Page 38 of Scarlet Embrace

Rufus and Lucas talked about different things, and I noticed how Lucas was more free and jovial around his uncle than he was around his father. He had mentioned to me that he and Rufus were quite close; I just didn’t expect them to be this close.

“I heard something is going on with the LaRosa,” Rufus said after another round of tea.

“Yeah. Trouble,” Lucas said with a sigh. “Marcus is spoiling for a fight, and there’s no way I’m going to sit back and watch him.”

Just like Roland mentioned.

I thought that Lucas would change the topic because I was there, but he and Rufus simply discussed how Lucas was planning to handle things with the LaRosa. Hearing Lucas mention how he wanted to avoid a street war made me a bit confused. The Cruz cartel was infamous for not caring about who got in the line of fire as long as they achieved their goal, but here was Lucas talking with Rufus about how he didn’t want innocents getting drawn into his fight with Marcus LaRosa.

The more time I spend with him, the more I have to face the fact that Lucas Cruz was not the man I had imagined him to be. He was different, compassionate, and not a ruthless, cold-blooded killer.

On the way back to my office, I kept thinking over his discussion with Rufus. Part of me wondered if it was all just a show because I was present, but I had seen the look on Lucas's face when he talked about the street war. He had concerns, and I knew that he didn’t fake that.

“Are you okay?” Lucas asked. “You’ve been silent since we left Rufus’s place.”

“Yeah. Just a bit tired, that’s all,” I told him.

He moved closer to me, touching my forehead. The move surprised me, and I felt my body shiver slightly at his hand coming in contact with my forehead. Ever since that kiss we shared, I found myself unable to stop thinking about him. However, I can’t be thinking of Lucas Cruz this way, not when I need to use him to get the vengeance I want.

“You are not running a temperature,” Lucas said, concern in his voice.

“Just drop me at the office. I’ll be fine,” I assured him.

For the rest of the day, I kept thinking about my relationship with Lucas. Going into this whole relationship, I was confident that I wouldn’t have to bother about falling for him, but now, I don’t know how I felt about him.

Love. You love him.

I shook that thought away, not wanting to admit it. Yes, Lucas was an attractive man, I wouldn’t deny that, and any woman who spends as much time as I do with him would definitely feel attracted to him, but love? No, that was taking things too far.

Focusing on work was the best way to get myself back in place, which was what I did. I worked till around eight before I decided I had enough for the day. I planned to grab some food at a local joint before heading home.

“What’s going to happen now?” I heard a man talk to his friend.

“Who knows? I guess the street would turn into a fighting zone now, especially if Lucas Cruz dies.”

Lucas dying? What are they talking about?

Something about that statement didn’t sit right with me, and I brought out my phone. I had a few missed calls from Linda, and my heart skipped a beat.

Something has happened to Lucas.

I called Linda immediately, my heart beating fast. I shouldn’t be worried about Lucas, but my hands were shaking.

“Elena,” Linda finally answered.

“I missed your calls,” I started trying to take a deep breath.

“It’s Lucas. He’s been shot!”

It felt like my entire world had crumbled. I asked Linda where he was, and she told me he was at the hospital. Without wasting a second, I ran to the road, looking for a taxi to take me to Lucas.

God, please let him be well! God, please!

CHAPTER 17: LUCAS

DECISION

The gunman had done quite a good job. If he had adjusted his aim a few centimeters, I would have been a goner. The doctors kept on talking about how lucky I was that the bullet had missed any major organs or arteries.