Chapter 245: Chapter Seventy

Lincoln

“These are the reports for this quarter?” I ask as I look down at the chart that Thomas handed me.

“Unfortunately, yes. The rates dropped by ten percent. It seems the advertisement only went so far.”

I clench my teeth seeing the red line drop down further than it had been a month ago. I needed to do something about these threats. They were really starting to mess with my business. Not having joint ventures with other corporations was causing my company to take a big hit. I knew this is what the perpetrator was going for. The only thing is, why?

Was it really because of Han? It’s been seven years since I demolished the corrupted businesses he was dealing. Was it revenge? That’s a high possibility. There were family members of the men I threw in prison who wanted me dead. But most of them were all talk and no action. But was it possible that one of them finally got the courage to go through with it?

“I think maybe it’s time we do something about these threats.” Axel suddenly speaks up, voicing my thoughts.

I sigh deeply, throwing the chart on my desk as I stood to face the large window that looked down at the city below. Placing my hands in my pockets I lock my jaw in annoyance before saying,

“I think you’re right. Let’s cancel the Taylor meeting next week and set it for next month. I want to focus solely on finding out who this bastard is that keeps my family hiding in the dark.”

“That’s risky. The Taylor meeting was in hopes to place in their jurisdiction. If we cancel so suddenly on them…”

“Not to mention it was placed months in advance, do you know how hard it was for Stacy to get in contact with them? Are you sure you want to do this?” Axel pitches in.

“What other choice do I have? We can’t keep ignoring this. If we continue to wait it out we’ll only be hurting ourselves and the people who work for us. I don’t know about you guys, but I refuse to set the bar in layoffs.”

“Well…then I guess we should get on it and get it over with.” Thomas picks up the chart I hazardously threw down. “I’ll go and talk to Stacy about the cancellation. But just so you know, she isn’t going to be happy about it. It took her weeks to get through to them.”

With that he goes to the door and lets himself out.

“We’ll send her a giant bouquet of flowers and a gift card to Chanel.” Axel quickly states as he stands up. “You know, even with all this going on you look the happiest I’ve ever seen you. I know why, but…I’m glad he’s back in your life.”

He gives me a smile as he starts to head out as well. Suddenly an overwhelming anxiety hits me hard.

“Lincoln…are you okay?” He quickly rushes to me as I grip the back of my chair. Confusion slams into me. I’ve never had an anxiety attack before as my heart hammers in my chest and my lungs constrict behind my ribs. My vision blurs for just a moment and then…nothing.

It suddenly just completely disappears.

“What the hell was that?” I breathe out breathlessly.

“What happened?” He demands, grabbing my shoulders to help me sit.

“I don’t know. I was perfectly fine just now and then bam I felt like I wanted to pass out. It’s gone now though. Like it never happened.”

“Hm, I get that way sometimes. But only when Tristan…” He goes silent in thought.

“What? What is it?”

“Tristan and I are marked. Sometimes when one of us goes into panic the other can slightly feel it. It doesn’t happen often, only when our bond is strong enough. By chance did you and Elliot get marked?”

I blink at him. Marked? I would know if we did right? “I don’t know. How do you know if you have or not?”

“Well for me and Tristan we felt pain on the back of our necks. Like a burning sensation that seared into our skin. But if you didn’t feel that at all…let me check your neck.”

I sat there as he moves my collar. “Hm. I’m not sure.”

“What do you mean you’re not sure. Its either there or not.” I nearly snapped at him.

“Well, yeah.” He snaps back. “I meant that mine and Tristan’s is very visible, as is Cameron and Sia’s.”

“I know that. You don’t have to look to see they’re there. But why aren’t you sure about me?”

“Well because there is something here, just you can barely see it, almost like you had a henna tattoo that’s finally going away.”

I grab my phone and hand it to him. “Take a picture of it.” I demand, my mind reeling of the possibility.

Once he hands me back my phone I stare at it. He was right, just barely able to see it, it looked like some kind of design. I then remember something that my doctor said a few years ago.

“Hm. Was this birthmark always here?”

“What birthmark?”

“The one on the back of your neck. It’s small, can barely really see it.”

“How would I know if I can’t see the back of my neck?”

“Well, true. Interesting little thing. Almost looks like a small crystal.”

But the image I was looking at wasn’t small. In fact, it looked like a jumble of small crystals together if I had to guess what it could be. I had been twenty the time of that appointment. So, how could it be a mark?

I instantly stand up causing Axel to jump back from my abruptness. “I have to see Elli.” With that I leave the room to head for the university.

“I’ll go with you!”

I shake my head. Any chance for him to be with his mate he never fails to take it. If what Axel says is true, that this could be a mark that I wasn’t aware of and that what I just went through a moment ago is caused by panic from my marked mate…then what the hell was happening to Elliot right now to cause the reaction in the first place?