by J. P.
I rush towards my closet and try to figure out what I should wear when looking through an abandoned mansion that used to belong to evil vampires. I grab a pair of high waisted black leggings, a black tank crop top and pull on my black boots. I dig around for a jacket and find the black leather jacket that I’ve literally never worn before. I pull it on and check myself in the mirror.
“Wow,” I hear from behind me and jump as I spin around.
I sigh in relief when I see that it’s just Luke. He grins at me before I turn back and look at myself it the mirror again.
“You look like you could be in Malum. Is that part of your plan in case we get caught?” he asks with a smirk as he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.
“No,” I answer with a giggle as I run my hand through my hair, trying to make it look better.
“Wait, don’t tell me, you’ve been part of Malum this whole time?” he asks with a laugh.
“You’re not even funny,” I tell him with a smirk.
He smirks back at me through the mirror as he dips his head down and gently kisses my neck. “Ready to go, babe?”
“I think so.” I spin around and face him. I reach up and take his neck in my hands before I pull his lips down onto mine.
He kisses me slowly before he reaches down and grabs my waist. I squeal when he literally throws me over his shoulder. “We need to leave now before I decide to abandon the mission for the night.”
I laugh as he walks me out of my room and then places me back on my feet before we walk down the steps together.
“How cute are you guys with your matching outfits?” Olivia asks with a grin.
I glance at Luke and notice he’s also wearing all black with his jeans, black t-shirt, and his staple leather jacket.
“This wasn’t planned,” I say as I gesture between us.
“Yeah, yeah,” she says as she waves us off. “Best of luck, you two.” She hugs me first and then her brother.
“My little Nina is all grown up,” Paul says as he walks into the room next with Elliot, Tyler, and Jake trailing him. He pulls me into his arms. “Stay safe.”
“I will,” I assure him before I move on to Jake.
“If you die, I swear I will find a way to bring you back just so I can kill you myself.” His signature goofy smile flashes on his face for a second, and I feel relief fill my chest. The same old Jake is still there. I throw my arms around him, and he laughs as he hugs me back. “I love you, little sister.”
“I love you too,” I tell him before I release him.
“Please be safe, you two,” Elliot says to Luke and me. “If you think you’re in danger, all you have to do is call, and I will drop everything to come help you.”
“We all will,” Tyler adds.
I grin at him, and he holds his arms open for me.
“I’ll see you soon,” he whispers before he pulls back.
“Bye, everyone,” I say as I wave to the five people standing in front of me.
“See you guys soon,” Luke adds before we walk out the door.
“Are you excited?” Luke glances over at me as he pulls onto the main road.
“Yes.” I give him a quick nod. “I just hope we can find something.”
“We will,” he assures me as he takes my hand in his.
As Luke drives down the road, I notice him watching me at every red light and stop sign.
“You do that a lot,” I tell him.
“Do what?” He furrows his brow before he kisses the back of my hand.
“You watch me. You’ve done it since I met you.”
Luke laughs, causing me to smile. “You know why?”
“Why?” I ask, playing along.
“I fell in love with you the second I saw you that day in the woods. I knew I was fucked. I tried to suppress my feelings, but I couldn’t get you out of my head. I wasn’t sure how that whole situation would play out, so I tried to commit you to memory. Every curve of your face, every expression you make, even the sound of your laugh.” Luke smiles to himself. “Once you forgave me in Laguna Beach, I was hopeful that one day we would end up together. I knew then, though, that no matter how much time we had together, it would never be enough. I want to spend forever with you, Nina, and then some.” He glances over and me and grins as I swipe away the tears that have spilled down my cheeks. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“It’s okay,” I tell him with a laugh. “I just can’t believe you feel that way about me.”
“I do,” he affirms. “That’s why I’m always staring. I never want to look away.”
I wipe away more tears as I sniffle. “I’m drowning over here,” I say with a laugh. “I felt something the second I saw you too. I think I suppressed it for a while because of Tyler, but from the second I saw you…I think I knew that we were going to be together.”
“We have a hell of a story,” Luke says with a laugh.
“We really do,” I agree.
“So, what comes next?” Luke asks.
“Hmm.” I tap my chin as I think. “I feel like I should graduate high school, and then you and I can move to Hawaii after that.”
“Just us, or are we bringing along the peanut gallery?” Luke asks with a smirk.
“We can tell everyone where we’re going, but you and I will have our own house.”
“A house? Alright fancy pants,” he mocks.
I roll my eyes as I giggle. “Do you want a house on the water?”
“Definitely,” Luke says. “Do you want kids?”
“Eventually,” I tell him. “We have more time that normal people.” I turn to look at him. “Do you want kids?”
“I never thought I did.” He smiles to himself. “But now I do.”
“Luke the family man,” I tease.
“You better believe it, babe. I’m about to be the best damn dad you’ve ever seen.” He laughs as he squeezes my hand.
“I look forward to it. All of it,” I admit.
“Me too.” He pauses. “It feels like once this drama is over, our lives can finally begin.”
“Or the next chapter will begin,” I say. “And it’s going to be the best one yet.”
“Exactly,” Luke agrees.
After another few minutes, he turns down a dirt road. The large black gates are open, granting us access to the mansion. Luke drives up the road and around the fountain. He pulls the car around the back of the mansion and parks it on the grass.
“Just in case. I don’t want anyone knowing we’re here,” he explains before we step out of the car.
He leads me through a door in the back, and soon I recognize where we are as the grand staircase comes into view. I shiver as goosebumps raise on my arms. The mansion is eerily quiet. There are a few papers scattered on the floor, and wooden stakes litter the steps. I stay quiet for a moment and try to listen for any heartbeats, but besides my own and Luke’s, there are none.
“So, where should we start?” Luke asks.
“You tell me,” I say as I cross my arms over my chest. “Where did he keep all his secret information?”
Luke presses his lips together as he thinks. “We can try his office first.” He holds out his hand for me, and I take it as he leads me down the dark, empty hallway, the sound of our boots on the black marble interrupting the silence.
“It’s so creepy here,” I finally say.
“I know.” He looks around and squints. “This way.”
We finally make our way to a door, and Luke pushes it open. He flips on the light switch, and I hold my hand over my eyes, trying to block out the bright, fluorescent light. When my eyes finally adjust, I see a very normal looking office. A large mahogany desk sits in the center of the room with a leather chair behind it. Two smaller leather chairs are in front of the desk with a thick, black rug underneath them. The walls are painted black, with the same black marble floor.
Luke rushes over to the desk and starts pulling drawers open and rifling through pa
pers. I stay in the middle of the room as I look around.
“You okay?” Luke asks as he glances over at me.
“Yeah, I just kind of feel like this is too easy. He’s a literal evil villain. He wouldn’t keep top secret information in his office.”
“I don’t think we’re looking for top-secret information, though. I doubt he has a note somewhere that says, ‘if I fake my own death and then it’s discovered that I’m still alive, I will be in the hotel on Pear Street.’”
I laugh at his comment and nod. “I guess you’re right.”
We go through every single paper on his desk, in his desk, and in the file cabinet in the corner of the room.
“Well, that was a waste of time.” Luke slams the last drawer closed and places his hands on his hips as he looks back at me.
“That’s alright. We ruled out one room. Where else might we find something?” I think out loud.
“Let’s check his bedroom. I’ve actually never been allowed in there.”
“If you weren’t allowed, it was probably for a good reason. Let’s go.”
At the top of the stairs, I’m about to make a left when Luke leads me to the right.
“The apartment is that way, right?” I ask, pointing the other way.
“Yep. We can go visit it later if you want.”
“Sure. I wonder if everything is how we left it.”
“Probably,” Luke says before he pushes another door open.
The bedroom also looks totally normal. A king-sized bed sits in the middle on a crimson, shag rug. A vanity sits on the right side of the room and a dresser on the left.
“The vanity was for Trish, Tate’s mom. She never stayed here for too long. Ethan thought it wasn’t safe,” Luke explains as he heads for the dresser.
“But he kept Olivia here?” I ask.
“Exactly.” He pulls the top drawer open and throws the clothes on the floor. “There was always a double standard for them.”
“Yeah, Olivia mentioned that.” I walk around him and head for the closet. I pull open the door and find a large room.
“Just throw everything on the floor,” Luke calls to me.
We tear through the entire room, and again, we find nothing.
“This sucks.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “It’s already midnight, and we have nothing.”
I bite my lip as I think. Suddenly, an idea pops in my head, and I cringe.
“What?” Luke asks as he sees the look on my face. “What’s wrong?”
“I have an idea.”
“What is it?”
“We should check his lab.”
Luke frowns as he shakes his head. “We don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“It was a room that no one else knew about. If there was going to be a secret hidden in here, I bet it would be there.”
Luke considers this as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Fine, but I can look alone if you want.”
“I’ll see how I feel when we get there,” I answer honestly. “C’mon.” I motion for him to follow me as we make our way back to the stairs.
We travel to the first floor as I try to remember exactly where the panel is that pushes into the wall. I make a right and then a left as Luke blindly follows me. I turn down one last hallway and stop. I place both of my hands on a panel at the end of the hall, and the panel pops open.
“Shit,” Luke curses as I push the panel all the way open.
The scent of blood hits my nose immediately, and from the look on Luke’s face, he smells it too. We step inside together, and my stomach sinks as I look around the room. Everything looks the same as the last time I was here. I glance up at Luke and find him staring at the chair with leather straps on the armrests.
“Is that where he kept you?”
I nod slowly as I take a step towards it. Blood stains the chair and is still pooled on the floor.
“I can do this one alone if you want,” he reminds me as he takes my hand in his.
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m okay. I’ll take the desk.”
We flip the room upside down, and just as I’m about to give up, I find something.
“Look!” I hold a file folder up to Luke. “He has another secret lab on Termin. All these papers are on tests he has performed with more advanced lab equipment. There’s an address.”
Luke rushes over to me and reads everything over my shoulder. He drapes his arm around me as his eyes scan the paper. When he finishes, he nods to himself. “Good find, babe. I’m going to call Marcy and tell her. We’ll go check it out tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? You don’t want to go right now?” I ask.
“No.” He shakes his head. “We’ve been at this for hours. We need some rest.” He looks down. “And maybe a shower. I’m covered in dust.”
“Okay, we’ll rest and then leave first thing tomorrow morning.”
38
Luke takes my hand and leads me through the halls as he speaks with Marcy, who is pleased with our find. “She’s happy with what we found. She’s going to send some of her men tonight and see if there’s any cars or anything parked outside. She doesn’t want to get too close and scare him off in case he’s there.”
“That makes sense,” I agree.
Luke stops walking, and I immediately recognize the door to the apartment in front of us. He pushes it open, and I feel myself smile as I look around. The apartment looks exactly the same.
“We could probably just stay here tonight. It has all the locks still intact,” Luke says as he inspects the door after he shuts it behind us.
“Cool with me.” I open the door to the closet and find all the clothes that were in here before still on the hangers.
“I’m taking a shower,” Luke says as he pops his head into the room. “Just knock if you need anything.” He shuts the door behind himself, and I hear the shower turn on a moment later.
I walk out of the closet and start pacing around the room. I glance at the door, anxiously waiting for Luke to come back. Being back here is really strange. I feel like Ethan is going to burst through at any moment.
I sit on my bed and lean back on my hands. I can hear Luke humming a song in the shower and smile. The water shuts off, and I hear him rummaging around. The door creaks open, and he steps out with a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Hey, babe? Are you okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Okay, just checking,” he says as he looks around the room. “Are you showering too?”
“Yeah, I think so,” I say as I slowly get up.
“Tired?” he asks as I walk past him and enter the bathroom.
“Yes, actually.” I run my hands through my hair and start the shower again. I peek around the corner of the room where Luke is standing in front of the mirror, brushing his teeth. He sees me through the mirror and winks at me.
I feel a blush creep up onto my cheeks, which makes him grin before I disappear around the wall again. I strip down and slowly step into the shower. The hot water burns my skin before I hurry to make it cooler. I quickly rinse my hair and grab the bar of soap that Luke left in here. I step out a second later and grab a towel from the rack next to the shower. I wrap it around myself and head over to the sink to brush my teeth.
Luke smiles when he sees me as he runs a comb through his hair. I start brushing when Luke’s hip playfully knocks into mine. I smirk at him through the mirror as I knock his hip back. He laughs as he places the comb down and turns around. He leans back against the counter as he watches me.
I finish brushing my teeth and then take the comb from his side of the counter. I comb through my hair while I still feel Luke’s eyes burning a hole in my head.
“If you take a picture it’ll last longer,” I say as I place the comb back on the counter.
He smirks as he pushes himself up and moves behind me. “Alright, smartass.”
I spin around, and he pulls me into him. My stomach drops as he dips his head down a
nd kisses me slowly. My heart starts to race, and I hear his start to race too.
Luke pulls back from me and bends down, grabbing my hips and lifting me onto the counter. I struggle to keep my towel around me as I let out a nervous laugh. Luke smirks as he bends down and kisses me again.
My heart wants to explode with happiness. This is right. Being with Luke is exactly what I want. I have never felt this way about anyone before. Suddenly, I realize that I’ve never told Luke how I really feel. I pull back, and Luke frowns.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” I tell him with a grin. “I just have to tell you something.” I look away from him, but he takes my chin and guides my eyes back to his.
“You’re nervous,” he says with a smirk. “What could you possibly be nervous to tell me?” He bites his lip. “You changed your mind about me because my abs don’t look as good as they normally do?” He glances down. “I’ve been pretty busy lately, going to the gym hasn’t been a priority.”
“Would you shut up,” I say with a laugh.
He grins and leans in, kissing my cheek. “I love your laugh.” He pulls away and then goes to kiss my other cheek. “I love the way you think.” He kisses my forehead. “I love you, more than I’ve loved anything.” He leans in again and kisses me slowly. We separate, and he presses his forehead against mine as I listen to his heart racing in his chest.
“I love you too.”
Luke jerks away from me as his eyes widen. “What?”
“That’s what I was trying to tell you before you went on a tangent about your abs.”
Luke laughs as he holds me so tight, it would hurt if I was a human.
“I love you,” I repeat to him.
Luke tilts his head and kisses my neck. “Say it again.”
I pull away from him and take his face in my hands as I look into his eyes. “I love you, Luke.”
A smile breaks out onto his face as he leans in and kisses me again. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to hear you say that.”
He crashes his lips onto mine and kisses me over and over again. He takes my hips and pushes me against himself as he guides my legs to wrap around his torso. He lifts me off the counter and walks me back into the apartment, gently dropping me onto the bed.