Unbreakable

by Amie Nichols

  “Well, this is a bunch of what ifs and maybes. Nothing is concrete so I am going to take it all with a grain of salt, like you said Emma. We need to get back to Cypress Grove to go through all those books,” I say to be done with the guessing game right now.

  Chapter 35

  It’s late evening as we arrive back to Franklin. The sunset is beautiful as we pull up the lane.

  Sam is walking the perimeter with the dogs when he sees us pull up. As we all get out of the SUV, Sam walks into the garage with the dogs. German Shepherds are such beautiful creatures. I want to pet them, but Jacob and Luke told me when they are working they need to stay focused. I’m not allowed to give them affection.

  “Sitzen,” Sam orders to the dogs in a German command and both dogs sit simultaneously.

  “Good puppies,” I whisper under my breath and Luke looks down at me smiling. Luke assured me they are well taken care of and they are only working dogs for two years before they retire. They are only a year old and just graduated from the academy. Luke purchased them and they will only ever be with us. Once this is over, they will be our pets. I can’t wait till I can scratch their tummies and love them up. All I know is that they are brothers and their names are Gus and Oscar.

  Emma kisses me on the cheek and says she’s tired and is going to head for home. Miss Finnegan is gone for a few days staying at her mom’s house. So when we walk in the house it seems quiet. Jacob, Luke, and Sam gather around the kitchen island. Sam reports that the infrared fence is up. The dogs sit like statues next to Sam and I watch them while the guys talk.

  “So basically no one is going to enter the perimeter without us knowing,” Sam says as I tune in to what they’re saying again. Jacob follows Sam and the dogs outside so he can see all that was accomplished today. Luke and I go into the family room to watch some TV.

  We find a good comedy because I told him nothing serious. We settle on the couch to watch the movie. He lays up against the arm rest with his legs outstretched and I work my way between his legs and rest the back of my head on his chest. It’s so comfortable in his arms, that I doze off after fifteen minutes into the movie.

  The next thing that I remember is Jacob running in the house hollering for us. It startles me awake and Luke is wiggling to get up. I sit up groggy trying to figure out what is going on.

  “What is it?” Luke says, panic in his eyes as he helps me up.

  “Code Purple!” Jacob shouts and instantly Luke pushes me back down on the couch shoving my head down so I am laying flat. I can’t remember what code purple is. It’s not intruder in the house, is it? I’m suddenly scared for Luke as much as myself.

  Jacob is in the family room closing all the blinds. It must be another perimeter breach. Luke helps Jacob close all the blinds then returns by my side again. I sit up a little so I can at least look around, but keep my head down still.

  “I need a status,” Jacob says into the walkie out of breath. “M.S.L.F secure in sector two.” Jacob gives my status and my location. I hear some mumbling in the walkie responding to Jacobs command, but can’t understand what they are saying. Jacob sits on the chair across from us looking at our concerned faces for a moment before he explains what’s happening.

  “We were in the cottage where we set up the monitors for the cameras and we saw movement in sector twelve,” Jacob starts to describe what’s going on. “Sector twelve is the space between our infrared hold and the security line. We set that up so that we could distinguish animals.” He continues, “He never got pass the security line, but he was testing it for weaknesses. The security lines are invisible laser beams that hold a certain amount of electric current,” Jacob says describing the part of the security that I had no idea about. They forgot to mention the invisible electric fence. “It’s like he knew they were there, but they are new, cutting edge in security,” Jacob says stumped on how he knew not to walk through the laser beams.

  “How did he get past the infrared sensors?” Luke asks with his hand still on my back to keep me down out of sight.

  “We need to review the tapes still, but he was wearing some sort of suit,” Jacob answers him calmly. “My preliminary guess is it was designed to be the same temperature as the air so he would have been able to walk right in undetected,” Jacob explains his theory. “He’s probably ex military also, maybe even Special Forces. He was using special evasive maneuvers that I learned when I was a Ranger. Army rangers are an elite group of soldiers,” he clarifies for me.

  “Did you get him on camera?” I ask Jacob and feel Luke tensing up beside me.

  “Yes, but he was well camouflaged,” Jacob answers as Sam walks in the back door.

  “He’s gone. I have Foxtrot two canvassing the woods, but he dropped this in between the holds,” Sam says holding up another envelope with my name scribbled on the front in the same handwriting from yesterday.

  Jacob takes the envelope and opens it pulling out another note. After reading it he hands the note to Luke, and I read it over his shoulder.

  His security won’t keep me from you, You WILL BE MINE!!!!!!!

  The words are chilling and I almost feel like I’m going to faint. Luke’s arms tighten around me.

  “Should we move to another location since he seems to be able to come and go as he pleases around here?” Luke asks, clearly taking a jab at their security.

  “Luke,” I say reprimanding him. This is not their fault.

  “Luke, I understand your frustration,” Jacob defends himself, “but he can’t come and go as he pleases. He never made it beyond the security fence.” He firmly says looking directly into Luke’s eyes. “He is very knowledgeable and moving to an unsecure location would not be advisable,” Jacob stresses. “I swear to you, Luke, that he will not harm her,” Jacob says determined.

  “Jacob if anything happens to her…” Luke says with fear in his voice. I wrap my arms around Luke’s waist and rest my head on his chest so he can hug me closer.

  “I know, Luke. She is like a sister to me and I would die before I will let him get near her,” Jacob says to Luke. They make some kind of agreement with their eyes that makes them both relax. I let loose of Luke and give Jacob a hug.

  He whispers in my ear, “I promise.”

  That night in bed Luke was so passionate with me. It was like we were making love for the last time. He snuggles me to him holding me so tight that I struggle to breathe.

  “You and I will be together for a long time.” I wiggle out of his grip a little to look up at him. “We are going to have babies, grandbabies, and grow old and wrinkly together. Do you understand?”

  “Yes ma’am. Nothing in the world would make me happier.” He pulls me to him again and I lay my head on his chest so I can feel his heart beating. I fell fast asleep to the comforting rhythm.

  I wake to static on the walkie by the bed. Following the static I hear code yellow and some other commands that I don’t understand before it goes silent. Luke is lying there completely still with his eyes open, rubbing his fingers up and down my back lightly. I look up at him and can tell he’s been awake for a while.

  “Good morning my sweet Lilly flower,” he says smiling at me noticing that I’m awake. I look at the alarm clock and notice it is 7 a.m. Today’s Monday and Lucy will be here in an hour to start her first day.

  “Hey,” I say stretching and rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “How long have you been awake?”

  “About a half hour. I didn’t want to wake you, you were so peaceful,” he says softly.

  He’s lying on his back and I roll on top of him laying flat against him. I prop my chin on my hands on his chest so I can see his face. His hands move down my back to my behind and he pats each cheek lightly. I move up so I can reach his lips and kiss him softly. I can tell he has a lot on his mind because this is the first morning since he has been sleeping in my bed that I haven’t woken up to his excitement poking me. He seems distant when I look in his eyes.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” I inq
uire to his faraway look.

  He rolls me off of him and turns on his side facing me. He takes my face in his hands and kisses my lips deeply. I can see he has lust in his eyes and then I feel his erection on my hip. He’s back I smile to myself, and feel that wonderful burn between my legs. He takes my lips again. This time harder and more possessively. It doesn’t take long and he’s thrusting his manhood into me. He is fierce and furious with each thrust and it turns me on more. I explode in orgasm with a loud scream and he follows me seconds later.

  I hear commotion on the walkie about a scream and needing to secure M.S.L.F. Luke rolls over in a hurry and talks into the little black box. “Luke to Jacob, code white, M.S.L.F secure in sector four, over.” He lays the walkie back down on the bedside table and rolls back toward me with a smile from ear to ear.

  Seconds later, we hear Jacob respond over the walkie, “Roger that.” I can hear the amusement in his voice.

  “You’re going to have to be a little quieter from now on my little screamer,” Luke says grinning with satisfaction that he pleasured me that much. My face is red with blush knowing everyone learned what we were doing in here. I shove him away from me as he rolls over to me. I can’t help but giggle in embarrassment.

  “I guess you need to stay away from me then,” I say giggling trying to get out of bed. He grabs my arm and pulls me to him again. I wrestle to free myself and laugh as he starts tickling my hip bone.

  “Stop, stop,” I struggle to say since I am laughing so hard. It only makes him keep going. “I’m going to scream,” I warn finally able to push out the words between laughter. He finally stops and lets me up.

  “You’re no fun,” he pouts and I stick my tongue out at him then run into the bathroom. “Oh, you are going to pay for that.” He laughs and follows me.

  He joins me in the shower where we both have yet another mind blowing orgasm. This time I bite down on my finger to avoid the scream that wants to escape with the pleasure he gives me.

  Chapter 36

  After we are dressed and ready for the day we head to the kitchen. It’s about 8:05 and Lucy is already here making small talk with Jeffrey in the kitchen. She looks different than the other day. She is more colorfully dressed in a light blue skirt and a matching blouse. Her nose piercing and eyebrow ring have been removed, but her ears are still lined with piercings. She makes it work and she is very pretty.

  “I’m sorry. I hope you haven’t been waiting too long,” I apologize to her, and grab Luke and myself a cup and pour us some coffee. He grabs the cup and kisses me on the cheek.

  “Thanks babe. Nice to see you again, Lucy.” He disappears out of the kitchen.

  I see she already has a cup of coffee, so we head into the study where all the computer equipment I ordered is still stacked up in their boxes.

  “Oh, state of the art.” She admires the computer. “I could rule the world with this stuff,” she says walking around looking at all the equipment the salesman sold me. I just told him I wanted the best of everything and judging by Lucy’s reaction he delivered.

  “I thought I would let you set it up the way you want,” I tell her trying to explain why everything is still in its boxes.

  “Groovy, I’ll get started,” she states. “Do you want me to set it up at the desk?” She asks looking at daddy’s large wooden desk.

  “Yeah for now. You’ll have your own office as soon as we get the extra room across the hall ready,” I explain and her eyes light up with excitement. “I figured I’d let you pick out the furniture you like and let you decorate the way you want.” She giggles with excitement like a kid in a candy store.

  “Way cool!” She leaps at me giving me a giant hug.

  While I help her move some of the bigger boxes around, we start to cut them open to empty the contents and Lucy finally asks the question I’ve been waiting for.

  “So you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but what is up with the major security?” She asks, and I can tell she is scared that she overstepped.

  “It’s okay, Lucy, you can ask me anything.” I put her at ease. “I have…. Um well, a stalker.” I wait for her reaction.

  “Must be a crazy son of a bitch judging by what you got going on around here,” she observes. “I’ve never had such a thorough back ground check before,” she notes. “They found out things my great grandfather did 75 years ago. He received a jaywalking ticket or something like that,” she jokes with me and we giggle. “I’m glad I know now though, I always put him on a pedestal, but now that I know this I think I’m going to disown him,” we laugh. I love her sense of humor.

  “Everyone has skeletons in their closets, so I’m glad we were able to clear some out for you,” I tease back and she starts hooking parts up while I’m still opening boxes.

  “Do you know anything about him, your stalker that is?” She quizzes me.

  “Not much, just that he is crazy and intelligent,” I answer.

  “That’s a bad combination.” She breathes in between her teeth, and this makes me laugh. I explain to her some of the things from the past week and tell her about the notes. I’m glad that she doesn’t seem scared away by all the info I’m throwing at her.

  “Wow, are you scared?” Lucy asks and as soon as she says it she can tell it was a stupid question. She sits next to me brushing away the pile of packing peanuts that have accumulated around me. I can see that she is trying to offer me comfort.

  “Yeah, but I am in good hands with Jacob. He really knows security,” I tell her and I see her eyes light up at the mention of his name.

  We are interrupted by Luke who walks in followed by a man his same height and build with bleach blonde hair and deep blue eyes. They are laughing at something and Luke’s face is beaming with delight. Whoever this man is, Luke is very happy to see him.

  “Somewhere in this pile of bubble wrap is the woman I have been waiting to introduce you to,” Luke says grinning at Lucy and I who are surrounded by boxes and all kinds of packing material.

  “Baby, I want you to meet my best friend since first grade, this is Jimmy Carmichael.” Luke says coming over to me and helping me off the floor to meet his friend. “Jimmy, this is Lilly,” he says with such pride, and then peels off a piece of bubble wrap that is stuck to the back of my leg.

  “Nice to meet you, Jimmy,” I greet him shaking his hand. I know the name Carmichael very well. Jimmy, or James as his mother would call him, is the son of another wealthy Louisiana family. Lindsey Carmichael was one of Jane and Adeline’s friends. She was at this house often since she was part of the Jane Sumnor Charitable organization. I have heard Luke mention Jimmy many times but I did not know this was the Jimmy he was talking about. Last I remembered were Jane and Adeline gossiping about the Carmichael boy running off to California with some trampy girl and how they could not even imagine how Lindsey was coping. That is going to be hard for her to spin the story so that she didn’t look bad.

  “I finally get to meet the famous Lilly Sumnor,” Jimmy says shaking my hand and tilting his head to the side. “You know, I have heard two very different stories about you, Miss Sumnor,” he says still holding onto my hand.

  I instantly blush at the thought of how his mother would have portrayed me. The way Jane described me to her friends was anything but flattering.

  “I can’t say that I’m surprised now that I am putting two and two together,” I say looking up at Luke, who seems confused. Did he not know that Jane and his best friend’s mother were attached at the hip?

  “I thought you knew who Jimmy was when I talked about him,” Luke says getting it, that I didn’t know that Jimmy and James were one in the same.

  “Not sure how I would have known, I don’t remember you telling me his last name. Quite frankly I’m surprised that Lindsey would have allowed her son to hang out with you,” I say to Luke, who looks stunned.

  “She wouldn’t and didn’t know,” Jimmy admits making Luke take a step back. “Why do you think you never came to my
house bro?” Jimmy asks Luke who now looks like he is trying to remember if he was ever at Jimmy’s house.

  “Luke, it’s simple. You were poor, the son of a handyman. Lindsey would have forbid him from being friends with you,” I tell him almost feeling bad at his cluelessness.

  “I can’t believe I never knew that this whole time,” Luke says with hurt in his eyes.

  “Awe, don’t be that way bro. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve been disowned by my parents,” Jimmy says grinning. I can’t help but start laughing, and Jimmy joins me. “My sister tells me that you are enemy number one though,” Jimmy says directed towards me. “My mother and Adeline are spitting fire at you inheriting all of the money. If my mother knew I was here talking with you, I’m pretty sure she’d claim me again so she could interrogate me for information,” he says looking sly.

  “Well by all means, tell her what you want,” I tell him. “If it will get you back into her good graces, that is,” I voice as I put my arm around Luke’s waist. I notice Lucy is sitting quietly behind the desk taking it all in.

  “Are you kidding me, I don’t want to have anything to do with that bitch mother of mine!” Jimmy declares leaning up against the wall. “She has some major apologizing to do before I even consider forgiving her.” Even though he is putting up a tough front, you can tell he is hurt by his mother. I can’t blame the poor boy. I of all people know what it’s like growing up with that kind of a woman.

  “So what do you mean you’ve heard two different stories about her?” Lucy asks and we all look her way. She gives me an apologetic look, “I’m sorry.” She grasps that she may have spoken out of turn, her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

  “It’s okay, Lucy, it’s a good question,” I tell her not wanting her to be uncomfortable. “Let’s go in the kitchen and get something to drink and Jimmy can enlighten us.” I motion for Lucy to join us.