Moth to a Flame

33. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Regan

“What if they’ll see through my lies?” I ask Landon, not for the first time over the last four days.

When the bastard kidnapped me, it took us twice as long. The asshole drove through strange roads and deserted towns in an attempt to escape detection.

We could’ve done the same. Lengthened the trip. Spent a day or two at the fancy hotels Landon booked us.

We could’ve done it faster, too, had we taken a flight.

I’m the one who said no to either of the options. I needed the time alone with Landon and away from the world to make sense of what had happened to me. I also needed to be back with my family. I missed them and Mojo so goddamn much.

But now that we’re about half an hour from Landon’s home, our home, where they wait for us, where no journalists snoop around, I’m worried.

They would see I lied to them over the phone. That what we told the authorities was bullshit. In person, Mom, Dad, and Rosemary would undoubtedly be able to sniff out the truth.

Which they shouldn’t. Plausible deniability is the first reason. Then there’s the matter of my future husband and me defiling, debasing, and destroying a man.

Doesn’t matter that this man isn’t a man at all. That Lester was a pedophile, a piece of shit monster. Doesn’t matter that no one in my family is disgusted by death and blood and gore.

They don’t need to hear about it. They don’t need to know that my husband and I are also sort of monsters.

Especially since I have no intention of asking him to stop killing people for me.

“Walk me through that again, little lamb.” His hand is firm on my thigh as we drive through the highway.

The skies are painted in orange and gray hues. Fall in New York is beautiful. Being home is even more beautiful. It’s everything.

I put my hand over his. My bandaged fingers over his flawless, perfect ones. It’ll take time for my injuries to heal, and I’m not sad about it. How can I, when Landon says I’m a badass for manipulating Lester into dumping them in strategic locations. For being the bravest person he’s ever met for sacrificing myself like that.

Looking over at his profile, I ask, “Aren’t you bored with hearing me repeat the same story again ?”

“I’ll never be bored with you.” He casts his dark gaze my way, squeezing me over the jeans I bought at one of our stops.

Leggings would’ve been more comfortable for the long drive. Fuck leggings. I’ve been wearing them for the last ten years of my life. I’m done.

Gone are the days of carrying a gun on me everywhere I went. When I browsed through the racks at the store of one of the hotels we stayed in, I had a choice, and I chose freedom.

Not from Landon. Landon will be with me everywhere I go.

Freedom from the constant gripping, crippling fear…That was something else entirely.

Killing Lester was a gift I never knew I needed. Landon showed me rather than told me how strong I was.

It’s real, this power I have in my hands. In my muscles. In my heart.

I’m strong.

“Make it believable.” A truck drives past us as Landon slows the car. “You have all the time in the world.”

“You’re asking me to repeat what we told the cops on the side of the road?”

He brings my hand to his mouth, pressing his lips to my knuckles. “Exactly what we told them.”

To the police, who had no idea the cabin existed and never will.

Before we went to alert the police that I was alive and well, Landon had called Beverly to dig into Lester’s finances.

Apparently, he had an old uncle in Alaska. His only living relative until three years ago, when he died of cancer. Same uncle had bought the property and built the cabin there a year before his death, according to his receipts and bank statements.

He left it to his nephew.

Who hadn’t visited him for at least ten years.

The cabin and the Lester were pretty much nonexistent. I’m guessing that was why he took me there in the first place.

That made everything simple for us.

We buried Lester next to the cabin. Drove over to a nearby town, got us some new clothes while I’ve remained in the old ones Landon wouldn’t let me wear after the shower.

After that, we set fire to the damn place, left it behind us, and walked over to another town.

While we were there, Vince placed an anonymous call to the authorities. We couldn’t let the fire spread in the forest.

The police over there didn’t suspect anything.

Sure, it was a strange coincidence that a kidnapped girl and her boyfriend appeared out of nowhere just when a massive fire broke not ten miles away from them.

It was also the truth .

“You found me and Lester on a deserted road while he stopped to relieve himself.”

“He squatted, remember that part.” A wicked expression takes over his handsome face.

Out of all the organs he’s chopped off people, Lester’s penis is the one that amuses him the most. For obvious reasons. Even though he wasn’t the one to do the deed, he’s satisfied that it was he who made it happen. That he did it for me.

“Of course I remember.” With my free hand, I reach out to caress his dark stubble that has turned into a beard over the last few days.

Between shopping for clothes, driving, fucking, and sleeping, he didn’t have much time to take care of that.

I’m not sure that I want him to.

The nerve endings on my exposed nails light up at the soft touch. The bandages aren’t the best barrier. I don’t hate it. In fact, the pain turns me on.

“This should be interesting.” Landon’s lips tip to the side, smirking at the sounds I’m making. “You moaning there the first time I meet your parents.”

“Oh, shut up.” I laugh and slap him lightly before returning my hand to my lap. Now that the thought is planted in my head, I’m dying a little on the inside. “Anyway…”

At my whisper, Landon starts laughing. Really laughing. It’s so rare that I stare at him, filing away the sound in my head. How his shoulders shake as his lips stretch.

“Anyway.” He stirs me from ogling him.

“Anyway, yes. He squatted and peed on the side of the road. I have absolutely no clue where he was taking us. All I know is…” My eyes grow misty. This part of the story is not a lie. Not at all. “That you came for me. You followed the leads you had and with my fingernails, you found me.”

“Always. I will always find you.”

We get off at the intersection that leads us to our neighborhood. Mom texted that they were early and already there, waiting outside. I have to remember to pretend I need to use the restroom, run to the den, and hide my organ jars in the leather chest we have there.

“Always.” No need to focus on that right now. My story is what’s important. “You saved me. Punched Lester in the throat. You didn’t try to kill him, though.”

“Heaven forbid I’d go to prison because of that fucker.”

His solemn tone is hilarious, and I crack up again. “You keep saying stuff like that and I’ll mess everything up.”

“The only mess anyone will be making is us” He quirks an eyebrow, shooting me a glance that has my nipples tightening.

“Ugh.” I throw my hands in the air dramatically, pretending to be upset. “They’ll think I’m dating a serial killer.”

“Who’ll be married to one. In two days. Imagine that.”

I should’ve guessed that this would be the part that upsets him. He doesn’t mind when I call him a serial killer. Three people, plus Tripp, who he’s going to kill once we’ve settled in.

That part he likes.

The gates to our home appear in the distance. So does my parents’ silver SUV. My heart does somersaults. My stomach isn’t tied up in knots anymore.

I’m happy. So very happy.

My family is here. Mojo, too, sticking his nose between the gates. Sniffing for me.

“You hit him. He freaked out since you’re so big and tall and scary,” I blurt out. “The coward ran while you tended to me. We didn’t see where. He just disappeared.”

“Yes, he did.”

Landon hasn’t fully stopped the car, and I’m already leaping out and running toward my family. My new sneakers pound on the pavement and tears spring to my eyes.

There was no doubt in my mind that I’d get to meet them again. I trusted Landon to save me with every fiber of my being.

But, God. What a relief to see them in person. What a joy to jump into my mother’s arms. To have Rosemary laughing and crying all at once when she hugs me from the side. To feel my dad’s large body enveloping the three of us in one of his warm, familiar bear hugs.

Mojo barks and his snout pokes between my legs from behind me. Woof! Woof! Woof!

“You’re here. My baby is here.” Mom’s voice is muffled as she sobs into my hair.

“My sweet, sweet daughter.” Dad sounds choked as he pulls all of us closer to him. “Thank God, you’re home. I was so…I was so…” He sniffs, and something inside me shatters.

If I could, I would’ve raised Lester from the dead and killed him again for what he’d done to my family.

Bastard.

“I’m fine. I’m here.” I pull back to deliver some good news for a change. Other than me being alive.

Rosemary and Mom reach tentatively for my hands. A new wave of tears streams down their cheeks as they examine my bandaged fingers.

“Please don’t cry.” My eyes glisten even as I’m saying that. “It’s really not so bad.” Then I remember. “Besides, it was worth it so that Landon could save me.”

I move next to Dad, where he pulls me into his side. The four of us are facing Landon, who’s standing there patiently, hands folded to the front of his body as he’s eyeing our family.

“Mom, Dad, this is the man you’ve talked to over the phone.” A burning gaze from Landon, and I blush, rushing to add, “My fiancé.”

“Nice to meet you.” He dips his chin.

Mom is the first to walk over to him. Her white wool sweater is a stark difference from his all-black clothes. Her hands rise to cup his cheeks and he cuts his gaze to mine.

For the first time ever, this man is worried. Maybe because his mom was such a wildcard that he has no idea what to expect. How to deal with a crying woman who touches him so affectionately.

I hope my nod conveys that it’s okay. That Mom’s safe.

She is.

When he returns to look at her, a small smile tugs on his face. “Hello, Mrs. Everglow.”

“Thank you.” She throws her arms around his neck, rising on her tiptoes. “Thank you for saving my daughter. Thank you for finding her before anything—anything—”

He folds her into his arms, patting her back. “I would’ve walked to the ends of the earth for her. Alaska was really nothing.”

At his words, she giggles while still sobbing and takes a step back. “I’m sorry. For jumping you like that. I just couldn’t…”

Dad deposits me with Rosemary and heads over to her side. His arm rounds her shoulders, and she snuggles into him.

Rosemary, Mojo, and I join them. Landon holds his arm out for me, and I hug him back, gripping his long T-shirt. He leans over to kiss the top of my head, and I smile at how his hair tickles my forehead.

“So good to finally meet you.” My dad’s green eyes slide to Landon’s arm around me. He tugs the hem of his too-long gray sweater and offers his hand to Landon. “Again, from all of us, thank you for bringing our Regan back. Both our daughters mean everything to us.”

“Don’t neglect Mojo,” Rosemary chirps, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

“How could I ever neglect our only son?” Dad chuckles while Landon takes his hand and shakes it. “Thank you again. Welcome to the family, son.”

Landon gulps. Freezes.

This is huge for him. For me too, but I’m not the surprised one. Before I was kidnapped, I had my concerns. While Landon stole my heart from the start, he was also my eyeballs man.

Now he’s just my man, period. My parents can see that like I knew they would.

Except Landon hasn’t had a father in over fourteen years. Or a family.

He looks overwhelmed at having my parents embracing him into ours. In a good way.

“As I said.” Deep breath, and he finds his voice again. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Regan.” My soul soars with the way he’s looking at me. “Besides, you saved yourself. I didn’t do anything.”

“Please.” I’m blushing so hard it’s embarrassing. “ I didn’t do anything.”

“Well, whatever you two did, it worked.” Dad glances over his shoulder at the mansion. “It’s getting cold out here. And Regan needs the rest. We should head inside, if that’s okay with you?”

He looks at both of us.

“Yes!” I say a little too loudly. Mojo barks at the sound. Everyone furrows their brow at me. “Good idea, I mean. I have to use the bathroom.”

We spread into our cars relatively quickly. Landon closes the door behind me, slides into the driver’s seat, and clicks the button to open the front gates.

“They love you.”

His gaze is probing. Questioning. “They’ve just met me.”

“Yet they do. Want me to tell you why?”

He gestures with his hand for me to go on.

“Because you’re mine.”

I’m not saying it to convince him of anything. I’m not overselling it.

I’m stating a simple fact, and he believes it.

“And you’re mine, little lamb.” He pulls my hand to his lap as he follows my family inside. “Always and forever. Mine.”