Page 108 of Undone

“The things I hid from you—the things I’ve done… I did to protect you and my men. I-I’ve killed.”

“I know. I can see it in your eyes. But I’m not afraid of you.” I turn facing him, “I know you are the good guy. You’d never do anything unless you needed to. But I trusted you. Whatever it is your facing—if you had let me stand beside you, maybe we would have made it. Every time you come and go—it takes something from me, I never get back.”

He sighs, raking a hand through his wild hair. “I’ve dealt with most of the threat. But I’m making moves… and new allies. I’ve pissed off more than one Mexican Cartel, baby. We might never be safe. I’d need you to be okay with that… since I’m not. I can never be right with putting you in their path.”

“I can handle myself… but it might be too late for us, anyway.”

“I heard and saw.”

“You did?”

“Baby… I knew you needed me to stay away. But I was never far. Rog isn’t as sharp as he thinks. I figured out where you live, and I can count on one hand how many times I stood by the edge of the woods hidden by the falling snow as you sat by the fire drinking wine and painting.

“You watched me?”

“Like a wolf.”

He sits on the bed with tired eyes, telling me so much. He never left me, he just knew I needed him to stay away until he could come back for good. I bend down, take off my boots and hang my coat up behind the door. He starts talking softly. I pretend not to care, while hanging on every word.

“My full name is Lucas S. Travers. My middle name is Smith and it’s also my mother’s surname. I’m loaded, Luce. I’m a goddamn billionaire on paper. My grandfather was an original investor in the Northern Pacific Railroad when they first laid those tracks. Rail service developed the West. Anyway, my father was a real prick. He had complete control over my Ma. All of my inheritance was put into a Trust until I turned twenty-one. He wanted me to follow in his footsteps—be his prick of an heir in every sense. I wanted no part of it. Guilt weighs on me. Because I left my Ma with him. I just, dropped out of college and enlisted. When I turned twenty-one … all that money didn’t matter to me. It’s not who I was—or who I am. I hope you understand why I don’t advertise it. I didn’t earn that money; spending it never felt right. I support a lot of charities. But yes, I rented a Learjet the second I knew Rog and Duke needed one.”

“Maybe we can talk… about everything later. But I just want to be alone for now,” I whisper, my heart and head at war and spinning with everything he just confided.

“If that’s what you want.” He hangs his head, then gets up to leave. “But Luce—I meant what I said about punishing you. You can’t mess with Creed.”

“It was all Dev and Shanna’s idea.”

“But you went anyway.”

“I did. What are you going to do?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” He winks, shutting the door.

I slide under the warm quilt, pulling it high over my head. He’s here… back for now and I wonder what in the hell I’m going to do about it.

I wake up confused.

It’s quiet.

Too quiet.

There’s a big bear in bed with me, snoring, and making me too hot. I must’ve shrugged my clothes off in my sleep, since they’re tangled in the sheets.

The man is a damn furnace. Lucas still holds me tight. But something else is off. Despite the warm glow and crackling fire, he must have lit after I dozed off…. I can’t shake the fear traveling like lightening up and down my spine.

Muffled voices come from somewhere outside; somewhere close. I move the quilt back and try to ease from Smith’s arms. “Luce? Baby? What is it?”

“I don’t know. It’s probably nothing.”

He goes from slumbering bear, to alert predator, in two seconds. His movements are methodical and sure. “Get dressed and get down on the floor. Stay behind the bed. Keep the door locked. Open it for no one.” He cups my face, kissing me hard. I’m too stunned to react so, I dress as fast as I can, even slipping on shoes in case we had to run.

“What the fuck?” Rog’s voice carries through the thick oak door. Gunfire pops from somewhere close by. “Smith! It’s an ambush!” Duke barrels in with Shanna behind him, just as Smith checks the clip of his gun.

“Where’s Dev and Rog?” I ask.

“Taking cover. Rog might be hit. It was Trent. That son-of-a-bitch. He’s a traitor. He fired on Rog.” I move toward the door, my only thought to get to my best friend, but heavy hands pull me back. Duke orders Shanna to get behind the bed, while he guards the door. Smith moves to place his back against the wall and peer out the window.

“We’re surrounded. We’re gonna have to fight our way out.”

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