Wait For You - 'Look After You' Sequel - A Michael Jackson Fanfiction

Chapter 14

Michael
-

After watching Club 30s and watching how things operated under Evelyn's leadership, I was actually impressed by how well she had done.

But the only thing that kept my mind running was how close Luca and Evelyn had grown to be.

I picked up my phone and dialed Luca's number. The line clicked once before Luca's voice came through.

"Michael."

"Where is she?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Back at her house."

"Good."

That quiet command in my tone wasn't intentional, it never was. It was just how I spoke.

Years of leading men made it second nature.

There was a pause. Luca waited for me to keep going.

Smart.

"She handled the floor tonight," I said. "Didn't crack once."

"She never does," he replied.

"That something new?"

"No," he said. "That's just her now."

I leaned back, thumb grazing the edge of my lighter. "You two been running Club 30s this whole time?"

"Yeah."

"How's that working out?"

"Better than it should."

I let the silence stretch a beat before speaking again. "She trusts you?"

Luca hesitated. "We've been through a lot."

"That's not what I asked."

"She does," he said, a bit firmer now.

I nodded slowly. "She should. You've kept her alive this long."

He let out a quiet breath through his nose. "Wasn't easy."

"Never is," I said. "You learn that the hard way."

The line went still again.

"You checking in on her," he asked finally, "or checking in on me?"

"I'm checking in on what's mine," I said flatly.

He didn't respond, and for a moment, I wasn't sure which of us hated the silence more.

Then he said carefully, "You know, she built that place from nothing. She earned everything she's got."

"I'm aware."

"Doesn't sound like it."

"I don't sound like anything, Luca," I said, my voice cutting through his. "I call, I ask questions, I get answers. That's how this works."

He went quiet. He knew that tone, knew better than to take it personally.

When he finally spoke again, it was steady. "I'm not standing in your way, Michael."

"Didn't say you were," I said. "Just making sure we're clear on the order of things."

"Yeah. We're clear."

"Good."

I could hear him shift, maybe pacing. "She's not the same woman you remember."

"I figured," I said. "Nobody survives that night and stays the same."

"You didn't," he said.

That pulled a ghost of a smirk from me. "You always had a mouth."

"Still do."