Slice (The Elledge Family #1) (35 page)

“She spared him the horror of it all and sent him to be where he could be a child.”

“It was our pact with one another. We would never let him be motherless. I adopted him and he has been mine just like Mark. Mark was happy and then we had Lydia as well.”

“Wow, so why is Asher here?”

“His stepfather puts the crazy notion in his head that Declan was a killer. I think it was sick way to turn him off to knowing anything about him. Asher started to study Lucas and then well... you know how it goes.”

“So you know all of this and you are not telling Lucas. Why?”

“Lucas is different and he is like his father. He is dark. He has secrets and I don't know what they are. I just know that he is something different.”

“There are FBI agents asking questions about him. They are saying that he killed someone. He seems like he is not fazed.”

“He is more than likely fazed by it, but he will not show it all. He is a quiet guy. But what I am saying is that you are so much like his mother. You are beautiful and you are giving him a real shot to have a life. Don't get involved with anything he has going. That was Luna's safety. She was blind to everything and she wanted to be blind to everything. So you need to do that.”

“Okay...” My mind raced. Was he a killer? “Lucas is dangerous?”

“He is not dangerous to you.”

“To anyone Tracy?”

“Yes, he has an anger problem. I don't think that he would hurt you. What have the agents been asking?”

“His ex-girlfriends have all turned up dead to missing.”

“They think that he did it.”

“Yes, but he has an alibi for every death. My point is that you don't have to worry about him hurting you. He loves you unconditionally.”

I was not sure exactly how I was supposed to take the conversation with Tracy. Was I supposed to be happy I was not in danger or you should I be worried that other people are in danger. I mulled it around my head for a few minutes while she finished cooking the quiche.

“What's the matter love?” Lucas touched my shoulder.

“Nothing babe.”

“You sure? Did Tracy say something?”

“I'm just hungry Luke, calm down.” I laughed. “What are we doing when we leave here?”

“I guess we are sleeping you think? You have been snoring here lately. It's hard for me to catch some shut eye if I don't doze off before you.” Lucas poked me annoyingly and sat down on the stool across from me. “Tracy, how much longer?”

“Calm down. The quiche will be done when it's done. Have you looked into those master programs that I asked you to look into?”

“I looked into a few. I think I want to travel a while though. There are some parts of Northern Ireland that I have yet to see. And I would love for you to come with me. There is no way to describe to you the color of their greens.”

“It sounds like a plan to me.” I twiddled with my fingers. I had to get him out the house for a while and investigate him more. “I am really tired.”

“Are you ready to leave love?”

“I am.” I touched my stomach lightly. “The little one is begging to nap.”

“Well, we can leave,” he whispered. “I could get something to eat later on.”

“Yeah, let's do that.”

Lucas

Home felt less like home lately. She stayed over every night and the house hunting was a pain. And it was not because I didn't want her. I just didn't know how to react to someone in my space. She nestled into the couch covered with her blanket and a trash can next to the couch. Morning sickness had set it's on hours for her.

I clicked through the computer. I wanted a bigger playground. New York had so much crime that a few deaths every now and then would be expected. I wouldn't have to leave my family just to plan something to soothe desires. I had a control of them lately. It felt like relief to know that I could say no to the urge to cut into someone. It had grown easier because she was here so much. And there someone else important in the picture, my child. The feeling was new. I had created another being. The thought had never crossed my mind that I could be a father. I was so used to ending a life that being a father was foreign.

“Your mom was upset about the quiche.”

“She will live.” I pecked at the keys. “Would you be okay living in New York?”

“As in the state?”

“And the city,” I said.

“No,” She mumbled. “Can we do this when I don't feel like shit?”

“Have you been to the doctor about this?”

“I have, it's called pregnancy. They said the symptoms would continue for five more months and then a kid would pop out.”

“Oh, okay.” I chuckled at her sarcasm. It had become the norm here. “Are you hungry? I could go for some takeout?”

I watched her as she placed the headphones on her stomach and scrolled through the music on her iPod. “I don't want to leave. I'm tired.”

“What are you making him listen to?”

“We don’t know what we are having?” She reminded.

“I know it’s a boy.”

“I’m listening to Coldplay.”

“So, you want our child to come out wining in a high pitch melody about lost love or stars?” I turned my head to her.

“What would you prefer?”

“Bach?”

“Didn’t you say that you were going to get some food?” She snapped.

“I'll step out. What do you want?”

“Ooh, I could go for some pizza and an egg roll! And some pickles.”

“Darling,” I moaned.

“Please.”  Cypress begged, her bottom lip dropped and I could hear the profane thought as they raged in my head.

“Bloody hell, that’s four places I have to stop and not to mention the car is out of petrol. Could you not just live with some General whatever’s chicken?”

“That’s spicy!” She yelled.

Cypress had turned my couch into her haven. Her books were scattered on the table in front of her with an empty jar of pickles and a giant lemonade bottle. Then there were the tons of blankets that had engulfed her. She lay perfectly on the couch with her feet propped on three pillows and her a glow about her that warmed my heart. “What all do you want?” I groaned as I grabbed the keys from the table.

“Well, go to the grocery store first and get some Turtle Chocolate Ice Cream, then grab some Kosher Pickles and some Nutella.”

“What the hell?” I stared at her in frustration. “You don’t need Nutella.”

“You don’t tell me what I need Lucas!” Cypress had turned an annoying shade of red. “I have been craving the damn Nutella for a week! Buy it!”

“Yes, your highness.” I rolled my eyes.

“I want three Spring Rolls from The China Palace and some sweet and sour sauce. Then I would like a large pepperoni pizza no sauce add garlic season from Pizza Shack.” She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

“There is no way that you can eat all of that shit.”

“You wanna bet?”

“I would rather not. But you are sleeping on the couch with that horrid gas.”

I watched her as her eyes grew wide. “Lucas!”

“What!” I chuckled and she put her head down.

“I’m pregnant.”

“This I know already.” I smiled. I kissed her forehead lightly and made my way towards the door. “Anything else?”

“Could you please hurry back? I’ll place the order. I just miss you already.” She winked.

“I will do my best to travel all over Colorado Springs like a chicken with my head cut off to get back to you.”

“I appreciate it and I love you.”

“Love you too.”

Spring had broken through the cold shield of winter. The cool breeze hit my face as I walked to my car, the place had never looked so beautiful. The feds sat in their car a block away and started their engines. I couldn't even piss without a friendly visit from them. My move with Luther had been a rush. Writing out his name in the blood with that smiling face. McMillan had chased his tail and finally I knew for sure that he had nothing on me at all. I was a speculation and in a few months they would demand that he pull the case back. My life would be back to normal and I would leave this place.

I threw my hand in the air with a smile. “Cheerio!”

The agents nodded their head and looked at one another. There was no telling what they were thinking. They would never take coffee from me again. I was happy I got that off of my chest. Luther was dead and now I could get on with life.

“Lucas,” a voice said from behind me.

I turned my head and there was Persephone. I gritted my teeth. Her tangled ponytail lay to the side and she shielded her eyes with her glasses. “What the hell? Did you not understand?” I hissed.

“I'm sorry.” She winced. “I wanted to let you know that my mom is making me finish the year but you don't have to worry. I'll go to classes and leave you alone.”

“She can't make you do anything.”

“She can.”

“Dear Jesus. Alright, understood. Leave here before Cypress comes.”

“Okay.” She hopped in her car and left.

My stomach growled in frustration, skipping lunch had not been smart. The engine of my car started and I had only one thing on my mind, food.

“Want company?” Mark asked from the passenger side of the car. He unlocked the door and Asher jumped in the backseat.

“Well, certainly,” I rolled my eyes. “What do you want?”

“To talk, we can ride with you, right?”

“I suppose since you both have hopped your asses in.” I waited till they were settled to pull out of the parking lot. The music strummed in the background and the silence was annoying. “What do you two want?”

“We have some news?”

“What news?”

“We’re brothers, all three of us.” Mark gestured between us three.

I had gained more family in the past month than I could comprehend. So my mother was a liar and I had two ok guys as brothers. I sat in silence as I waited for them to say something. I was fine. I mean now I technically couldn’t kill Asher and he wasn’t that bad. He calmed me down with that yoga shit sometimes. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Asher asked.

“I mean you two aren’t the worst people in the world to be kin to I guess. This doesn’t mean that we have to do dinners and all that shit all of the time. And Asher you can’t borrow my clothes. I get enough of that shit from Mark. So to make it fair Mark stay out of my shit.”

“That’s all you have to say?” Mark burst into laughter and Asher followed soon behind him. “I’ll stay out of your shit.”

“Thank you. And I’m not paying for your food either, you bloody bastards.”

Chapter Seventeen

Cypress

The only good thing about pregnancy so far had been the non-stop pampering everyone gave me. Though it had been annoying at first it was hard not to fall into the spoils of it.  Mark and Asher
even found a way to cater to me. Everything else had died and gone to hell. Little things that I used to enjoy now were a pain in my ass. For instance, instead of relishing college, I couldn’t wait to get out of the hell hole. The long walks through the campus that I once enjoyed and lived for were now a pain in the ass. The hills of the campus were a nuisance. Then there was the snow and ice that had finally started to melt into ridiculous sludge and made me a living trip hazard. I was only four months and no I didn’t have a major bump, but it was enough that I had a slight waddle.

The next issue with pregnancy had been the lack of privacy. First, there was Lucas and his constant need to know where I was and know what the hell what going on with me. He was like an alarm clock. I could basically pinpoint when he was about to call me. And if I didn’t answer, he found a way to get someone around me to get to me. Then there was Lydia. I loved her like a precious sister, but it was as if I was carrying this damn baby for her. She had planned every event thus far. The first being the reveal party. They generally came when the sex was determined. Well, she had planned one for me already and she was the host. Then she had planned a baby shower for us, themes for each sex. She overwhelmed me. She wanted to talk and the only thing I wanted to do was to sleep for long periods of time in Lucas’ bed.

The last issue was my mom and sister. They wanted me to move back home immediately after the baby was born. They could care less about Lucas being the father of the baby and she could care less about our relationship. Mom wanted her grandchild near her where she could protect him or her. Lana wanted my child to be able to grow up around them and she was usually pro-Lucas but she wanted him to let go.  Lucas begged to differ and that was one argument I didn’t any part of, they should just hash it out among themselves and leave me out of it.

The spring had started to show its head, but it was still chilly out. Lucas made sure he kept our visits to the park a minimum. Moments like this were rare. Our eyes were hooked on the mountains and the pale blue and white background the sky had provided. There was a warm pallet under our bodies as we lay on our backs entangled with one another.