Country at Heart (Country Man Series: Book two. Luke Bryan Love Story)

Chapter Tweleve

It's been a week and Luke slipped into a coma a few days ago. Luke's parents have been staying at my house since they got here and Lisa isn't every happy about it.

"Steve. I don't think these people should be in our house. I mean, we barely know them."She whispers to my dad.

"Lisa. Their child, my daughter's boyfriend, just got shot. The least we can do for them is let them stay here with us until Luke gets better and is able to come home." Dad replies and I smile to myself as I hide behind the wall in the dining room.

"We don't even know if Luke is going to survive. The doctors said the bullet grazed some very important organs. He might not survive." Lisa states and I feel anger rise in me. I step out from behind the wall.

"How do you know! He can easliy survive this! I'm the one keeping him alive!" I shout and she just laughs.

"Look, Little Girl, just because you are apperantly in love with him, doesn't mean he will survive. Your 'love' isn't going to keep him alive. As far as you know, he might not even love you." she comes closer to me. "You are still the ignorant little child you have always been." Lisa flips her brunette hair over her shoulder and walks to the bed room. I can already feel tears welling up in my eyes.

"Why do you stay with her?" I shout at my father and he stays silent "Don't you see how she treats me? Seven years of this Dad. Seven years of her fucking bullshit!" I yell again and leave him standing in the middle of the living room.

I sit in the front seat of my car for about thirty minutes before I decide to walk into the hospital. I sigh as my phone bursts me out of my thoughts.

Ian's name comes up and I decline the call. He's been calling me nonstop since what happened to Luke. He's been kinda upset since Sav went to live with Mom in Florida last week. She just wasn't happy here. She took the baby, packed up her stuff and left.

A beep comes from my phone and a message from Ian.

"I need to talk to you. Now." I read aloud and call him back.

"What's up?" I state once he answers the phone.

"Can we talk? Like, in person?" He asks and I sigh once again.

"where?"

"the normal place." once he finishes those words, an image comes to my head. I know exactly where that is.

"hold on. I'm gonna check on Luke and I'll meet you there." I pull the car door handle and fix my purse on my shoulder.

"do you have to see him?" Ian's voice sounds like he's about to break down. A voice I haven't heard in a long time.

I stop in my tracks and the middle of the parking lot.

"I guess I could see Luke afterwards." I walk back to my car and climb back into the car.

"Thanks. I love you." Ian ends the call first before I can answer.

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I park outside the woods and walk quickly through the trees. I see the outline of Ian standing against the giant oak tree, his hand wrapped around the rope holding the tire swing. He's not alone. I run to him and an image comes into view.

A body.

I get closer and closer as the body looks more and more familiar.

Ian makes direct eye contact with me, then turns away.

"Ian." I say as I make my way to him, I set my hand on his huge shoulder when I get close enough. My eyes drift to the body, lying motionless next to the tree. I recognize him.

It's one of the men from the bar that night. Not the big one, the smaller one. Percy, I think. His chest isn't moving and his eyes stare blankly up at the branches of the tree.

"I can't believe I did that." Ian mumbles. I cover my mouth with my hand and I can't catch my breath.

"Ian...did you..?" I manage to choke out as I step closer to the body.

"yes." he nods. "I killed the little scum bag that almost raped you. After Sav left I realized something, I realized that I love Sav but I am still in love with you. That jack ass over there tried to rape you, and Luke is almost dead because of him. I blacked out and I didn't know what I was doing. All I know is that I just have to get out of town before the story gets out. I have to!" he breaks down into tears and I just pull him into a hug.

"Ian no! I might loose Luke I can't loose you too." I sob and he looks down at me. His hands goes to my cheeks and won't let me break eye contact.

"then come with me." His face is so serious but a part of it looks like he's lost his mind.

"No. You're a murderer!" I yell and run away from him. I run through the woods and I can hear his footsteps behind me. I run faster and make it out of the woods.

"Stop!" Ian yells after me and I run faster.

"Leave me alone!" I scream and all of a sudden a gun shot goes off. Then another. Then another. A sound I know far too well.

I turn around to see Ian laying on ground with my dad standing behind him, a rifle in his hands.

"You don't touch my daughter." He mumbles under his breath.