On The Border - Marry Him Or Die

2.22

Lucas’s POV

“Good morning” my mom said tenderly as she walked inside the dining room, with Angelina walking behind her.

I found myself checking her out instantly, taking note of every single detail. Like how her hair was still that messy, wild, jumble of curls around her head from yesterday. It really suited her, that wild look. And how she was still wearing the same white pants and sweater that belonged to my sister. It also suited her more than April. And finally, my heart tugged at me when I looked at her eyes; which were looking everywhere but at me, that had those fading red traces in them. She was definitely crying before she came here.

I looked at my mom and saw her teary eyes as well, a lot less noticeable than Angelina’s, and I wondered what went on between them in that room.

I had a small guess, My mom being her kind self must have tried to make her feel at home and told her that she was probably safe here. And for some odd reason, Angelina carried a look of shame or guilt in her eyes because of it.

“Morning” April replied with a small smile.

We were all seated around the table in our usual places.

Mom at the head of the table, April to her right followed by me then David.

Angelina stood behind her warily, not sure about joining us.

My mom turned around and motioned for Angelina to sit on her empty left side; which was usually occupied by Alex, followed by Jenny.

Despite their absence, we didn’t fill their places all this time. Either David or me should have been sitting in that chair to make the seating arrangement more accommodating, but we still kept to our usual seats in some kind of honor and remembrance of them. They will always have their places saved for them, and them only, even if they weren’t present with us at this moment.

I cast a curious look at my mother and tried to contain my glare from claiming my face at how she allowed her to take Alex’s place, just like that.

“Sara, please get a plate for…Hope. She’s having breakfast with us” mom said firmly.

When she caught my look, she returned it with a firm one, telling me to let it go and not let her feel unwanted.

So I kept my mouth shut… about that.

The corner of my eye also caught the very slight wince from Angelina’s body when the name ‘Hope’ came up.

My mind went back to last night instantly.

The deep, extremely cutting look that crossed her face when I called her name last night, the way she closed her eyes to contain it in front of me, it haunted me throughout the rest of that night when I went back to my own bed and tried to get some shut eye.

I could almost hear her begging me immensely to stop calling her that.

And that’s why, surprising even myself with my confusing consideration for her feelings, I came up with a new nickname for her before she parted ways with me in the kitchen. Trying to ease just a tiny bit of her pain from slicing through her every time we have to address her.

“Morning, Merida” I said playfully.

Her eyes snapped up to me instantly in surprise and for a single second, I almost got lost in the beauty of those mesmerizing gems called eyes.

Everyone was staring between us in confusion, then my sister came to the rescue.

“Oh my God! You’re totally right! She does look a lot like Merida, except for the red color” April said excitedly.

“I know, that’s why I decided to call her that from now on” I said mischievously, still staring at her.

Everyone caught up to what I was trying to do instantly.

Mom said with a genuine smile “It’s a lovely name too. Unless it bothers you of course”

Angelina masked her surprise quickly and grasped at that opportunity as she said instantly with a hint of hidden relief in it “No I don’t mind at all”

“It’s settled then” I said with a smile.

Sara came and put down a plate in front of her with utensils and an empty glass.

She put her fists on her hips and said in a scolding tone directed towards me “Lucas Snow! How many time have we told you not to eat heavy food in the middle of the night? I opened the refrigerator this morning to find half the freaking casserole of Lasagna gone! You’re going to give your stomach a hell of an ache if you keep that up! I don’t even know how you managed to sleep last night!”

Angelina froze on the spot and looked at me with slightly wide eyes.

I couldn’t help my chuckle from escaping at her reaction as I said innocently, pointing a finger at the person sitting in front of me “Hey! I had a partner in crime. I didn’t eat the whole thing by myself. Merida here ate more than half my portion”

Sara adjusted her look as she said to her kindly “Oh, that’s okay then. I’m glad you were feeling better enough to eat”

Angelina shifted uncomfortably as she raised her head and spoke to Sara with some guilt in her tone “It was really tasty, like the best Lasagna I’ve eaten of all times”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it” she said kindly as she patted her shoulder softly and was about to turn back towards the kitchen, when I complained “So I get an earful from you while she gets kind words and a pat? That’s not fair of you Sara”

She pinned me with a hard look “You gulped down more than half the other casserole at dinner dear. You don’t get sympathy from me. You need to pay attention to your health and not overindulge in all that dessert and midnight snacking. It’s bad for you”

I wiggle my eyebrows at her provocatively “And you know how much I can’t resist everything that is bad for me, Sara”

She huffed and ignored me, going back to her kitchen duties.

My mom shook her head at me and started scooping stuff into Angelina’s plate while she avoided looking at me the rest of the breakfast.

Towards the end of it, my phone vibrated inside my pocket and I raised my legs to reach it from my back pocket.

The name of the caller had me excusing myself and stepping outside into the front yard to get some privacy.

“Give me good news Dan” I said stiffly.

“We have eyes on him. He’s inside a restaurant, having breakfast alone” said Dan seriously.

“How did you manage to find him so fast?” I asked in confusion.

“After we charged the phones we found in the house, one of them didn’t have a lock so we searched through it and found a contact named ‘Ben Collins’. I asked our boy Jasper to track his phone, and it led us here. He’s the only customer, unless he works inside the restaurant, he’s our guy” he said confidently.

“Send me the phone number and keep an eye on him when I call his phone, I’ll hand my phone over to David so you can confirm, ok?” I said firmly.

“Sure, sending it now”

“One more thing, I need you to stand outside and grab him if he decided to make a run for it, kidnap him if you have to”

“You got it” said Dan instantly as I heard him get out of the car with the other two with him.

“Hold on” I said as I walked back towards the kitchen and called David over.

Angelina was looking at me in curiosity but my mom was talking to her so she wasn’t exactly focused on us.

We stepped back outside as I explained to David what was going on and asked him to call the number.

We exchanged phones and I waited for the ringing to stop and for the man to answer.

He answered on the second ring, a gruff, harsh voice came through “Hello?”

I looked at David and he nodded his head tightly, confirming it was the customer who picked up.

“Am I talking to Ben Collins?” I spoke firmly.

“Yes, who’s this?” he asked roughly.

“Lucas Snow. Do you have a wife named Hope and a daughter named Angelina?” I asked coolly.

“Where are they? What have you done with them?” he said in a raging mad tone.

“Do you want to see your daughter?” I asked flatly.

“Tell Zade to keep his fucking hands off my daughter! If he wants me, he can have me, I’m not running away anymore!” he screamed viciously.

I keep my cool as I say strictly to him “If you don’t want any harm to come to her, you will go nicely with the three guys standing outside the restaurant’s door, get on a plane with them, and come to me without causing any problems, or your daughter will suffer the consequences. Are my words clear enough for you?”

“I’m coming, don’t do anything to her” he said in a defeated tone, long gone was the tone of threat and roughness.

“Great, see ya” I said smugly before I hung up the phone, feeling like I’m getting closer to my answers already.