Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Wyn

I blink at Lucas, the aftershocks of that insane orgasm still vibrating in my bloodstream. My heart is pounding against my chest like the waves crashing against the sand, so when he says, “I love you, Wyn…” I’m one hundred percent certain, I didn’t hear him right…

I roll onto my side and prop my head up on my palm. I flash him a smile. “Wait, what did you just say?”

Instead of answering, though, he rolls away from me and stands up, adjusting his pants and zipping them back up. He holds his hand out to me. “It’s too cold out here for you,” he says.

There’s an argument on the tip of my tongue, but I bite it back. I’m not ready to end this conversation, but it is cold out here. I reach up and place my hand in his, and he hauls me up. When I’m on my feet, I tug my panties back into place, but Lucas’ cum soaks through the thin fabric and trickles down the inside of my thigh anyway.

His hand tightens around my fingers, but instead of turning and leading me back up to the house, he pulls me against him. My front collides with his hard chest, and I let out a little squeak because I’m not expecting it.

He hooks a finger under my chin and tilts my face up. His expression is serious, his eyes searching my face. What’s he looking for? My heart starts pumping, and self-doubt starts creeping in. What if he doesn’t find what he’s hoping to see?

I suck in a breath and open my mouth to say something, but another voice cuts in before I can.

“Yo! Lucas!”

We both turn to see Christian walking down from the direction of the house. He’s still too far away to have a conversation, so we wait for him to get closer.

Lucas turns toward him. “What’s up?”

All I can think is, thank God he didn’t walk up five minutes ago.

“You need to get back to the house,” he says, out of breath, like he practically ran down here. “There are some cops here asking for you.”

Lucas glances up at the house and pulls his phone out of his back pocket. “Why are they here?”

“I don’t know. They wouldn’t tell us,” Christian says. “Maybe Gabriel filed charges for the ass-kicking he just got…?”

“Nah,” Lucas says. “The cops wouldn’t show up for that kind of bullshit.”

Christian shifts on his feet. “What aren’t you telling me, brother?”

Instead of answering, Lucas tilts his head back and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Fuck, I should call my lawyer.”

“Jackson already called him,” Christian says. “He’s on his way.”

Anxiety takes root in my chest. “Why are they here, Lucas?” I ask, because, like Christian, I get the feeling he’s not telling us something.

Lucas doesn’t answer. Instead, he flicks his chin at the house. “I’ve gotta handle this,” he says. “My brother will take you back to your apartment.” He glances at Christian. “Can you stay with her in case Gabriel pops up?”

Anxiety switches quickly to panic. “Wait, no,” I say, grabbing Lucas’ arm. “I’m going with you.”

With a firm grip, he forcibly pulls my hand off his arm. “Go with my brother, Wyn. It’s not up for discussion.”

I press my lips together and scowl at him. I don't like it, but I have no choice but to watch Lucas turn and head toward the house alone.

“What do you think the police want with him?” I ask Christian, my eyes riveted on Lucas’ retreating form. “Did it sound serious?”

Maybe the police just want clarification related to Gabriel’s case? That’s plausible, right? Normally, I’d run with that theory, but I can see the worry in Christian’s eyes. Whatever this is, it’s serious.

Christian pushes out a breath, also watching his brother. “They had a warrant for his arrest.”

When those words leave his mouth, my stomach drops, and the ground beneath my feet shifts. “A warrant? For what? ”

Christian looks at me. “I don’t know.”

Tears sting my eyes, and when I speak, I know my voice trembles. “What can we do to stop this?”

“Don’t worry. He has the best lawyer on the West Coast, no lie. He’ll know what to do.”

He sounds calm, but I can hear the thread of fear in his voice, too, and that’s what gets me. Admittedly, I don’t know much about the inner workings of Lucas’ world but know one thing for sure—if a Sacred Son is afraid, then we’re fucked. They’re so wealthy and so well-connected that fear isn’t even a word in their vocabulary…

Until they encounter a situation they can’t control.

Christian starts walking up the beach, away from Rush House, toward a path that leads to the street. It’s clear that he’s trying to keep me away from the house. Probably so the police don’t see me.

“Come on,” Christian says. “I’ll take you home. If you have anything inside the house, I can send someone over with it later?—”

By the time he turns around, I’m already halfway across the beach. My footsteps are silent on the sand, which gives me a head start on Christian. When he turns and sees I’m not following him, I hear him curse under his breath and chase after me, just as I enter the foot of the path that leads back up to the house.

It’s dark, and I’m barefoot, but that gives me an advantage, allowing me to bob and weave quickly up the rough, sandy path. I collide with a few bushes and step on several rocks, but with adrenaline pumping through my veins, I don’t feel any pain.

Christan curses again, picking his way through the darkness. When I reach the lawn, I run around the side of the house and make a beeline for the front door, which is open. Several police officers stand around on the porch—two dozen, at least.

Then I see him. Lucas. He’s on the porch, his back facing me as a police officer reads him his rights, and handcuffs are being tightened around his wrists.

I rush up the stairs, but I’m stopped before I can even make it to the third step.

“Whoa, stop right there,” a police officer says, reaching out to block me from passing. “You need to step back and wait on the street.”

“No, this is a mistake,” I choke out. “Lucas hasn’t done anything. Why are you arresting him? I demand to know.”

With an outstretched arm, the police officer pushes me back, so I’m forced to step down the stairs backward until I’m on the lawn. Lucas hears me and turns to look over his shoulder, but before I can read his expression, he’s yanked off the porch, down the stairs, and across the lawn to a waiting police car.

I follow them as closely as I can, pleading with anyone who might listen to please let him go. There’s obviously been a huge mistake. But even as I cling to that hope with white-knuckles, my mind replays that last conversation we had…

If you knew what I’ve done, just to touch you, Wyn…You’d never forgive me.

What could he possibly have done? Is this about the stalking? I did file a police report when it all started, but there hasn’t been a peep about it since then. If they knew enough to make an arrest, they would have told me…

Wouldn’t they?

My gaze sweeps across the sheer amount of police officers scattered across the lawn and porch. This isn’t about Lucas stalking me. This is something much bigger. Something that justifies calling in this level of backup.

Christian walks up behind me. “That was a cunt move back there,” he says, and for once, his voice lacks humor.

Tears slide down my cheeks, and all I can focus on is Lucas, and what’s happening. “There has to be something we can do,” I say, turning to face Christian. “Someone we can call? A fucking senator or something?”

“Wyn,” Christian says. “Our team will handle this. We have to get you out of here before the police realize who you are…”

I blink at him, clearing the tears from my lashes, so my vision isn’t so blurred. “What do you mean?” I ask. “What does any of this have to do with me?”

There’s something in Christian’s face that tells me he knows way more than he’s admitting. “Lucas wanted me to take you home, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

I glance over at Lucas, his arms secured behind his back as he’s put into the back of a police car. Right before the door is shut, he glances in my direction, his eyes locking with mine. There’s a sadness there that I’ve never seen in him before. It feels like he’s saying goodbye…

Forever.