Slice (The Elledge Family #1) (8 page)

“I would love to meet them, and perhaps you could meet my mom. She keeps asking about you. I don’t know what to call you.” She blushes at the thought of a relationship with me.

“Well, I think the proper term is a boyfriend or something like that?” I smiled at her and watched her face turn a shade of crimson and her smile spread to her eyes. “I mean, if both parties agree.”

“I agree,” She smirked and chewed down into her sandwich like she hadn’t eaten all day.

“I'm ecstatic.” I finished off my sandwich and walked to the kitchen, it too was bare. I had to get her something, but every time I even offered to buy her a drink and she flipped out. She was the independent type and it was to be admired. I had more money than I could handle at this time though, so I had to get her things. “What about a table for this dining area Cy?”

“Dining room?” Cypress wiped her face. “One room at a time, I have some big thoughts on the living room. I have to find something to accent the flowers.”

“I can buy the table for you Cypress…”

“No,” she said. “And don’t do it anyway. I would like to buy everything myself.”

“Why?” I shrugged my shoulders.

“Because of my ex, if you buy me that table and we break up… I won’t be able to function with it in the apartment. I would be reminded constantly that the table I eat my breakfast on was bought by you.”

“Your ex is a bastard. I understand why you are scared, but I would never do anything to harm or hurt you physically nor emotionally Cypress. I want you and I want the best for us. So if you don’t want the table I understand.” I paused. “I say he is a bastard because he has royally fucked up your perception of things. I think of buying you a table and a completely different scenario runs through my head.” She turned to me, her eyes glossed over and frustration written on her face. “I see a table where we share our first real home cooked meal. A table that we grow attached to so much it pains us to throw the old bloody thing away. We look at the table as our first real step the leads to the falling in love.”

Her mouth gaped open, “Only you can turn a table into poetry Lucas.” Cypress smiled and the world cheered. “Fine, get the table.” She put no argument into it. She wanted us as badly as I did and it made it easier to exhale.

“We can pick the table and I can cook for you.”

“I don’t want any mash or fish and chips.”

“I make the best fish and chips… have you ever had them with peas? It’s like heaven on a fork.”

“Dear Jesus, stop it!” She made her way to me and her hands traced my arms lightly and she placed her lips on mine barely applying pressure just lingering there and it was insatiable. I wanted nothing more than this moment to last forever.  She pulled me closer to her and I leaned so she would not have to stand on her tiptoes. These were the moments that defined a couple, simple yet priceless. I could stay like this forever.

Asher

I couldn’t get the vision of him as he slashed into Summer out of my head. I knew he would do it. I knew I shouldn’t watch but I couldn’t stop. He was a damn messy killer. My stomach had been in shambles for hours afterwards. I refused to document anything. I would go to lunch for being a damn witness. I planned to spend my life away from prison. I spent my weekend cooped up in the house in hopes that I had not been followed or watched. After long speculation, I decided to
finally leave the house and went to the library. I had some more assignments to get in before the end of the day and I knew that Whitney was off today. She had made me sure that there would be no line crossing. I decided to move on. There were several women that I could seduce. I had laid off of Lucas just for the week. The love-story was becoming nauseating. I documented his behaviors and that was it.  Ever since I'd witnessed him murdering those two people in the cabin I was leery of even finishing the dissertation. I couldn't change my mind, but I definitely couldn't include the murder in it. I had it in my private notes that I sent to my father. 

He agreed to back off and observe as quietly as possible because he was a danger to everyone in his life. I felt bad for Cypress because she was infatuated beyond recognition and there was saving her, I hoped she could save him.

I sat at my table alone going through my notes and there she was at my table. Cypress and I could understand his infatuation with her. She was exotic. “Sorry, Could I sit here for a quick minute?”

“Definitely,” I whispered. I continued to jot notes down on the notepad with just a case study as the main subject.

“Can you believe it is pouring down outside? Next is the snow. Damn Colorado.”

“I can. The news said it yesterday.” I sounded like an ass. But it was the truth. “Where were you coming from?”

“The English Wing, it was dreadful. I wasn't even planning on coming back to the campus, but my boyfriend reminded me that the paper was due.
      
They were an official a couple now. One for the books. “Yeah what's your major?”

“English… I am planning to teach it at a junior college next year if this all goes right.”

“A JC around here?”

“Uhm actually I don't know just yet. If everything goes as planned, it will be somewhere near home.”

“Nice, yeah I am moving to Australia with my dad after this year. I just have to tweak my dissertation.”
      

“Wow, what are you studying?”

“Uhm, just psychology. I’ve grown to love it. The study of why people act like people is amazing.”

“Really.” She smiled and I felt the world stop. This woman was beautiful. “I know some people I would like to study and see what they were really thinking.”

“There is body language of course.” I smirked. “Look it up.”

“Perhaps I will.” She placed her books on the table and took out her pencil. “I am writing a new novel. My boyfriend said that I should I always learn something new. One day could you give me a crash lesson in some things.”

“I might could.”

“I hope that’s a yes.” She slid the card over the table and stood up. “I have to haul ass over the campus now. I hope its stopped raining for good, I doubt my hair could take another down pour like that.”

“I think you and your hair will live. And I I'll call you we can set up a time and everything. I'll fill you in.”  I folded her card in half and placed it in my pocket.

“Good, text me. My boyfriend seems to not like me receiving calls from other guys. What's your name?”

“Asher,” I smiled.

“I like that, I'm Cypress.”

Her name was perfect like her. “Well, pleasure to meet you.”

She left and I continued to jot away on my notebook. I could understand his obsession. She looked like heaven and it was hard to resist her. And to be honest there was nothing spectacular about her that made her more than average. Cypress was charming. “Same here...Asher...”

When she left I continued to be productive. It didn't take much. I had so much work I was drowning.
      
Lucas’ book was published before his mother's death. Luna loved him and she made sure she lived long enough to see him be successful. It was all that she wanted. My father studied her like I am studying Lucas. Luna was not like her husband. She was very secretive and she went above and beyond to make sure her family was safe. Unlike Lucas she rarely traveled. She wanted to be near the love of her life and Lucas’ father, Declan Elledge
. Declan was a strong father though he was absent for a time. His family lived in Ireland and Luna rarely made an appearance because of her disease and her son. My father believed Declan’s side was the dark part of Lucas’ family and I hadn’t had the chance to even start the research there. 

The table shook again and there was no way I was going to get anything done with these constant interruptions. I looked up and there was Lucas. Maybe he had spotted me that day. I had hidden but it might not have been enough. He could have heard my gasps as he cut into Summer and her klutz of a lover.

Lucas cleared his throat and casually adjust his jacket. “How do you know Cypress?” He questioned. His eyes were piercing into me. He had wasted no time to get right down to business.

“Uh, just met her. She said she was a writer. Who the fuck are you?” Good job Asher, be an ass.

“Well uh, I'm the boyfriend. Lucas Elledge,” He held his hand and with a firm grip shook my hand. “Stay away from her.”

“I don't want her, she started the conversation with me.”  My palms
had started to
sweat and my heart was about rip itself free and gallop out of the library. He bled intimidation.  “She just seemed cool.”

“Yeah whatever, What's your name?”

“Asher,” I said. I should have lied. He was a collector of names.

“Stop by the club, I own The Summit. Drinks on me all night whenever you come.” He handed me the pass. It read “VIP ACCESS, per Lucas E.”

I nodded my head in appreciation and partial fear. “Thanks.”

“There are a shit ton of beautiful women for you to pursue and it's on me. Lose her number, okay?”

My hands shook as the vision of the river of blood flowing from her neck purged its way through my mind. I felt sick. “Okay, will do...Thanks Lucas.”

He turned his head. “How the fuck do you know my name?”

My eyes skimmed the invitation once more and thank God there was his name. I held up the pass. “I read it here.”

“Oh,” He paused hesitantly and nodded his head. “Sorry mate, it’s been an ass backward day. Come out to the club. Love to see you there.” He looked through his cell phone and walked away casually. His other hand in his pocket and eyes hooked on the phone. He was like a fucking lion and I may have accidentally made his list. I grabbed my cell phone and dialed my father's number when I was sure he saw me.

“You okay?” The worry in his voice was obvious. It was three in the morning there and it was unlike me to call him at odd hours of the night.

“I don’t know really. I had a conversation with Lucas. He basically told me to stay away from the girl.” I chose to omit the fact that I had seen him murder two people. My father was the type to flip out and run to the authorities.

“Stay away from her. If he is forming a relationship with her. You shouldn't get in the middle. It being the first real connection since Luna's passing.”

“Okay, I fucking froze up.” There was a chill that ran down my spine and I couldn’t stop my hand as subtly shook on the table. It was fear. His eyes had no emotion. The smile never reached them.

“You have to be tougher than you are son. He can sense and read other people's emotions better than a normal
person. He won't just kill you. Call me later on. I'm exhausted.”

I flipped the card over and hung up the phone. I wrote down in my journal and exhaled.

Lucas

I was never threatened by any other guy when it came to relationships because I worked to make sure that no one was in my territory. This Asher character was not a threat. If anything he was a coward. His face looked white with fear when I approached him. The invite to the club was friendly enough for him to see that I could care less about him, but he was now in my sights. He had one job to do and that was to stay the hell away from Cypress.

I sat down in my room and glanced over the letters in the box. I kept a list of them. There were now forty-four sets of initials, the lust to kill had receded. The past few weeks had been easier, but one fucking thing was liable to trigger it. I set the paper down and glanced through my plans. She wanted me to meet her mother and father in three weeks. It was a five-hundred-mile trip, eight hours in the car with her alone and we hadn't slept together yet. She was a good girl so that was fine with me. I just hoped that she wanted something. Why the fuck she was talking to this Asher character? It now irked my nerve and he would be kept in my eyesight when it regarded her. I dialed her number and she answered on the third ring.

“Hey babe!” Cypress’ voice was light and chipper.

“How are you? Are you home?” Slow down Lucas. Too many questions.

“I’m actually headed back. I had to go to the writing lab and do some things and I met this psychology major named Asher. He said he would give me run through a course on personalities and behaviors for my novels. Does that sound like a good idea?”

“Yes, you can always study and get more knowledge. My minor is psychology I could help you love.”

“I don't want to depend on you for everything Luke.” She was climbing steps. Her breaths were short and I could hear the short tap of her feet on each step. “I want us to have balance and balance means that we have to have some free time. He seemed like a nice guy.”

“I'm sure Ted Bundy was a nice guy too.” The irony poured out of me covered with humor. “I guess then Cypress. Call tomorrow morning?”

“If you don't call me first babe. Don't forget to shop for furniture and food. The need is dire.”

“I won't.” I smiled. “Talk to you later love.” I ended the call and pulled out my laptop. I typed in Asher. There were over one hundred of them in the state. And he appeared to not be from here. His accent appeared to be more West Coast.