Chapter 5

Luke wraps his arms around me, holding me close. I breathe in his rich, warm scent, and for the first time in a week, I feel safe. I know it's only temporary because I don't think I'll ever be safe unless my father is behind bars. Or dead. Even if I ran, I would always be looking over my shoulder. Not to mention how he would haunt my dreams.

In my mind, I know I should push Luke away. There's a chance someone could see us, and it would only be a matter of time before it got back to my father. He has eyes everywhere in this neighborhood, and I'm still on very thin ice with him.

"You made her cry," I hear Marco accuse while I sniffle and try to wipe my eyes. Luke's hold on me is firm, and I hate that both of them have seen me cry.

"I didn't, but I'm going to find out who did."

"Why, are you gonna do something about it?" There is no missing the challenge in Marco's words.

It tugs at my heart because he always wants to stand up for me. It's gotten him hurt before, and I had to plead with him to never step in between our father and me again.

"Yes." Luke says the word with such finality I almost believe it.

"It's fine," I say and then wiggle to try and get out of his hold. "Can you let me go?"

"It's not fine." Luke shakes his head but lets me step back.

One of his hands falls to my hip, his fingers gripping me there. He thinks I'm going to bolt, and I probably would, but I don't think I'd get far. Now I'm not sure how I'm going to shake him.

"Have you heard from Paul?" I try to change the subject, and Luke's whole body stiffens.

"You don't need to speak to Paul."

"Right." Guilt assaults me. I was praying for a sliver of hope that he dropped out of rehab. If he was back, then I could marry him, but I know that's selfish. Plus, his dad said he would press charges against him.

"I knew he was a jerk. Now you have to marry Jackson. He's an asshole."

"Marco!" I snip at him. "Language." He rolls his eyes at me, taking a sip of his milkshake.

"You're marrying someone else?" Luke's hold on me tightens.

"You wouldn't understand." I try to move, but Luke slips his whole arm around me and I feel his hand against my stomach. It takes everything in me not to lean into him.

"Make me understand." Luke leans down and forces me to meet his gaze. "Is he the one who put these bruises on you?"

"No." Although he hadn't stopped it either.

Jackson stood there and watched my father hurt me. It gave me a crystal clear picture of the life I'd have with him if he didn't flinch when watching a woman be hurt.

"It's my father," I finally tell Luke because I know he's not going to let me go until I confess.

"Your father?" Luke grits his teeth, and his breathing grows heavy. "You live with him?" I nod my head. "I think he and I should have a little talk."

"No!" I grab ahold of the front of his button-up shirt. "You don't understand who he is." Sure, Luke could beat the shit out of my father, but then I'd only get it the next day. And the day after. It's not worth it.

"I don't give a fuck who he is."

"Please," I beg. My eyes fill with tears that I'm trying so hard to hold back.

Luke lets out a curse under his breath. "Marrying Paul was your way out?"

"Something like that." It was, but it's more than only that. Paul and my father had some kind of deal, but I'm not going to tell Luke that. It would only cause more problems. He'd report that back to Paul's family and then they would dig into my past. God knows what they would find.

"Then you'll leave."

"It's not that easy." I glance over to Marco, who is watching us both intently, and I swear I see a small spark of hope in his eyes. I hate that it's going to fade and then there will be nothing I can do to fix it.

"I see." Luke runs his hand through his short dark hair. "I'll handle it. For now, you're both coming with me."

"I can't. You don't get it," I tell him and dig my heels in.

"Come here." He puts his hand gently on my back, leading us away from Marco. "I don't want to have to do this, but you're not giving me much of a choice."

"You can't call the cops. I'll lie." He shakes his head at me, and I can see what I'm saying is pissing him off.

"You either come with me or I'll confront your father. I'll do it every day until you agree. Either way, I have a feeling he's not going to like that too much. So you're either with me and away from him or I'm here with all of you." I stare into his intense gaze and know he's not bluffing.

"But Marco..." I remind him. "It would be kidnapping."

"I said I'll deal with it." He's so confident that my resolve is beginning to fade.

"Let's say I go with you. Then what?" He makes it sound so easy, but it's far from it. The thought makes me worry my bottom lip between my teeth.

"I will keep you safe."

"You just threatened me," I point out.

"For your own damn good," he growls in irritation. Luke is trying to hold back his anger, but I can see it's because he's worried.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I'm not going to send you back somewhere you're going to get hurt. Or to marry some asshole who I'm guessing was runner-up to Paul. I don't even want to fucking know what comes second to that dipshit."

A laugh pops out of me, and I know it's not funny, but it's so true. At this point, it's either laugh or cry, and if I can choose, I'm going to laugh.

"So what? You whisk us away and save the day?" I laugh again and shake my head.

"Yes." He leans down close with the most serious expression I've ever seen. My smile drops, and my breath catches in my throat. "That's exactly what I'm going to do. And no one, not even you, is going to stop me."