28. Where Did He Go?
WHERE DID HE GO?
OLIVIA
He’s gone.
Lake isn’t in bed and the house is completely quiet.
I’m all alone. After last night, I expected this morning to start differently.
Disappointment fills me. I thought last night was special.
Apparently, it didn’t have the same meaning to Lake.
I feel foolish—like a starry-eyed teen who is experiencing first love but is na?ve to the world.
I should know better, but I’m just not equipped for this kind of thing.
I’ve never slept with anyone willingly except for Bear and his brother Blade.
The fact that I slept with Blade still freaks me out.
It would have never happened if he and Bear hadn’t lied to me.
I push those thoughts away. The point is, I don’t know how to deal with casual relationships.
That’s obviously what Lake thinks we have.
He claimed me as his last night with his words, but there was no talk of a future together, no plans, nothing. I had been stupid.
I run through my morning routine quickly and get dressed.
Part of me is hoping this is all a misunderstanding and Lake will show up with a perfectly understandable explanation as to why he left without a goodbye.
Deep inside, I know that’s not going to happen.
I’m used goods. No man is going to want to touch me with the past I have.
Obviously, Lake discovered that himself.
I make my way to the kitchen. I don’t have much of an appetite, but I need something because I know therapy will take a long time today. I decide to make a small breakfast. Lake had said he was taking me into town today, but he’s not here. Maybe he changed his mind. Which is fine—totally fine.
I grab a box of cereal from the cabinet and take a minute to cut up a banana and add the sugar and milk.
There’s no point in truly cooking. It doesn’t make sense if Lake’s not here.
I’m not a big breakfast person anyway. I sit down at the small breakfast table in the kitchen—just about to take my first bite—when there’s a knock on my door.
I take a deep breath and smile. That has to be Lake.
I’ve just misunderstood everything. I get up at once, eagerly going to the door.
I don’t know how it has happened so quickly, but I’m falling for this man.
It happened without me even realizing it.
It’s like my body recognizes him from some past life.
I’m drawn to him in ways that has only happened once before and that was with Bear.
I open the door and the smile on my face falls as I look at Carson and his brother Cooper. I’m confused. It’s not like one of them to show up at my door without warning—let alone both of them.
“Hey guys,” I finally say. “What are you two doing stirring around so early? Lake told you I was okay. I just had a bad day, I promise,” I rattle.
“Can we come in, Livy?” Carson asks.
I step back at once, realizing I should have invited them in first. “I’m sorry. My brain is a little fried,” I explain with a small laugh that I have to force. “I just made myself a bowl of cereal before I go to therapy. Would you guys like something?”
“No. I know you had plans today, Livy, but we’re here to take you to the main house for security reasons.”
Panic hits me at once. My first thought is of Lake. Is this why he’s not here? Did Carson call him out?
“Is that where Lake went? Is he okay?”
Carson and Cooper share a look before Cooper sighs. “Lake’s fine, Livy. We just got a call that someone was hanging out by your cabin and while that’s being contained, we want you to come to the main house. It’s just so we can watch over you better.”
A cold sweat instantly coats my body. I grab Cooper’s coat sleeve.
He’s nearest and right now, I’m not sure I can keep standing.
I lift my gaze to Cooper, pleading silently.
“Is it my brother? It is all a lie, isn’t it?
He’s still alive. Oh, God. Has he come back for me?
” I ask, despair so thick in my voice that I almost choke on it.
Carter instantly takes me in his arms and pulls me to a chair, holding me like he would a small child.
“Livy, your brother is dead. DNA confirmed it, the surveillance videos did too. He’s not coming back.
The only reason we wanted you at the ranch is so that you could heal without worrying.
We’ve dealt with every member of the Feral MC and wiped them from existence.
I promise you. They won’t bother you anymore.
When you’re ready, I promise if you want to see the truth, I will personally show you myself,” Carson promises.
“He’s telling the truth, Livy. When you feel strong enough to, I will personally take you and show you all the evidence that your brother and every single one of those men are no longer breathing.
We got rid of the last of them about a month ago.
They confirmed your brother was one of the dead men who burned to death,” Cooper adds.
I finally nod and try to get my anxiety and nerves back under control. “He deserved worse,” I whisper, then take a deep breath. “Okay. If you’re sure, I’ll let it go.”
“We are,” Carter answers immediately.
“Then, what’s today about?” I ask.
“Cross was coming over to check on you this morning. He found a man standing in the tree line, watching your house. It’s not a motorcycle club member of any club.” I’m sure he tags on that last line because of my fear.
“Who was it?” I ask, trying to ignore the way my voice trembles.
“We’re not sure, Livy. That’s why we’re here.
Cross called me and asked me to keep you at the main house, just in case the guy might be targeting you.
We don’t know anything yet. We’re going to question the guy.
I promise you that we’ll find out soon. It doesn’t matter, whatever is going on, we will get to the bottom of it.
I’m not going to let you be in danger any longer, Livy. I can promise you that much.”
I nod, my chest feeling kind of hollow. Lake has to know all this is going on, yet he’s not here checking on me.
Maybe he’s out with the others trying to find out who this guy is and what he’s doing, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have called me, left a note, took me to Carson’s himself—something.
“Okay let me grab my purse and laptop. That way, I can have my therapy session online if I need to.”
Carson kisses the top of my head like the older brother he is to me now, and I go get my stuff. I do it with my heart breaking, because I know that no matter what happens now, I’ll never trust Lake to let him in again.
It’s over.