I shrug. “I think he’d be a good dad.”
She sweeps her hand out. “This is good?”
“All he did was ask the guy some questions. He’s protecting you.”
“Smothering is more like it.” She moves to the mirror in the foyer, checks her hair, and waits until her date is on the porch. Then she turns to Lucas, staring daggers at him. He pulls her in for a hug and kisses her forehead. With a sigh, she throws her arms around him, soaking up the attention.
I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to their relationship. It’s so different than what I’m used to seeing—by human standards.
“I love you,” Eliza tells him. “You take good care of me.”
“I know. Have fun on your date.”
She shrugs. “It’ll be mildly entertaining.” Pulling out of his embrace, she smooths her hair again and looks at me, holding my gaze for a few seconds. I just nod, knowing she’s trying to silently tell me to fess up about Lucifer.
But I can’t, and it’s not because I just “forgot” to mention it to Lucas. If I tell him I talked to my uncle in my dreams again, he’ll tell me I shouldn’t do it again. That I should try to find a way to block him from communicating with me somehow.
And that’s not something I want to do. Because no matter how wrong it is, no matter how hard I try to tell myself I shouldn’t trust him…I do.Chapter 29“I’m done.” I lay the last protection charm on the counter in Abby’s kitchen and look through the house for Lucas. He’s in the foyer, watching out the front windows. “Wait, no, I’m not.” I open and close drawers, searching for paper and a pen. “Who doesn’t have a junk drawer?” I mutter and leave the kitchen, going into the office. I take paper out of the printer and find a pen on the desk.
I quickly write Abby a note, telling her how to put the charms on, because, you know, my sister who went through years of medical school might not be able to figure out how to pick up a necklace and put it over her head. I put the note on the counter by the protection charms and walk through the house to the foyer.
On the way, I slow and study the framed photos hanging on the wall. Most are of Penny and are those Instagram-styled photos taken in a studio with lots of cute props. A few have Phil and Abby in them as well, smiling and hugging their daughter. I turn on the hall light, wanting to get a better look.
“Callie?” Lucas walks through the house. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah.” I turn, heart skipping a beat at the sight of my handsome husband. “I’m just looking at pictures.” I motion to a framed photo of the entire Martin family. They’re standing in front of a twelve-foot Christmas tree, all wearing coordinating outfits.
“They do this every year,” I tell Lucas. “I’m in a few of those classic Martin Christmas photos.” I shake my head and feel a chill go down my spine. I swallow the lump in my throat, remembering the sterile smell of the laboratory and the coldness in William Martin’s eyes when he cast his gaze at me for what he thought was the last time.
There was no remorse. No regret. Nothing inside of him felt bad for what he was doing. He was relieved to be rid of me, angry I had something he could never possess.
“I shouldn’t care anymore.” I wipe my eyes, angry the memory still brings up so many emotions. “They’re not my family.”
“Yet here you are,” Lucas says gently. “It’s okay to feel the way you do.” His hand lands on my shoulder, and he steps closer, pulling me against him. “What they did to you is unconscionable, and my offer will always stand to tear their throats out with my teeth.”
“Thank you.” I lean back against him. “I want to stop caring or feeling anything when I think about those assholes.”
“They are a big part of your past, and both the good and bad things shaped who you’ve become. The fact that you made it out of there with as little issues as you have is nothing short of a miracle in itself.”
“As little issues?” I echo, turning and giving him a smirk. “So you’re saying I have a few issues?”
“Oh, you do.” He smiles right back. “We all do.”
“Abby asked if I was mad she was going to their house tonight for dinner. I told her no, and I don’t want to be, but…” I let out a sigh. “I don’t see how she can be okay with them. How she thinks it’s a good idea to let her daughter be in the presence of that self-centered asshole.”