Alpha’s Virgin Stripper
Chapter 179

Lake:

From the drive to the airport, to booking our flights, boarding our plane and landing at Rush pack, Jojo had barely said three words to me. I did not bother to initiate a conversation, I knew that she had a lot going on in her mind. She was constantly worried about Valerie and Lucian, and it was only normal for her to do so.

Just as I expected, Bec pulled up at the airport with a small Toyota. I had instructed him not to make a big deal of our return. I knew there would only be a handful of people at the airport by the time we arrived, but it didn't hurt to keep yourself safe, did it? I made sure Valerie, Jojo and I were on thick sunglasses, and we walked with our eyes down and hoodie worn over our heads.

If even a single soul got a sniff that we were here, the entire pack would do so before we arrived at my condo.

We got into the car safely and it was a thirty minutes ride to my house at the center of the city.

Jojo held Lucian in her arms and took Valerie by her right hand as she led the little girl up the stairs. I did not want it to seem as though I was trying to sneak into her space at such a time, so I respected myself enough to stay downstairs and wait for her.

I did sit for about an hour, half expecting Kenji to arrive and in order to make sure we had all arrived safely. Not that I would have allowed anything to happen to us, but still, he always checked, no matter what.

I settled into one of my exquisite leather couches in my grand luxurious living room. The TV was off, so I turned it on and stared blankly at the screen. The current Korean soap was the least of my present concerns.

It must have been over an hour, but I half jumped from my seat when I heard footsteps approach me from the stairs.

I turned in the direction of the sound, only to replace Jojo staring at me. She had an oversized pair of army green pyjamas on, and her hair had been wrapped in a messy bun above her head. It didn't take two looks at her for me to know that she had a lot on her mind. And to also know that she... she did not want to be here, with me.

She cleared her throat repeatedly before she spoke.

"This place..." She started. But I wasn't sure I wanted to put myself through the hurt of hearing what she really wanted to say. So, I cut in.

"Yeah, I know, I know. You do not have to worry about anything. You can have your privacy here. I would not be staying here, but I'll be at my suite in the casino..."

I saw her frown slightly.

"No. That... that wasn't what I..."

I rose from my seat, picked up my jacket and flashed her a bright smile.

"You do not need to, Jo. I understand. You are safe, no one knows you're here." I walked to her and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight, Jojo. I would be here first thing in the morning."

With that, I gathered myself and my thoughts and left the building. I got into my least favorite car, the black Lexus, and placed a call over to Kenji.

He picked up at the first ring, he always did. I started the engine of my car, before putting my phone on loud speaker.

"Hey, my man! What's good? I thought I'll see you at the house when I arrived, but you haven't even called to check in yet. Is everything okay at the office? Are you..." I stopped talking when I heard him mumble. It was at that point the soft sounds of jazz music from wherever he was, filtered into my ears.

"Hey man. How are you..." The sound of a hiccup stole into his speech.

"... doing? How are you doing?"

I looked down at the phone to ensure it was his number I had dialed. His caller ID said so.

Was he drunk?

"Yo, Kenji. Where are you?"

"Vincent's..." Another hiccup.

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But he didn't need to complete his statement.

Vincent's bar. My best friend was in Vincent's bar.

*******

The bartender served him another glass of cognac, and he smiled hazily at the man. He could barely even see the man's face now.

He picked the glass from the table and was going to drown himself in the golden brown colored liquid when strong and fierce hands stopped the glass from touching his lips.

Kenji Lockwood was forced to cast a glare at the intruder. He could not make up the man's face at first glance, but he could tell the scent of the mixture of his cologne. And even in his grave, Kenji Lockwood would know who the scent belonged to.

He squinted his brows before he was able to make out the face of the man. It was Lake Rush, his best friend.

Kenji coughed out a short laugh, and allowed Lake seize the glass from his hands. His friend sent the bartender a glare before speaking.

"Do not even think of pouring him another glass." He sneered. Kenji chuckled, amazed.

"So, what's the matter? Did you decide to celebrate my arrival before I arrived?" Lake called out.

Kenji stared down at the table, another hiccup escaped his throat.

Her face flashed through his mind. The last time he had seen her, they were having dinner in the restaurant right across the road.

"She... she doesn't want to speak to me anymore, Lake. She... she isn't picking my calls or... or replying my texts. I... I don't think she..." Kenji tapped his right fingers on the table as he struggled to gather his thoughts well enough to make a correct and complete sentence, but he did know that his heart was tearing into pieces.

And he could also feel his friend's sturdy gaze on him.

"Ashley? But I thought you two worked it out? You guys were fine when you left Ten. Hell! I was even jealous. What happened, man?"

Kenji could see it all play in front of him as though it was happening.

He could see Ashley in her red sequin dress, elegantly seated in front of him. He could see his mother walk in on them, a broad smile on her face. He also saw when Ashley's smile disappeared, and how her throat danced when she swallowed her words, and maybe her tears.

"My mother ran into us at Mali's. I had taken Ashley there for a quiet time, another date away from the noise. Just us, good food, our love, and soft jazz. But... my mother... she ran into us at the restaurant. She was so... so excited when she saw me with a woman. But when she asked who Ashley was, I didn't know what to do, I didn't know what to say. So, I... I introduced Ashley as a friend." He blurted out. "Fuck."

Exactly what he had thought after the word, "friend", had slipped out of his tongue that night.

There had been nothing wrong about Ashley's appearance that night. If anything, she was a goddess, as stunning as the moon itself. Yet, immediately he was asked who she was, he instinctively felt ashamed. He remembered that she was a woman who danced in his best friend's club for money, and he denied their relationship, in front of his mother, and in front of Ashley.

"I didn't know what to do man. My mother, you know how she is. She was genuinely delighted to meet Ashley, but soon, she started to speak of this blind date she had arranged for me, telling Ashley to advise me to get a woman and settle down fast, and..."

"That's tough." Lake cut in.

If only he knew the half of it.

He saw Ashley shift in her seat uncomfortably, while his mother continued to list all the reasons why he had to go on the date she had planned for him, and see the girls she intended him to marry. He saw her eyes redden, saw the anger and hurt.

His mother had been pressuring him to settle down. And it had only gotten worse after the news of Lake's son spread around like wild fire.

"And after my mother walked away, I tried to apologize, but she didn't let me. She laughed it off and said she understood, but I knew it was a lie, Lake. She was broken and hurt. And now she says she needs time to be by herself, to clear her head. She wants a break, and I..." He stopped speaking, afraid that tears would burst out from within him. Afraid that all the pain and anger he felt for himself would climb to the surface.

Lake rose from his stool and engulfed Kenji in a hug. And when tears rushed from Kenji's eyes, his face was buried in his best friend's chest.