“Why are you leaving?” I demanded, ignoring his comment.
“I don’t want to.” Lucas’ face was grim. “Nicholas called me again. It turns out those cretins set me up.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before. Probably still too fucked up from the blood they gave me.” I noticed he was clenching the steering will so tightly his knuckles had turned white.
“They had to kill someone to get that blood. And they set me up to take the fall for it.”
“Oh no!” I wailed. “But how can they do that?”
“Paid someone off to say they saw me do it, I imagine.” Lucas shrugged.
“So now you’re being hunted?” I asked him.
“Yeah, I’m sure they have someone out looking for me. I can’t go back to work, can’t stay at my house, can’t stay in this city.”
“That’s awful! Lucas, I’m so sorry.”
“Me, too. That’s why I need you to promise me you’re going to keep it together. I won’t be here to watch out for you.”
“How long until you can come back?”
“I don’t know.” Lucas sighed. “It depends on what it takes to clear my name. I don’t want to go – I don’t want to leave you.”
“So take me with you!” I begged. I had no reason to stay here.
“No,” Lucas said sharply.
He turned to me. “Rory, I’d like nothing more than to have you with me.” Lucas’ voice softened.
“Then what’s stopping you?” I demanded.
“It’s too dangerous.”
“But I’m already dead!” I argued. “I’d be the perfect sidekick. I’m practically untouchable.”
“I can’t take you! I don’t know if I’d be able to protect you.”
“So you’ll leave me here to rot?”
“That’s a bit dramatic.”
“Look,” Lucas continued, “I would love for you to come with me, but I have to find the twins and clear my name, and it’s going to be dangerous. I can’t guarantee my own safety, let alone yours.”
“I guess.” I still wasn’t convinced, but I could tell that Lucas wasn’t going to cave.
“I hate to do this, but I’ve really got to hit the road. Where do you want to be dropped off?”
“Just dump me on the side of the street,” I said morosely.
Lucas parked the car and turned to me. He looked helpless, hopeless. “I hate to just leave you here, but there’s no other choice. Listen to me: I will come back for you.”
“I believe you,” I whispered.
“Then stop looking so sad.” Lucas brushed my hair away from my eyes.
“You have to be strong. I’ll try to get messages to you if I can to let you know I’m okay and to make sure you are, too,” he said.
“Alright. So I guess this is goodbye,” I said awkwardly.
“For now,” Lucas corrected me.
I tried to muster a smile, but I couldn’t.
Lucas leaned forward and wrapped his arms around me. I hugged him tight. I didn’t want to ever let go. Lucas buried his face in my hair. “I won’t forget about you,” he whispered in my ear.
Finally, Lucas pulled away from the embrace. He kissed me softly on the forehead. “I’ll see you soon,” he promised.
And with that, I got out of the car and watched Lucas drive off into the night.
Chapter 30
Now what? Maybe Henry had cooled down, but I couldn’t face seeing him tonight. I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to.
Emmett might have been a possibility, but I didn’t have a way to get in touch with him, and no clue where he lived. Lucas would have been my only other option, and now he was gone.
How did it come to this?
Things literally couldn’t get any worse. And that’s when I knew what I had to do.
Chapter 31
I raised my hand and pressed the doorbell before I lost my nerve. I heard the familiar chime inside the house.
The light in the family room was still on. Mom was probably reading, sipping on her nightly cup of decaf coffee.
I heard footsteps from inside. Someone was coming to the door. Frantically, I realized I had no idea what I would say. Should I dive out of sight? Had this been a huge mistake?
The door was swinging open now. It was Mom. The smile on her face fell and her mouth dropped open in shock. She grabbed the doorframe to steady herself.
“Mom, it’s me, Aurora,” I whispered. “I’m back.”
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Stalking Dead (Vampire Hunter Book 2) Page 9
