I settled for the simple but broad truth. “Someone took me.”
That was all it was at the end of the day. Someone took me. Ripped me from a carefree night at a bonfire with friends. Tore me from the innocence and wonder of new adulthood. He took me from my life and made it so I was never the same.
Luke’s steps faltered, and his jaw turned to granite. “They hurt you.”
It wasn’t a question, but I answered just the same. “They did. But I got away. I got out. And then someone amazing found me.”
Luke’s brow furrowed. “Who?”
“Your dad.”
18
LAWSON
Night curledaround me as I drove, and each revolution of the wheels twisted my gut tighter. I hadn’t wanted to be this late. Hadn’t wanted to leave my kids and Hallie alone in the dark. Not with everything going on.
When I texted Hallie to tell her I’d be late, I’d asked her to make sure all the doors and windows were locked. Told her to set the alarm—one I needed to have Holt give a once-over because it hadn’t been upgraded in years. And there wasn’t even one in the guest cabin. That was a problem.
I hated that I’d probably scared Hallie with the request. I’d probably ratcheted up her anxiety to a ten. But safety was more important.
My house glowed as I rounded the curve in the drive. The boys’ rooms were dark, but the living room and kitchen were blazing. I pulled into my parking spot next to the SUV and pulled out my phone.
Me
It’s me who just parked. I’m coming in. Didn’t want to startle you.
Maybe Hallie had already fallen asleep in the guest room or on the couch. Maybe she wouldn’t notice my entrance at all.
I turned off the engine and slid out of the SUV. Beeping the locks, I headed up my front steps. It only took a matter of seconds to unlock the door and disarm the system. But as soon as I was inside, I relocked the doors and reset the alarm.
Turning, I saw Hallie. She hovered in the living room as if she’d been pacing. She still wore those damned leggings, but she’d switched the sweater for an oversized sweatshirt, and her hair was piled in a haphazard bun on the top of her head.
She didn’t say anything, nor did I. We just stood there, staring. I had the intense urge to go to her, wrap her in my arms, and not let go.
Hallie was chipping away at my defenses, bit by bit. I tried to make repairs every night, but it was proving futile.
I forced my legs to move, to walk. The motion seemed to jolt Hallie out of whatever haze she was in. She instantly headed for the kitchen. “I saved you dinner. We had something light because I took the boys to Dockside after school, and we feasted. I hope that’s okay. They loved it.”
She pulled a covered bowl from the fridge, unwrapping it to reveal some sort of soup. “I’ve got rolls from the bakery, too. I need to reheat the soup—”
“Hallie.” I gently took her arm to stop her movement. “We had pizza at the station.”
“Oh.” She deflated as if she were lost without a task.
“But thank you for saving me some. I’ll take it for lunch tomorrow. It’ll be a hell of a lot better than cold pizza.”
Hallie nodded, a few strands of blond hair falling from her bun. “I’ll just put it back in the fridge, then.”
She moved from my hold and headed back to the refrigerator. As she straightened, those gray eyes found me. “Are you okay?”
“Not really,” I answered honestly.
Pain and empathy filled Hallie’s expression, but she didn’t look away. “What can I do?”
The question was so simple, but it meant everything.
I let out a long breath. “I need to talk to you about a few things.”
