Always Running (MATURE CONTENT)

CHAPTER 14

Lilian paced the home office of her son. She was not happy at how he had reacted even if it was all part of the plan.

"Mother don't worry. I know she'll come looking for me in the morning," Lucas assured her.

"What if she doesn't? Did you ever think that a woman like Nessa has pride, and she might be stubborn as hell?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow at his mother. "No disrespect intended mother, but what would you do if this were you?"

Lilian wanted to argue that she would hold her head up and take her things and go on her way although she knew very well that women like her, and Nessa once shown the one thing that they craved, they would do whatever it took to get it back.

"I just think that she has gone through enough heartache, dear. I don't want her hurt more than is necessary."

Lucas sighed and stood up leaving his work pending. He walked over to his mother and hugged her in a reassuring embrace. "I love her, I don't know how it happened, but I do. I just want her to realize that her actions have consequences. I don't want another Laney. I will not go through that shit again."

Lilian understood why her son was doing what he was doing. She didn't like it, but she understood. He didn't have a peaceful life even though he had all the money and power most would kill for. Lucas did not have peace. His soul was tortured and the only time she had seen him peaceful had been when Nessa was around. She only hoped that his little stunt didn't hurt what they had started to build.

* * *

Nessa put her best dress on and made sure she was well groomed before going to see Lucas and beg him to take her back. She knew that any other woman would have turned and gone her own way having too much pride to go begging a man to take her back. Unless that woman had gone through the kind of hell Nessa had, she wouldn't understand why safety was a hot commodity with women like her and Lilian and why they would do whatever it took to get it back. Add to that the feelings she was developing for Lucas, and she was set for life.

VIOLENCE. When violence is all a woman knows that woman breaks. Some women are able to piece themselves back together...if they're lucky and attempt to have a normal life. Women like Nessa who were born from violence, raised in violence, and known violence all her life, piecing herself back together was as foreign as the language aliens spoke. Nessa didn't get to have normal, if she was lucky, she would find someone who cared for her and didn't try to fix her or change her. If she was lucky, she would find a man that wanted nothing more than to protect her and care for her in exchange for one simple thing like Loyalty.

Nessa got out of the cab and made her way to the top floor where Lucas' office was located. Tom sat at his desk busy with the phone and Nessa took that opportunity to speed past him and barge into Lucas' office.

"Miss Foster!" Tom called out, as Nessa closed the door on his face and locked it.

Lucas looked up from his computer and gave her a look devoid of emotions. "I thought Tom explained to you last night how things were going to be handled from now on?" His tone was calm, although distant and it made Nessa very nervous and very sad.

She moved closer to him and stopped at the side of the desk making Lucas swivel in his chair to face her. "I'm sorry," she began. "I need you to understand that I'm broken. I have issues and one of them is when a woman threatens what is mine and I just go bonkers and lose my shit." Nessa held her hand up to stop him from talking. "Let me finish."

Lucas nodded his head in agreement.

She inched towards him a little more. "You asked for Loyalty, and you have it, I was stupid, and I can't promise that I won't be stupid again, but I can promise that I'll never look at another man the way I look at you. Your protection is all I want. Yours, no one else's, not your money or your power just you. I want you." She inched closer to him, and her heart broke again when he pushed his chair away from her a few inches. She swallowed the knot she felt in her throat, so she could keep speaking. "I understand if you don't want me anymore, I...I'll be leaving in the morning. Thank you for all that you've done for me, I'll never forget it." Nessa turned around and walked slowly towards the door.