Page 35 of Ruthless Beast

“Lucas!” I gasp and run over to him. “I don’t believe it. How did you find me?”

I throw my arms around my rescuer’s neck. My hellish fate is at an end. It’s over! I’m free! I cling to Lucas as though my life depends upon it. I don’t know how he did it, and I don’t care at this point. All I know is that this beautiful man in my arms is here for me, and I couldn’t be happier.

9

LUCAS

This is rather awkward. What do I do now? Emily thinks I’m here to save her. I suppose I am, but she’s not going to like my methods or the reasons behind them. She feels so small and vulnerable in my arms. She’s trembling, which makes me feel even worse!

“Hey,” I whisper into her soft, lush hair. “Are you okay?”

“I’ve been better,” she says, relaxing into my arms. “Where am I? How did you find me?”

“It’s a long story. Come, let’s sit down.”

“Sit down! Are you nuts? Get me the hell out of here, Lucas!”

“Please, Emily, sit down. We need to talk.”

The look of confusion on her face stabs at my heart. She’s like a vulnerable child, and all I want to do is hold her in my arms and kiss it better. But that is going to have to wait, as I have a lot of explaining to do, and this isn’t going to be easy.

I take a trembling Emily by the hand and walk her toward the bed. We sit down on the edge of it while I formulate my words. There’s no sense in beating around the bush. I just hope she doesn’t hate me after this.

“What’s going on, Lucas?”

“There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to go ahead and tell you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m the one who had you taken, Emily.”

She doesn’t say anything at first. I watch as the cogs in her head come to a grinding halt at my admission. Then, slowly, the realization of my revelation kicks in, and before long, the wheels are spinning again at full speed.

“What? What the hell are you talking about? Why would you do such an appalling thing? Is this your idea of a joke? Because if it is, it isn’t funny.”

“No. It isn’t a joke. Perhaps I need to start at the beginning.”

Emily is glowering at me. She’s even more stunning when she’s mad. And I can tell that she’s about ready to scratch out my eyes.

“Is this about David?” she asks. “Are you keeping me here because you figure you owe my dead brother something?”

“Yes. And no.”

“What the fuck, Lucas?!"

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. This really is the best place for you right now. Please, you have to trust me.”

“Trust you? I barely know you! I thought I did, but it turns out I really have no bloody idea. Do I?”

“You’re right. You have no reason to trust me. But I promise you, this is for your own good.”

“And who are you to make that decision for me? You think because you knew my brother, it gives you the right to make decisions about my life? I don’t think so. Youwilllet me out of here right now!”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“And why the hell not?”

“Because David worked for me, and I can’t be sure, but I think that’s the reason he was murdered.”

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