“Not like ye think,” I laugh, patting her hand. “I knew the family would come for me, so I worked as hard as I could on the antidote and stealing the data on the project.”
“We were so relieved when Da called Lucas in,” Maisie says. “I was worried he wouldn’t come,but he was here in just a few hours. From Siberia!”
“Lucas isn’t one for second thoughts.” I smile. “When the castle was under attack, I was in the lab, trying to get what I could, and he strode in, looking like an avenging angel and scooped me up. His team was amazing, distracting Dubois’ guards so we could get out. Unfortunately, his team’s equipment and vehicles were destroyed, so we had to hike out.”
“Ye dinnae have any of your medication, did ye?” Arabella frowns.
“No. I had an episode.” It feels shaming to admit it, something that makes me weak. These girls are some of the very few that know about my injury.
“In the middle of the mountains?” Luna’s horrified.
“Lucas got me into a freezing cold creek, sitting with me until I could breathe. He ran six kilometers to the next town to break into their apothecary and get the meds I needed.”
There’s a collective sigh. “He’s an amazing tracker.” Afton squeezed my hand, “This is more than a rescue, the man’s devoted to ye.”
All the memories of our trek through the mountains keep looping in my mind. The rescue. Lucas was there. Every moment of the hike, hewas there, helping me, sometimes carrying me, the only man I could ever bear to see me so weak with those spasms. He took care of me. Finding me clothes, getting us to safety. Every moment of his solid presence, there for me.
Standing up decisively, I scan the room. “Lucas needs to tell the story with me. He’s the only reason I’m here.” They move aside with a collection of smirks, and I push through the crowd.
“Where’s Lucas?” I ask Duncan.
“I was just talking with the lad…” He scans the crowd. “He’s here somewhere, that’s certain.”
Skirting the room, I look through the forest created by the ridiculously tall MacTavish men and then step out onto the front entryway. My cousin Wallace is there, lighting matches and flicking them off the terrace and into the bushes.
“First, Mum is gonna kill ye if she catches ye setting fire to her roses, and second, have ye seen Lucas, by any chance?”
“Aye.” He puts his matches away and points to the front gate, “He just left.”
Hurrying past him, I watch the red glow of tail lights as he passes the gates and they close behind him. The red lights dim, and he’s gone.
Chapter Twenty-Two
In which Catriona remembers what it feels like to be left behind.
Catriona…
I’m a fool.
I canna believe that Lucas dinnae stick around. I should have known that he’d disappear the moment my back was turned. I’m going to find that heartless, emotionally distant son of a bitch and then I’m going to-
He really just left me like that? Again?
Three years ago…
Sleep is impossible to come by after Lucas dropped me off. After tossing and turning for a few hours, I get dressed, eagerly checking my phone. I have a research project due, but I’ll put off the investors for a couple of weeks. This is more important.
We’ll need to talk to Da first. I know about hisironclad rule about no fraternization between bodyguards and family, this is different. It’s no fling.
There’s nothing from Lucas.
Frowning, I send a text.
Maybe he’s still asleep. It’s not like he got any rest last night either. Never mind how sore I am, the memory’s making everything south of my waist tingle.
I’ll go to his.
I’ve been to Lucas’ flat before, though not often. He’s always been insistent about keeping the appropriate distance between us. It’s a modest place. I have a pretty good idea of what my father pays his top security people, so Lucas could have his own house by now, maybe two or three if he liked.
