Chapter Twenty-One
Lucy
It’s been a little over a month since the guys started repairs on Nana’s house, and we are definitely feeling the summer heat now.
It’s the fourth of July, and I can’t wait to spend the evening with the guys at the local park, watching fireworks together.
For now, they are busy finishing up a few things before we leave, so I pull out my phone to video call Ember. She answers almost immediately.
“I miss youuuu,” is the first thing out of her mouth followed by a pouting face.
“I miss you too. I wish you were here to watch the fireworks with me,” I reply, making a face to match hers.
“At least you’ll be watching them with three of the hottest men to walk the earth,” she scoffs, rolling her eyes.
Looking up at the guys, I smile. “I have nothing to complain about right now.” I glance back down at her face on the screen, and she laughs.
“Lucky bitch. I’m stuck working tonight, and I have to open in the morning.” I can hear the attitude, and I’m glad I am not one of the people she has to work with. She’s going to be unbearable serving drinks tonight.
“You don’t have to work, Em. You choose to,” I remind her.
“Eww. Like I would want to use my father’s money for anything. He was a terrible person.” The disgusted look on her face is telling. He was a shitty person and an even worse father. Some big-shot lawyer who invested well and had a heart attack during an intimate moment with his secretary.
“I know, Em. At least you’ll be here next week for a visit,” I say excitedly to boost her mood.
“I can’t fucking wait. Do I need to get a room at the motel in town or—”
“Absolutely not,” I say, cutting her off. “You’ll stay at the guy's house with me.” She gives me a curious look. “They already know you are coming and have promised to give us girl time together.”
“You say that until Ren is sneaking into your room, waking you up with an orgasm,” she teases.
“That’s only happened twice, and he said he would be on his best behavior.”
“Who said they’d be on their best behavior?” Ren comes up from behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “Hi Ember.”
“You, Knucklehead. You told Lucy you’d be on your best behavior while I was visiting.” Em gives him a glare.
“I said no such—ouch!” I elbow him in the ribs before he can finish his sentence. He takes a step back and grabs his side.
“Yes, you did!” I say, turning to meet his gaze.
“Hey Lucy, I’ve gotta go. Call me tomorrow,” Ember says in a hurried voice before hanging up the phone.
“Great. Now you scared her, and she’s not going to come for a visit.” Sarcasm laces my voice as Ren wraps his arms around me again.
“If she doesn’t come visit you, then she is missing out,” he says, placing a kiss on the tip of my nose. “You ready? We’re all packed up, ready to go back to the house and shower.”
“Yes. Is it safe for me to run upstairs to my room and grab a couple things?”
“Sure, Love. Don’t take too long; we’ll meet you back at the house.” He kisses my forehead before releasing me.
“I’ll be right behind you, promise.”
Making my way to the porch, I meet Nash at the bottom of the stairs.
“What are you doin’, Darlin’?” He flashes me a smile.
“Just wanted to grab a couple things from my room before heading back.”
“Be quick. Maybe you can join me in the shower when you get back,” Nash says with a wink before passing by.
Like always, I’m surprised to see the progress when I walk into the house.
The walls have all been replaced along with updated wiring.
They still need to be painted, but not until the fireplace is done.
I wanted the fireplace to be exactly the same as before, but finding the right bricks for it has been a pain in my ass.
The new windows are bigger, letting more of the sunlight into the room.
I smile and continue up the stairs to my bedroom.
When I reach the top step, I notice Colson closing the door to the spare room.
He stops when he sees me. I take a good look at him.
This is the closest we’ve been in weeks.
He hasn’t been eating dinner with us and avoids me anytime we’re at the house alone together.
The bruising on his cheek has healed. Ren told me he had gotten into a fight outside of the bar the night I saw him in my doorway.
We haven’t talked besides a few words from me and a couple of grunts in reply from him since then.
“Hey,” I say, my voice soft and low.
“Don’t go in that room. Safety hazard.” He looks towards the door before bringing his gaze to mine. We lock eyes, and my stomach flutters.
“Okay” is all I can say before he breezes past me and heads outside.
Letting out a breath, I drop my head and steady my breathing before turning the handle to my room.
Stepping in, I stride towards the window, watching as the guys take off in their trucks.
The thought of them makes me smile as I turn and head for my closet.
Rummaging through my clothes, I pull out the lacy, emerald green corset and the matching thong.
Nash is going to lose his damn mind when he sees me in this.
Picking up a few more items, I find a bag and shove them inside. Looking around to make sure I got everything I came for, I leave the room and walk to my car. Shoving the bag in the back seat, I hear the ping of a message come through on my phone. I pull it from my pocket and read it.
Unknown: You don’t deserve what you have. Give it up before I make you.
My throat is dry as I try to swallow back the fear spreading through my body. My hands turn clammy, and my phone slips from my hand to the floor. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself as my brain tries to make sense of the message.
It’s just my aunt and uncle trying to scare me.
Sighing, I decide to let the guys know when I get back, just in case. I start the car and head down the driveway, thinking about all the shit my aunt and uncle have done. When I hit the main back road, I roll my windows down and turn up the music.
Deciding to take the long way back, I grab my phone to text the guys, letting them know I’ll be a little longer than planned.
Before I can hit send, something bumps the back of my car, and when I look in the rearview mirror, all I can see is the color red on a small truck.
They hit me again a little harder, and I grip the steering wheel tighter so I don’t lose control.
The truck moves into the other lane as if it’s going to pass me, so I start to slow down.
I can’t see the driver at all, but I realize this is the same truck that almost hit me when I first came back.
When the realization hits me, and I speed back up, the truck on my tail in the opposite lane.
I can feel anxiety and fear flowing through my body as I try to keep the car steady.
Stealing another glance in the side mirror, the truck hits my back bumper in a PIT maneuver move and I lose control of the steering wheel.
Holding my breath, the car swerves towards the edge of the road, and the last thing I see is a tree in front of me before the car stops abruptly and my vision goes black.