Chapter 2

Reid Oliver found himself staring in fascination at the house in front of him. It was large, with sweeping columns and a wrap around veranda, a three car garage and a large brick walkway leading to massive oak doors. While it looked like a house belonging to the half of the world known as the halves, it was definitely more Knots Landing than Dallas. It wasn't exactly what he was expecting from the heir to the Grimaldi dynasty.

Reid had spent the last two days, when he wasn't doing frantic research or helping Katie with a cranky Jacob, googling Luciano Grimaldi and what he had found was disappointing. The young man kept himself away from the paparazzi and firmly out of the limelight and most of his comings and goings seemed to be cloaked in a veil of secrecy.

Dammit if Reid wasn't intrigued and halfway into lust, not a good combination in his experience. Especially as there had been no hint of any sexuality other than hetero in what he had read online.

"Dr. Oliver?" Reid turned sharply at the amused tone in the bodyguard's voice. The man was dressed in what Reid assumed were casual bodyguard clothes, khaki's and a t-shirt, his gun casually in the holster at his side. The older man smiled. "If this is about the hospital bill, I can guarantee you that we are good for it."

Reid snorted. "Do I look like an accountant?"

"Actually…."

"Shut up." Reid said automatically and then realized he had just told the heavily armed professional killer to shut up. Maybe Katie was right about his ego getting him in trouble. "I mean that I am here to see Mr. Grimaldi. About Tonio."

A shadow crossed the man's face and he nodded. "They are out by the pool. I'll take you there."

"I would have thought you would have been back in Malta by now, private jet and all that."

"Luciano is determined to give Tonio anything he wants and Tonio wants to go to Disney World."

The sound of laughter drew Reid's attention and he looked out the French doors they were approaching. The backyard was absolutely gorgeous, set back against the hill side it featured a large mosaic brick patio leading to an infinity pool with a slide and a diving board. Off to the side was a large hot tub and outdoor kitchen. All in all, the backyard was like something out of a magazine. As he spotted two more bodyguards standing like sentinels he mentally changed the name of the magazine from Architectural Digest to True Crime.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?" Reid almost jumped at the soft tones and he turned to find that he hadn't imagined the intensity of those eyes.

"It's not the Lakeview."

Luc laughed. "No it's not. It is however home, even if for only a little while."

"I would have expected you in something more…. Ornate."

Luc took a sip of the wine in his glass and shook his head. "I think you have seen The Godfather too many times, Dr. Oliver. I don't know if I can live up to this image you have. I am a simple man."

"Simple is not the word that comes to mind when I think of you."

"Why Dr. Oliver, are you admitting that you think of me?"

Reid tried to stop the heat that threatened to engulf him at the frank and appraising stare the younger man gave him. Reid was far from a blushing virgin and in most of his previous relationships he had been the one to call the shots. Reid had decided when, where, and how often. He had always been the one to walk away. He was always the one in control. And while they weren't in a relationship, weren't really anything at all, there was something about Luciano Grimaldi that threw Reid Oliver just a little off balance. It wasn't a feeling he was used to or particularly liked.

He cleared his throat. "I have some news for you."

Luc nodded. "Let's step outside. Tonio is playing in the pool and I promised him I would watch. Would you like something to drink?"

Reid shook his head and followed the younger man outside. He watched as the young boy determinedly traversed the length of the pool, his arms holding on to a kickboard as he practiced to kicking and breathing.

"He seems to be doing better."

"He has good days and bad days. Today is a good day. Although I would chalk that up more to the sunshine and the promise of a trip to Disneyworld."

"I was told you were planning a trip to the land of the mouse."

Luc looked at him sideways. "Dr. Oliver in our brief acquaintance the one thing that I have come to appreciate about you, maybe the only thing I appreciate about you, is your ability to cut through the small talk and get to the point. If you are here to deliver more bad news than please do so."

"It's not bad news. I mean it may not be good news, but its definitely not bad news." Reid took another deep breath. "I may be able to help your ward."

"How? You said it was inoperable."

"It is. Its current size and location make it impossible to get to. But if we can change the size, make it smaller …"

"You can remove it." Luc was suddenly all business, all trace of the relaxed and smooth playboy gone. "What do you need?"

"Not so fast. We don't have time for radiation or chemo and there's no guarantee either of those would work anyway. But they are trying this new experimental procedure at Northwestern. It's a new drug, or rather a new combination of old drugs, and they've seen some good results in the first round of trials so they are expanding and."

"They can help Tonio?"

"Maybe. He's younger and his case is more advanced but they are willing to try." Reid didn't bother to mention the hours of begging they had put him through or the guest lecture he had to promise to give.

Luc nodded standing up. "What do I need to do? We can be in Chicago within an hour."

"You won't need to be. They are willing to let me administer the medications here at Memorial as long as I follow their protocol."

Luc sat down again, heavily. "I thought I was going to lose him."

"You still might." Reid cautioned.

"But now there is hope where there was none. It is amazing." Luke hugged him, ignoring Reid's stiffness. "Graci Dr. Oliver. Thank you. If there is anything I can do to repay you…..anything you want….." There was an air of absolute sincerity around the younger man. "Anything you want that I can give is yours."

Reid considered for a minute. A multitude of things crossed his mind. A Porsche. Equipment for the hospital. His own private yacht. A pony for Jacob. Scratch that, Katie would kill him. A motorcycle for Jacob. Much better. He would grow into it some day. He looked at his feet for a minute. Luciano Grimaldi, who could buy and sell nations, was offering him anything he wanted. Luciano Grimaldi whose brown eyes beckoned him and whose spirit seemed to have entranced him, was offering him anything he wanted. Anything.

"Dr. Oliver?" Luc queried gently. "Is there something you want."

"A date." Reid blurted out before he could second guess himself. "I want you to go on a date with me."

That evening Luc found himself grinning as he fastened a silk tie and checked his image in the floor length mirror. He knew he looked good, you didn't grow up with the most polished of European cities as your playground without learning how to dress to impress. What surprised him was the glint of life, the excitement in his eyes. He had been shocked when Dr. Oliver, Reid, had requested a date, but it had been a pleasant surprise. Dr. Oliver was interesting and it had been a long time since Luciano Grimaldi had found anything interesting.

"This is not a good idea."

"What is a tie too formal?" Luc kept his voice even. He wanted to hold onto his good mood.

"Luciano."

The problem with keeping servants who have been around for most of your life, is that they become the bane of your existence- whether they catch you sneaking out of your bedroom window when you are 12 or try to kill the mood when you are 24.

"Luciano." Thorne's voice was sharper. "You are making a mistake."

Luc sighed. "You're absolutely right." He pulled the tie around his neck off and threw it down as he turned around. "Tonio!"

The boy looked up from where he was jumping up and down on Luc's bed.

"Stop jumping on my bed." The boy sighed and sat down sadly. Luc grinned. "Go jump on Thorne's bed. It bounces higher."

He laughed as Tonio raced out of the room and ignored Thorne's growl. "I know you are worried my friend, but there is nothing to worry about. I assume you checked out Dr. Oliver and he is not some kind of mad man or serial killer and he is neither Team Edward or Team Jacob…. So I don't see the problem with going out for drinks and maybe dinner?"

"You could at least take a few of the men with you."

Luc raised an eyebrow. "I could but I won't. I want one evening where I don't have to worry about anything."

"It isn't safe."

"Nothing in my life is safe so why should tonight be any different." Luc shrugged. "If it comes to it, I promise you that we will use a condom."

"Don't." Thorne shook his head. "Don't make light of what could happen. What has happened. Don't forget what happened."

Anger blazed in Luc's eyes. "You cross a line my friend. Never again suggest that I have forgotten. I was there. I have the scars." He unclenched his fist and forced himself to take a deep breath. "I know who I am." There was an edge to his voice as he continued that reminded Thorne of the young, vulnerable boy he had first met. "Tomorrow I will be Luciano Grimaldi. Tomorrow I will worry about shipping deals, business allies, and whether my tea is poisoned. Tonight, tonight I want to be Luc." He laughed, shifting the mood away from anything personal. "Besides this is Oakdale. If I could survive Bangkok during monsoon season, Oakdale has to be a breeze." He looked the other man straight in the eyes as the doorbell sounded. "I won't forget who I am."

Thorne watched the other man disappear through the doorway. "It's not that I think you will forget who you are." He whispered to himself. "I worry that you will forget where you are."