Shattered

CHAPTER TWENTY

(Lucas' Pov)

Letting the warm droplets of water cascade down my skin was the one of the few relaxing things in life. Well, for me it most definitely was. My life was one full of stress, anything remotely calming would be redeemed as relaxing to me. To a normal, average human being, a shower served only one purpose - cleansing dirt from your body. But for me it was the only place I felt calm and relaxed.

Besides, there was just something so goddamn satisfying about a warm bath - especially after an intense training session. My body ached, I could still feel the lingering impact of what all the hurried, intense movement had left on my body.   

I let out a deep exhale, aware that it would be be best if I got out of the shower now, seeing as how my fingers were beginning to get wrinkly from all of the warm water. However, I couldn't find myself to leave, too observed by the simple comfort a shower could bring me. 

Another twenty minutes or so passed and I finally found enough resilience within me to bend down and turn off the water. The absence of the warm water splattering down from the shower head above me, was very much noticeable. I grumbled under my breath, grabbing a towel and dried myself clean with it, before wrapping it around the low of my waist.

I scrunched up my face I felt my body ache with my every movement as I entered my bedroom. Jesus Christ, training sure knew how to fuck up my body. I tried not to frown to myself when I realized my lousy maid, Victoria, had forgotten once more to bring up my clothing and store them in my wardrobe.

I sometimes wondered what the fuck I was paying her for. Her miserable attitude towards life? Lateness and lack of following through with simple tasks? Or maybe her shitty attitude towards me which oddly fed me the normalcy in life which I severely lacked in?

It had to be the latter.

Cursing her under my breath, I slipped on pair of slippers and headed downstairs, deciding the old hag had probably left the basket of newly clean and ironed clothes in a basket. However, it was when I reached the bottom step of the staircase, the doorbell went off, grasping my attention.

I had no idea who could be here at 8 in the morning, because both my maid and butler lived in the attic downstairs and had a pair of keys to let themselves in and out as they pleased. Seriously, now that I thought about it, I realized I was too lenient on those fuckers.

Heading towards the door, I took a small glance through the glass part of the front door and managed to make out a distinct figure of what appeared to be a woman.

For fuck sake, the last thing I needed was Veronica turning up this early in the day and driving my head in before the fucking day even started. I was tempted to walk away as quietly as possible and act as if I were still asleep, telling her the same excuse later on when she complained at the end of the day.

But then again, dealing with her at the end of the day when I'd be completely drained out, wasn't any better. In-fact, it'd probably be worse. I guess it would be less hard on me if I got her bullshit over and out of the way.

Mentally preparing myself for what I would be faced with, I took one deep breath before reaching to turn open the door. I had expected to see the familiar face of Veronica greeting me. Instead, I found myself staring down at the woman who had made me feel more things in the small amount of time I had reconnected with her, than in the past nine years.

"Nina?" I questioned, my confusion explicit as I peered down at her with furrowed brows. "What are you doing here? Is everything okay?"

I blinked, before blinking again, making sure I wasn't seeing things. But she was really here, dressed in a pair of grey sweats and a matching hoodie. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun and there was a stressed, almost... disgusted look playing on her face. From the bags under her eyes I could tell she hadn't slept, lacking in vital sleep and I couldn't help but inwardly frown at that. She needed as much rest as she could get with all the long hours her shift held.