Page 96 of Monsters

Chapter 32

NOW

“Gemma Audrina Sinclair,” Lucas gently teased. “I know when you’re peeking.”

I laughed at his reprimand as he guided me down a small slope. He had blindfolded me, and I had no idea where I was or where we were going. All I knew was that the sun was warm on my shoulders, the air fresh, soft waves rolling onto the shore somewhere in the distance.

“Lucas Aaron Carter, how can I possibly peek when you have both my hands?”

It was almost two weeks since the fateful night at the cabin. We’d both stayed in the hospital while being treated. Me, for a severe concussion that had me in and out of consciousness, and Lucas for his multiple gunshot wounds.

It was there, when the nurses had announced lights out, that Lucas joined me on my hospital gurney and filled me in with what had happened that stormy night ten years ago. He spared no detail and despite it all, accepted full responsibility.

“You can’t say a word of this to anyone,” I’d warned, trembling from his admission.

It was self-defense.

It all came down to survival.

Just like it had at the cabin with Mason.

Survival.

That no longer sat well with Lucas. He’d just killed his brother on top of the secret he’d been harboring for a decade, and the guilt was destroying him. From the hospital, Lucas organized Mason’s funeral, determined to still bury him in dignity, but refused to attend. The toxic mix of hurt and anger was too much.

Lucas could never forgive Mason.

He could barely forgive himself.

Detective Kinross often visited, sometimes for a casual check-up bringing bouquets of flowers, other times hoping more pieces of the puzzle would voluntarily be put together. On the last day he visited, he entered all smiles, but when he returned from talking privately with Lucas, I knew the truth had been revealed. Kinross gave a small melancholic wave as he backed away, now carrying the burden of putting a man in jail for simply protecting his family on both accounts.

That afternoon, Lucas didn’t come and visit.

I cried endlessly.

Fearful I would once again lose him, this time to the system.

I waited anxiously for an arrest, but nothing. We were discharged from the hospital, and after gathering a few possessions from my apartment, Lucas stole me away out of town. A few hours out of NYC in Maryland, Lucas pulled over and blindfolded me. Only minutes later he was guiding me down the slope.

“Are you ready?” he asked, finally bringing us to a standstill.

“Yes. Show me already.”

He laughed while removing the silk from my eyes.

I froze, mouth agape.

“Oh… my… Lucas!”

“For you. For us.” He draped an arm over my shoulders, his thumb caressing my bare skin.

I stared ahead at the most beautiful cabin I’d ever seen. It sat perched only meters from the water’s edge, beautiful blue crystal water. Colorful flowers were in bloom, some having fallen from the lush trees dotting the green lawn like ruby gemstones.

It was magical.

And then my eyes saw it.

The plaque by the door.

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