too!" I said. "You trying to tell me you're interested?"
A strange look past over Jack's face for a split second, and when he spoke his American twang was more pronounced. "What me?"
"Yes. You." I laughed.
"I don't think that Leo's my type." He said. "I always wondered if he was gay though. I prefer girls myself."
I hit him and he grinned. "Like that little blondde?" I asked, nodding to his admirer.
"Well, she's not my type really, but then again, if that's what it takes to prove I'm not in love with your buddy..." He let the setence hang and grinned at the girl again, her face lit up and he went to sit next to her. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, knowing Jack was just playing. I spent the rest of the journey to myself, which was how I wanted it; I'm a loner at heart.
The train pulled into Waterloo station an hour later and I got off. A few seconds later Jack joined me, leaving his crestfallen admirer behind, though not without gaining a phone number. I rolled my eyes, knowing he'd never call her; Jack just liked the chase.
We walked out of the train station and into the chaotic nightmare that was London at night. Drawing me towards him and away from the ever-hated crowds Jack grinned.
"Ready to face the capital again?" He asked.
"Absolutley."

[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.

[lost-lover]

CHAPTER 11

I hovered in front of Leo trying to read his mood and trying to think of what to say. I knew I'd say sorry, even though I wasn't sorry about leaving him behind. Well, I was sorry for abadoning him in Leeds without a word, but I wasn't sorry for leaving him to come to London. God, even in my head it sounds stupid so how do I say it out loud? I'm very rarely lost for words, so I hate this situation right now. Thankfully, Leo made the first move; stepping forward and pulling me into a hug. I waited a second to confirm he wasn't trying to crush me before hugging him back - I'm way too paranoid.
"I'm sorry." I whispered to his chest.
"It's forgotten." he said. I knew it wasn't. It'd be a long time before he forgot, and there was nothing I could do to fix it. The guilt in my chest intensified again.
"I'm not mad at you." He said. Reading my mind again.
"That's bull." I mumbled.
Leo chuckled. "Maybe I'm a little mad."
"Sorry to interrupt the reunion," Said Jack from the doorway. I could tell from his voice that he was both amused and annoyed by my reaction to Leo's reappearence. "But Cass had something she wanted to ask you about tomorrow."
I blinked, confused. Then I remembered that I'd asked Jack to watch me from a distance rather than have him and Leo playing at being bodyguards. The three of us sat down and I explained my demand to Leo, though of course I acted as though I was waiting for approval, for some reason he doesn't like me making demands.
"Alex knows what I look like Cass." Said Leo, after a short pause.
"If I'm going in disguise then so can you two." I replied.
"You're going in disguise?" Jack repeated, confused.
Leo smirked. "You haven't seen Alex before, have you Jacko?" Jack glared at the nickname and Leo's smirk grew wider. I rolled my eyes as Leo continued. "Cass looks like a mirror image of him, though luckily she doesn't share his attitude, well, most of it
"So if I show up looking like my self," I continued, ignoring the last part of Leo's comment. "The cops will know I'm a relative, and since Andy denied ever having a daughter, it might raise a few eyebrows."
"So how's he gonna know it's you?" Asked Jack.
"He bought me a necklace for my birthday the year before he went to prison, I'm gonna wear that so he knows it's me. I've got all the jewellery I need in my suitcase." I replied.
"All the jewellery?" Jack repeated. "What other jewellery do you need?"
"That's my business." I said sharply. Too sharply.
Jack's eyebrows went up in surprise and confusion, Leo gave me a look of sympathy. I saw Jack getting ready to ask another question and excused myself, saying I need to go over my disguise for tomorrow. As I left the room I heard Jack ask Leo what was wrong with me. I didn't need to eavesdrop to know Leo told him to mind his own business.
I closed the door to my bedroom and let out a sigh, fighting the memories that I knew would be overwhelming me tomorrow. I pulled out my suitcase and took out the only thing that hadn't been put in a drawer or the wardrobe - a small wooden box. Opening it, there were two boxes of black velvet; I ignored the first one, a rectangular box which held the necklace Alex had given me, my gaze focussed on the smaller one - a tiny square box. Holding my breath, I took it out in trembling hands, opening it to reveal a white gold ring. I slipped it on to my wedding finger, as it was intended to be for so long ago. I sat on the bed staring at the small piece of metal that held so many memories and so much heartache for me. After all this time, I can still remember receiving it from my fiance, just as I still remember meeting him.
As I've said, I used to flirt with my Dad, Andy's, business associates and their lackeys, generally to annoy the hell out of Pops and weaken his underworld connections. Back then, I was just 20, and I was still connected to the family because I was still close with my brothers, Alex and Richard. But because things with Dad were never good, I wasn't living at home, despite this, I often showed up to visit my brothers and my mother. Then one day when I was visiting Andy brought home a new associate from London, and as I've said before, I'm an Oxford native. So, after much coaxing from my mother, the domestic goddess and long-suffering wife to my father, I was persuaded to stay, even to "tidy myself up to make a better impression". To be honest, I only stayed because I knew the bloke had lackeys and bodyguards with him, and I just saw it as an excuse to annoy Andy some more. What I didn't realise though was that the guy, who I'd found out was called Gary Ryan, had brought his son, Ben, with him.
I can still remember that first meeting, me strolling in wearing a little black dress, fully intending to drive Andy bonkers by flirting, when I ended up face-to-face with him. He was a year older than me, 6"2 in a tux, he had dark hair rather longer than the normal style, a tanned face and dark brown eyes. It was his which caught me. The expression - he's looked just as annoyed as me at being dragged along. I ended up spending most of the night chatting to him, and Andy just assumed I'd grown out of flirting with people to annoy him. Little did he know I'd fallen hard and fast for the son of a guy I'd later discovered to be his second-in-command. After I found out who his father was, I backed of Ben and refused to see him. He turned out to be almost as stubborn as me though. Leo turned out to be close pals with the guy, because like us, Ben hated his father's busniess. Ben persuaded Leo to deliver messages to me, asking me to meet him. In the end, he won me round and we began dating in secret, with only Leo knowing the truth. When he proposed a year later, I was walking on air.
Then it all changed. Ben's father, Gary, decided to leave the criminal life and go straight, someth