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CHAPTER22
Lucas
Sariah is tucked against my side, her legs thrown over mine. Her deep, even breaths tell me she’s still sleeping, and I’m loath to wake her. Her revelation in the bathroom last night had surprised the fuck out of me. If Easton isn’t her father, then who the fuck is? Somehow, I know my mother will use this against her, so I vow in this moment to never allow my family to know the truth.
I will do whatever it takes to protect my wife, even if it means lying to my family. Because Sariah is fast becoming my family. No one has ever been able to calm me the way she did in the bathroom last night. Her body soothed me in ways I can’t describe. I’m still worried about my brother, about finding Jeremiah and destroying him, but I feel focused now, not wrapped in anger. I didn’t know a person could do that for me.
She starts to stir, and I brush her hair back from her face so I can see her eyes as they open. She finds me and I see the relief as she takes me in and realises that I’m calm. As angry as I was, I’ll never take that rage out on her, and she must know that, considering she talked me off the ledge. She is the only person who has ever managed to do that. Even my brothers struggle to keep me level when I’m out of the box.
“Morning,” I say to her. She looks a little surprised and peers around.
“How long did I sleep?”
I kiss the side of her face, needing to feel her close to me. “You were exhausted after I fucked you.”
I like the way her cheeks pink at my filthy words. She still has that innocent quality about her, that untouched vibe. She scrambles to sit up, pushing her hair off her face as she does. “How are you feeling this morning?” she asks.
I shift my shoulders. “Better than yesterday, but it doesn’t fix things. Kane texted me an hour ago. My brother is still in the hospital, but he is out of surgery. The next few days will be touch-and-go. Jeremiah Wood is still at large. I won’t rest until Zeke’s attack has been avenged.”
She strokes my chest, soothing me. It’s like her touch calms all the anger inside me and makes me focus more on what has to be done. I should be out there searching for Jeremiah, but we have some of our best people on it. Until they come through, all there is to do is wait.
I’m not exactly known for my patience.
“Zeke will be okay,” she tries to assure me. For a moment it works, and when she presses her mouth to mine I forget about everything but her. “I’m more worried about you right now. Yesterday you were different. I’ve never seen you like that.”
I stroke down her arm, needing to touch her. “This is who I am. I’m a monster, Sariah. I’ve killed men, hurt them, painted the walls with their blood. I don’t regret any of it. The man I killed yesterday to get answers doesn’t faze me either. I would kill him a hundred times to protect my family. I’m guessing your father largely shielded you from our world, but it isn’t sweetness and light. It is dark and full of horror. If you’re wanting me to change—”
She places a finger over my lips, silencing me. “I never want you to change who you are. You can’t even if you wanted to. We are who we are.”
“Did I scare you?”
She doesn’t answer for a moment, and I’m not sure if she’s going to. Then she speaks. “You didn’t scare me, but I was scared for you. I understand you are a Fraser, and that you have a reputation to live up to, but I don’t want to lose you either.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I tell her, and I truly mean that. I’ve had a taste of the good life, and I understand now why my brother will do anything for Bailey and his family. I want to always keep Sariah safe however possible. When this shit is all over, I’m going to make sure she has the best bodyguard I can find. I used to worry about my brothers and my sister, and anything happening to them. I still have those fears, but with Sariah, it’s different. I feel this need to protect her from everything.
Even lying here now, my heart is racing as I’m thinking about the things that can happen to her.
The things I might not be able to stop from touching her.
Knowing that she is not Easton’s daughter makes me afraid for her. Charlotte thought she might be able to bring Declan back onside because we have his daughter, but that isn’t the truth. And from what Sariah has said, it seems unlikely he is going to fight to get her back. The question is, what will he do to her for disobeying him?
He comes for my wife, I will kill him. I’ll kill anyone who tries to touch her.
We lie for a little longer until we both shower together. I can’t stop from touching her as the water sluices down her body. She is fast becoming everything to me. That scares me. Caring about people makes you vulnerable, and I’m starting to think there’s very little I wouldn’t do to keep Sariah safe.
She dresses in some of my loungewear, and I leave her in the kitchen making breakfast. My sister is already awake and watching television in the living room. She gives me a cock of her brow as I step into the room and make my way to my wife. I ignore her. I don’t care if she heard us fucking like rabbits last night. This is my home now, and I do what I want within it.
I move over to Sariah and wrap my arms around her from behind. She melts back against me. Fuck, I love the feel of her in my arms. It’s like she’s the perfect fucking fit. I never realised what my life was missing before Sariah came into it.
“Do you want breakfast?”
I nuzzle my nose into her neck, kissing along the column of her throat as I do. She’s beautiful, and mine.
“I’d rather eat you.”
She twists to peer up at me, her eyes wide as they dart towards the living area and my sister. But Aurelia is too entranced in whatever shit she is watching.
“Do my words embarrass you, little dove?”
