That gave Roy what he needed. That nearly gave him Sal.
Sal knew it.
Luke knew it too.
Her husband’s dangerous, but not to her. To Roy. She sees it in his eyes. He’ll tear him apart. Kill. For her. Sal shudders, though the thought warms her.
Now, the house has calmed down and cleared out, Seth and Lacey the only stragglers. Her sister came over as soon as Sal called.
Sal sits on a chair, curled into herself, a quilt draped around her shoulders. The kitchen is lit up with light, with noise, as if that can chase away the darkness outside. Glasses clink as whiskey is poured. Luke and Seth huddle together over the breakfast bar making plans, while Lacey frets next to Sal at the kitchen table.
“We hire someone else,” Luke says, his jaw set in that hard angle Sal has learned means business. Seth nods. “Our own security. I ain’t trustin’ these fuckin’ cops. Not with Sal. Not no more.”
“No, no, no.” Lacey crosses her arms. “That’s not good enough.”
Luke smears his face in his hands. He looks bone-tired. Wrecked.
“Hell, what do you wanna do?” Seth fires back.
Lacey glances at Sal, quick. Bites her lip. “I want to take Sal back to California.”
The room goes silent. Luke ramrod stiff.
Seth swears. “God—for once, give it a rest.”
Ignoring Seth, Lacey steps close to Luke. “Please,” she begs. “You know I’m right. Let me. She’ll be safe there. Just until they catch him. Please.”
Sal smears her face. She’s exhausted by this. Everyone standing around trying to take care of her. Only when she glances at her husband, she’s horrified to see him relenting.
“Don’t be selfish,” Lacey needles. “Don’t get her hurt again.”
Luke looks down at Sal, his face etched with pain. Though he looks heartbroken to do it, Luke will. For her. Because he loves her that damn much. Because he thinks he should have protected her better.
His voice cracks as he says, “Darlin’ ... maybe she has a point—”
Sal sits up straight, the blanket falling from her shoulders. “I won’t do it. So don’t ask.”
He sighs. “Sal.”
There in the kitchen, she stands tall. A fierce determination fills her soul. She will not let Roy trap her again.
Sal frowns at him. “I can make my own damn decisions, Luke.”
He holds his hands up in a surrender gesture. “Okay, okay.” Despite the seriousness of the situation, Luke smothers a smile at the fire in her eyes.
Turning to Lacey, Sal asks gently, “Why are you being like this?”
“I just want to protect you,” her sister says in a small voice.
“I know you do, and I love that about you, but you don’t have to protect me from Luke. I’m not leaving, Lacey. And that’s the end of it.” She turns her gaze to Seth and Luke. Her voice strong, sharp as an arrow and unafraid, she says, “I’m not living scared. I’m not letting Roy chase me away from the people I love.”
Sal moves away from Lacey to link her fingers with Luke’s, his touch grounding her like gravity. “I learned what fear and anger and deception were inside that shack, and I won’t bring it here. I won’t do it anymore.”
Luke brings her hand up to kiss her palm. His voice is hoarse, a guttural growl of affirmation. “You’re right. I won’t ask you to.”
Sal stares up at him, loving him fiercely. “Thank you.”
Lacey’s lower lip trembles. She clasps her hands to her heart. “I have to tell her.”