Page 62 of Bought
I sit, parked at the curb. Top up. Waiting and thinking and imagining all the terrible things that man could be doing in that store right now.
I worry about her.
I try to reassure myself. He’s just a guy. Grabbing a head of lettuce. Burger buns. A cold six-pack.
Diapers?
The more I try to convince myself that he’s not dangerous, that she’s perfectly safe, and that the worst thing I can do is scare her off by running in there after her on a hunch…
I cut the engine, running into the store, searching for her.
There she is, bent over a display of flowers, her dark hair a curtain at either side of her face. I can breathe again. She’s safe.
“Erin.”
She startles, then exhales when she recognizes me. “You scared me,” she whispers.
I glance right to left. An older woman with white hair and a green cardigan is choosing peppers. To her right, a younger one in athleisure wear, her hair in a ponytail, grabs a green juice from the refrigerated section. Behind her, a kid about 16 is looking at the bouquet she holds in her hands, comparing it to the choices in the black tubs in front of him.
The man I’m looking for is nowhere to be seen.
“Lucian?” She gently touches my shoulder, bringing me back to her. “What’s wrong?”
I run my hand over the back of my neck. “Nothing.” I shake my head. “I thought I saw someone I know. That’s all. It’s nothing.”
These feelings I’m having for her have elevated all my senses, keeping me on edge and constantly worried about her. Is she warm? Happy? And most importantly, Safe.
She stands before me, shaken, the color draining from her face, clutching the flowers in her arms too tightly. Either she startles incredibly easily for the iron-clad girl she is, or something else is going on.
“Come here.” I reach out to comfort her. “Come here. I’m sorry I scared you.”
I hold her so close against my chest that it feels as if our heartbeats meet. She hides her face, burying it against the soft fabric of my shirt, her grateful sigh warming me. I stroke her hair, an interrogation hovering on the tip of my tongue. There’s more going on here than she’s willing to reveal. The panic in her and Cass when Ryan was at the door. The way she jumped when I showed up.
The fact that she was so desperate for cash, she was willing to sell a piece of herself.
One she could never get back.
She’s brave. Dedicated to her family. Being with me isn’t putting her in danger. She’s already there. Cass and Ryan as well. All of them are in trouble. I don’t know where the threat originates or how deeply it runs.
You can be damn sure I’m going to find out.
“Let’s go. We’re gonna catch hell if we keep little man waiting much longer.”
She shoots me a grateful smile, taking my hand. I pull the black Amex out at the register, and she smacks my hand away.
“I’m the only one who does the swatting in this relationship.”
Her cheeks burn, but I let her pay. I understand how important it is to her, and I respect that.
She does let me open the door for her as we leave. Hand in hand, we stroll back to the Cabriolet. Though the threat has passed, my eyes still scan the parking lot for that man.
A woman catches my attention. Dark hair. Similar build. I walk faster, craning my neck to get a better look. My heart is in my throat as I will the woman to turn towards me.
I need to see her face.
“Lucian?” Erin’s voice pulls me from my delusions. “Everything okay?”
“Yes. Sorry. The sun got in my eyes.” I squeeze her hand. When I glance back over, the woman is gone.
