Author's Note: As always, I am taking creative license with noble and royal titles and Austrian geography. Took a few days off writing for the Thanksgiving holiday so I hope everyone is still interested in the storyline. For those that have read some of my other stories, I have incorporated a few characters from those previous tales. I hope you enjoy the crossover!
Wagner 1
touched down at Detroit Metro Airport at noon that day and was met by two bulletproof limousines flanked by a pair of blue Michigan State Police cruisers. Gunther had arrived before the nobles and their entourage and set up the police escort for the Count's road trip to his hometown of Gravel City and his meeting with the people Luke had entrusted with his financial and legal well-being. After the attempt on his life and subsequent wounding of his girlfriend, the Baronetess Sophia Lehner, in New York, Luke was taking no chances with his or his group's safety. The police escort would encompass the entire 45-minute trip to Gravel City and the aforementioned meeting at Anderson and Sons Law firm then to his father's home, now his home after the inheritance had completed.
Fifteen minutes out of the airport, the limousine carrying Luke, Sophia, and their maid/traveling butler, the blonde bombshell Anna, was speeding down I-94 when Luke's cellphone chimed his alma mater's fight song. He had received a text message from his good friend, Erik Decker:
Hey, man! Are we still
on for Remy's at 4?
Tara's working until 6.
Luke desperately wanted to meet up with his friends at Remy's Pub, but given the events of the last few days, he wasn't sure that he should. Luke had been Erik's supervisor at the office where he had worked before he inherited the Wagner fortune and title. Luke had also almost lost Erik to a wicked car accident the year before and Erik had gone through a grueling series of physical therapy sessions to get back on his feet. Erik's new wife, Tara, a red-haired hottie that reminded Luke of his own Sophia, worked at Remy's and was the driving force behind Erik's recovery.
"We should probably cancel the meet-up with my friends at the bar later." Luke told Sophia as the caravan continued down the highway. "You should get your rest and we're most likely driving Gunther crazy with the security issues on this one."
"Oh, no you don't!" Sophia retorted. "You need this, Luke. And so do I. I'm OK, and I could use a beer or two. You just tell your friends we'll be there at 4. Let Gunther worry about the security. That's his job."
"OK, we'll go," Luke reluctantly agreed, "but the minute you start hurting, you let me know and we'll be out of there."
"Yes, Sire." Sophia kidded Luke and batted her long lashes at the young Count. Luke delicately pulled his ginger lover to him and kissed her tenderly as the stretch luxury car sped down the highway, ever nearing its destination.
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Gravel City sat 20 miles southwest of Lansing, Michigan's capital city. The city's big claim to fame was that the state's current Lieutenant Governor hailed from within her borders and most thought she was a shoo-in to win the top office in next year's election. Anderson and Sons office was on the fourth floor of the tallest building in town and Gunther met Luke and Sophia's police-escorted caravan at the revolving door entryway.
"All clear, Sire." Gunther exclaimed as he opened the car door for the noble couple.
"Thank you, Gunther," Luke replied, "although this is Gravel City, not New York City. I don't expect problems here, but I appreciate the effort. Your next stop is a bar called Remy's Pub. Please have the detail do a quick sweep then make themselves invisible by the time I get there." Luke ordered his security chief.
Gunther sighed as he obeyed the command, "As you wish, my Lord," he answered, "But I do wish you would allow me to close the establishment to the public while you're there."
"Remy's wouldn't close for the president and they sure as Hell won't close for me, Gunther." Luke exclaimed. "Besides, it's the Saturday after Christmas. It's Bowl season. Even I don't have enough money to shut Remy's down during Bowl season!" Luke laughed.
Gunther puzzled at the meaning of "Bowl Season," but said nothing. Luke and Sophia found the elevator and made their way to Mr. Anderson's office. Luke had asked that the meeting last no more than two hours so that he could get settled into his father's house then meet his friends at Remy's for the get-together. Anderson and the accountants promised to be as quick as possible, but Luke still felt bored throughout the ninety-five-minute meeting. The only part of the meeting that piqued Luke's interest was talk of the aerospace company of which Luke was now majority shareholder. Anderson told Luke that the company was planning a launch in Florida on January 2
nd
and, if all went well, then the government was ready to award three more contracts that would most definitely send the stock prices through the roof, potentially increasing Luke's worth tenfold. Luke asked Sophia if she wanted to extend their trip for another day or two and attend the launch, to which she readily agreed.
After the meeting, Luke and Sophia had the driver take them to Luke's father's house, now his house after the inheritance. Anna had gone with Gunther to Remy's to check out the setting, so Luke and Sophia were, except for two security guards posted at each entry door of the two-story home, alone. Through Mr. Anderson, Luke had petitioned the city to allow him to move his father's remains from the city cemetery to a plot in the backyard. Luke and Sophia walked through the inch of snow in the backyard to the immaculately groomed burial plot where Luke's father now laid. The couple stood in silence for a moment, then Luke patted the waist-high headstone and began to walk back to the house. He looked back to see Sophia kneeling by the marker and speaking softly. The red headed baronetess then repeated Luke's pat of the headstone then joined her lover on the back porch.