Chapter 119
As we drove, I stared at my phone in my lap.
I couldn’t call Zane, not yet.
If I heard his voice right now, I might break completely.
Instead, I pressed Lucas’s name.
It rang once then twice, he picked up on the third ring.
“Elaine p>
He never just said my name like that unless something was wrong.
“Lucas,” I breathed.
His tone changed instantly at hearing my voice. “What happened p>
“I’m fine p>
“That’s not what I asked p>
“We were in a crash,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. “On the bridge near Halstead p>
Silence.
Then, “We p>
“Aaron was driving p>
Another silence, longer this time.
“Where are you right now?” he asked.
“In a car. Someone stopped and picked me up p>
“You got into a stranger’s car?” His voice rose despite himself. “Elaine, what the hell p>
“I didn’t have a choice p>
“Are you bleeding? Hurt any wher p>
“I’m okay p>
“That’s not an answer El p>
I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the seat. “It’s just scrapes. I’m fine p>
He exhaled sharply through his nose. I could picture him running a hand over his face the way he does when he’s trying not to lose it.
“What happened to Aaron? Isn’t he supposed to be protecting you p>
“I don’t know p>
“What do you mean you don’t know p>
“They boxed us in,” I said, my voice starting to crack no matter how hard I tried to hold it steady. “Two cars, they hit us our car almost went over the bridge. Aaron told me to run and I did and I p>
My chest tightened, breathing getting difficult.
“I didn’t see him after p>
Lucas went quiet in a way that scared me more than if he’d yelled.
“You left him there?” he asked carefully.
“He told me to go p>
“I know he did, that’s his job.” His voice softened a fraction.
The guilt rose so fast I had to swallow hard.
“I should’ve stayed,” I whispered.
“No.” His tone sharpened instantly. “Don’t do that, if he told you to run, you run. You don’t second-guess that p>
I pressed my lips together, staring out the windshield. Meanwhile my heart felt like it was still back on that bridge.
“Are they following you?” Lucas asked.
“I don’t think so p>
“Think or know, you need to be careful sunshine p>
“I don’t see anyone p>
“That’s not the same thing p>
I almost laughed at that. He sounded so much like Zane in moments like this, it was unsettling.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Back to the house p>
A pause.
“Does he know p>
“No p>
“You’re going to tell him p>
“Yes p>
Another breath, slower this time.
“How bad was it?” Lucas asked quietly.
I looked down at my hands, there was dried blood under my nails. I didn’t even remember cutting myself.
“The car spun,” I said. “It hit the guardrail and was hanging, I thought we were going over p>
He didn’t speak.
“I could hear them getting out,” I continued. “They seemed so calm, like it was arranged”
“Professionals,” he muttered.
“I jumped into the water to throw them off p>
“You what?” His voice cracked. “Elaine, are you insane p>
“It was freezing,” I said numbly. “I couldn’t feel my legs for a second but I’m fine p>
He swore under his breath.
“You could have easily drowned p>
“I didn’t p>
“That’s not the point El p>
We fell into silence for a few seconds.
Then I asked the question that had been sitting at the back of my throat since this started.
“How’s Ivy p>
He exhaled slowly.
“She’s stable now p>
“Stable how p>
“Her fever broke this morning. They’ve got her on antibiotics, though she pissed you haven’t come p>
Guilt layered over guilt.
“Tell her I tried pleas p>
“I know you did p>
“Does she need to know about… any of this p>
“No,” he said firmly. ” she’s not going to p>
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me.
“She asked for you,” he added, softer now.
My chest tightened again.
“I’ll come tomorrow,” I said.
“You’re not stepping anywhere until this is handled p>
“Luc p>
“I mean it.” His voice went hard in a way that made my throat close. “You almost died today p>
I looked down at my soaked jeans, the dried mud, the blood.
“I didn’t,” I said quietly.
“And that’s not because they didn’t try p>
The driver slowed as we neared the turn I’d given him.
“I’m almost there,” I told Lucas.
“Stay on the phone until you’re inside p>
“I will p>
He hesitated.
“I’m serious, El. If I hear one thing about you pulling something like this again p>
“I know, I lnow”
“You don’t,” he shot back. “You think you do. But you don’t p>
“I’m fine, Lucas” I repeated softly.
“You sound like shit p>
I almost smiled despite everything.
“I’m just cold p>
“Go inside. Change. And call me when you see him p>
“I will p>
“And Elaine p>
“Yeah p>
“I’m glad you dived into the water p>
My throat burned.
“I didn’t think about it,” I admitted.
“Good. Don’t start now p>
The car stopped.
I opened the door, stepping out onto unsteady legs.
“I’ll call you,” I said to Lucas.
“You better p>
The line clicked off.
The driver didn’t ask questions when I told him to stop a little before the main gate, even though it looked like he wanted to.
But he just nodded once and said, “You sure you’re good from here p>
No, not even close.
“Yeah,” I lied.
I shut the door and stood there for a second as his taillights disappeared down the road. The cold air cut straight through my now drying clothes and into my bones. My shoes squelched when I moved.
The estate gates were still another stretch ahead… long driveway beyond that. Too long to walk like this.
I started anyway. Each step made my knee aceh. My hair had dried in stiff pieces against my face, and when the wind hit it, it tugged painfully at my scalp.
By the time I reached the outer security lights, my hands were trembling so badly I had to tuck them into my sleeves.