Chapter 48: hmmm
Lucian walked back to Jimmy’s side, shaking his head slightly. Parry, noticing Lucian’s approach, quickly raised his hands in surrender from where he stood.
"That’s it! I surrender. We were just joking, guys. I’m not stupid enough to make an enemy out of Lucian Kane," Parry said with a nervous laugh, though sweat trickled down his forehead. His face betrayed the fear he still felt despite his attempt at humor.
At this, Lucian and Jimmy exchanged a glance. They both burst out laughing.
"Pffft see? Told you it’d be easy!" Jimmy chuckled, clearly pleased with himself.
Lucian couldn’t help but laugh as well. Despite the absurdity of it all, there was something amusing about calling a school friend to resolve a fight of college. It felt surreal but oddly comforting. The moment was almost too ridiculous to take seriously.
But just as they were starting to relax, the sharp sound of police sirens pierced through the air. Lucian’s laughter died in his throat, replaced with a groan of frustration. He slapped a hand to his face.
"Of course… Who called the police?" Lucian muttered under his breath, shaking his head. He had a pretty good idea it was someone from the college, panicking and thinking things would get out of hand before Jimmy even showed up. They must’ve called the authorities as a precaution.
Parry and his group, still on edge, seemed even more relieved at the sight of the police car pulling up. For them, this meant a lifeline they no longer had to worry about Lucian and Jimmy escalating things, or worse, pulling out that gun again. Parry fumbled nervously with his phone, wiping sweat from his forehead as the police car came to a stop near them.
A middle-aged officer, around 35 or 40, stepped out of the car, clearly already exasperated. He looked fit, and his expression said he’d seen this kind of situation far too many times. As he approached, he scanned the scene forty or fifty young men standing around, most of them looking as if they’d just narrowly escaped death.
On the other side, there were only two people Lucian and Jimmy laughing like it was a joke.
The officer raised an eyebrow, recognizing something in the scene that piqued his curiosity. He picked up the pace as he walked toward Jimmy.
Lucian watched the officer approaching, raising his head slightly. Jimmy, sensing the movement, turned as well, watching as the officer walked straight toward him.
"Mr. Jameson, I didn’t expect to see you here," the officer said with a grin, extending his hand to Jimmy. His tone was friendly, clearly familiar with him.
"Hey, Parker! Didn’t expect you either!" Jimmy responded with a hearty laugh, shaking the officer’s hand.
The officer, now Parker, turned toward Lucian with a curious glance before raising an eyebrow at Jimmy, clearly wondering who Lucian was.
Jimmy, picking up on the unspoken question, introduced Lucian with a smirk. "This is Lucian Think him as little brother of mine."
The words hit Lucian like a wave, crashing over him unexpectedly. For a moment, the world seemed to go still. "My little brother." It echoed in his mind, over and over, filling the empty spaces inside him that had been hollow for so long. His heart clenched painfully, and before he could stop it, a lump formed in his throat.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Kane," Parker said, offering his hand. Lucian shook it, but his mind wasn’t fully present. He could barely focus on anything except those words.
"Little brother."
Lucian turned his head slightly, hiding the tears welling up in his eyes. He hadn’t felt this kind of belonging in… how long? Too long. Jimmy wasn’t just saying those words. He meant them. In that moment, Lucian realized that Jimmy was more of a family to him than anyone who shared his blood.
And that realization hit him like a freight train. No one not even his own mother had ever made him feel this way. This was family.
His heart trembled with the weight of it, his chest tightening with emotions he didn’t even know he could still feel. The tears threatened to spill, but Lucian quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, turning further away so no one would see.
Jimmy, noticing Lucian’s silence, walked over and casually ruffled Lucian’s hair, his hand resting there for a second longer, as if silently saying, "I’m here."
Lucian didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. His back was still turned, but he didn’t pull away from the comforting gesture. Instead, he wiped his eyes again, more discreetly this time, before turning around with a small, grateful smile. His eyes were still a little glassy, but the warmth in them was unmistakable.
This was his real family. The thought cemented itself in his heart. Not the Kaines who ignored him, not the people who only cared about power and status but Jimmy, and Garry, and those who had stood by him when no one else did.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Lucian didn’t feel alone. And that simple fact brought him more peace than he could ever put into words. He gave Jimmy a nod, that smile still lingering on his lips.
"Thanks," he whispered, barely audible, but Jimmy heard it. The two shared a quiet, unspoken understanding as Parker, none the wiser, finished his formalities.
Lucian’s heart was full. Maybe, just maybe, things would be okay.
Parker stood there, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the scene before him. His sharp mind worked through the details, calculating the dynamics at play. The bond between Lucian and Jimmy was evident, something deeper than just friendship. These two are close, Parker mused to himself. He didn’t expect Mr. Jameson to show up here, let alone to be this involved.
"Lucian Kane," Parker thought, recognizing the name. Son of the Kane family that explained part of it. The rumors about Lucian’s distant personality didn’t match the young man standing in front of him, sharing such a genuine, almost brotherly connection with Jimmy. A Kane with someone like Jameson... It didn’t fit the typical image of the high-and-mighty family.
Parker’s experience told him there was much more to Lucian’s story than what was commonly known.
His thoughts lingered on Jimmy.Parker thoughts lingered on Jimmy. Though not a big personality on paper, Mr. Jameson was different. He wasn’t someone with a significant enough profile to usually be in contact with someone from a powerful family like the Kanes.
but still jimmy was Mature beyond his years, Jimmy had a reputation for handling situations with a cool head something Parker had witnessed more than once in his years on duty. He respected Jimmy for that.
There weren’t many young people like him, and every time they crossed paths, Parker found himself impressed by Jimmy’s level-headedness, a stark contrast to the chaotic youths that typically filled the police reports.
Parker snapped back to the present when he heard Jimmy’s voice, the lingering thoughts in his head fading.
"I just got a phone call reporting that kids were fighting in groups here at the college," Parker said, explaining why he had shown up. His voice carried the tone of someone who had dealt with these sorts of incidents before, and he wasn’t overly concerned, just curious.
"Is it over now?" Parker asked, his eyes flicking back to Jimmy, gauging the situation.
Jimmy offered a casual nod, his voice light but authoritative. "Yeah, it’s over. Just kids messing around. Everything’s alright now," Jimmy said, casting a glance toward the group that had been surrounding Lucian earlier. The tension in the air had broken, and the once-anxious faces now showed relief.
Parry and his friends, who had been on the edge of panic just minutes ago, were clearly grateful that the situation was de-escalating.
Parker nodded slowly, but his gaze remained on Jimmy for a moment longer. It wasn’t just a professional look it was a subtle, silent question. What’s the real story here?
Jimmy caught the look and smiled, reading the officer’s expression with ease. "We’re heading out now. No need to worry about it," he said with a reassuring glance toward Parker. There was no need to drag this out, no need for more drama. Jimmy had handled it in his own way, and that was that.
"Hmm," Parker hummed in response, satisfied but still curious. He glanced back at Lucian, his expression softening a bit. For a moment, Parker wondered what the real story was behind Lucian’s life, behind that calm exterior that didn’t quite match the cold, isolated rumors he’d heard. There was a vulnerability there, a sense that Lucian had been through more than most people realized.
"Alright then," Parker finally said, giving them both a nod. He took a step back, letting the tension fully settle, signaling the end of the situation. "Take care, you two," he added, his tone a bit lighter now.