Page 42 of Thirteen Years
This terrifying man. He was giving me a minute alone to process everything he’d just said. I watched him walk away towards a door in the corner of the room flipping the light on. Must be the master bath. I flopped down on my back and stared up through the skylight at the moon and stars overhead.
Did I love Lucas Marshall?
I didn’t even know if I was capable of the feeling or trusting someone enough to ever love again. I cared an awful lot about him. I would die if anything ever happened to him. I knew in my heart, I couldn’t ever leave him. This solidified that decision.
Not that I thought he’d let me get very far.
Somewhere deep down in my soul, I knew he wasn’t the type that would refrain from packing up everything and chasing me to the ends of the Earth.
I sighed, listening to the water running in the other room. I needed to figure something out though. I was scared for Natasha and myself. I was even scared for anyone attached to us. Lucas, Monica and her family.
I’d let myself open up and so many people had found their way in. I couldn’t let any of them get hurt. I needed to figure out how to get Lucas to dig deeper. Search harder, to see if there was any sign of Clark anywhere. I wondered what they’d found out at the station, if anything yet.
It was terrifying to know that either he or Larry had been right outside my front door, trying to get into my home. The home I’d built for my child. Then right outside my bedroom window. How dare they? Somewhere under the fear, there was a bitter anger stirring in my gut. I was so mad, and had missed so much in life already by not being able to settle and let myself get to know people.
I wasn’t so sure I’d be the cowering woman Clark would expect out of me, if we came face to face again. Motherhood did that to a woman but so did this new emotion towards all the people that were in my life now. The sense of duty to protect them. I wondered if that’s how Lucas felt with his badge and job.
I didn't know how long I laid there, listening to the water running, and Lucas humming, in the other room before he came back to the doorway.
“Bath’s ready.”
I sat up and smiled at him.
I decided I wasn’t going to worry about anything else tonight. Not when I had someone like Lucas taking care of me and keeping me safe for an evening.
I knew Nat was safe where she was. What were the odds of being in a relationship with a cop, after all this time, and becoming best friends with someone who was married to one? It was almost like it was meant to be.
“Rebecca, listen. All we know is that there are pictures of you all over that thumb drive. That’s the only thing on it. Different places around town, and with Lucas. There’s none of Nat. It’s like they followed you to work and didn’t want to cross that line involving a kid. He is definitely not aware she is his, or he’d probably have made a move long before this.”
I nodded at Nick, grateful for that at least. My hands were still shaking, thinking about the fact that Lucas was on there too. Monica and her family weren’t though. And Natasha was safe. I had to remember to stop and appreciate the small wins right now.
“So what do we do now?” I asked.
Lucas reached over, laying his hand on mine.
“Well. We’re obviously still on the lookout for both Clark, and this Larry asshole,” Nick said. “We still haven’t been able to track anything down on your ex. But Larry is raising red flags all over the place. We got notice just last night that he’d been out at a bar. They found him in an alley, assaulting a woman, but he got away.”
Lucas growled beside me.
“Civilians weren’t able to hold him there, Lucas,” Nick informed him. “He had a gun and was threatening people. He took off. The woman was fine. Shaken up, but she was able to give a statement, and someone even got a blurry picture of him. We know it was the same guy that was in here talking to you.”
I could hear Lucas grinding his teeth beside me. He obviously couldn't handle not being in control of the situation.
Last night had been a dream come true. After a long, hot bath I’d come out to Lucas in gray joggers with fresh fruit and my favorite soda. We’d eaten and talked for hours, the sun turning the sky violet and lavender over our heads before he’d kissed me and we’d gone to sleep.
Three hours later my phone rang and it was the station with news, so we rushed down here. I was beyond grateful for Lucas’ attentiveness. He had comfy clothes for me, and even some of my favorite shower products. I was going to have to adjust to being this thoroughly taken care of, but I could admit it was comforting
“Until then, I really wouldn’t feel comfortable with you and Nat going back to the apartment,” said Nick, breaking my train of thought. “I would recommend you staying with Lucas or Paul and his family.”
I nodded numbly, wondering how on Earth it had come to this again.
When we exited the station through the main door, Lucas grabbed my hand, stopping me on the sidewalk.
“Stay with me,” he asked softly. “Please? I can’t be on the case, but at least I can feel like I’m taking care of you two if you’re under my roof. You don’t have to share my room, I’ve got two guest rooms. No running. I can’t handle you trying to leave me again,” he practically begged.
I stared up at him, “Lucas, I’m not going to run. But…having a teen around all the time is a lot all at once. Not to mention she has her friend glued to her side most of the time.”
“Hey. I happen to love that preteen, and her friend. I’ve been hanging out with Paul and Monica for years and going to their weekly dinners. I’ve watched Lacey and Lexi grow up and even babysat them a few times,” he said. “Natasha wouldn’t ever be a bother to me and you know that. Stop making excuses and let me take care of you both.”
