Charlotte
It’s hard to leave Lukas with Cormac and Miriam, but I’m a wreck, and a meltdown is inevitable.
The shower is as impressive as the rest of the mansion, and rather than enjoying the multitude of sprayer settings, I end up sitting on the tile floor, trying to keep it together.
I swear to God, I’m working on being the best mom I can be.
I made mistakes when I was younger, but as soon as I found out about Lukas, I cleaned up my act. I’ve spent years trying to build a better life for the two of us.
I just don’t know if it’ll ever be enough.
I want Lukas to have a family and people outside of me that care for him.
That feels impossible with my baggage.
It’s what’s held me back from looking for a pack these last three years. Even if I could find alphas who were open to adopting Lucky, it wouldn’t be fair to them. The chance Blade’s guys could catch up is too great a risk. They wouldn’t hesitate to slaughter my entire new family in retribution for what I did to their president.
My brain is my worst enemy, telling me all the things my kid will miss out on in life because of the mistakes I made.
I cry it out until I don’t have any tears left. A cold, numb feeling starts to set in. I’m exhausted from constantly having to look over my shoulder.
Most normal packs wouldn’t have a chance against Blade’s guys, but Cormac and his brothers would.
You don’t even know for sure that it’s the Demons that are in town…
Not without a shadow of a doubt, but the chances are strong that it’s Blade’s MC.
Who else would be riding around on a motorcycle in the dead of winter in Boston?
No one with half a brain…
Not unless they had something to prove.
I spend way too long feeling sorry for myself in the shower, so I rush through getting dressed and give myself a final once-over in the mirror.
My face is puffy and swollen, but I didn’t bring my makeup bag in with me last night.
There’s no way I don’t look like a jump scare, and I formulate a plan to go out to my SUV to grab Lucky’s action figures and a few things for myself.
I’m just walking out the door when my phone rings.
I snatch up the phone and answer the call. “Lacey?”
“Are you okay?” she asks.
There’s a man’s voice in the background, but it’s muffled, and I can’t tell what’s being said.
“I’m here,” I say, fighting to keep my frustration from spilling into my tone. “Why didn’t you warn me that you were attacked?”
“Shit,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry. It is my story to tell, but it also isn’t, if that makes sense. Grim handled the guys who attacked me, and I was hoping that was the end of it. That you wouldn’t ever have to interact with the O’Connors.”
“How in the world are you tangled up with the mafia, anyway?” I ask, because I’m still having trouble processing that.
“My mom married into one of the families, but I haven’t had much to do with them, at least until recently.” She sighs. “Look, I don’t want to say too much on the phone. You’ll be safe with Patrick. Wilder swears he’s a good guy.”
Wilder…
Her stepbrother turned boyfriend.
