Page 57 of Just Is Not Enough

Luke guides us to the bedroom. “Let’s just take a breather and rest. I am sure you’re exhausted from all this.” He says while we undress and get in bed.

My brain is racing but the more Luke caresses my back and arm I start to relax. We eventually fall asleep.

When I open my eyes again it’s dark outside the window of Luke’s bedroom and he is no longer in bed. Checking my phone, I see its almost 6 a.m.. I get up to look around the room, then the bathroom. Luke isn’t in either. I rush out to the main area of the apartment. Still no Luke in sight.

Damn it, Luke!

Chapter Thirty-One

Control is an Illusion

Luke

I’mattemptingtorestrainmyself from marching right up to Tyler’s front door. I don’t want to approach him in front of his wife. She doesn’t need to see what I am about to do to him. She doesn’t deserve that after who knows what Tyler has put her through.

After Kaden fell asleep I searched the internet attempting to find Tyler’s full name. It took a little digging, but I finally found it. Thankfully, after calming my nerves and cuddling with Kaden for a bit, I was able to slip out from under him without waking him up. I know he would’ve stopped me from leaving. I’ve been sitting outside Tyler’s house for over an hour now. The sun is beginning to show itself. I was going to wait outside Tyler’s office for him to show up, but then thought if he doesn’t show up for work I’ll miss my chance.

I’m taking the last sip of my coffee when I see his front door open. I watch him back his car out of the driveway and follow him some distance behind, hoping he doesn’t spot me. The drive to his office is about 20 minutes. As soon as we pull in the lot I jump out and charge towards his car, barely giving him a chance to open his door before I rip him out of it.

“What the fu-” I don’t let him finish his sentence instead throwing the first punch. He starts to struggle when I pin him to the car.

“What’s the matter? You don’t like being attacked in the parking lot of your office?” I throw another punch and see blood trickle from his nose. This time Tyler swings back connecting with my jaw. That just unleashes any control I had on my anger.

I throw a few more punches to his face before I have Tyler pinned to the ground by his throat. “I told you to stay the fuck away from him. You didn’t fucking listen, did you?”

My hands are so tight around his throat he’s starting to turn red. I’m so focused I don’t hear someone coming up behind me, pulling me off Tyler’s body.

“Luke, calm down. Stop, man. Don’t do this.”

How the fuck did Jackson get here?

Tyler is coughing, attempting to catch his breath while Jackson pulls me farther away from him, turning me to put himself between us.

“Jackson, get out of my way!” I struggle with my brother to continue what I came here for.

“Luke, stop.” I freeze at the sound of Kaden’s voice. His hands land firmly on my hips from behind me. “Please. Just walk away with me.”

My heart and mind are fighting with each other over this dilemma. Tyler needs to be stopped. I won’t let him continue to hurt Kaden and get away with it, but I also don’t want Kaden here to watch any of this.

Tyler stands upright, clasping his neck while attempting to breathe properly again. “Fucking psychopath.”

“Yeah, that’s rich coming from you.” Jackson faces Tyler to address him, “You’ve been warned once before. For the last time, stay away from Kaden and Luke.” They stare each other down until Tyler glances over my should at Kaden.

“Don’t even fucking look at him,” I say, moving myself in front of Kaden to obstruct his view.

“Walk away,” Jackson gives one last instruction before Tyler gets back in his car and drives away.

Kaden walks around me and starts inspecting my face and hands. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Would have been better if you let me finish what I came here to do.”

“And what exactly is that, Luke? Because I don’t want to have to explain to your aunts that you got arrested and need bail money, or worse.”

“I don’t know, Kaden, but he needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later. You think he’s going to stop. This didn’t sway him at all.”

“And you think assaulting him is going to help our case at all when I bring this up to my supervisor? I can’t tell her this guy is stalking Kaden and skip the part where you beat the shit out of him.” Jackson’s frustration shows.

“C’mon let’s get out of here.” Kaden nudges me towards the Jeep. “Thank you, Jackson for helping. I’ll take it from here.”