Dominic studied him for a few moments before leaning down and kissing Luke on the cheek, beside his mouth. “I really like you, Dimples. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
Nodding, Luke stepped away. “Thanks for everything, Nick,” he said softly. “And sorry if I led you on. I didn’t mean to. I really thought we could work—that I could fall in love with you.” He gave Dominic a lopsided smile. “You’re kinda everything I’ve looked for in a man. But I’m starting to see it’s not enough. So, yeah, sorry if I unintentionally led you on.”
Dominic chuckled, white teeth almost blinding against his olive skin. “Having a gorgeous, sweet guy on my arm wasn’t exactly a hardship for me.”
“Flatterer,” Luke said with a laugh, kissing him on the cheek. “I’ve gotta go before your Sammy kills me for trying to steal his sugar daddy.”
“Ha-ha, hilarious,” Dominic said with a sigh.
Luke just grinned, waved at Sam, and turned away. He headed to his car, his smile fading with every step he took.
Yeah. Just one more failed relationship. At least this time he had ended it before anyone got hurt.
He wondered if it was time to let go of his dreams of finding the One. It wasn’t that he no longer believed in love. He did. It was obvious James and Ryan had a “forever” sort of love. Ryan’s eldest brother, Zach, and his boyfriend Tristan were stupidly in love, too, despite their constant bickering.
It was just…Luke was beginning to wonder if the One for him even existed. It was starting to feel like it was impossible to find a man who would adore him despite his sentimental personality, who would accept him with all his weird kinks and quirks, who would want to start a family with him, who would put him first when it mattered, and whom Luke would love with all his heart and body.
Maybe such a man simply didn’t exist. Not for him.
Maybe he was a foolish boy with his head in the clouds, daydreaming while life happened around him and passed him by.
Chapter 23
He received the call the next day.
“Mr. Whitford,” said an unfamiliar, accented voice. “Because of your father’s death, we generously gave you extra time, but our patience is running short.”
Luke’s mouth went dry. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“We paid for a shipment of two hundred units and we expect it by Saturday.”
“Units of what?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, kid,” the man said.
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Kidneys.”
Luke’s stomach sank.
Fuck. Illegal organ trade. His father had been involved in illegal organ trafficking. Luke wasn’t sure why he was even surprised anymore. “Look, whatever my father promised, I know nothing about it—”
“I don’t care, kid,” the guy said gruffly. “I have buyers lined up. I want my goods. If I don’t get them or you go yapping to the police, I’ll come after your own damn organs.”
He hung up before Luke could even ask who was speaking.
Twelve hours later, Luke sat in his father’s former office, his face buried in his hands, frustration, anger, and fear twisting his insides after going through his father’s computer.
He was in over his head. He had hoped to put an end to Whitford Industries’ shady side of business quickly and painlessly—he had no intention of following in his father’s footsteps—but it was easier said than done. There were apparently obligations his father—and now him in his stead—must fulfill before Luke could wash his hands of this shit, and he had no idea what to do. His father’s inner circle had never taken Luke seriously, and they all fucked off somewhere after his father’s death, either lying low or moving on with their lives. Luke wanted to do the latter too, but first he had to sort out this mess somehow without screwing up, getting himself killed or arrested.
He wished he could just go to the authorities, but he wasn’t naive enough to think the police would be able to find and arrest every single one of his father’s associates. He would be dead within weeks if he did that. Not to mention that he didn’t want the company’s name dragged through the mud, which would inevitably happen if people found out about his father’s illegal dealings.
Angry tears sprang to his eyes, and he brushed them away briskly. God, he’d never hated his dad more. It wasn’t enough that he had been a shitty person and shitty dad; he had to get himself killed and leave this mess after himself.
Two hundred kidneys by Saturday.
A harsh laugh tore out of Luke’s throat. He was somehow supposed to get two hundred kidneys by Saturday or he would be dead—after what happened to his father, Luke had little doubt that these people meant business.
He didn’t know what to do.