Fate's Unwritten Path

Chapter Seventeen

Sasha's POV:

The drive to Lucas's penthouse was a blur. My mind was still reeling from the break-in, from the way everything had been turned upside down in a matter of minutes. Scooby lay curled up in the backseat, his little body finally at ease, but I could still feel the remnants of fear clinging to me like a second skin.

When we finally pulled up to the building, I wasn't surprised to find it was in one of the richest parts of Manhattan. The kind of place that screamed luxury from the moment you set eyes on it. Lucas didn't say much as we stepped out of the car, his men already unloading the suitcases and bags we'd packed in such a rush.

As we rode the elevator up to his penthouse, I tried to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in my head. I kept reminding myself that this was temporary, just until we figured out what was going on. But even so, the uncertainty gnawed at me.

When the elevator doors opened, I was met with the sight of Lucas's penthouse. It was stunning, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city, modern furniture that looked like it had been plucked from a high-end design magazine, and an air of sophistication that seemed to match Lucas perfectly.

The men carried my things to the guest bedroom, and Lucas turned to me as they worked. "Is Scooby friendly with other dogs?" he asked, his tone casual, but his eyes searching mine for a response.

"Yeah," I nodded, glancing down at Scooby, who was still clinging to me. "He's good with other dogs."

Lucas nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Good. I have a dog, too. Her name's Daisy. She's a Rottweiler, about a year old. I think it's best if they meet now."

He led me to another part of the penthouse, where Daisy was waiting. The moment I saw her, I could tell she was well-trained. She sat patiently, her dark eyes watching us as we approached. She was a beautiful dog, with a shiny coat and a calm demeanor that immediately put me at ease.

I set Scooby down on the floor, and he hesitated for a moment, clearly still a bit shaken. But Daisy wagged her tail gently, lowering her head to sniff him, and Scooby seemed to relax. Within minutes, they were sniffing each other cautiously, tails wagging as they started to warm up.

"They seem to be getting along," I observed, feeling some of the tension in my shoulders ease.

Lucas nodded, his eyes softening as he watched the two dogs. "That's a good sign."

We stood there for a moment, just watching them. It was strange, seeing this side of Lucas—so calm, so attentive. It was a stark contrast to the man who had practically dragged me out of my apartment, the one who had kept his gun drawn, ready for anything. But here, in his home, he seemed different. Almost... human.

Lucas turned to me, his expression serious once more. "Let me show you to the guest room."

I followed him down the hall, trying to take in the size and scale of the place. It was almost overwhelming, like stepping into another world. When we reached the guest room, I was surprised at how warm and inviting it felt, despite its modern design.

"This is where you'll be staying," Lucas said, gesturing to the room. "You can unpack, shower, do whatever you need to do. You should get some sleep and maybe go to work late tomorrow. You've been through a lot tonight."

I nodded, feeling a wave of exhaustion hit me all at once. "Thanks, Lucas. I'll... I'll do that."

He gave me a brief nod before turning to leave. "If you need anything, I'll be just down the hall."

Once he was gone, I took a deep breath, letting the tension in my body slowly release. The room was quiet and peaceful, and for the first time since the break-in, I felt like I could breathe again. I set my bags on the bed, deciding to unpack what I could. But as I started to organize my things, I felt the weight of everything that had happened start to settle in.

After unpacking a few essentials, I grabbed a towel and headed for the bathroom. The shower was a blessing, the hot water washing away the grime and stress of the night. As I stood there, letting the steam envelop me, I tried to process everything that had happened. But it was too much, too fast. All I could do was take it one step at a time.

When I finally stepped out of the shower, I felt a little better. I changed into a pair of shorts and a long hoodie, the soft fabric a comfort against my skin. I ran a brush through my damp hair, leaving it loose and unstyled. After everything, I just wanted to be comfortable.

I stepped out of the guest room, making my way back to the living room to check on Scooby. I found him and Daisy curled up together on the couch, their little forms rising and falling in unison as they slept. It was a relief to see him so calm, especially after the night we'd had. I bent over to pet him softly.

As I stood there, I felt eyes on me. I glanced up to find Lucas watching me from across the room. His gaze was intense, but there was something else there, too—something that made my heart skip a beat. He was checking me out, his eyes lingering on my legs, the way the hoodie fell just above my knees. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, but I didn't say anything. I wasn't sure I could find the words if I tried.

Lucas cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "You should get some rest, Sasha. It's been a long day."

"Yeah," I agreed, suddenly feeling the exhaustion pull at me again. "Goodnight, Lucas."

"Goodnight," he replied, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it before.

I turned and headed back to the guest room, feeling his eyes on me until I was out of sight. As I crawled into bed, the weight of everything that had happened finally started to catch up with me. But even as I closed my eyes, trying to find some peace in sleep, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between us.

For now, though, I was too tired to think about it. All I could do was curl up under the covers and let the exhaustion take over, hoping that tomorrow would bring some clarity.