Catching Teardrops (MAC Security 5)

“You owe me one,” I repeat. “For fixing Lexi up.”

“Right.”

He doesn’t look at me as I step closer, looking around to make sure no one else can hear me. “I need a cell.”

“So go buy one.”

“I need one I can track, one I can switch on and listen in from my cell, one I can—”

“Yeah, okay, Luke. I get ya.” He continues typing before pressing enter and pushing his chair back. “When do you need it for?”

“Tonight.”

He doesn’t ask anything else as he pulls out a box, and opens it, revealing a cell. “I’ll put everything you need on here. I’ll bring it to you when it’s ready.”

My muscles are tense, watching as he turns it on before connecting it to his computer. I’m antsy, wanting it now before anyone can ask why I want it. I won’t tell them, but I also don’t have a good enough excuse as to why I need it.

Stepping back, I say, “Thanks,” before running my hand down my face and walking toward the door, wondering if I’m doing the right thing. My head says I’m not, but my gut is screaming at me to do more. To push and find out if what we think is happening is true. I need a solution and this is the only answer I have right now.

“Everything okay?” Evan asks when I’m pulling open the warehouse door.

I don’t answer him before yanking open the door the rest of the way and stepping outside.

I have no fucking idea if it is, but I know if I can help, I will. I’m already invested.

LILY

I stare at the sunset, wrapping my jacket around me tighter. I can see the light from my dad’s office shining out of the corner of my eye, and I can’t help but let my mind wander to last night.

The burning sensation still rolls over my skin, the back of my legs sore when I touch them. I’m afraid to look and see what they’re like, afraid it’ll be the end of keeping my composure. If I can’t see the marks, I can pretend they’re not there at all.

I know it doesn’t make sense, but it’s the way my brain has to work until I get out of there—out of this town, out of that house, out from under him.

Nine weeks. The time couldn’t come sooner.

My gaze flicks down to my watch, counting down the minutes until I have to be home. I’m meant to be at Kim’s but after seeing Luke this morning and watching the way his eyes darkened when he saw I was hurt, I knew I couldn’t be around her.

If he saw it, there’s no doubt she’ll see it too.

I should tell them what’s happening, but there’s only so many times I can tell people what goes on behind that closed door and be laughed at in the face, no one believing me. But that’s okay, because as soon as I can, I’ll be escaping.

Gone, never to be seen here again.

The thought of having a pain-free life brings a smile to my face, but it soon leaves when I hear footsteps come closer.

My palms start to sweat, my fingers shaking. I clasp them tightly in my lap, trying to get them under control, but it only gets worse as the footsteps get closer.

He never comes in this field, but something changed last night. The way his hand hovered over the marks, the noise he made in the back of his throat. It had a red warning sign blasting through my head, louder and brighter than ever before.

I feel him looming over me when he comes to a stop and I hold my breath. Waiting for—

“Lily?”

I gasp at the deep voice; a voice I heard only this morning.

“Luke?” My gaze clashes with his, squinting in the darkening sky around us. “What are you doing?” My voice is a mere whisper as I try to control my reaction.

“It’s Tuesday,” he says simply as he sits down beside me. I gulp when he brings his knees up and rests his forearms over the top of them.