Revenge of The Furtive Billionaire Heir by Ryker Helios

52. Good luck!

“Hey, I was wondering if you had two college-aged kids, a girl and a boy stowed away in here. They got in a barfight at my workplace, and I just want to see if they got into even more trouble after I snuck them out!” A familiar voice word-vomits right in front of Gerald, who is frozen at the door, and the abject fear 1 felt of seeing the NYPD at the door vanishes into an exhale of relief.

“Lemon!” Coraline crows and the man himself pokes his head around Gerald to give us a grin. Lemon is still in his work clothes, but his apron had been ditched, and there was a hair band keeping the scarlet strands from compromising his vision.

“Hey there, you two. I was just dropping in to check if you made it back alright. I wondered if you ran into the cops or went to a hospital.”

“How did you find where we are?” Gerald questions, his expression shady. He looks at Lemon with confusion marring his features. I don’t blame him; Lemon is a metaphorical human hurricane. His exuberant energy is almost as bright as the sun in our calm hotel room. The activity in the bar had dimmed him a little, I realized. Nevertheless, I feel glad to see him, and grateful after how he helped us escape the bar via the backdoor.

But I also wonder about Gerald. How on earth did he find us?

“I have my ways. Besides it’s not too hard to figure out that the people who came to a conference are staying at the hotel where the said conference takes place.” Lemon gives Gerald a good-natured clap on his shoulder before inviting himself in. He takes one look at me and cringes. “You, sir,” he points at me,” are going to be yellow and purple tomorrow. Damn, that’s a shiner.”

I can’t help but snort at that. “You don’t say.” And then I pause before asking. “What happened after we left? Did anyone call the cops?”

“Nope,” he replies, making himself comfortable on the couch next to me Gerald still stands by the door, staring at Lemon as if he had come down from mars. And Lemon does not even glance at him in acknowledgment.

..

“Nothing much happened. The frat boys took their friend home, and man, that was one good hook you had there, I’m impressed! After the frat boy left, I talked to the boss, and because nothing was broken or anything he decided to just let it go. I also talked to Matt, by the way, about why it took me such a long. time to get you admitted to the VVIP lounge,” the smirk on his face vanishes, “On behalf of our establishment, I would like to apologize for what happened back there. Matt was an idiot with half-a-brain. cell in his noggin’. He should’ve just taken the fee and let you in rather than do stupid detective work and insult you. I mean, who does that? And idiot that’s who. He needs to get his superiority complex checked. I never liked the guy anyways, but the boss-man knows his pop, so he won’t let him go. But the idiot got demoted back to storage and maintenance so it’s a win, I guess.”

Lemon ends his rant/explanation like that, leaving the three of us to blink at him for a solid five seconds.

Gerald’s severe expression

is this the first time I’m hearing about him? What happened with him?” Coraline questions,

the entrance to the VVIP lounge when you guys were at the bar, but not anymore,” Lemon explains before I can, “Before everything went to cray- cray-town I told Mr. Battlestar here,” he points to me, and I can’t help but mutter the name to myself incredulously, shaking my head. Oh, but it was going to stick, “that if

were going to

I not get this part of the story?” Gerald interjects, and Coraline and I look at

Matt decided that Jace-that’s your name right, Jace? That’s such a jock name, mind you, is it

feel lightheaded at how fast Lemon

offended? “Anyways, Matt, big and burly with

a way, I’m glad I didn’t go up,” I muse, “I mean, had I

and shakes her head muttering. “you get shot once, only once, and suddenly

shot?” Lemon

can match Lemon’s speed in

grins, “that’s a secret.”

“Why?”

“Cause, it is!”

make

I leave Coraline and our new friend to whatever they are doing and stand

the unlikeliest allies, Jace,”