Chapter Nineteen
Lucian
I’m leaving the office when my phone chimes with an incoming text. I pause, seeing that it’s from Aidan.
“Can you stop by my place on the way home? Need to talk to you.”
“Something wrong?” I ask, feeling uneasy. He’s normally the type who calls rather than asks for a face-to-face.
“Cassie & Monique—big problem. When will you be here?”
“Fuck,” I bite off as I grab my jacket and briefcase. It was probably asking far too much that we have more than a few weeks of quiet before something else falls apart. “On my way now,” I text back as I leave. Sam took Cindy to an appointment, so they’re both already gone for the day. I make my way at a fast clip to my Range Rover and within fifteen minutes, I’m parking at the curb at Aidan’s apartment. He buzzes me up and has the door ajar, waiting for me when I step off the elevator. I shut it behind me, not seeing any sign of him. “Hey, man, where are you?” I call out as I walk through the foyer. I turn the corner into his living room before coming to a halt. Monique is standing in front of the fireplace not looking at all surprised to see me.
“Hello, Luc, glad you could make it,” she says smoothly.
The hairs on the back of my neck prickle as I ask, “Where’s Aidan?”
She studies her nails before giving me a smirk. “A few states away by now I’d think.”
I’ve never considered myself a slow man, but I’m baffled by what in the hell is going on. “He asked me to drop by—”
“I’m the one who sent you the text. Did you know you can call or text and make it look as if someone else did it? Technology is simply amazing these days.”
“What the fuck are you up to?” I snap, pissed I’ve been played.
She clicks her tongue. “Temper, temper. And here I was trying to be nice.”
“I’m out of here,” I spit as I turn to leave before she stops me in my tracks with her next words.
“Didn’t you ever wonder how Cassie found out you’d cheated on her?” I freeze, before whirling around. “Ah, finally I have your attention,” she sneers. “Have a seat and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Putting my hands on my hips, I try to figure out what her game is. “I see you’ve been chatting with your long-lost sister. What makes you think I give a shit what she’s had to say?”
Giving me a pitying look she says, “You know I really expected better from you of all people. You’re supposed to have some kind of wonder-boy IQ, yet you’ve never put the pieces together. In the beginning, it was funny, then after a while, it just annoyed me. I mean, how could I enjoy my revenge if no one fucking knew it?”
She’s beginning to sound like Cassie in one of her manic rages, which is unsettling. Apparently, they’ve been spending too much time together. “Listen, Monique,” I begin dismissively, “I have no wish to rehash the past.”
“No, goddammit, you’re going to hear me. I’ve waited for this moment for years and you’re not leaving!”
Holy fuck, do I just drive women off the deep end or something? Even though I’m not even slightly interested in anything she has to say, it seems easier to let her get it out so I can get the hell out of here. I walk over to an armchair and sit down in it, thinking that maybe she’ll relax if I’m not towering over her. “All right, I’m listening, Monique.”
My ploy appears to work and she calms almost immediately. “Good, Luc. Thank you. Would you care for something to drink?”
Is she for real? She’s managed to get me here by lying her ass off and now we’re having a cocktail party? “Er…no, I’m fine.”
She moves to perch on the edge of the sofa and folds her hands primly in her lap. “As I was saying, Luc,” she begins softly, “I’ve been waiting for some time for you to remember me. You see, we all went to college together.”
“I’m aware of that, Monique. I’m sorry, but I don’t recall ever meeting you there.”
Her face reddens and she takes a couple of deep breaths before once again giving me a pleasant smile that makes my skin crawl. Something is seriously off with her. “We had Psychology and U.S. Government together. I sat behind you in one class and beside you in the other. You always said hello to me,” she adds almost shyly. “I’d see you walking around campus with Cassie and you two looked like movie stars. You were nice though and she was mean. No matter how many times I tried to talk to her, she wasn’t interested. She even called me a loser and told me to get lost. Can you believe that?”
Shifting uncomfortably, I say, “I’m sorry about that, Monique. Cassie had some problems as I’m sure you’re now aware of.”
“She was a bitch!” Monique hisses, looking angry once again. “Cassie was a horrible person who didn’t deserve you. Why did you stay with her when she treated you that way? I saw her screaming at you, but you never left her. You were a good person and she was evil to you and everyone else.”
I’m flabbergasted by the turn this conversation has taken. Was Monique stalking Cassie and me in college? It damn sure sounds like it. I need to defuse this situation and leave until I can regroup. Where is Aidan? Why would he be a few states away? He mentioned nothing to me about leaving town when we talked earlier. “Things were complicated then, Monique,” I say soothingly.
“I know,” she agrees, “that’s why you were so upset that night. I fixed your drinks strong to help you relax and it worked. You finally realized how much we cared for each other. From the first moment I saw you, I knew I wanted my first time to be with you. And it was everything I’d always dreamed it would be.”
“My God, Monique, what are you saying?” I gasp. A sick feeling hits me and I struggle to control the bile rushing up my throat. Please, no.
She gives me what can only be called a loving look. “We were finally together that night, Luc. I was there when you needed me and I thought I was going to be your girlfriend. Then you left and went back to her. You said it shouldn’t have happened and you apologized. I understood what you needed from me, though. You were too nice to break up with Cassie, so I did it for you.”
“What did you do?” I ask harshly. My hands clench into fists as I wait for her to confirm what I suspect.
Looking almost like a child seeking approval she says, “I called Cassie and told her we’d just had sex and that you wanted to be with me. I said it had been going on for a long time and you didn’t have the heart to tell her.”
Lightheaded, I struggle to my feet. “You fucking insane bitch!” I shout. “She killed my son that night! Do you have any idea what you caused?” I’m barely hanging on to my sanity. I’d love nothing better than to wrap my hands around her neck and end her miserable life.
She actually appears puzzled at the rage in my voice. “But…I didn’t do anything. You slept with me. You wanted me to handle it.”
My head feels as if it will explode. I’m shaking with the force of my anger as I bellow, “I didn’t want you to do anything! I certainly didn’t ask you to call Cassie and tell her whatever the hell you did. She was pregnant and bipolar. You might as well have handed her a loaded gun, you stupid woman.”
I see her temper beginning to ignite within her. Her face pulls into a tight line as she snarls, “You better watch how you speak to me, Lucian. You’ll need me when you’re desperately sad and alone once again.”
“I’ll never be alone. I have a fiancée and even if I didn’t, I’d fucking let my cock rot off before I ever touched you again.”
Her chest is rising and falling frantically as she grapples for control. “You think you’re so much better than me. I don’t know why I ever thought I wanted you because you’re nothing. You just use people to get what you want and then you toss them away without regard for their feelings.”
“You don’t have any feelings,” I snarl. “If you did, you wouldn’t be standing here wanting me to congratulate you for causing your stepsister to implode eight years ago. What did you think? I’d give you some kind of medal for that?” Turning to leave, I toss over my shoulder, “Stay the hell away from me and my family or you’ll be sorry.”
Her laughter chills my blood. I’m almost to the door when she calls out, “No need to hurry home. I’m sure Cassie is keeping Lia well entertained.” I reach for the doorknob with an unsteady hand trying to tell myself that she’s bluffing. I don’t bother questioning her statement because there isn’t time for a cat-and-mouse game. I have my phone in hand dialing Lia as soon as the elevator doors open. A horrible sense of déjà vu fills me when the phone rings again and again before going to voicemail.
“Fuck no. Fuck! No!” I roar as I run toward my vehicle. I toss the phone on the seat after dialing 911 as I race toward our apartment. “Monique’s bluffing, Lia’s okay,” I keep repeating as I weave through the busy streets. I swallow down the bile that rises in my throat, fighting to stay in control. I can’t fucking lose Lia and our baby. My hands are shaking on the wheel so badly that it’s a struggle to stay on the road. I vow as I race across town that my retribution will be swift and final for any who dares to take what is mine. There is nowhere in the world they will be safe from my wrath. Hell will be more merciful than I am.
Lia
I told Lucian earlier I wanted pizza tonight so I don’t bother to begin any preparation for dinner. The pictures I ordered for the nursery arrived today so I look through one of the drawers in the kitchen until I find the mini-hammer and some picture hanging hooks to hang them with. I grab a bottle of water from the refrigerator and take my supplies down the hallway toward the baby’s room. I walk straight to the changing table and deposit the pictures there before opening my bottle and taking a sip. It’s then as I look around the room I notice something strange. There are markings all over the mural of the cherry blossom tree. It looks almost like some type of graffiti. I move closer and realize that it’s one word written repeatedly. MINE. My first thought is that Lucian is playing some kind of joke on me. When I use my finger though to rub at the letters, they don’t come off. There is no way he would ruin something we both love so much just to tease me.
I jump as the bedroom door suddenly slams and a female voice says idly, “Did you bother to research the meaning of that tree before you painted it on the wall?” My heart stutters as I turn around to see a disheveled woman looking at the mural on the wall. It takes me a moment to recognize her, as the one other time we met her appearance was much neater. “The trees are a reminder that life is beautiful, but it is also tragically short, much like the blooms on the branches.”
“Cassie,” I murmur while taking a step backward. “How did you get in?”
She holds up a metal object proudly. “Aidan’s key and a security guard with a very small bladder.” She laughs as if there is something particularly funny about her explanation.
I start toward the door trying to sound casual. “I’m just going to say hello to Aidan then.”
Before I’ve gone more than a couple of steps, she moves to block my path. “He’s not here.” Without thinking, I cup my stomach protectively. Her gaze follows the movement and she looks almost spellbound as she extends a hand toward it. “Why do you have my baby?”
Fear overtakes me and I find it hard to breathe. I’m close to a panic attack, but I fight for control. I have to keep her distracted while I figure out how to escape. “I’m just helping you take care of the baby. Why don’t we call Aidan and let him know you’re here? I bet he’s really worried about you.” I can only hope she hasn’t hurt him.
“Monique sent Spence away. He’d never let me come see Luc if he knew.”
“Okay, then we can call Monique. She’s your sister, right?” Crap, is that what this has come to? I’m reduced to looking to Monique to save me?
Cassie is showing signs of agitation again as she snaps, “I told you. Monique knows where I am. She’s getting Luc for me and then we’ll be together when you’re gone.” There is pure venom in her voice as she adds, “She told me all about what you did. He loved me until you fucked him that night. You watched us until you found a way to take him and my baby from me.”
She’s not making any sense. I hold out my hands in a placating gesture. “I’ve never met you before today, Cassie. If Luc is yours, then I’ll just leave and you can have him.” I’m almost to the door when something slams into the back of my head, causing me to stumble and fall heavily to my knees. I raise a shaky hand to the back of my head and it comes away smeared with blood. “What—”
“Stop trying to leave!” Cassie paces the room holding the mini-hammer I’d left on the changing table. Her hand repeatedly grips and loosens on the handle as if getting ready for her next attack. “Why aren’t you listening to me?” She’s waving it erratically now and I shrink back, using the nearby rocking chair as a shield. “I want my baby. Now!”
“What?” The hammer she is wielding has streaks of my blood on it. Why was I so stupid to have turned my back on her even for a moment? Had I actually imagined she would let me open the door and leave? If it had been a full-sized hammer, she might have killed me. Oh God, is that her plan?
She runs to the chest of drawers and begins throwing tiny clothing from it as if searching for something. Finally, she holds up a blue onesie and tosses it at me. “That’s Luc’s favorite color. He’ll want the baby to be in it. Put it on him. Quickly!” I’m baffled when she takes the rest of the clothing from the drawers and piles it into the crib. “We don’t need any of these things you bought for our baby. We’ll get our own stuff.”
Oh, Christ. No. I have to get away from her. I feel something dripping onto my neck and close my eyes for a moment against the dizziness assaulting me. If I pass out—I’m dead. There is no room for weakness. “The baby is sleeping,” I say softly. “We have to be quiet and wait for him to wake up.”
That causes her to pause as if considering what I’ve said. “Why have you made him live here? This isn’t his house. I hate it. I want it all gone.” She’s beginning to ramble even more. She alternates between obscure conversation and loud rants. She tosses questions at me, but before I can answer, she moves on to something else. I wrap my hands around the spindles of the chair in front of me and prepare to launch it at her, hoping to buy enough time to get out the door and if nothing else—hide. As if some sixth sense has alerted her, she steps away from the crib and studies me. “What’re you up to now?”
Blanching, I relax my hands on the chair and try to look innocent. “Nothing…trying to get comfortable.” She approaches me, still holding the hammer and I know it’s now or never. I grasp the chair and—it barely fucking moves. Lucian had placed it where I’d wanted and I had no idea it was so solid and heavy. Blood rushes to my head as I rise too quickly, attempting to evade her—and then I’m falling. The last thing I see before blackness takes over is her standing over me with the hammer raised above her head. “I’m sorry, Luc,” I whisper.
Lia
The sound of someone pounding on something wakes me. After a couple of attempts, I manage to open my eyes. My body is stiff and I have a horrible headache. The cool, hard surface beneath my face momentarily gives me pause. This doesn’t feel like my bed or even the sofa where I’ve taken to napping in the afternoon. There is something strange happening. The air is thick and hot. The more I try to breathe, the harder it seems. With great effort, I manage to raise my head, but the room is filled with fog—how bizarre. I’m still asleep I realize. This is just a dream…
“Lia! Are you here?” More shouting, but it barely registers. So hot in here. If I could just wake for long enough to push the bedcovers from my body, I’d feel so much better. My eyes are heavy though. “Shit, Lia. Dear God.” Something cool touches my face and I try to turn toward it. A round of coughing shakes my body and I moan as pain shoots through me. “Honey, I’m going to pick you up. Just hold on.”
A loud scream fills the air and the comforting touch is gone. “Spence! No! You can’t be here!”
In a blinding moment of clarity, it all comes back to me. I remember falling. Cassie stood over me. Groggily, I blink my eyes, opening them to a slit. What I see makes me jolt in fear. I’m on the nursery floor and there is smoke. Everywhere. Cassie is struggling with someone and at first I think it’s Lucian. I croak out his name before the person turns. Aidan. Beyond them, flames lick at the crib and spread to the walls and ceiling above and behind it. Sheer terror grips me and I begin to struggle. At first, I think my feet are asleep before I realize with dawning horror they’re tied together.
The fire is rapidly spreading. I can barely see the outline of Aidan as Cassie strikes him with the hammer. “Fuck, Cassie! Stop! We’re all going to die here. Don’t you understand that?” he yells as he shoves her back. She leaps onto his back and begins lashing out once again with her fists.
“You’re not taking my baby,” she chants repeatedly as they struggle.
I stare into the fire, thinking it almost beautiful. My lungs burn and my eyes water, but I can’t look away. It’s coming for me now, and I cease struggling as the fight leaves my body. My thoughts scatter and a strange peace enters my body as I cede control to fate. I’m no longer in the room with Aidan and Cassie. I’m lying in Lucian’s arms as he smiles down at me. We’re so happy and in love. I cradle our daughter against my side and I marvel that life has given me everything I could have possibly ever wanted or needed. When something attempts to pull me away, I begin fighting. “No! Please don’t,” I plead as I battle to remain with Lucian.
“Lia!” I’m pulled from my dream as both Aidan and I wheeze from the smoke that covers every inch of the room. The fire is everywhere now and I can see no avenue for escape. He has me in one arm while pulling a limp Cassie with the other. I hear sirens in the distance, but we’re in the midst of an inferno. Suddenly, as if in slow motion, the floor beneath us creaks loudly before shuddering. Cassie comes around at that exact moment and lurches away, disappearing back into the recesses of the room. “Cassie! Goddammit, we have to go!” Aidan shouts. Then she has her hands buried in my hair as she attempts to wrest me away from his hold. What little hope I had is draining away. She’s willing to die as long as she takes me with her. Aidan, obviously having the same epiphany, gives a howl of what sounds like anguish before he shoves her backward, then bends over me and runs.
The next few moments are surreal as people converge upon us. I’m lying on the sidewalk watching helplessly as it takes at least ten firefighters to subdue Aidan while he screams her name. An oxygen mask is placed over my mouth and nose as I’m lifted onto a stretcher. They are loading me into an ambulance when I hear someone yelling my name. “Luc,” I rasp. My throat is dry and raw and tears of frustration roll down my cheeks. “Luc…” Then he’s here, frantically running toward me.
“Lia, dear God. Baby!” He pushes people aside until he’s reached me. My strong lover looks completely broken as he grabs my hand and then my face. “Lia! Fuck, Lia. Are you all right?” His hands attempt to touch every limb to make sure I’m okay. “Shit baby, what’d she do to you? Where the fucking hell is she?” He’s so hysterical that I’m afraid he’s going to have a heart attack. I can literally smell the fear and anger rolling off him in waves.
“I’m okay, Luc,” I manage to get out, stroking his hand to try to reassure him. I’m trying my best to appear calm to soothe him, but inside I’m falling apart as what happened really begins to sink in. I could have died today…and our baby along with me. I want to completely lose it right along with Lucian.
I’m almost relieved when an EMT says, “Sir, she needs to go to the hospital to be checked out. Please step aside so we can load her into the ambulance.” Lucian jumps, and then reluctantly moves to comply, while walking alongside me.
“I’m going with her,” he states, but frowns when I shake my head. I motion him closer, knowing my voice won’t carry far.
“Need to stay with Aidan,” I manage to get out. I point to where his friend is sitting a few feet away with his head in his hands.
“Baby, I can’t leave you,” he protests. “He looks okay to me.” Lucian probably has no idea yet what happened. He doesn’t know that Aidan’s world has fallen apart—but I do, and I can’t bear for him to be left alone.
My throat is on fire, and it takes me several attempts before I manage to say, “He saved me…but Cassie’s still in there.”
I see the moment he comprehends my words and all that they mean. Anger fills his face before he looks once again at Aidan. I think I see sad resignation there as he runs an unsteady hand through his hair. “I don’t think I can let you leave my sight right now, Lia,” he says shakily.
The words have no sooner left his mouth when I see someone running toward us. I wonder briefly why Max and Rose are together, but I’m so grateful to see them that I don’t question it for long. Rose is at my side in an instant as Luc fills Max in on what little he knows. I see them both shoot Aidan a worried look before Max nods and walks that way. “What happened?” Rose demands as she visually checks me for injuries. “We were having dinner at Leo’s when we heard the fire trucks. I’m sorry; we didn’t know they were coming here until we were leaving.” I’m grateful neither she nor Lucian can see my head injury. They look like they’re barely hanging on as it is. I’m not doing much better myself and know I’ve about reached my limit of maintaining control. Even the strong have to fall apart eventually and I’d rather that not be here for everyone to see.
“It’s a long story,” I say huskily before pointing to my throat to let her know it’s sore.
Lucian puts a hand on her arm. “Rose, I really need you and Max to stay with Aidan. I don’t know the full story yet, but he needs someone with him. Don’t leave him alone until we’ve talked. Can you do that for me?”
Rose looks conflicted but leans over to kiss my cheek before giving Lucian a brief hug. “You can count on it. Please call me from the hospital with an update.” The fire department is moving everyone farther from the building as they continue to battle the blaze. I wonder if there is any way that Cassie survived. Recalling the crippling heat and blinding smoke, I can’t imagine anyone could have been in there much longer and live. I hear them assuring Aidan they’re trying to contain the fire enough to safely go in. Max is speaking with the police while keeping one hand on Aidan’s shoulder. Why must tragedy continue to search and find us? I wonder tiredly as the ambulance door closes. Lucian is sitting near my head as the EMT checks my vitals. Our dreams will once again be haunted and I can only hope that this time God feels we’ve finally paid our dues and deserve to be happy.