Page 63 of Karma
Running her fingers through his hair, she smiles. “I heal pretty damn well. Trust me.”
“That actually makes it worse,” he admits.
They’ve had many long talks since she’s been home, and she’s been completely honest with Lucas. For the most part. She’s sworn everyone to secrecy about Phillip’s gun not being loaded. Lucas can never know.
A headlight flashes through the window, and Lex narrows her eyes. “Dad must be home,” Lucas says.
“I don’t think that’s Dad,” she says, holding her hand out to have him help her stand. “I hear a motorcycle, and he took both Noah and Calla with him.”
He walks over to the window and looks out. “Asshole.”
“Who is it?”
“Zane.”
“Lucas—”
It’s too late. Her teenager runs outside, screaming like a banshee. “What are you doing here? You have a lot of nerve showing up here. What? You wanted to finish what your brother started? Whatyoustarted?”
Lex steps onto the porch and smirks. “Lucas, it’s okay—”
“No, it’s not okay. Not when the men in your family either try to kill you or turn away and pretend like everything’s fucking… candy and good shit.”
She can’t help it. She laughs. “We gotta teach you real smack talk, kid.” Holding onto the railing, she slowly walks down tojoin them. “He’s here because I told him to stop by after I got home.”
“You wanna hit me?” Zane asks. “Payback for what I did?”
“I want to kill you!” he growls.
“Baby, go inside,” Lex says. “It’s okay.”
“I amnotleaving you alone with him.”
Nodding, Zane smiles. “You’re protective of her. I noticed that you haven’t really left her side unless forced.”
“Whether you and VP believe it or not, she is my mom. And I wasn’t going to leave her.”
“I know she is, kid. I’m really sorry for the shit I said the last time I saw you here. And for what I did. It was out of line. All of it was so… unforgivable. It never should have happened, and I hope you can look past my mistakes one day.”
“I don’t care what you say to me. Or do to me. But I know you were going to kill her no matter what VP says. Or you.”
Running his bottom lip between his front teeth, Zane nods. “Yeah, I was. I was out of my mind, and I needed to take my anger out on someone. Unfortunately, your mom has always been that person. It doesn’t make it right or okay, but… I just hope you never have to experience what I did to get to that point.”
“Like losing a parent? Yeah, I lost my dad. Then my bio mom chose drugs and an abusive, alcoholic man over me. It was so terrible at our house that my sister and I broke into abandoned houses to be safe. You’re not the only person in the world to have bad shit happen to them.”
“I didn’t—”
“I don’t care. What I do care about is how long until you’re not sorry anymore,” Lucas snaps. “You’re done taking out every bad thing that happens in your life out on my mom. She doesn’t deserve it.”
“Lucas—”
“I don’t think Dad would be too upset with me if I went inside, grabbed the gun he just taught me to shoot with, and killed you dead here.”
Lex places her hand on his shoulder. “Lucas, that’s enough.”
“No,” Zane says with a chuckle. “Colt probably wouldn’t have an issue with it. Hell, he’d probably buy you a car for it.”
“They already bought me a car.”
