Killing Lucas (12 page)

Lucas looked out the window at the soft pink fingers of sunlight reaching over the sky. Somehow, nothing in the letter had come as a big shock. He hadn’t known Mel was gay, but that didn’t change anything.

“Was I wrong not to give you the letter?”

“No. At the time I wouldn’t have read it and what would it have changed?”

“I honestly forgot about the letter. I threw it out when Kiloran gave it to me, but Barbara dug it out of the trash and told me in no uncertain terms that I would regret it one day.”

“Do you regret it?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Lucas nodded. Barbara had been Tony’s secretary for years, and had even come with him when he’d started his own company. She knew him better than anyone, except maybe Haven. She certainly could see through all his walls better than his own family had. “Me neither.”

“You’re not angry?”

“Would it matter?”

Tony shook his head. “Probably not, but it would be nice to know if I should expect a punch to the jaw.”

“Watch out for the right hook, it’s a mean one!” Hunter yelled from the bedroom.

Lucas looked at his brother and then they both looked at the door before bursting out in laughter. “Whose right hook?”

“Any. Both. You Shermans are all the same. You sucker punch when someone least expects it.” Hunter would know, having been on the receiving end from both Lucas and Tony during his courtship and separation from J.C.

“’Cause we’re smart that way.” Tony smiled. “So what’s the game plan?”

“A great game plan would be for you two to take a walk so I can sleep and don’t have to hear you two through this paper-thin wall.”

Lucas shrugged and headed for the outdoor porch. He leaned against the railing. “I suppose it would be a waste of breath to ask you all to leave?” He waited for Tony’s nod. “Perhaps one of you could drive Kil and me down to the hospital in the morning to see her assistant? And then we can play it by ear.”

“That’s a good plan. Now will everyone shut the fuck up so I can get some ever-loving sleep?” Hunter growled behind them, slamming the outside door of the cabin.

Chapter Thirteen

“I can handle your brothers. I’ve dealt with worse.”—Kiloran to Lucas

S
he must have worn a path in the carpet by now. Where was Lucas? The sun had come up an hour ago and he still wasn’t back yet.
Ten more minutes
, she told herself,
ten more minutes and I am going out to look for him
. She wasn’t as worried for him as much for his brother’s safety at this point. And if she was honest with herself, something she tried to be, she was curious as well. Hell, only Shermans would be arrogant enough to believe they would need to stake out a house the FBI was already watching.

But they were dealing with Shermans, and when one or more got together there was no telling where they might end up. Kiloran just hoped no one ended up hurt. Ten minutes passed, and then another, and she finally had it. She pulled on a pair of soft pink running pants and a tank top before slipping on shoes and was making her way down the stairs when the front door opened. In came Lucas, looking annoyed. Behind him, Trenton looked sheepish, Spencer apprehensive, and Tony like he’d just walked off a photo shoot.

“Hey, honey.” Lucas stopped at the foot of the stairs.

“‘Hey, honey?’ That’s all you have to say?” When Lucas stood silent, she focused her attention on the younger brother. “Good to see you, Trenton. Couldn’t stay away, I see.”

Trenton mumbled something under his breath and rubbed his ear. “Me and Fenway are going to head outside.”

Kiloran raised an eyebrow looking at Lucas for an answer but he just shook his head. “Kil, you remember my older brother Spencer.”

“I do. It’s good to see you again, Spencer.”

Spencer rubbed the back of his neck as if conflicted. Finally, he just nodded and said, “Kiloran.”

“Well then.” Tony clapped his hands to fill the awkward silence. “How about some breakfast? Through here?” He pointed down the hall but didn’t wait for anyone to answer as he walked down to the kitchen like he owned the place.

“Can he cook?”

“Of course. Doesn’t he do everything perfectly?” Spencer muttered. “I think I’ll join Trent outside with the dog.”

Once they were all gone, Lucas sat on the second to the bottom step and leaned his head against the wall. “My family is exhausting.”

Giggling, Kiloran joined him and put her head on his shoulder. “They are, but they also love you. Just like I do.”

She watched Lucas close his eyes a look of pain washed over his face. “I—Kiloran, I’m…”

“Shhh…you don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to say it and make sure you knew.” Standing up, she smacked her hands on her legs. “I guess I should go and set the table to five.”

“Six.”

“Six?”

“Hunter should be trudging over eventually.”

Hunter Brooks
? “How the hell did they manage to talk Hunter into this?”

Looking at each other, they both started laughing. “
Tony!”

Kiloran hadn’t seen Hunter in about six years. They’d dated for a few weeks, he’d escorted her to a few premiers and she’d accompanied him to dinners when he’d needed arm candy. And when things had begun to heat up, she’d landed a role in a movie filming in Alaska. They’d said they would get together when she was back in town, but neither was very good at keeping in touch. And while she’d been on location, the stalking had begun. Nothing serious, and nothing that had hinted to what would happen later. A few fan letters, flowers sent to set, and some Photoshop art of Kiloran. Not only had she not been concerned, she hadn’t linked all the items to one person at the time.

She didn’t deal with most of her mail by then, Nancy did. So Kiloran had only seen the few items Nancy had brought to her. The vague responses Nancy had created for her to sign, including generic thank-you notes and cards to sick children. When she’d first got in the business, Kiloran had said she would answer each fan mail personally with a handwritten letter. That soon had become a pipe dream she couldn’t fulfill.

But when the same thank-you letter was sent more than once, the messages grew in frequency and anger. The first major event happened the night Kiloran had come home from Alaska. After two months of being in close quarters with everyone on the set, including Nancy, it had been a relief to close the doors and be alone for a few days. But that morning she had woken up to find her house and yard vandalized.

The police had said they would look into it, but never really did. With so many big cases, some toilet paper on the lawn and spray paint on her garage and car was child’s play. Hunter had pulled up to take her to lunch as Kiloran started cleaning up the mess.

“I totally forgot we had a date,” she’d said, looking up from where she was scrubbing the red word
fake
off her house.

“I can see why.” He had rolled up his sleeves. “You called the cops?”

“I did, not that it matters. Give me a second I’ll go change.”

“Nonsense. If you have another brush I’ll help you scrub this off. It will bring back memories of my misspent youth. Cleaning up your house might help me with my karma”

They’d scrubbed the house, then ate pizza for dinner. Hunter had been the perfect gentlemen. He’d caught his flight the next day, and though they’d kept in touch and managed to meet up in New York City a few months later for dinner, nothing more had come of it. Wrong place, wrong time and, in a few years Kiloran would realize, wrong
person
. Because, in her heart, she knew she had been waiting for Lucas.

“You okay, Kiloran?”

“Huh?”

“You were a million miles away.” Lucas had an amused look on his face, which could only mean he had been trying to get her attention for a while. “I said, why don’t we go get a shower and let them set the table?”

“That would be rude.”

“They invited themselves over for breakfast. Now who’s rude?”

“Go! I’ll get you some coffee.”

Lucas took three steps up the staircase and stopped. “Let me know if any of them are in the least bit disrespectful to you.”

“Stop worrying. I can handle your brothers. I’ve dealt with worse.”

“I haven’t.”

Kiloran smiled as she watched him ascend the stairs and disappear down the hallway. He must care about her at least a little, to worry about how his brothers would treat her. And that was progress. A week ago he would have thrown her to the lions. She wasn’t a fool to believe the physical side of their relationship resuming meant his emotions were involved, but he did seem to be thawing.

Balling her hands into fists to steady herself, she walked into the kitchen. All conversation stopped. Even Fenway seemed to know something was going on. He quit yelping and sat down and looked at Trenton, and then back at her. Only as she came in the room did she see they had another visitor. Hunter leaned in the corner of the kitchen closest to where Tony was cooking.

“Hello, Kil.” Hunter pushed himself away from the counter and approached her.

“Hunter.” She smiled and embraced him. It was always great to see Hunter. And something about his presence both warmed and comforted her. If no one else, he would not judge her. Pulling back she looked at her old friend and frowned. It looked as if someone had taken a broken beer bottle down the side of his face. Though no less handsome, it look to have been very painful. “What happened?”

Hunter’s fingers rubbed the rough edge of the ugly scar on his cheek. “I had a run in with a stalker too.”

Feeling like she was about to vomit, Kiloran reached for the counter for support but Hunters strong arms lead her to one of the kitchen chairs. “Not yours.”

“Oh.” Breathing came a little easier, but not much.

“Sorry. It didn’t occur to me you would think I was one of your stalker’s victims.” He crouched before her. “You okay?”

She nodded. “I’m not usually so wimpy. This whole situation has me on edge.”

Hunter stood and walked into the kitchen pulled out some juice and a glass. Pouring it, he then handed it over. “Drink this. Anyway, my stalker was my wife’s ex-husband.”

A chorus of “bastard” echoed from every Sherman in the room.

“So you caught him?”

“Agent Vassar did,” Hunter said with a strained smile. “He’ll catch yours, too.”

“From your lips to God’s ears. I just hope they catch him before anyone else gets hurt.” She sipped the juice and filled her lungs in an effort to calm down. Whatever Tony was cooking smelled wonderful and her stomach rumbled in protest.

“I never meant to worry you last night,” Trenton finally said from the corner.

Laughing, she shook her head. “You didn’t worry me. All I knew was Lucas was heading outside to kill his brothers. I was more concerned that he had actually succeeded.” She paused and looked at each of the brothers: Tony was cooking and humming as he did—how he looked masculine wearing a frilly apron, she would never know. Trenton looked a bit more relieved as he placed the puppy on the floor, though still looked uncomfortable. Hunter, though not a Sherman by birth, had become one through marriage, and he fit right in. Even with his scar he had a rugged handsomeness that no one could deny. He walked back into the kitchen and spoke quietly to Tony.

Tony paused only for a second before moving on to chop a tomato. Spencer kept his eyes directed at his hands on the table. Kiloran knew he and Tony weren’t speaking from the little Lucas had said, but she didn’t know why. Then there was the invisible elephant in the room.

Her breakup with their brother.

“Can I say something to all of you before Lucas comes back down?”

Tony put down the knife and focused his attention on her, as the rest of the brothers with the exception of Spencer who still managed to look anywhere but at her, did the same. Fenway butted her leg with his head, so she reached down, picked up the pup, and focused on what she needed to say.

“Please know I never wanted to hurt Luc in anyway. I love him, I have always loved him.” She politely ignored Spencer’s growl. “If there had been a better way to keep him safe, I would have done it I’m not asking you to forgive the pain I caused. I’m not even asking you to understand. I just wanted you to know.”

The silence seemed to go on forever. Silence reigned and Kiloran was sure no one would break it. “They know.”

Turning, she saw Lucas standing in the doorway. Hair wet, wearing a T-shirt and jeans that looked molded to his body, he made her mouth water to look at him. “They know?”

“They read your letter.”

Shocked, she looked to Tony for confirmation. “I thought for sure you destroyed that.”

“Oh, I threw it away. Barbara saved it.”

“Your secretary?”

“Yes, but don’t let her hear you call her that.” Tony winked and placed a plate full of food in front of her. “Eat.”

Spencer spoke next. “It’s going to take a while for us to come to terms with what’s been going on. We have spent too many years hating you for what we thought you did.”

“I understand that.”

“I don’t know what I feel now, but hate isn’t one of them. Anger, confusion, and I am so thankful that my brother is still here.” Spencer rubbed the back of his neck in frustration, but offered her a weak smile that said without words he was working through it, all he needed was time. He grabbed the plate Tony handed him, but as the fork lifted to his mouth he paused. “Did you spit in this?”

“No, but I can if you want me to.”

“It’s so nice to see that no matter what, brothers are the same the world over,” Kiloran said and lifted the eggs to her lips. She had no more to say after that because the food was so good she couldn’t talk.

Tony left with a couple of plates of food for the agents outside. The room fell silent with the exception of silverware hitting dishes. Kiloran wondered how much of the family knew this arrangement was for show. Then she wondered if the letter would make any difference in the end.

“Can you call the hospital and find out if Nancy is able to see anyone today?” She pushed away the plate and looked at Lucas.

“All taken care of. I talked to Agent Vassar at the crack of dawn.”

Hunter looked up and between bites added, “That man never sleeps, you know.”

“I think you’re right. Anyway, he said she was awake last night and should be up for visitors this afternoon. They were sedating her again so she would be comfortable.”

“I hate she got hurt.”

“I know, now go take your shower and when you’re ready we can go see her.”

Guilt ripped through her, this was the same as when the police had told her Mel’s death looked suspicious. She’d known then he had been killed because of her. And now her assistant had gotten in the line of fire. Someone else could die soon if they didn’t so something about it. Standing, she thanked Tony and put her dish in the sink before heading up the stairs. Maybe a hot shower would ease the ache in her soul, though she doubted it.

Lucas could see the weight of the world on her small shoulders as Kiloran walked away. But there wasn’t anything he could do, and the feeling of impotence made him crazy. When something wasn’t right, Lucas was supposed to be the one to come up with the solution. He solved problems. That’s what he did.

Now all he could do was sit and wait for someone else to make a move. And hope that that someone made a mistake.

“How long do you think she can keep this up?” Hunter broke the silence, getting right to the heart of the matter.

“Not much longer is my guess,” Tony answered. “The strain is starting to show. She might want to just get away, disappear for a while.”

“She does,” Lucas admitted. “She’s building a place in the middle of nowhere, completely off the grid. I don’t even know where it is. I think once it’s done she will do just that. Just disappear.”

“And will you disappear too?” Spencer asked.

“Are you asking as my boss or my brother?”

“Maybe both.”

“Who knows right now?” If she were pregnant, would he follow her? He didn’t know. He knew only that he would be active in his child’s life. Too much had happened too quickly and all the emotions were coming at him too fast.

“What kind of answer is that?”

“It’s the only one I have, so it’s the only one you’ll get. Has my work suffered since I‘ve been gone? Granted, I haven’t been in the lab but I have enough other things to keep me working remotely for years. So get off my back.”

“Well, look who decided to come out and play: it’s
Angry
Lucas,” Tony said as he gathered the empty plates.

“If you don’t like who I am, you know where the door is.”

Tony smiled. “Ah, you can’t get rid of me that easy.”

“Trust me I know,” Hunter, Trenton, Spencer, and Lucas all said in unison.

“It’s part of my charm.”

“Charm my ass.” Lucas stood, picked up the puppy, and went outside. He needed some air and wasn’t likely to get it inside with a room full of insane Shermans. Between the stalker, the brothers, the FBI, and Kiloran, he was ready to run for the hills. Family was great but could be smothering. He set Fenway on the ground…and groaned. The damn dog had a name. He hadn’t even been able to handle that.