Page 112 of The Finding Series: Vol. 1

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” Gray asked as he leaned back against the truck door and enjoyed the feel of Luke’s body pressing him against the cool metal as Luke kissed the pulse point in his neck.

“No, I really want to finish the last cabinet,” Luke murmured.

Gray wasn’t sure if he managed a pout or not but it didn’t matter because Luke sealed their mouths together and kissed him deeply before pulling Gray forward a few steps and opening the door.

“See you soon,” Gray said as he climbed into the truck. “Call me if you need anything,” Gray added as he glanced at the phone in Luke’s pocket. The disposable cell phone was something he’d bought on impulse during his last trip to the next town over to get groceries.

“Will do,” Luke said. “Why don’t you take Ripley?” Luke suggested and before Gray could respond, Luke was calling the dog over and she jumped into the back seat of the truck. The big dog’s entire body took up most of the back bench seat. Ripley’s physical health had improved significantly since Luke had rescued her and the only proof she’d ever been abused were the scars that could be felt but not seen beneath the animal’s lush coat.

Gray gave Luke a brief wave through the window and then pulled the truck onto the road that would lead down the mountain. It would only take him about thirty minutes to get to the next town over to pick up some groceries but the second Luke disappeared from his rearview mirror, Gray got the itchy feeling he’d been getting in the past couple of weeks. It made no sense since things between him and Luke had been better than ever. They hadn’t spoken much about Cavelli’s statements although Gray’s cell phone had nearly exploded from all the calls he’d gotten from his so called friends who likely only wanted to get the “real” story so they could then leak it to the tabloids and fuel the fire that Gray refused to even acknowledge. Sid had gone apeshit when Gray had calmly told Sid he wouldn’t be making a statement and he’d ended up hanging up on Sid just to shut him up.

The only tension between him and Luke had happened a couple days earlier when Gray had suggested they leave the country. He’d already been working through the details of how to charter a private jet and get past customs of a foreign country that had no extradition deal with the U.S. when Luke had adamantly shot down the idea and said no way in hell would he allow Gray to go on the run with him. Gray hadn’t argued any further but that hadn’t stopped him from trying to work out the holes in his plan. He had no doubt that for the right amount of money, pilots, custom agents and anyone else they needed in their escape, could be bought.

Gray hurried through the grocery store. He’d happily started wearing his ball cap and sunglasses again since his hair had finally started to grow back. He’d been so delighted just to have his eyebrows back, that he’d ended up climbing into the shower with Luke just to show him…well, notjustto show him but it had definitely been one of the reasons he’d gotten in there. His weight was slowly starting to come back too and he felt better than he had in a long time. It was frightening how perfect his life was turning out to be – if he could just give Luke the freedom from being discovered then maybe, just maybe, they could build a life together. His gut was telling him that Luke was just as deep into the relationship as he was and since his gut had been what had brought Luke into his life in the first place, he wasn’t willing to ignore it even when the little voice in his brain was saying something else.

By the time he got back to the cabin, he half-expected Luke to be waiting for him on the porch steps like he sometimes did or to at least come around the side of the cabin. But when neither happened, Gray felt a twinge of worry. He let Ripley out of the truck and trotted inside and called Luke’s name. But he stopped dead when he saw the disposable cell phone sitting on the kitchen table.

He left it there by mistake, that’s all.

Gray’s first instinct was to go back outside and check the shed but the sight of the phone sitting on the table had him going to his bedroom instead. Luke had moved what little stuff he had into Gray’s room a while back but one glance in the closet showed the duffle bag was gone. Pain lanced through Gray and he didn’t bother to look in the dresser drawers to know they were empty. He also didn’t waste time checking the guest bedroom – he just hurried back out of the cabin, grabbing his keys as he went.

* * *

A tremor went through Luke as he pulled open the door to the police station and stepped inside. Just the sight of the police cruiser sitting on the street in front of the station had had him wanting to turn around but then he remembered the desperation in Gray’s voice as he explained his insane plan to go on the run with him and he strode for the door with renewed determination.

As soon as he stepped inside, Luke saw Jax sitting at one of two desks in the middle of the room. There was a reception desk right by the door but since it was empty, Luke walked past it.

“Afternoon,” Jax said as his eyes took in the way Luke had purposefully held his arms out from his body, his palms open, the strap of his duffle bag hanging from one hand.

“I’m here to turn myself in,” Luke said quietly as he carefully lowered the bag to the floor. He wasn’t surprised when the deputy stiffened at his statement and then stood and came around his desk. “I’m not armed but I have an unloaded gun and ammunition in my bag. You’ll find a warrant out for my arrest out of Fort Benning in Georgia. Luke Monroe. M.O.N-”

“Luke?”

Luke turned his head at the sound of the familiar voice. The sight of his stunned foster brother would have been amusing if Luke’s mind wasn’t so preoccupied with other things. Like the hell he was about to face. And the betrayal Gray would feel when he found out what Luke had done.

“It’s me, Rhys,” Luke said tiredly.

Rhys’ green eyes went wider and then a huge smile split his face and he was striding across the small space and dragging Luke into his arms. He’d apparently failed to notice Jax’s tense frame or heard Luke’s reason for being there.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Rhys asked as he still held on to him and Luke felt a pang of longing go through him. This man had been such an important part of his life and he’d been foolish enough to let that go. And now he’d have to watch the light go out in Rhys’ eyes as he realized the kid he’d sacrificed so much for was now a man he’d have to arrest.

Rhys put space between them and then scanned Luke up and down. “You look really good,” he announced before giving Luke another hug.

It was on the tip of Luke’s tongue to tell Rhys the same thing because the man looked happier than Luke had even thought possible – well, at least before he’d met Gray and learned what it was that could put that look on a man’s face. His thought was interrupted by the door behind him being yanked open and he knew before he even turned around who it was. When he did force himself to turn, his heart fell at the shocked look in Gray’s face. It was clear that while Gray had discovered he was gone, he hadn’t expected to find him there at the police station.

“No,” Gray whispered as he glanced from Luke to Jax. He shook his head violently. “No!” But then his eyes turned to Jax. “Jax, please don’t do this. I’m begging you!”

The heartbreak in Gray’s voice had Luke pulling free of the light hold Rhys still had on him and he went to stand in front of Gray. He grabbed hold of Gray’s arm and said, “Gray, Jax didn’t arrest me. I came here to turn myself in.”

His statement caught Gray off guard and though Luke wouldn’t have thought it possible, the pain in his gaze intensified. “Why?”

“You know why,” Luke said.

Gray shook his head again and then he was throwing his arms around Luke. “Don’t say anything, okay? My lawyer can be here in a few hours. I’ll get you the best defense money can buy-” Gray stammered.

A sense of cold washed through Luke as he realized what Gray was saying was completely true. The man would move heaven and earth to save him. He’d spend every day of his life and every dollar in his bank account to try to keep Luke out of jail only to die a slow death as he watched the man he loved rot in prison…and that was only by some twist of fate that kept Shaw from getting to him first. Desperation went through Luke as he glanced from Gray to Jax and then Rhys. He could tell Jax knew what he was about to do and the man actually looked like he was shaking his head. But Luke ignored him and turned his attention back to Gray.

“Gray, go home,” he said firmly and he forced himself to release his lover.

---