I am unable to control the wince when she goes to the other side of the bed and picks up my hand. I’m wearing a brace on it along with some tape on three of my fingers. It feels stiff and swollen and it hurts as she peels back the tape. “I know this doesn’t feel too good, but this needs to be changed. I should have thought to put a bag over it before you showered.”

“Wh…What’s wrong with it?” I ask, wondering what could possibly be causing so much pain.

She grimaces before saying, “Your wrist and three of your fingers are broken. We’ll put a cast on when some more of the swelling goes down.”

Suddenly, the sound and feel of those fingers breaking comes back to me in a sickening wave. “I passed out when he broke the first finger, but he managed to rouse me enough to make sure I was aware of what was happening when he broke the next two.” I fight the urge to roll into a fetal position and hope the memories of that day will stop coming to me.

Lucian abruptly drops my other hand and steps back. “I—just need some water. I’ll be back,” he throws over his shoulder as he leaves so quickly I’m left reeling from his departure. I blink back tears again, afraid he’s leaving me now.

“Honey,” his aunt says gently. “This is hard on him. I’ve never seen him this way with a woman before, and it’s hurting him that he couldn’t save you.”

I have no idea where it even comes from, but I find myself blurting out, “What about Cassie? He loved her, didn’t he?”

His aunt freezes, seeming just as shocked by my question as I am. Finally, she says, “Has he talked to you about her?”

Shaking my head, I say, “Not really. He has said that he will when the time is right. She’s the one who hurt him, isn’t she?”

She doesn’t answer until she’s finished with the last bandage. Then she looks at me for another long moment before finally speaking. “It’s a long, complicated, and tragic story, Lia. It’s up to Luc to tell you about it himself when he’s ready. I will tell you, though, that he went through a very rough time afterwards. The fact that he’s let himself get so involved with you is something I never thought would happen again. You have the power to hurt him, more so than Cassie ever did. Please don’t abuse the trust he has given you.”

I place my hand over hers and say honestly, “He holds the power in our relationship because he has my heart.”

She pulls the sheets back over me, tucking them around my body carefully before reattaching the IV lines. “I’m going to get you something for your pain; I know you probably need it by now.” I nod, feeling every ache and pain in my body jump to life. As she reaches the door, she adds, “You hold his heart, as well, even if he isn’t ready to admit it.” The door closes quietly behind her, and I find myself waiting for him to return to me. Could she be right? Does Lucian love me? Is he even capable of it after Cassie? I so want to know what happened between them. I am certain that it’s the key to unlocking the remaining mystery of who Lucian is. The one question I desperately need answered is where is Cassie?

Chapter Four

Lucian

I pace the smoking area as I inhale and exhale, hoping it’ll calm me. I’ve barely been keeping it together since seeing the damage to Lia’s body. She is so tiny I can’t even imagine how she survived the type of beating that would leave those types of bruises behind. When I saw the handprint on her thigh, I had to swallow down the bile threatening to come up my throat. Just thinking of that evil fucker touching her there is enough to make me want to tear this city apart until I find him. Aunt Fae says there is no evidence that she was raped, but God, I need to know from Lia that it’s true. I can’t stand the thought of him inside her. I’ll fucking kill him somehow if he did. I’d gladly rot in jail just for that pleasure.

I just lost it when she told us how he had broken her fingers. I guess I thought maybe that had happened in the struggle— which would have been bad enough, but knowing he deliberately snapped them one at a time, makes me crazy. She hasn’t said his name, always referring to ‘him.’ I had little doubt from the beginning; now there is none. How will either of us ever be able to live our lives knowing he’s still alive?

I’m on my second cigarette when I hear, “Luc, when did you start smoking?”

I turn around to see Max behind me, waving the cloud of smoke floating by him away. I hold up a finger, signaling for him to give me a minute while I take a few more puffs before putting it out in the can provided by the hospital. No doubt, they are trying to avoid having butts lying all over the ground. “Max, sorry about that. I figured they’d frown on me sitting in Lia’s room drinking scotch, so I’m giving smoking a try.”

Max wrinkles his nose. “How’s that working out for you?”

“It sucks,” I deadpan, not even bothering to deny it. I’m going to need another toothbrush tomorrow because I’ve all but worn out the one I have. Curious, I ask, “So, what brings you here this late?”

He shifts uncomfortably before saying, “I…was having dinner with Carly when the hospital called letting her know Lia was awake. She wanted to talk to her right away so I came along, as well. Thought I’d see if you needed anything.”

I can’t help raising a brow at his admission. It seems that my suspicions were right, and he has more going on than friendship with his police contact. Not that I’m surprised, really. Max isn’t one to flaunt his relationships, but I know he has never had a shortage of female company. Instead of commenting on it, I ask, “Do you have any news for me yet?”

“Depends on what kind of news you are looking for. There’s nothing on Jim Dawson. He’s disappeared, and Lia’s mother isn’t talking. It’s quite possible that she doesn’t know anything this time. Carly said she seemed surprised to find out about Lia; actually she said she seemed shocked. Of course knowing what we do about the type of woman she is, I doubt she’s been too torn up over it.” With a pained grimace, he adds, “Makes me want to call my mom and thank her for not being a psycho.”

I agree, thinking I’m better off without parents than having the type Lia’s had to deal with. “Do the police have any leads?”

“I don’t think so,” Max answers in disgust. “It just boggles the mind that someone like Dawson with few resources can evade everyone so easily.”