Synching With the Devil's Son

Chapter 76

Lucien's P.O.V.

I love hearing Bella's voice on the phone, I never really stopped to listen to its timber and cadence before. I need to see her, so I resign myself to look over the material I'll be tested on next week. Those are her conditions, and even if it's a flimsy excuse to see her, I will take it. She is like a drug I'm addicted to, except I have no interest in going through rehab to get her out of my blood.

I get an uneasy feeling in my gut when I think about Trish's cousin selling his car to Bella for half of what its worth. Either he's one of the nicest guys on the planet, he's made of money and it wouldn't make a dent in his bank account, or he's feeling guilty about something and is trying to make himself feel better. Since I've spent a lot of my life in Hell living amongst the wretched, my thoughts tend to fall toward the later. I'm going to do a little investigating, and if I'm wrong, Bella need not ever know.

First, I need to get Tommy's last name. Bella said he was accepted at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a Tommy from Pigeon Forge Tennessee in their records. Within ten minutes I have a name. Thomas Richard Kincaid, graduated with honors, but not at the top of his class. He is going to be stationed in Japan, heading out next week, to continue his pilot training. Hmm.

I decide another quick trip to Hell is needed, and I arrive just as my father is exiting a torture room. He looks at me in surprise and I get right to the point.

"One of the things I didn't tell you about Bella is that she is a victim of sexual assault and the perpetrator was never caught." My Dad blanches at this...one of the greatest things about him is he abhors it when the strong overpower the weak. Men should always protect and nurture, never harm women or children. Since people are egregiously unaware of what is waiting for them on the other side, my father plans some pretty spectacular torture for those who feel might is right.

"Do you want me to check the records before I come home tonight?" he asks.

"Yes please. It might be nothing, just my over active imagination, but see if a Thomas Richard Kincaid from Pigeon Forge is feeling guilty about something that would have occurred three years ago. I don't have a specific date, I'm sorry."

He nods and tells me he'll get back to me if he finds anything. I smile and give him a hug, something he was completely unprepared for. The surprise on his face makes me laugh, and I hug him tighter, closing my eyes when I feel him pat my back gently. "Thanks Dad," I tell him softly.

When I return, I stop to purchase Bella flowers and a box of chocolates. With my backpack slung over my shoulder, I head over to her house, impatient to see the love of my life. I park my motorcycle next to the Parker's cars sitting in their driveway, fix my hair quickly by running my hand through it, and then knock on the door. I can hear shuffling inside, then Garrett opens the door. When he sees me, sees what I am holding, he smiles and steps aside, granting me access. I thank him and point at the stairs leading to Bella's room. He nods, smiling, and turns back toward the kitchen.

I walk up the stairs and down the short hallway to knock on Bella's closed door. "For the tenth time, I cannot help you Chris, I'm studying!" I hear her yell from inside her room. I knock again and can her her mumbling something about an obtuse brother and an ass, but I couldn't quite make it out. When she flings the door open, ready to read Chris the riot act, she swallows the verbal Ebola on the tip of her tongue and smiles widely.

"Why didn't you tell me you were here?" she asks, pulling me into her room and closing the door behind me.

"I couldn't get a word in with all that grumbling about asshole brothers or something," I say, handing her the flowers.

Her eyes go wide and she inhales sharply at the blossoms. "These are so beautiful, thank you Lucien," she says, walking out the door to get a vase. She returns a few minutes later and places the flowers on her desk.

I wait for her to turn toward me again. "They are not as beautiful as you," I tell her sincerely, handing her the box of chocolates, "but I'm glad you like them."

She squints at the label and then looks up at me in wonder. "You remembered!" she exclaims, gleeful that I brought her dark chocolates. She puts her arm around my neck and kisses me, hard.

"Of course I did," I say, enjoying her pleasure in my purchases. "I remember everything you tell me."

"Wow, this is so sweet! Nobody has ever brought me flowers and chocolates before."

I cannot describe the feeling that simple statement invokes in me. I am the first man to shower her with affection, and I want to be the last, but I cannot tell her that for fear of scaring her away. My Dad told me to be patient and take it very slowly. Bella has to see that I'm for real, that my feelings for her are legitimate, honest and substantial. I need to be there for her when she requires my input, and allow her space when she wants to explore. I have to show her I am the man she needs me to be and ask her to help me become an even better version of myself. These were the words of wisdom my father passed down to me earlier, and for the first time in centuries, I'm going to try to follow his advice.

"Well, I want to spoil you," I tell her, quirking my lips when she smiles widely at me. "Are you still studying Anatomy and Physiology?"

"Unfortunately, yes," she tells me with a sigh.

I give her a knowing smile back and unzip my backpack. I don't need to, or want to, study, so I brought one of my favorite books with me. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. She looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "I know you told me I could come over if I was planning on studying, but I really don't need to. I promise to not interrupt you. I will stoically sit here quietly and read while you study. I just wanted to see you,  because I missed you," I confess sheepishly. I sit on the floor and lean against her bed, settling in with my book while she chews on her bottom lip and nods.