Page 53 of The Comeback Road
“Yeah, well,” Luke replied, feigning indifference as he took another sip, “it is what it is.”
“You want to talk about it?” I offered. Even though I was mad at him, he was still my friend.
“Nah. I don’t feel much like being a brat today,” he tried to joke, and even though it somewhat fell flat, I knew that was hiding his obvious discomfort at being called out in a small way. Silence returned, and I could see the flicker of seriousness in Luke’s eyes. “Lexie…about Zed.”
My heart sank. “What about him? You still haven’t told me anything.”
“I can’t. Not yet.” He closed more of the distance, his tone grave. “You need to trust me on this. Please, it’s for everyone’s benefit.”
I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. “But how can I trust you if I don’t have the slightest clue about what’s going on?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but the obvious worry was creeping in, threatening to drown out the warmth of the diner.
“Because I’m doing everything I possibly can to help him,” Luke said firmly. There was determination and truth behind it. “And I promise, when the time is right, you’ll know everything. Right now, it’s important that you focus on healing, moving on, and your semi-retirement.”
“Easier said than done,” I muttered, my mind still racing with thoughts of Zed, memories flooding in of them shoving him into that van.Where did they take him? What happened to him?
Luke reached into his bag and pulled out a file, sliding it across the table at me. “Here. You need to see this.”
“What is it?” I questioned.
“Just open it.” I opened the file, my heart heavy as I started to read the pages. “Is this…is this about him?”Himreferring to the guy’s life I took. The man had been involved in humantrafficking. The pictures and documents were horrible, and I felt bile rise in my throat. I was going to be sick at what I was seeing.
“You deserve to know what kind of man he was. You did the world a favor,” he told me.
“I think I always knew that he wouldn’t have been there if he was one of the good guys. I think I struggled with the fact that I barely even hesitated, and if I had to do it all over again? I’d do the same thing. What does that say about me, Luke?” I whispered.
“It says that you’re human,” he replied gently. “Even though what you did was hard, Lexie, what you did was good. It wasright,Lexie.”
I absorbed his words, but doubt lingered in my mind. “I just don’t want to be the person who justifies violence, Luke. That’s not who I am.”
“You’re not,” he assured me, his eyes steady on mine. “You’re someone who fights for those who can’t fight for themselves. You always have been. It’s one of the reasons you were recruited in the first place. That’s strength, Lexie, not a weakness. Never a weakness.”
I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of his reassurance settle in. “Okay, but…what are your plans now? Are you leaving Rockland now that I’m coming back to the land of the living?”
He leaned back slightly, a hint of a smile returning to his face. “I think…I think I’m going to stay. There’s something special about Rockland that I haven’t quite put my finger on yet.”
Relief washed over me, and I let out a breath. “Good. because I could use my annoying brat of a friend around here.”
“Always,” he said, raising his mug to mine. “To warriors and brats, and whatever comes next.”
As we clinked our mugs together, I felt a renewed sense of hope, of purpose. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I knew I was in the right place, surrounded by the people I chose.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Jace
I stepped out of Magnolia’s during daylight hours for the first time in I couldn’t even remember how long. The morning sun warmed my skin—a weird but welcome change after the chilly weeks of uncertainty. The familiar scents of coffee and pancakes lingered around me, a reminder of the breakfast I’d shared with Lexie.
For the first time in weeks, she had left the house, and I couldn’t help but feel elated and proud that she was coming out of it on her own, on her own terms. I just hoped that what I’d been doing helped her in some way. Still, it was hard not being within shouting distance.
I’d barely left Magnolia’s house—only to catch a quick shower or grab a change of clothes—and my place didn’t feel much like home anymore. Just a storage space for my things. I took a deep breath, allowing the crisp air to fill my lungs as I made my way to my truck. The weight I’d been carrying around felt lighter, buoyed by the thought of Lexie.
As I drove home, my mind wandered to the countless sleepless nights as of late. I had stared at her window, just incase Lexie needed something, just to make sure she was safe. I feared that the shadows of her past would consume her, if not physically, then mentally. So, I maintained my post, keeping watch on her. But that day was different. That day, she seemed alive again, like she was living in the present and not in her memories.
Pulling into my spot, I noticed the porch and driveway that were in desperate need of a shovel and some maintenance. I had barely been around and didn’t want to waste my time with things like that. I had no neighbors, as my house was tucked away, so it wasn’t doing anyone any harm—except perhaps my truck tires.
Stepping inside my house, I threw my keys on the small table at the entryway and headed to my ensuite to grab a quick shower.
After a longer shower than I had anticipated, I sank into my couch for a short nap. Just as I was drifting off, a knock at the door jolted me awake.
