Page 76 of Legends Luke

Melody found Luke in the waiting room down the hall. She stepped into his arms briefly before turning her head up to look into his face.

“Erin saw Lyric. Blake has her. She said they’re heading to Erin’s father’s hunting cabin. They lease it through the Ridge Mount Hunting Club. I don’t know how they plan to get to it or why they’re taking Lyric with them. Erin’s jaw is broken and wired shut, so she’s having a hard time communicating. She’s in bad shape, Luke, and she’s on a lot of medicine. But she stayed awake enough to tell me where Lyric is. Sandra said her husband is in the cafeteria and can give you more details about the cabin if you need it.”

Luke looked over his shoulder where PJ paced the floor behind him. PJ was already on his phone and gave Luke a chin lift as if to say he was checking out the lead.

“Luke,” Melody said softly and waited until he looked back at her. “There’s one more thing. Erin said Lyric’s hurt. Erin couldn’t tell me much more.”

Luke touched her chin and lowered his head to brush his lips against hers. “We’ll find her, baby. I promise.”

“I’m going too.”

Even as she uttered the words, she shocked herself. Luke had kept her separated from his work on the case as much as he could, but this wasn’t a time she would sit on the sidelines. She didn’t want to be left behind. She wanted a front-row seat to the rescue because she wanted to be there for Lyric.

“That’s not a good idea.”

She held his gaze, his icy eyes intense but beautiful. She felt he could see into her soul, and while the idea made her uncomfortable before, she had no problem with it now.

“I’ll do whatever you say. I’ll stay out of your way. But I’m coming. I want to be one of the first people Lyric sees.”

“You can wait here. I can video call you as soon as we have her safe. This way you can be here for the Bleekleys while we bring Lyric to you. I’ll even have Becky and Reagan come here to wait with you, and PJ will stay to watch out for you.”

She stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. “No. I’m not bending on this. I’m going to be there, Luke. I insist.”

He ran a hand through his hair, the strands sticking out in all directions. He scowled. She held up a hand to stop his next words.

“You’re worried. It’s going to be dangerous, and you don’t want me hurt. You don’t want to worry about me while you’re trying to stop Blake Drummond. Lyric might be d…” Her voice caught, and she swallowed against the lump in her throat. “This could very well be a recovery and not a rescue. I know what I’m up against, but I can’t stay back. Please don’t ask me to. I swear I’ll stay out of your way. I need to be there.”

“Let her go, Luke.”

PJ had walked up to them, his frame towering over them. His arms had to be as big around as her waist, the defined muscles straining his shirt sleeves. His eyes were slanted, almost lost among his full black beard and thick brows. His dark hair was trim, a widow’s peak dipping on his forehead. He was handsome in his way, giving Melody the impression of a gentle giant. Having just met him, she was surprised he would take her side.

“It’s not a good idea,” Luke repeated himself.

“One of the Atlas guys can stay with her while the rest of you take down Drummond. If the roles were reversed, you know we’d say the same thing. She helped to crack the case. We should let her be there for her sister.”

“Thank you,” she said, but PJ frowned in her direction.

“You said you know what to expect, but Melody, you need to prepare yourself. If the outcome isn’t good, you’ll see things you won’t likely forget. It’s the stuff of nightmares. You can’t work inthis line of business and not have them. Before you bust Luke’s balls about letting you go, you should be damn certain you can handle whatever happens. Your emotions have to be under control. You can’t fall apart on these guys. Not until it’s all said and done. You understand me?”

“Stand down, PJ,” Luke warned.

Melody placed a calming hand on Luke’s chest. She met PJ’s gaze. “I can’t promise I won’t react to what’s happening, but I will not be a liability. I only want to be there for my sister regardless of what happens. I won’t do anything to risk someone else’s life. I don’t want to be a hero, and I’m not an adrenaline junkie. That’s not what this is.”

PJ nodded once. “I didn’t think so.”

Melody watched Luke and waited for him to respond. He could still tell her no, and she’d have no choice but to stay at the hospital. The tick in his jaw had her believing that’s exactly what was going to happen. He was protecting her, so she wouldn’t challenge him again. She wouldn’t be happy about it, but she wouldn’t delay them any longer. Too much time had passed since Lyric was abducted. Every minute she pushed to join them was another minute Lyric was in danger. But the urge to be there when they found Lyric burned within her.

“I don’t like it. Come with me. We’ll run it by the rest of them. If they agree with PJ, you come. If they don’t, you stay behind. No argument. Agreed?”

Relief flooded her body as she nodded. “Agreed.”

She could have counted the moment as a victory, but it wasn’t about winning. It was about family. Luke and his brothers would understand. They weren’t blood-related like she and Lyric, but the bond was there. She was certain the others would agree.

As Luke took her hand, she fell into step with him as they hurried to the elevator. She mentally started preparing herself for the evening ahead. She’d never experienced anything like this before, and she hoped she never would have to again.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Melody tried to stand at the edge of the fray going on around her, but she didn’t think there was a good place to be where she didn’t feel in the way. Luke and his brothers, along with Drake and Alex from Atlas Security, were there, but the takedown was organized and led by multiple police departments, including Chief Tatum from Fire Creek. They surrounded the cabin, careful to hide among the trees and brush to avoid detection.

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