Chapter 23

Black was brooding. At first, when Aaron hadn't come to the Blacknight, he had taken it lightly.

He had told himself that when he was done sulking, he would come back but it had been three weeks now and he still hadn't appeared.

Without Aaron to help him, he was overwhelmed with work but tonight, he had decided to finish early and go to the Hargrove manor to flush him out.

He must certainly be hiding in his bed brooding but it wasn't going to happen like that! He needed him! And only for work!

He would tell him! He shouldn't think that he was coming to get him because he missed his smiles! Or his way of putting him in his place or even... he shook himself.

No, there was none of that! And yet his heart leapt with joy just at the thought of seeing him again after these weeks that had seemed endless without him.

He went home to change and had his visiting card sent to the manor by his servant to inform the duke of his arrival.

When the latter showed him into his library, Black had difficulty recognizing him:

-Well, old man! It seems that the campaign is not going well for you.

The duke was pale and seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

He sat down at his desk and cast a haggard look at the marquis:

-What can I do for you Thornwood?

-I would like you to bring Aaron so that I can speak to him. It has been three weeks since he has been in the office and I need my partner.

Brennan fixed him with a wary look:

-He did not tell you anything?

Black raised an eyebrow. He suddenly had a bad feeling:

-Say what?

-He left the day after we returned to Hargrove manor.

The pirate paled as anxiety began to cut his insides:

-But to go where?

-I have no idea. He's old enough to go wherever he wants.

-But finally!! You're his brother! His fate worries you so little!

Brennan was delighted to see the marquis get into such a state for his brother.

It was time for him to understand that he cared for Aaron and more than just as a friend.

He decided to rub salt in the wound:

-And how does that concern you? You know my brother's feelings for you.

It's normal that he no longer wants to work for you and I support him completely.

A muscle twitched on Black's cheek.

He stood up, abruptly knocking over his chair:

-Go to hell, Hargrove! I'll find him with or without you!

Impassive, Brennan opened a drawer of his desk and took out a letter:

-Aaron asked me to give it to you as soon as you worried about him but you took your time!

I pity the poor guy for being so unloved.

Black threw himself on the letter and snatched it from his hands before leaving.

He didn't leave the room without sending him an icy look, however:

-Speak for yourself Hargrove! If you love Justin that much, stop him from leaving instead of wasting away on the spot! He's coming back in five weeks, well given your state of decay, I doubt you'll last that long!

Brennan slowly swirled his brandy in his glass.

Stop him from leaving? He had turned the question over a thousand times in his head for three weeks. To stop him from leaving was to imprison him in a life he did not want.

Yet he could not live without him. It had not even been a month since he had been near him and he was dying as surely as a land without water.

He then made his decision and the vice that gripped his heart loosened as if by magic.

Justin was more important than his titles of nobility, than his lands and even than his own life. And then Aaron could administer his lands during his absences.

To be near Justin, he would go to the ends of the earth. He had unfortunately understood it when he left but it was not too late. In a few weeks he would be back and he could welcome him with open arms.

Not everything would be settled between them. There was still the question of Red Flam but he was confident.

With all his love, he hoped to be able to make Justin listen to reason so that he would no longer risk his life unnecessarily.

As for Aaron, he didn't have to worry about him. He knew perfectly well where he was hiding but he had promised not to tell Black anything.

It was up to him alone now to choose whether he wanted to follow a path with or without Aaron.

As Black unsealed the letter with a trembling hand, Aaron's words danced before his eyes until he understood their meaning.

Green with rage, he crumpled it and tore it apart.

Yet each word remained burned into his mind.

I don't care about someone who doesn't love me, especially when it comes to my husband.

So I decided to leave the Blacknight so I can forget you.

I'm fine. I'm resting at Uncle Jack's. Goodbye.

All he had to do was go and get him and make him see reason by giving him a good spanking!

He went back to his office and warned his men to make preparations for the trip.

He couldn't leave right away, he had to put his affairs in order first.

A man came through the door and introduced himself as his notary's servant:

-Good morning, Mr. Marquis. Mr. Tafford, your notary expressly asks you to come and see him.

Black frowned, his icy gaze studying him for a moment:

-Tell him I'll come in an hour. Let him wait for me.

The little man wiped his forehead with a handkerchief and replied, bowing his head:

-I'll run right away to tell him.

When the Marquis found himself sitting in front of Tafford, the latter was not very confident. He was stammering an incomprehensible gibberish where he could understand divorce, papers, signature...

What was going on with the divorce papers?

-Enough! he cried. Which made the notary jump. Be clearer so we can get this over with!

The man pulled himself together a little and opened a file:

-As you know, I am quite busy, so I gave your documents to my assistant so that he could finalize everything so that you could divorce as soon as possible, but when I checked the signatures I couldn't believe my eyes.

He started to stammer again:

-You understand... something like that... that had never happened before... so...

At the end of his patience, Black banged his fist on the desk:

-Give me those damn documents!!

The notary handed them to him trembling.

Black sat back down and began to read.

Nothing seemed abnormal to him until the place where Aaron must have signed.

Instead of his last name, it said: Dirty bastard!

At first stunned by the verve of this little pest, he ended up bursting out laughing.

Deep down, he was relieved. He liked the idea of ​​still being married to this scourge.

He tore off the documents and addressed his notary who was looking at him, his eyes wide with astonishment:

-I'm going away for a few days. We'll settle this divorce story when I get back.

Through his telescope, Black finally saw the small Pacific island where his uncle had settled.

As soon as his ship touched the shore he ran to the little house under the "good luck captain!" of his crew.

During the whole trip, he had been teased by his men who saw his growing impatience at the idea of ​​finding his little wife as they said.

- Don't worry captain! We'll get there as soon as possible so you can hug him!

They were having fun at his expense insinuating that Aaron had run away because of his bad temper.

They gave him advice on how to keep his wife at home. What a joke!

He had had enough for a week!

They had even given him a list of sweet words to make up for it. Forgive what, for heaven's sake! He was the one who had left him!

Black nevertheless carefully placed the list in the bottom of his pocket.

Now that he was in front of the entrance to the house, he didn't dare go in. It was ridiculous but his heart was beating wildly. He had missed him so much!

-Looking for someone?

Black turned around and found himself face to face with his uncle.

-Holy crap, son! I can't take it anymore! It took you ages to come get him!