Chapter Six
Lucy had been having a good dream, something warm and comforting that she couldn’t quite remember.
When she woke up, confusion washed over her. This wasn ’ t her bedroom. The room was unfamiliar, painted in muted, masculine tones. The furniture was minimalist, with a sturdy dark wood dresser, a single nightstand, and heavy blackout curtains that blocked out the morning light.
As she took in her surroundings, her eyes landed on Carver, lying next to her, his face relaxed in sleep. She watched the rise and fall of his chest for a moment, finding an odd sense of calm in his presence. She wanted to reach out, to tuck a stray strand of hair that had fallen across his forehead, but found she couldn ’ t move her hands. Her wrists were tied to the bedpost.
Confusion quickly morphed into fear, then anger. She tugged at the restraints, but they were secure. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of her predicament.
The events of last night came crashing down on her—Carver revealing who he was, the man she freed, and the undeniable attraction that had led her to fall asleep in his bed. How could she have been so naive? What was wrong with her that she’d just fallen asleep here, in the lion’s den?
She glanced back at Carver, still sleeping soundly, and her anger flared. How could he do this to her? She wanted to scream, to wake him and demand answers, but a part of her was still paralyzed by the realization of who he truly was.
Her breaths came in shallow gasps as she tried to calm herself. She needed to think, to figure out a way out of this mess.
The man she had kissed, the man who had seemed so protective, was also the man who now held her captive. She couldn’t reconcile the two images, and it made her head spin.
With a final, desperate tug at her bindings, Lucy swallowed her panic and forced herself to think. She needed to get out of here, to get away from Carver, but first, she needed to wake him up and face whatever twisted game he was playing.
Lucy had been tempted to yell at him, but her attempts to free herself eventually woke him up. Carver ’ s eyes fluttered open, and he looked at her with a mix of concern and something she couldn’t quite place.
“Let me go this instant,” she demanded, her voice trembling but firm.
He reached out to cup her cheek, and the tenderness in his gesture stunned her. Lucy should hate his guts, should be filled with rage and fear, but his hand felt so warm against her skin.
It sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn’t help but lean into his touch for a brief moment.
“Not until we’ve cleared up some things,” he told her, releasing her slowly as if reluctant to let go.
“Okay,” she said, taking a deep breath.
He wanted to talk. Talking was fine. That meant he had no intention of getting rid of her … yet.
“I’ll release you, but only if you promise not to say anything,” he said, searching her eyes.
She stared at him, wondering if he was being serious. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, anger, and an inexplicable attraction to Carver, despite everything that had happened between them.
Lucy couldn’t help it. She lost some of her cool but wasn’t that understandable, given her situation?
“You can’t get away with this,” she whispered. “The cops—”
“The cops have been in my family’s pockets for decades,” he cut her off, his tone suddenly cold and distant.
The warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by a steely resolve. She could see the monster peeking out, and it scared her. Lucy preferred her sweet and thoughtful Carver, but was that version of Carver simply a lie?
“Not a lie. I feel different when I’m with you,” he said, and she realized she must’ve spoken her thoughts out loud.
His expression softened, and she saw a flicker of the man she thought she knew. She swallowed, processing his words and her situation.
“What do you want from me?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“I want you to understand,” he said, leaning closer. “I want you to see that there’s more to me than the monster you think I am.”
“But you tied me up,” she shot back, her voice gaining strength. “You scared me, Carver.”
“I know,” he said, his expression pained. “And I’m sorry. I panicked. When I saw you here, I didn’t know what to do. But I need you to trust me now.”
“How can I trust you after everything?” she asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
He reached out again, this time taking her hands in his.
“Because I care about you, Lucy. More than I’ve cared about anyone in a long time. And I promise you, I will protect you. Just … please, give me a chance to explain,” Carver urged.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there. Despite everything, a part of her wanted to believe him, wanted to trust him. She took a deep breath and nodded.
“Okay,” she said softly. “Explain.”
He released her wrists, the bindings falling away. She rubbed her wrists, feeling the circulation return, and watched as Carver took a seat on the edge of the bed, his eyes never leaving hers.
“I didn’t want you to see this side of me,” he began, his voice steady. “But now that you have, I need you to understand why I do what I do. It’s not just about the money or the power. It’s about protecting my family, ensuring our survival in a world that would tear us apart if given the chance.”
Lucy listened, her fear slowly giving way to curiosity and a flicker of understanding. Carver continued, his voice low and earnest, and she found herself drawn in. No matter what he told her, he was still a monster, she reminded herself. Lucy couldn’t be sympathetic to a monster, and yet, she hadn’t exactly seen him kill anyone.
His prisoner got away and … why was she trying to justify his actions? No, she was just trying to understand him better because she had no choice, did she?
“I think I understand,” she said. “I won’t say a word about you or your family.”
Carver looked at her for a long moment, and Lucy began to sweat. She wondered if he bought her lie, and it was a lie, wasn’t it? Surely, she wasn’t deluded enough to believe that by some miracle, she could somehow redeem a man like Carver.
Carver eventually rose to his feet. She moved by instinct, her back hitting the bedpost.
Pain flickered across his features. Was he saddened by the fact she was a little scared of him? Did that make him change his mind about letting her go if she kept his secrets?
“Promise me,” he told her.
“I promise,” she whispered and waited.
She didn’t have to wait long. He walked to the bedroom door and opened it.
“Then you’re free to go,” he said.
She got out of bed, wondering if this was all a trick, but he simply stood there, waiting. Lucy hesitantly left the bedroom, telling herself not to look back at him. If she did, he might decide not to let her leave after all. Only a few steps to the front door now. She took a deep breath, walked a little faster. Almost there.
Lucy couldn’t help it, she looked over her shoulder. Carver leaned against the door of his bedroom, his grave eyes on her. She wondered what he was thinking, then remembered the precarious situation she was in. She wasn’t naive enough to believe he’d simply let her go. He’d probably watch her closely from now onward, but first, she had to walk out of this place in one piece.
Lucy stepped into the corridor, half-expecting him to come after her. When he didn’t, she closed the door behind her, heart racing.
Then she ran back to her own apartment, slammed the door shut, and locked it. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she leaned against the door, trying to catch her breath.
As the initial shock began to wear off, Lucy’s mind raced. What was she going to do now? She couldn’t just pretend nothing had happened. She needed a plan. She needed to figure out how to deal with Carver and the Arrow brothers without getting herself killed.
She glanced around her apartment, trying to find a sense of normalcy in the familiar surroundings. But everything felt different now. She was entangled in a dangerous world, and she didn’t know how to escape.
Her phone buzzed, making her jump. It was a text from Cindy, asking if she was okay because she wasn ’ t at work yet. Lucy hesitated before typing out a quick reply, trying to sound casual. She couldn ’ t involve Cindy in this mess.
As she set her phone down, her thoughts drifted back to Carver. Despite everything, there was a part of her that was drawn to him, that wanted to believe he could be more than the monster everyone said he was. But she couldn’t afford to be naive. Not now.
She had to stay focused, stay vigilant. Because no matter what Carver said, she knew she was far from safe. Lucy closed her eyes, staying pressed to the door for a few moments before realizing that being afraid and hiding wouldn’t get her anywhere.
Work. For once in her life, she didn’t dread going to the diner. Some sense of normalcy and routine was exactly what she needed. She dragged herself to the shower and dressed.
In the corridor again, she glanced at Carver’s door, wondering if he was watching her. Probably not.
Still, as she left her apartment, she had the distinct impression someone was watching her. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of eyes on her, an unsettling sensation that made her heart race and her palms sweat.
Don’t think too much of it , she reminded herself, then took the bus to work.
When she arrived, Burt immediately chewed her out for being late.
“Do you think this place runs itself, Lucy?” he asked her.
Annoyance flared in her. This was the first time she had been late for work in all the months she’d worked there. She shrugged off Burt’s depreciating words and focused on doing her job instead.
But she must have been off, because after the lunch crowd left, Cindy pulled her aside.
“What’s wrong with you today, Lucy?” Cindy asked.
“Just feeling a little unwell, that’s all,” she said, trying to muster a reassuring smile.
Cindy looked skeptical but didn’t push for more answers. As her shift neared its end, Lucy’s thoughts drifted back to her apartment. The thought of fleeing crossed her mind, but where would she go? This city was the only home she’d ever known.
Fear gnawed at her as she considered her options. She could indeed run, but Carver would find her. He and his brothers probably had eyes everywhere.
Her heart pounded as she cleaned up her station, the familiar routine doing little to calm her nerves. When the last customer left and the diner quieted down, Lucy felt the weight of her predicament pressing down on her.
She couldn’t stay trapped in fear forever, but she also couldn’t deny the danger she was in. As she wiped down the counter, her mind raced with possibilities, each one more daunting than the last.
“Lucy, you sure you’re okay?” Cindy asked again, her voice tinged with concern.
“Yeah, just a lot on my mind,” Lucy replied, trying to sound convincing.
Cindy nodded, still looking unconvinced. “If you need anything, you know you can talk to me, right?”
“Thanks, Cindy,” Lucy said. She appreciated the offer but knew she couldn’t involve her friend in this mess.
As her shift finally ended, Lucy took a deep breath, steeling herself for the walk back to her apartment.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her, following her every move. She walked quickly, her eyes darting around, her senses heightened. When she reached her building, she hesitated for a moment before heading inside.
Every shadow seemed menacing, every sound amplified in her heightened state of fear. She quickly ascended the stairs, her heart pounding louder with each step.
As she approached her apartment door, she glanced at Carver’s door again, half-expecting him to emerge. But the hallway remained empty and silent. She unlocked her door and slipped inside, locking it behind her with a shaky hand.
A wild thought entered Lucy’s mind. What if instead of fearing and avoiding Carver, she could learn to accept him? She thought of the sizzling chemistry between them, the pain in his eyes when he realized she was afraid of him.
Her heart began to race. Why fight when it was easy to cave in? It was crazy of her to consider this, but he did care for her in his own way. Lucy didn’t belong to his world, but could she have a place in it?
She paced her small apartment, the walls closing in around her as she pondered the possibilities. Could she really accept a man like Carver? Her mind flashed back to the way he held her, the tenderness in his touch. She shivered, not from fear but from the memory of his warmth.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she let out a shaky breath. Could she really do this? Could she step into his world and make a place for herself?
The logical part of her screamed no, but the emotional part, the part that had felt that electric connection with him, urged her to take the leap.
Lucy knew she had to confront her feelings head-on. The uncertainty gnawed at her, but she couldn’t deny the pull she felt toward him. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to bridge the gap between their worlds.