Page 46 of His & Hers

My Dad barely blinked as he continued to stare at him.

“Your daughter and I-”

“You’re in love?” interrupted Dad before Lucas looked up at him in surprise.

“No, we are notin love. We are alike, Alice and I, in many ways. But she deserves better than this life. This has proved as much to me.” Lucas stood slowly as he pulled his blazer on. “I hope you can forgive me, Mr. Fallon. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have been in that mess,” he sighed as he met my Dad’s eyes.

“Damn straight, she wouldn’t, but at least you got her out,” he said softly, making me turn with disbelief to Lucas.

“Wait, so you saved her?”

Lucas regarded me coolly.

“She should have never been taken; I’m no hero. Please, apologize to your wife for me. I won’t bother Alice again. Good evening to you both.” Lucas held his hand out to my Dad, who gazed at him carefully.

“Lucas, forgive me, but the look in your eyes tells me you feel something for my daughter. Will you leaving cause more upset than staying?”

“You ask as though this is a situation you are familiar with, Mr. Fallon.”

“Indeed, so answer.”

Lucas didn’t miss a beat as he smiled sadly.

“No, my staying in her life would cause much more harm.”

“You don’t love her?” I challenged, noticing his eyes flash with annoyance.

“No. Now I must go. Goodnight.” He didn’t extend his hand this time but nodded briskly at us both.

“Lucas,” called Dad slowly, as he stilled, turning back to him. “You’re a shit liar, but you’re right.”

Lucas gave a sad smile before walking out of the house. I turned to Dad, utterly confused.

“Wait, so Alice is seeing her boss? Why has working at Deacon enterprises ended up with her being kidnapped?”

“Zane, I have no fucking idea. But I’m in desperate need of a fucking shower and about a thousand beers. Ask me another day.”

He was quieter than usual, his posture suddenly sagging as he walked up the stairs. I knew kidnapping was associated with either random attacks or the mob- I can hazard a guess which my sister had been a victim of.

“Dad,” I called, as he stopped, turning to look at me through tired eyes. “She wasn’t, uh, raped, was she?”

He stared at me for a minute before he answered.

“No, Zane. She was fortunate in that respect.”

He turned away before I could say anything else. I ran my hand through my hair as I dropped to the sofa in the darkness, my hand over my head.

What was with this damn family?

I heard the front door open, and I covered my eyes when the light was switched on.

“Where’s Dad?” asked Caleb quietly, unlike his usual playful tone.

“He’s tired; he’s in the shower-” I yawned as Caleb sat on the end of the sofa, his eyes staring at the floor.

“Cale? What’s up?”

“Alice was kidnapped, for fucks sake; what do you think is up?” Caleb snapped, and I sighed. “She’s seeing Lucas fucking Deacon, and he’s part of the mob. I give up with this fucking family,” he seethed, folding his arms.