Chapter 3 Chapter 3
strong hand puled Amela back over the railing. Her body crashed against the wet concrete of the bridge lungs fighting for air: Rain pounded again her face as she lay there, caught between granitude and fury that someone had stopped her fall
Unela? My God, is that you?”
The voice out through the form, famkar yet impossible. She blinked through the rain trying to focus on the man kneeling beside
vision clearing enough to see his face Recognition hit her
hile a physical blow
Lucas County Her childhood frand. The boy next door who had taught he tone who had shared
> she hadn’t seen in twar
in twentytwears
wheperad
ared his lunch when bullestolbers who had been there through very skinned knee and geartbreak until college pulled them in different directions
to a sting position, his hand steady on her back was driving by Saw someone at the raking “His eyes, stil the same deep brown she remembered, stand her face. What happened, Amela?
ce broke something inside her Freshtears moved with the rain on her cheeks
Tying Trything happened”
Lucas nodded
coat, wrapping in around her shivering shoulders. The expepelabra: let t
kua tan soaking through it
the helped her stand, her legs wobbly the comedy, engine running,
midlights cultung though thera
was catching we make back to luck for my phone thakopped “Haminated around her want, ginger staly Good thatdat
The car door opened as they approached A uniformed diver stood waiting face cu blank as he took in Ameka’s drenched appearance
Home The asked.
James and turn the heat up please
The interior of the car was warm
was warm, the leather seats soft beneath her, Lucas cat beside her close but not touching, giving her space while remaining her mough to catch her if she fell again
They drovince for several min
eral minutes. Ameba stared out the window, watching the city lights blur top Her mind felt empty sohausted to process the blame twist that had brought her childhood friend back into her life on this fallnights
Do you want to talk about it? Lucas asked final
She turned took at him properly for the first time. The years had been kind to him. His face had matured lines around his eyeing both laughter and stress, but his features remained handsome His hair, once unruly! brown curls, was now short, neatly styled His others, what she could see ben Tarwate, spoke of weath and taste
“My husband left me” she said, the words le glass in her throat Tonight At our anniversary dinner For his retry
pression darkened “Richard, right? The business student?”
Lacassepression
She nodded surprised mered Twenty years of mamage These children. And he told me my things were packed and the house belongs to his grifend no
sank deeper Fresh pan bloomed in her chest
Each word made the made the reality san
Ameland found her warm against her cold fingers Tim so sorry”
The splendearly under “My children knew “Her voice broke “They knew and they chosem. They helped him
prightened. Haden offer empty platitudes or worthless advice Hmply held her hand as the tears came again, quater this time, the storm inside her
the storm in
her temporarily spent
The car slowed turning through of massive gates mellooked up gasping softly as a sprawling mansion came into view, manated by tastellandscaping depth hour
The is yours?”,
“Home sweet home”
an they slapped out The tandessened to a gentlecznie, but Anaka was abwady soaked to the ban
a maddie aged woman in simple but elegant clothes wating
Mrs. Parker, could you please prepare the guest she? Lucas asked. And perhaps find some dry clothes?
“Of course, Mr County” The woman’s eyes lingered curiously on Amelia before she hurted off
The foyer was breathtaking, marble floors, a sweeping staircase, crystal chandering light over everything ything. Amelia stood dripping on the expensive foot feeling small and out of place
ron” Lucas said, his hand gentle on her elbow. Let’s get you warmed up
He led her through the house to a study A fire burned in a stone fireplace casting dancing shadows on the wood–paneled walls. Bookshelves reached from floor to ceiling па
st,” he said, guiding her to the char closest to the fames 11 t you something to drink.”
melaninto the chair, her body aching with cold and emotional exhaustion. She watched as Lunas moved to a sideboard pouring amber liquid into two crystal glasses
Tene,” he said handing
Whiskey Best medicine for a night like this!
took a smalsup the lquor burning a path down her throat, spreading warmth through her chest. “Thank you.”
Lussainthechar opposite studying her over the rim of his glass. When did we last ten nách other, Ar
Your wedding?”
gfied with leather–bound volumes. A large desk dominated one end of the room, while comfortable leather chairs clustered near the
ock her head. “You couldn’t make it remember? Something out arupina
Trenght “He nodded owly “Must have been that summer after college then when you came home to wind your parents.” ded slowly
Tag“The realization hung them a me
be
La measure of all the itelised in between.
ased format, bows on his “And now a mea aro
The gang mund the open room. Though seems ) you’ve done quite well for your
seduce Thatsupaloma? Turned out better than expected “
She managed a weak sdem retum “What exactly do you do Lucast
shukay in ho glass. “Started with tech, software for financial systems Bulk that up, sold it used the money to domady Eang realestate, cometemostati
“You’re being modest” the recognizing the careful way he downplayed his success
Chapter 3
His smile widened slightly. If you must know County Globalis now the first–largest peate corporation in the world”
Amelia nearty choked on her whiskey. “You’re that Lucas County? The Lucas County? The one they call the Shadow King because you own half the world but nobody ever sees you?”
ww noed. “Thate that nickname. But yes, guity as charged “His eyes met hers suddenly senous. Fortune magazine might call me the richest man in the world, but I’m still just lacus. The kid who ate lunch with you under the cak tree and helped you pass algebra.”|||
Before she could respond. Mis Parker returned, a folded sack of clothes in her arm
“These should fit,” she said, setting them on a side table The quest sure is ready whenever you’d like to rest. Miss
| supplied automatically, then finched Soon that wouldst be her name anymore. “Ameka”
Thank you Mr Parker” Lucas said. “That will be for tonight”
The woman modded and left, closing the door softly behind her
Trou should changeLucas wid chang
“You catch monan those wet clones”
A looked down at herse, suddenly aware of how must appear, har plastered to her head, makeup streaked down her checks, dress clinging to her like a second skin. Where
Through the
to door at the far end of the study Private bathroom
Shehandipped into the room clung the door behind her. The room was larger than her bedroom,no,nother bedroom anymore. The bedroom that had been herstonight
get send a fresh wave of pan through her chest
letting them fall in a soggy heap on the marble floor. The mentor above the sink reflected a stranger, a middle aged woman with hollow eyes and lines of grief etched into her face. This broken creature couldn’t be Amela Car
Amelia Carter pete, was shel
provided masonably wel, soft gray lounge pants and a blusastmere seater Empl, expensive, comfortable Amel died her har
turned to the study Lucas was staring into the fire, ha expressionHked up as she entered a
kris testates.
the last trace
san who had spent twenty years perfecting the
Shenitumed to her chat picking up the who glass gan Lucas I dont know how to thank you.”
being there for bringing me here. She swallowed h hard Formoppingmefromfang
aned his eyes. He reached across the space between them, taking her hand. W
Were you going to jump, Amekat
She looked away.
able to meet his gaze 1 don’t know. Maybe i spoed, but I don’t know if i would have fought you h
hot grabbed me
round hers. 1m glad i was there
The question had wri
Eesti ragging at her. “Of all in the city that eat moment.
leaning back in his chair was at a charty function downtown Dropped my phone while getting the cat Asked Jamento orcle back while I looked for it. “He smiled fantly. Turns out it was in my pocket the whole time. But ifach 1 gone bad
Maybe it was meant to be mad not beleving in fate but unable to explain the coincidence any other way
the whiskey seting the pla
setting the glass ande. Enter way, I’m herenow. And so as you”
next?” The question escaped before she could stop in the fear that led beneath her get the tenting unknown that stretched before her
#.
deterface for a king moment Tonight your Tomorrow we
dat I want you to know something, Amreka. You’re not alone. Not anymore”
nymore,” she protested weakly. “We have the decades
lever met. I know you were brillant before Read coaced you to dopout of law school know you deserved b
ni pout lat. I gate out what you want. What you realy want, without Richard or anyone else to you”
than what happened tonight
duspered. “Why would you do this for me?”
Something fored in his eyes an emotion she couldn’t quite name. Because once upon a time you were the only person who saw me. Not the awkward scholarship kid. Not the brain people coped homework from Just Lucas.” He smiled, a hat of sadness in d. Some detta can never be repaid.”
trangewarmth spreading through her chest, different from the heat of the whiskey or there. For the first time since kichard had walked into the restaurant with Charlotte, the fet something other man pain and humiliation
ank you” she said sercly
‘Late You should rest
call nodded, understanding homes late Yo
As he showed her to the quest sute, a space larger and more luxurious than any hotel room the hever stayed in found herself wondering what tomorrow would bring. The pain was there raw and throbbing beneath the surface, but something else had begun to take root alongside t
d exhaustion washing over her in waves. The king sized bed looked impossibly inviting, the sheets tumed down a glass of water and top sp, sequessed waiting on the nightstand
nd climbed into bed, her body unking into the mattress as if it had been made for her As sleep began to claim her and thought dufted through her mind.
i had molded her sell mo what he wanted, what her children needed, what society expected. She had become Ameka Carter, the perfect wife and mother and buried the woman she might have
arkness of Lucas County’s quest room loom on the LATA
the same night her hat
od destroyed
the world. Amela allowed herself to me just for a moment what it might not for Richard for her children, but for herse
ty pears, the future dont look like a prison sentence
