Love in the Shadows

Chapter Twenty- Five

(Lucy's POV)

I groaned as the sound of my alarm rang through the room. From next to my ear, Sam's deep chuckle reverberated through my body. "Bet you wish you hadn't planned to run with Tash this morning."

With his arm wrapped around my middle and his warm body spooning me, there were many things that I was wishing for this morning and yes, not running with Tash was up there. Same with snuggling back into his hard body and seeing where that took us.

I stretched and turned to face him, he might have kept it at kisses last night but it hadn't stopped him from making sure that I fell asleep feeling wanted. Desired. His reassurance had cemented both my comfort and confidence with him this morning.

After dinner, we had retired to the front porch and switched back to beer from wine. Although the company had been wonderful, our mood had been somber, worry for Tanya was thick in the air.

As such, it hadn't been a late night.

When we'd gone to bed, Sam and I had gone together. Butterflies had danced through my body as the bedroom door closed behind us and then again as we slid into bed.

Shivers had run down my spine as Sam gently tucked my hair behind my ear and then leaned forward so that his lips could brush against my ear. His breath had been warm and his lips soft as he whispered, "I don't want any misunderstandings here, Luce. I want you." He had thrusted against me, making sure that I felt the truth of his words. "But, our first time isn't happening on a case like this, after a handful of beers. When I fuck you..." a tiny nip at my ear. "And I will, fuck you, Luce. I want us both to be stone cold sober."

Any time I woke up, all night long, some part of Sam was touching me. He made me feel protected and I wasn't sure exactly what or when things changed between us but my previous doubts seemed to be fading.

Now, I ran a hand through his fiery strands and those forestry eyes blinked open, snaring me with their intensity. "Want me to come with you guys?"

I snuggled closer, giving him a chaste kiss because I wasn't ready to share my morning breath with him.

Is that something that someone becomes ready for?

"No. No point in both of us starting our day with this kind of insanity." I sat up as I responded, keeping my eyes on him.

He smiled sleepily and his eyes slipped closed again. I ignored the little ping I felt in my heart at how right this felt with him.

I forced myself to sit up and roll out of bed, pulling on my running gear. I stood a moment, staring at my knife holster, before pulling it out and fastening it around my waist. I slipped my blade inside and then silently I grabbed my shoes, tip-toeing out of the room and cursing Tash.

How had she convinced me that this was a good idea last night?

Realistically I knew it was because she had waited until I was three beers deep.

Sneaky little shit.

I walked towards the front door, fighting the temptation to head back and get back under the warm covers and snuggle back in.

Lucky bastard.

I shut the front door as gently as I could and walked out onto the porch, as Tash stood up. I took in her bloodshot eyes with sympathy. "You get any sleep?"

She gave a sad smile, "I caught an hour or two but every time I woke up the guilt ate at me. I felt like I should be doing something, but I have no idea what to do. It's not my favourite feeling."

We walked down to the sidewalk and silently stretched as she talked quietly. "I ran the Lawson's like you asked me to."

They had been put into my own search engine before bed and it had run all through the night as well. I fully planned on seeing what had popped up, when I got back to Lily's house.

Last night, when Tash had asked what she could do, I figured it couldn't hurt to have two heads on it. Lord knows that she needs to feel useful right now.

We wordlessly fell into step next to each other and I was relieved to find our pace slower than yesterday. "Find anything?"

You knew someone was in good shape when they could have a full fledged conversation and not be out of breath at all, while they ran. Tash was in great fucking shape. Me, on the other hand, it sounded like I'd been running for hours rather than seconds.

Tasha answered smoothly and I heaved another large, rather jealous breath. "I went back four years. If we're going off of what Stephen was saying, she was pregnant about a year ago."

I nodded, deciding to save my breath for my heavy panting, and listened as she continued. "For the last four years the Lawsons have contributed to our local church, Crossroads Lake Ridge. They donate monthly, which isn't unheard of for the parish families around here."

"Gone are the days of a basket going round the church?" I had finally found my stride and my breathing was evening out.

"I mean they still do that on Sunday morning, but they have a rather, current finance and donation system. About a year ago, the Lawsons increased those monthly donations. Not the craziest amount but..." She managed to shrug and continue to run.

What's Tash like at one hundred percent?

I couldn't help but be impressed by this woman who was obviously struggling, yet had investigative skills that I could truly get on board with. Oblivious to my admiration, she continued on. "I mean it could be connected to a promotion or possibly the way the church came together for them, while Brie was pregnant. It's hard to know. I didn't find it overly suspicious."

She took a deep breath and for a second the only thing we could hear was the slapping of our feet on the pavement. "There was also a donation about a year ago to an LTD called Divergent Path. I'm running a check on it, but nothing popped with my initial search. It was a large amount but again, could have been some sort of donation or investment. It looks like whatever business it is, is in the beginning stages because their online presence was ghost-like."

Now that was odd. Still there was always the possibility that there was nothing going on with the Lawson's. That they were nothing more than a protective parent unit. "Okay, when we get back, toss me the name again and let me run it through my system too. We'll see if there are any flags."

We ran silently for another moment and my eyes tracked a dark SUV driving past us. My shoulder blades itched, it was one thing to go slow in a subdivision, it was another thing to creep along. Especially at this time in the morning. I watched as it made it to the end of the street, pulled to the side and put on its four ways.

Maybe just making a phone call.

My itch intensified and I turned to Tash, ready to give her a warning, just in case.

However, I realised that she was already alert. The direction of her gaze and the intense scowl on her face let me know that she was more than aware.

As we ran past, I kept my gaze locked up front and used my peripheral vision to observe the vehicle. I could see two men, both on cell phones. We had gotten about ten steps and I was trying to shake off the nagging feeling in my gut when I heard the car doors close quietly behind me.

Shit.

I glanced over, "Be ready to get behind me." I whispered it, not wanting them to know that we were ready. I smoothly untucked my shirt, wanting easy access to my knife and whirled around to face the attack.

I shouldn't have been surprised when Tash stayed at my side, also taking a fighting stance. "No fucking chance that I'm letting you have all the fun."