Page 44 of The Two Last Moments

I pull her against me. The unfairness and the wrongness of Kathy’s lies make me sick. It’s disgusting that anyone would do that to Lark, make her believe they loved her and tear it away.

That’s one of the worst things a person can do to another.

“We’re not giving up yet,” I say. “Not even close. But for now, you’re coming home with me. You have friends and a place in West Oaks. We want you there.”

“You sure about that?” she whispers.

I look down at her. My fingers squeeze her chin lightly as I smile. “Nina told you that you’d always have a place to stay with us. That’s how I feel too. This is more convenient, actually. I doubt anyone’s changed the sheets in your room. You can move right back in.”

Lark laughs, but it turns into a sob. She burrows her face against my chest again. “Thank God you were there. You saved me. Again.”

“I’m glad I was there, too. But you handled that truck driver on your own. Looked painful for him, but I’ll bet racking that asshole felt satisfying foryou.”

“Oh, it felt good. Trust me. But he was only bothering me because I was alone.”

Jeez, there goes another stab in the middle of my chest. Because I fucking left her. “You’re not alone now.”

* * *

We holdhands the rest of the way back, even when Lark falls asleep. Her head lolls against the seat, her breathing deep and regular. I keep glancing over at her, too many things that I can’t describe jostling for space in my head and my chest.

My phone buzzes a few times. Incoming texts. Probably Nina or Matteo. I need to let them know I’m okay, and to expect Lark to be with me when I return.

When I stop for gas, I call Angela and fill her in on the developments. She says she’ll contact the local authorities in Fresno and Eureka and put out a BOLO for Kathy Sullivan. That woman needs to answer for what she did to Lark.

Maybe she’ll confess who she was working with. Maybe the same dirtbag who hurt Lark in West Oaks.

“Could you see about camera footage from the travel stop?” I ask. “There was a guy. Dark SUV. Came into the parking lot just as we left. I had a gut feeling about him.”

“I’ll talk to local police about geting the footage,” Angela says.

After we hang up, I text Nina that I’m on my way home, that Lark is with me, and we’re safe. I don’t explain more than that. Lark seems to have taken equal billing with Nina as my top priority, and I know Nina wouldn’t have it any other way.

Lark has no one else she can trust. I’m not sureanyonehas ever needed me this much before. It’s scary in a way, but it’s a rush too. Holding her in my arms. Feeling that silent vow pass between us that I’ll protect her. I’ll be there, even when nobody else is.

And having my mouth on hers… God, that felt so right. Like I was claiming her.

Which is exactly why I can’t let it happen again.

By the time we reach the house, it’s dark. Lark walks inside on shaky legs. I follow behind her, my hand at her lower back. I’m carrying her bag in my other one. Jess, the night nurse, greets us. “Matteo had to head home, and Nina went to bed early. She tried to stay up, but it was a rough one. You’re all right, Lark? We were surprised to hear you were already coming back.”

“My so-called aunt didn’t turn out to be who she claimed.” Lark smiles, though I see a sheen of dampness in her green eyes. “This is better, anyway. I’m dying to keep working on that beautiful car Danny has in the garage.”

“We’ll do that tomorrow,” I say. Plus try to figure out what the heck we’re going to do next.

I offer up dinner, but Lark says she’s not hungry. I walk her to her bedroom and lean against the doorframe. “We need to give a full statement to West Oaks PD about what happened. Kathy Sullivan filed a false police report claiming to be your aunt, and Angela thinks she could be guilty of attempted kidnapping too.”

“You spoke to Angela?”

“Yeah, when we stopped for gas.”

Lark grips the skin between her eyes. “Can I think about it tomorrow? I can’t handle any more today. But…would you stay with me? Just for a little while?”

I shouldn’t. But I can’t bring myself to say no.

I follow her into her room and shut the door most of the way. She goes into the bathroom, taking her backpack with her, and emerges wearing a sleep T-shirt and shorts.

I toe off my shoes. Lark crawls beneath the covers, and I sit down next to her on top of the blankets, smoothing her hair back from her forehead. She blinks up at me, dark eyelashes against pale skin. Pink plush lips. I know what those lips taste like now. What it sounds like when she whimpers with need as my tongue slides in and out of her mouth.

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