Page 74 of Don’t Hook the Merman

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LUKE

Luke took the short car ride to Colby’s day care as an opportunity to set his brain straight.

You’re not allowed to love a merman you just met. That would be…impulsive, to say the least. And Syrus is the impulsive one here. You are reasonable. Sane. Well adjusted.

Although, when had Luke ever been reasonable, sane, or well adjusted when it came to Syrus? When he’d agreed to bring him home without even knowing his name? When he’d let him stay indefinitely without knowing his story? Or maybe when he’d let Syrus kiss him, even knowing he wasn’t human. Or perhaps when he’d let Syrus fuck him multiple times, knowing the same. Or just now, when he hadn’t thrown Syrus out after finding out they’d been courting in some quasi-spiritual way that might have permanent implications.

Luke let out a long sigh as he pulled onto the day care’s street. Good talk, brain. That was very helpful.

There was a massive truck parked in front of Colby’s day care, blocking more than its fair share of parking, so Luke turned onto the closest side street and stopped the car, letting his forehead fall onto the steering wheel.

“Here?” Colby asked from the back seat.

Luke lifted his head, injecting cheerfulness into his voice. “Yeah, bud. We’re here. Ready to play with your friends?”

Colby let out an affirmative shriek, and Luke got out of the front seat and circled the car to Colby’s door, letting him loose from his car-seat straps and lifting him out.

“Want me to hold you or hold your hand while you walk?”

“Hold you!” Colby told him happily, settling himself more firmly in Luke’s arms.

Luke grinned and shut the door, turning around, only to fall back against the car in surprise.

The man from the beach. He was there, even though Luke hadn’t heard anyone come up. Right there, standing too close, only inches from Luke and Colby, his hands in his jacket pockets.

Luke stood frozen. The guy’s face was as mild and expressionless as it had been the other day at the beach. But Syrus had told Luke to run from him, this man who’d apparently been part of Syrus’s horrific experience in that tank. This man who wanted to find more of Syrus’s kind to study.

And Luke trusted Syrus to know a threat when he saw one.

Should Luke shove past him and run? But he was holding Colby—his son could get hurt if the scientist pushed back, if he got violent at all.

Luke could try to toss Colby back in the car and drive away, but what if this guy managed to grab Colby from the car before Luke could make it to the front seat?

Luke needed to bluff, to play nice until he could get himself and Colby away. The day care wasn’t far. He could manage, couldn’t he?

“Hello, again,” he said quietly, moving as if to step forward.

“Luke Wainwright,” the man replied. He didn’t budge or make any room for Luke to advance. He just stood there, and Luke was forced to abort his forward movement.

Well, if that wasn’t creepy as all hell. How did he even know Luke’s full name?

Luke swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes. Can I help you?”

“You’ll come with me now.”

“I—”

“You’ll come with me,” the guy interrupted without raising his voice. “And you’ll come with me right now.”

He removed one of his hands from his jacket pocket, his gaze meeting Luke’s all the while.

A gun. He was holding a gun.

Luke’s stomach bottomed out. He looked around frantically, but there was no one on the street. It was dark and quiet and completely isolated.

This couldn’t be happening right now. The man had a gun, and Luke was holding his son in his arms. His son who had one arm around Luke’s neck in turn, sucking on the fingers of his free hand idly as he watched this man threaten them. Because he was too young to know what was happening, and either way, he trusted Luke to keep him safe.