Just One Kiss (The Town of Pearl 8)

“Which is our cue to get moving. Lunch in thirty minutes, Lucia. We’ll head into town?” Lucifer asked.

“I can’t. I made plans with Sage and Diane for lunch. Plus, I’m supposed to go over some ideas for redecorating jobs in their homes. Did you forget, Lucifer?”

“Of course he didn’t. They just don’t want you out of their sights for a moment. Why don’t I drive Lucia into town so she can help me pick those final paint colors for the bedroom downstairs?” Mary suggested.

“Okay, we’ll text Gabriele and he’ll meet you in town later,” Lucifer told them, and then leaned down and kissed her. Salvatore kissed her next before they went back to work.

Mary smiled. They were falling in love with Lucia, and Lucia was falling in love with the Walters men. So why hadn’t she moved in with them yet, and why was Mary feeling like trouble was brewing? She never did like the McMillians or the Montes. She met Margie and Clarence Monte several times over the years, and they thought very highly of who they were. But it was so odd. Margie’s father was such a kind old soul, but it seemed that his daughter let the money and power go to her head.

Poor Lucia. She needed a new start, and she was so glad she wound up in Pearl. She just hoped that Derek McMillian left her alone for good and moved on. That man was nothing but evil. To know what he did to Lucia and what he planned on doing in forcing her to marry him made her feel sick. She wondered if there was some way she could help Lucia stay safe. Maybe there was someone she could trust to make certain Derek never found Lucia at all.

* * * *

“So what are you not telling me, Mark, Fisher? Is someone in my town in trouble?” Wyatt asked Mark Santos and Texas Ranger Fisher Lent as they stood in his office. Fisher took a deep breath and released it.

“The problem is, we’re not sure. All we know is that Marshal Mick O’Rourke recognized this character Gerry Levant as a lowlife who’s not from Texas, but South Carolina. He was taking pictures, and when he saw Marshal O’Rourke, he took off,” Fisher told Wyatt.

“Yeah, and then Deputy Kenny Jones finds a car abandoned and finds out it’s registered to a private investigator in Georgia by the name of Roscoe Levine. Roscoe Levine has ties to this Gerry Levant, and those ties aren’t pretty,” Mark Santos added.

“You said South Carolina, correct?” Wyatt asked.

“Sure did,” Fisher replied.

“Do you know who was around where he took pictures?” Wyatt asked.

“There were a lot of people around. I couldn’t be sure.”

“Lucia is from South Carolina. I don’t know the details about why she left there, but I’m sure that Maxwell and his brothers know.”

“She could be the one in potential trouble. I’d say call Maxwell in and see what we can find out,” Fisher stated.

“I think that’s a good idea. If she is in trouble, we need to know what kind and why men like this were looking for her and taking pictures. If it turns out to not be her then we’re back to square one,” Mark said.

“I’ll call Maxwell. He should be heading home from Keanter about now. We’ll get this taken care of.”

* * * *

Maxwell received a call from Lucifer telling him about Lucia’s real last name and the wealthy family she came from. He was shocked, yet part of him wasn’t surprised by the info

rmation. She was very well mannered, classy, and proper. To learn that her family basically arranged her marriage from conception, to the asshole that raped her, just made him feel angry. He couldn’t wait to see her, hold her in his arms, and know that she was theirs and she was safe.

As he headed into town his cell phone rang again, and he saw that it was Wyatt. He asked him to meet him at the department, and he knew something was up. Since the hikers were still on the loose, and only three more captured in Dallas, he thought maybe the meeting had something to do with getting good news.

As he parked the truck outside the department, he knew it would be a little longer before he got to see Lucia. His chest tightened. He hoped this meeting didn’t take long at all.

After greeting some friends in the department and making his way to Wyatt’s main office, he caught sight of Mark Santos and Fisher Lent. By their expressions, they looked concerned. He wondered what was going on as he shook their hands hello, and then Wyatt closed the door behind him.

As they explained the situation, he felt sick.

“Wait a minute, Lucia’s last name isn’t Monroe, it’s Monte, and Lucifer just told me that Lucia said Derek McMillian was the man who raped her. It was their families who have been trying to force an arranged marriage since Lucia was of age.”

“Jesus. What the hell kind of sick people are these?” Fisher asked.

“So damn wealthy they think that no rules apply to them. God, Maxwell, I know this is hard on you, but your woman is in serious trouble,” Mark said.

“They obviously haven’t given up on finding her and making this marriage take place despite Lucia taking off. She’s one brave woman, but men like this Roscoe guy and Gerry Levant aren’t exactly the kind she can handle alone,” Wyatt said.

“She’s not handling anything alone. My brothers and I will protect her. We’re more than her guardians now, and we’ll do whatever it takes to keep that man and these people away from her,” Maxwell said.