Page 83 of Going Home

Her heart pounds as she goes through the various options in her head. Who the hell would have the balls to sleep with an underage daughter of a Drifter?

"No, but he's involved with the club. He's not old enough to prospect yet, but I think he will."

"We'll have to stop it."

Gracie shakes her head and finally makes eye contact. "No. In order to stop it, it would have to come to light. It'll hurt someone I don't want to hurt, and it'll just make me look bad because he'll deny it. I don't know how I got here, Mom. This isn't what I thought my life would be."

Jumping up, Felicity wraps her daughter up in her arms and rubs her back. "It's going to be okay. Tomorrow, we're going shopping. We need to get some baby things if we're going to do this. You're not alone. You have me, and we'll get through this."

She doesn't respond, but she clings to her mother as she cries like she did as a little girl seeking comfort. The type of comfort one can only get from their mom, and Felicity vows to find out who this man is. She'll make him pay. It'll all come to light eventually, and when it does, no one will be able to save him from Mama Bear. No one.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Griffin's Beach

Lex

SittingnexttoLaneon her bed, Lex stares at the television across from them. Her mind is anywhere but on whatever movie they're watching. It's the way things have been since the wedding five days ago. Her thoughts bring her away from the present, and she struggles to focus until her attention is demanded.

"Where are Zane and Margaret?" Lex asks.

After the confrontation at the wedding, it's become a rule that Zane leaves before Lex arrives, and he waits until she's gone to return home. Lane's only alone for a matter of minutes, but it's better than having her watch the siblings fight. Especially with Margaret around. She's seen Zane's temper far too much with Lex around than Lex would ever want her to. She also doesn't know how much longer she can sit idly by and take everything he dishes out. No matter what he's going through, she refuses to be an emotional punching bag for yet another man for too long.

"They went for ice cream," Lane says. "He knows I need to talk to you, so he's going to stay out with her until I text him and tell him you're leaving. I know you don't want to see him."

The fact Lane asked her here to talk makes Lex bristle. Every time this woman has asked to talk, it's meant nothing good for Lex. But how does someone say no to a dying woman? Exactly. It's not possible.

"What can I do for you now?"

Shifting, Lane turns to face Lex as she lies on the bed. She's been unable to eat much the past few days with her medication, and she's barely skin and bones at this point. Her wedding dress would swallow her not even a week after the wedding. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

She sighs and sniffles. "I underestimated Zane's ability to hate. It never crossed my mind he'd be this angry with you."

"I guess you don't know him all that well then."

"But you knew, didn't you?"

Avoiding Lane's gaze, Lex stares at the screen. "I've known him all my life, so I have a little more experience. I wasn't being sarcastic when I told you that asking me to do this would guarantee my brother would hate me for the rest of his life."

"I heard about what he said to you in the parking lot." She reaches out and takes Lex's hand, and it nearly makes Lex jump at how cold her touch is. "He was wrong for that."

"He'll never think anything else when it comes to me."

"Doesn't make it right. He's handling this worse than I expected, and he's unwilling to be angry with me. I'm the one he's upset with, but he can't accept it. You're the default, and I wish you weren't. I wish he could see the amazing favor you're doing him."

Zane Dalton has no capacity to see Lex in any type of favorable light. She could save his life, and he'd find a reason to hate her for it. She's come to understand that there's nothing she can do about it anymore, and she's done trying.

No words come to mind to say. The last thing she wants to do is upset a dying woman, so she opts to stay silent instead.

"You can be angry with me, you know," Lane says. "I deserve it."

"It feels wrong to be upset with you."

"I don't blame you for looking forward to the relief you'll feel when I'm gone. This whole situation has taken such a toll on you, and you've done it with such grace. I just wish I could say something to make you feel okay with it. I appreciate everything you've done, Lex. Honestly, you've done more than I thought anyone would."

Licking her lips, Lex looks at their joined hands. Lane's ring catches her eye, and she holds back the tears as she sees the silicone spacers that have been added to keep the ring on as she loses even more weight. "I don't want you to be gone, Lane, but it would be a lie if I said I didn't want this to be over. Not because you won't be here but because this has been so much emotion and tension and chaos."

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