Chapter 146
“I figured I’d give him some time to cool off p>
His voice cracks slightly on the last words.
“I thought if I showed up right away it would only make things worse p>
Lucas looks straight ahead but it’s clear he’s not seeing this room anymore.
“He shoved her into the car,” he says quietly.
“Then they drove off p>
He pauses.
“I remember standing there thinking I’d give it atleast twenty minutes p>
His jaw tightens.
“Just twenty minutes p>
No one speaks.
Lucas swallows.
“And then my phone rang p>
My heart drops before he even finishes.
“It was one of Zane’s men,” he says.
His voice is barely above a whisper now.
“They told me the car had been attacked p>
Noah shifts uncomfortably.
Lucas continues staring at the floor.
“Shots were fired at the car p>
His fingers clench slowly.
“And she was hit p>
Lucas laughs under his breath but there’s no humor in it.
“You know the worst part p>
None of us answer.
“I stood there,” he says, his voice rough now. “Thinking I was being smart, thinking I was avoiding a pointless fight p>
He finally looks up agai and his eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen them.
“I let the love of my life be dragged into that car and drive away p>
My chest tightens painfully as Lucas exhales shakily.
“And sometimes I think p>
He stops for a moment, then finishes anyway.
His voice cracks for the first time.
For a long moment after Lucas finishes speaking, nobody in the room says anything.
Lucas leans back in his chair and rubs his hands over his face like the story took something out of him.
Caleb is the first one to move, he shifts on the couch and lets out a slow breath.
“Well,” he mutters. “That’s… a lot p>
Noah elbows him lightly.
“Brilliant observation p>
But neither of them are really joking. My mind is still stuck on the picture Lucas hs painted in my head.
I sit back slowly on the couch, my arms folded loosely around myself, part of me wants to say something comforting to Lucas. Another part of me doesn’t know what to say at all.
Because the truth is, I believe him Lucas has never been good at lying, even when we were kids, his face always gave him away. And the way he talked just now… the way his voice cracked when he mentioned her that wasn’t fake.
But that’s the problem because Zane didn’t sound like he was lying either. He looked like someone who believed what he was saying.
Which means… one of tem is wrong or worse both of them are. My stomach twists at the thought.
Lucas watches me carefully from across the room.
“What are you thinking?” he asks.
I look up.
“That I’ve heard your side,” I say slowly.
Noah raises an eyebrow.
“And p>
“And there’s no way you’d lie to me about something like this. You have no reason to at all p>
Lucas nods once, like he expected that.
But I keep talking.
“But Zane I hesitate slightly before finishing the thought. doesn’t seem like the type to lie about something like that either.” I say this reluctantly because I would hate for my family to think or feel I’m choosing to believe a stranger over them, even though that stranger is “my husband p>
Noah scoffs quietly.
“You’ve known him for like five minutes.” He says clearly exaggerating.
Caleb shrugs.
“People can be convincing liars p>
Lucas doesn’t interrupt, h just watches me as i sigh and lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees.
“That’s the problem,” I say quietly.
“I believe you,” I continue. “But I also believe that Zane believes what he told me p>
Lucas’s jaw tightens slightly.
“Meaning p>
“Meaning somewhere between the two of you, something got twisted p>
Noah frowns.
“You think someone lied to him? To both of them p>
“I don’t know,” I admit.
And that’s the honest truth, maybe someone lied, maybe someone manipulated things, maybe grief did what grief does best and turned everything ugly.
I stand up slowly and three pairs of eyes follow me.
“Where are you going?” Caleb asks.
“I need to talk to him p>
Lucas tilts his head slightly.
“To Zane p>
Noah immediately shakes his head.
“That’s a terrible idea p>
“Why p>
“Because that guy already thinks we killed his sister, for years now he’s thought tjat, there’s no convincing him other wiase p>
Caleb nods.
“And judging by the security he’s got around you, he clearly doesn’t trust us with with us p>
I cross my arms.
“Well, good thing I’m not asking for permission p>
Noah groans.
“You’ve been hanging around that man too long, you’re starting to sound like him p>
Lucas finally speaks again.
“If you go,” he says carefully, “don’t just walk in there accusing him or questioning him p>
“I wasn’t planning to p>
Lucas studies my face for a second.
“You’re trying to fix this p>
“I’m trying to understand it,” I say as I don’t even understand why I’m trying to fix or correct this.
Lucas nods slowly.
“Fair enough p>
I grab my bag from the arm of the couch and start heading for the door, as I’m heading toward the door, something suddenly pops into my head and I turn back around.
“Oh…wait p>
Three confused faces look at me.
“What?” Noah asks.
“How’s Grandpa? It’s been a while, he kinda just abandoned me as I got married p>
The question catches them off guard as Lucas snorts quietly.
“Still alive and still vey stubborn as always p>
Caleb chuckles.
“He yelled at the doctor yesterday because they told him to cut down on his sugar intake p>
Noah grins.
“His exact words were, ’I survived three wars and two heart attacks. I’ll eat what I want p>
A small laugh escapes me. Yeah that sounds exactly like our grandfather.
“He’s fine then?” I ask.
Lucas nods.
“Fine and annoying as always p>