Page 26 of A Midnight Romance

Lux

M y sister paces back and forth on the hardwood floors, while I remain seated on the edge of my bed as she begins to make sense of what I’m sharing with her. “I can’t believe you were taken that night.”

“It feels like a bad dream that I keep reliving.”

“This is all my fault,” she blurts.

“What? How are you to blame for what happened?”

“Because I left you at your front door alone so I could run off and get laid. Who does that?”

I rise to my feet and walk over to her. “Stevie, stop. It’s not your fault.”

“It doesn’t matter, it’s like Friend Code 101, and I did it to my sister!” Her voice strains. “What the fuck?”

“Stop.” I grab her hands in mine, forcing eye contact. “You walked me to my door. I got home safely. No one could have predicted I’d be abducted as I was walking into my house .”

She shakes her head in disagreement as a tear rolls down her cheek. “I should have been there with you.”

“And what would you have done?”

“Anything!”

I bite my lip, waiting for her to finish because I know she has to get this out. She’s grieving for me and blaming herself.

“I could have done something to stop it. ”

“They drugged me. I felt a prick in the side of my neck,” I admit. The painful memory makes my stomach clench.

“Oh my god,” she gasps. Before I realize what’s happening, her arms are around me and she’s pulling me in for a hug. “I can’t believe you’ve had to deal with this alone.”

I haven’t been alone.

I think of River and how he sat outside my townhouse every night after he brought me home from the cabin and then he insisted on me moving into the manor—and now, providing me a clear path for vengeance. River is helping me get my voice back and my heart warms at the thought.

“I’m not alone. I haven’t been alone. River has been with me since the night he brought me home from the cabin. ”

Stevie draws her head back, her hands on my shoulders, her eyes dart away from me implying there’s something else on her mind. “What did River’s cousin mean when he said they’re helping you avenge your attackers?”

This is the part of the conversation I’ve been dreading the most. How can I explain to Stevie that I watched a man die, and then soon after I took part in another man’s death?

To only follow it up with the fact there are two more who still need to lose their lives before Sebastian, River, and I are finished?

I let out a weighted sigh, my stomach in knots. “This part you may want to sit down for.”

Stevie reluctantly releases me and shuffles over to the bed. Following close behind, I lower to sit next to her. With her eyes widened with fear, she remains silent while waiting for me to begin.

“River and Sebastian are tracking down each one of the men responsible.”

Stevie’s throat constricts with a hard swallow. “And what does it mean?”

“It means we are killing them.”

The blood drains from her face. “I’m sorry, what?”

“We are taking their lives, Stevie.”

“Holy shit.”

“Yes.”

“Like, you’re killing them? How?”

My fists ball together in my lap, moist with sweat. “I watched the first one, and River helped me shoot the second one.”

“What the actual fuck, Lux!” She jumps to her feet. “Who are these guys?”

I knew she’d have a million questions and unfortunately I’m unable to answer all of them, because some I’m still figuring out myself.

“They have a technology company here in Seattle, so they come from a lot of money. But at night they run this vigilante type organization.”

“You know how completely insane this sounds, right? Not to mention dangerous.”

At the mention of River or Sebastian being a danger, I match her stance, ready to defend them. River would never hurt me.

“It’s not like that, Stevie, they’re the good guys.”

She runs a hand through her long curly hair. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“I know, like I said before, it’s like living in a veritable nightmare.”

“This is absolutely insane. River’s obviously this tech billionaire”—she waves a hand around the bedroom—“who’s some sort of vigilante who just agreed to help you?”

“Essentially. ”

“And you’re okay with this? Like, you want to kill these men?” A slight inflection in her voice.

“Yes.”

“This is not normal, Lux.”

“Nothing about this is. Nothing about how I feel or the darkness eaten at my insides is. I’m not sleeping at night because I’m either scared or worried, and I’m still trying to figure it all out.”

“ Fuck .”

“But what I do know is those men cannot be allowed to continue doing what they’re doing to women.”

“Then why not just let Dad and the police handle it?”

“Absolutely not. Andrew has money. He could hire the best lawyers and get away with everything. You and I both know the justice system has its limitations—but River and Sebastian don’t.”

“Andrew?”

“Yes, one of the men. He’s a hotel heir, and River has reason to believe he targeted me because of Dad.”

Saying the words aloud is difficult, because not only do they echo inside my skull, but they hit the air with weight. It’s overwhelming and leaves me with more questions which I hope will be answered in time.

“Oh my god.”

“I don’t have any more details about it, because he only briefly mentioned it to me tonight. He also said you should consider staying here for your safety.”

Her eyelids flutter as her hands fly into the air with palms up. “No way. I want nothing to do with this. I have a job and life. This is fucking insane.”

I know it’s a lot for her to process. Ever since we were kids, my sister can get overwhelmed easily. But she’s practical and a realist so after a good night’s sleep, she’ll be less in shock and more level headed.

“Fine. At least stay tonight?”

“Uh…okay.” Her focus is distant, as if she is putting the pieces together. “But I don’t have anything here.”

I smile in an attempt to lighten the mood a little and walk over to the closet. “River had his personal shopper drop racks of clothing for me. And since you’ve always stolen my clothes anyway, they’re all yours too.”

“Funny.” She chuckles, then her expression turns. “In a questionably moral way, I think he likes you.”

I blush. “Maybe.”

Stevie grimaces as she walks into the closet. “All of this is insane. I need a fucking glass of wine. Scratch that, I need a whole bottle.”

“Maybe later.” I smile.

Stevie showers and changes before we both crawl into the enormous bed. I expect more questions from my sister, but she falls into a deep sleep.

But I can’t, because my mind still is unable to settle, so I slip on my shoes and head into the gardens.

I step onto the short pebble lined walkway, and watch the early morning sun shine through the trees. It casts a beautiful orange glow into the space.

I take a seat on the long white bench, I lean back, breathe in a deep gulp of fresh air, listening to the last remaining crickets chirping from only a few feet away.

“Couldn’t sleep?” a rough, but sultry voice comments from the side.

I don’t see him at first, but I know it’s him.

“Do I ever sleep anymore?” I reply.

His dark figure steps from behind the tall rose bush and he comes to face me. “Not since I’ve been watching you.”

“I’m sure.”

“How’s your sister?” The back of his knuckles smooth across my cheek. It’s comforting and makes me want to crawl into his arms.

“She took the news better than I thought. After a flurry of emotions, ranging from shock to sadness and disbelief,” I say. “Then she passed out. She just needs time to process it all.”

“I get it.” River sits next to me. His leg brushes against mine, sending little tingles up my spine.

“Did you talk to her about staying here until this is all over?”

“I mentioned it, but she wasn’t very receptive.”

“Give her time. She’ll be in a clear mindset after some sleep.” River’s arm extends behind me, resting on the back of the bench. I lean into him, tucking myself into his chest.

“I know.” Peace washes over me as I cuddle River on the bench in the middle of a tranquil garden. Something River mentioned earlier in the night is still in the back of my mind. “You said you have reason to believe Andrew targeted me based on my connection with law enforcement…”

“Yes.” His chin lowers to the top of my head, causing my chest to flush from our closeness. “When I spoke with Andrew, he let it slip about you not being a stranger.”

“Maybe he’s confusing me with someone else?”

“I’m not sure yet, but until we have more information about what Andrew is referring to, Stevie should stay here with us. I’ll also have someone watching over your dad just to make sure.”

I sigh. “I’ll talk to her. I need to make her think it’s her idea, because Stevie can be a bit of a rebel. If she feels forced, she won’t do it. ”

River’s chest rumbles with a chuckle. “You two have that in common.”

His playful sarcasm catches me off guard in the best away and I lift my head, pulling my mouth to the side giving him attitude. “Is that so?”

He laughs and pulls me closer to him.

Then I remember what my dad mentioned a couple weeks ago. “My dad said something about this possibly being a copycat from the ring of twenty years ago.”

River’s brows furrow, but he expression doesn’t change as if possibly having background already. “I’ll look into that.”

We sit together until the sun rises, indicating it’s time to get some sleep.