He Laughs low. The sound vibrates against me. “Good. Because I am not letting you go. Ever.”
We kiss again. Slower this time. Full of promise and relief and everything we almost lost. Outside the clubhouse the world keeps turning but in here I feel whole. Safe. Home.
TWENTY-THREE
TINY
I watchLucy sleep in my bed at the clubhouse. Her breathing stays even and slow. The marks on her wrists look less red today. I run my thumb gently over one of them. She doesn't wake. Relief sits heavy in my chest every time I look at her. She made it back. She's here safe with me. I keep touching her hair or her shoulder just to remind myself it's real.
A quiet knock comes at the door. I ease off the bed and open it. Pres stands there. He keeps his voice low.
"Her dad called. He wants to see her. Says he needs to talk."
My jaw tightens. "He can wait."
"Said it was important. About what happened." Pres watches me carefully. "Your call, brother."
I nod once. "She needs the rest, but I'll ask her when she wakes up."
Pres claps my shoulder. "Club's behind you both. Whatever comes next."
I close the door and head back to the bed. My chest tightens just thinking about Frank Parker. The man who tried to control Lucy her whole life. The man whose big mouth to a stranger got her kidnapped and tied to a chair in a Southside Kings clubhouse. I want to put my fist through a wall just thinking about it.
Lucy stirs. Her eyes open and find mine. She gives me a small smile, and it hits me right in the gut. I lean down and kiss her forehead.
"Morning. Or afternoon. You slept for a while."
She stretches carefully before sitting up. "I feel better. Sore, but better." Her hand finds mine. "What's going on?"
"Your dad called. He wants to see you. Sounds like he's got some things to say."
Her expression changes. Something complicated flashes through her eyes. Fear. Anger. Maybe both.
"What'd he say?"
"Just that he needs to talk. About what happened." I squeeze her hand. "You don't have to see him. Not yet. Not ever if you don't want to."
She thinks about it for a long minute. Her fingers tighten around mine.
"I want to see him. I need to hear what he has to say." She looks up at me. "But I need you there. Please."
"I'm not going anywhere."
We get ready slowly. I help her into her jacket. She leans into me as we walk out to the truck. The drive to her parents' house feels heavy. I keep one hand on the wheel and the other wrappedaround hers. My chest's full of everything I want to say to Frank Parker. Most of it involves threats.
"Whatever happens in there," Lucy says quietly, "I'm not going back to how things were. I can't."
"You won't have to."
The house looks the same as always. Neat lawn. Porch light on even though it's still afternoon.
I park the truck, and we sit there for a minute.
Lucy takes a deep breath.
"Okay. I'm ready."
Frank opens the door before we reach the porch. He looks like he's aged ten years in the past week. His eyes are red. His shoulders slump forward. When he sees Lucy, his face crumples.
