Hitting on the hitman

Repaid in a promise of protection (13)

Lucas twitched as his eyes glared down, he swallowed with a bitter face.

"Look, please don't overreact really it's nothing, I just fell that's all. Its really no-"

"Who did this to you?"

I didn't want to think about her.

He searched my eyes for an answer but all I could give him was an open mouth with empty words falling out.

How could I tell someone? How could I damn my own mother?

"Jess." He paused "Who the fuck hit you?" He demands again quietly and clearly, despite his tone his hand was gentle, grabbing my other wrist and checking to see if it had scratches on it too.

It did.

But something about the look in eye scared me, they blazed, and although I knew it wasn't directed towards me, my skin still pricked.

The way he looked at my bruised arms calmed my anxiety.

"My mum." I barely mumbled the words out but he still heard it.

How could anybody else love me, if not even my own mother could?

Was that a flicker of pity I saw? Anger? He was so hard to read. Did he even care? He offered me no support. No pat on the back or "It's gonna be okay." Not even a shocked face.

"Say the word, and I'll make her damn the day she laid her hand on you."

My breath fell short.

I knew she was my mum and I would never allow her to hurt the way she hurt me, but something about the way he didn't even hesitate comforted me this time.

I shook my head.

"Is this the first time she's done this?" He asked and I nodded.

And we stood in silence for a moment as his eyes repeatedly juttered over my arms like he was trying to find the right thing to do or say, or how to make it better.

"If she's done it once she'll do it again Jess."

"I know. But, I can't get her in trouble, Lucas." I mumbled and he finally released my arms.

His brows knitted and for a moment the cool, composed Lucas seemed to be panicked and unsure, it was a look I had never seen on him before.

"Do you have anywhere else to stay?"

I shook my head.

"Nowhere?" He pushed.

"Nope."I shrugged and he ran his hands through his hair before looking away and tightening his jaw.

"Do you wanna live in one of my apartments? I can get the caretaker to set one up for you. Don't worry no one would disturb you, you can even have your own floor if you want and you don't need to worry about food or any like that we can supply that and you will have your own kitchen and bathroom and be-" He clustered the words together trying his best to make it sound as normal as possible. Maybe he was
helping the only way he knew how.

"Yeh, I would appreciate that." I smiled cutting him off.

"Good." He nodded. Plastering a flickering smile on his face. "Right. Well, I'll take you after school to go collect your things."

I nodded before opening my mouth and shutting it again. Not sure if I wanted to hear the answer to the question I was about to ask.

His anxious look quickly disappeared as he pulled himself together and replaced it with a smirk.