Page 29 of Seduction

“I love you too, Haliee. Get some sleep.”

By the time I wake up the next morning, Luke is still sleeping soundly beside me, and I turn over to look at him.

He looks so peaceful in his sleep, and I wish I could take his stress away right now, but I can’t. I can barely hold my own shit together and it’s exhausting.

Whatever is going on with Daniels, I know it’s just the beginning. Until we get Dad back and find a way to finally get Dimitri off my back, life isn’t going to get any easier.

“Stop thinking so much, Scratch.” Luke’s voice is gruff from sleep, and I sigh.

“It’s hard not to. How did any of this happen?” I curl into his open arms.

“I don’t know, babe, but I think it was always going to come to something like this eventually.” He voices the biggest fear I’ve always held, and I whimper. “But you have us now. We will make sure that asshole never bothers you again, and like your dad said in his letter…Dimitri won’t kill him.”

I cry out, pulling him tighter against me as I think about everything he might be going through because of Dimitri.

“Why are you both so sure he won’t kill him?” I ask, needing to know because I can’t figure it out.

“Because, for all of his fucked-up flaws, a man like Dimitri is going to want you to want him back eventually.” Lukas sighs before continuing. “He knows that if he kills your father, there will never be a way for him to eventually earn your submission.”

Is this some stupid guy logic or something? Because I’m not getting it.

“Lukas, I would never submit to him anyway,” I say with confidence, and he pulls me tighter.

“You would, Scratch. He’s waited fourteen years for you and hasn’t given up. He’d lock you up until you forgot everything about the outside world and then start showing you affection. He would rewire your brain to see him as your saviour, even though he was your tormenter first.”

“That’s insane,” I whisper, shivering from the idea of Dimitri doing that to me. Of anyone doing that to any human being in general.

“It’s deplorable, but it’s how men like him operate. They’re technically human, but they don’t have a soul,” he whispers into my hair, comforting me with his arms.

“We need to get him back, Lukas. I need my Dad.” I pull back, pleading with my eyes and he nods, his face filled with reassurance.

“We will, Scratch. I fucking promise you.”

---