Page 84 of Monsters

Chapter 29

As expected, my words had greatly disturbed Lucas.

There had been so much time that had been wasted based on a misunderstanding. But there was still something that needed to be addressed. I had told Lucas about everything Mason had done to me, but he was still yet to reveal what happened the night of the storm.

Exhausted, we sat in front of the fire watching the flames twist and turn until I fell asleep against his chest. He offered the comfort I, for so long, had craved. When I woke, I was tucked in a blanket on the couch, a pillow under my head. But no Lucas.

Wrapping the blanket tight around my body I went in search. I didn’t have to look for long. In the dark, I spotted Lucas sitting on the porch steps overlooking the grounds, something metallic glinting in his hands.

“Luc?” I called, and he turned his head slightly in acknowledgment.

“You should get some rest, Gem.”

I approached his side and sat next to him. It was quiet in the woods, only the sound of crickets sporadically chirping breaking the stillness.

The fog had cleared revealing the spectacularly beautiful lake which practically glowed silver. Yet, not even that could distract me from what was in Lucas’s hand. The Glock rested on his knee, his free hand tapping a frustrated beat.

“What are you doing out here, Luc?” I asked, cautiously.

“Not taking any chances.”

“B is by the road, he’ll see anyone approaching.”

“He thinks he can stop Mason?” Lucas scoffed. “Nothing stops my brother when he has his mind set on something.”

I knew that all too well.

We sat in silence for a moment before I built up the courage to talk.

“In the last ten years, how many times have you seen Mason?”

“When I left home I started a new life away from him and Mom. He had become hostile toward everyone. Always had to be in control of the situation. I saw him at Mom’s funeral and he tried to reconnect. We’ve always been civil to each other, and he’s always tried to protect me from everything. I think that’s why I was always blind to his behavior because all I saw was him throwing himself in harm’s way to protect me.”

Lucas turned to meet my gaze, an intensity in his eyes that made my heart pound. “But what he did to you back home, and now these last couple of weeks is inexcusable. I’ve realized that he was never protecting me. He was simply always trying to get at you. You can’t protect someone if you’re always hurting the one they love most in the world.”

He took my hand in his as I silently cried. We’d lost so much.

“I’ve always loved you, Gem. You have and always will be the only one who has my heart. None of my relationships have worked because they were simply a Band-Aid for what I couldn’t have.”

“Then tell me, Luc…” I squeezed his hand demanding he explain himself. “Tell me what happened that night, why you had to leave town. Tell me why in ten years you never found me! What happened?”

Lucas stood, releasing my hand, and scanned the darkness as if somehow it would give him the answers.

And it did. Just not the sort we were wanting.

“Tell her, Lucas.”

We both recoiled, me in fright and Lucas because he was about to face his nemesis. I was on my feet in a heartbeat, Lucas standing protectively in front.

“Go ahead,” Mason stepped forward until we saw his blackened figure edge closer, the whites of his eyes glistening. I gripped Lucas’s arms which were already flexing with adrenalin.

“Tell Gemma everything that happened that night and see then if she’s so understanding.”

“Gemma,” Lucas said carrying a stern warning. “Get in your car and leave.”

“No,” I hissed quietly. “I’m not leaving you.”

“I’ll find you. Go!”

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