Unbeautifully Loved (Breathe Again) (11 page)

I shook my head.

He nodded, and continued writing in the file. “I think that’s everything Lexie. Hopefully this will help us finally get this guy.”

Finally get him?

“What do you mean, finally get him?” I asked confused, brows knitted together.

He looked up at me, hesitating before answering, “What happened to you last night, wasn’t the first time, there were others before you.”

Others?

“I’m not sure I follow,” I said sitting back in my chair.

“We’ve been after this guy for just over a year now. About three months ago the trail went cold, and the attacks stopped... ‘til last night when he attacked you.” Kincaid said as he sat back in his chair, his eyes on me, and his hands folded together; resting on his rounded belly.

“But, how do you know it’s the same person?” I asked, still lost.

“Same MO, wore a mask, attack came late after the others finished work and when they were alone. It’s happened to a few girls in town and in the next town over. Girls working late, walking to their car alone, just none of them got away as easily as you...” he trailed off, eyes still on me, watching.

I knew where he was going with this.

“You mean...”

“They were all beaten and raped, Lexie.”

I swallowed hard, forcing the bile back.

If Lukas wouldn’t have shown up that would have been me. Waking up in the hospital this morning in worse shape than I was. “And Lukas? What’s his part in it?”

“Luke is the leading officer on the case.”

“I still don’t understand, how did he know everything that happened, like inside the bar last night?” I asked.

Kincaid leaned forward, and rested his folded hands on his desk. “Like I said, the trail may have gone cold but Gunn’s been investigating, he got to Fisher’s as Danny was tossing a guy out for getting rough with one of the girls. Made sure the guy got home then went back and stuck around to make sure everything was okay. As for your attack, when it happened he was off duty, so my guess is as good as yours,” he said.

I remembered, after the incident I had felt like I was being watched, a pair of eyes on me, following me around the bar. But I had just brushed it off as nothing but me being paranoid.

But I wasn’t. It had been Lukas.

“Lexie,” Detective Kincaid called my name and I looked up to see him looking at me, eyes filled with question and concern.

“Huh,” I asked feeling slightly dazed.

A small smile appeared on his thin lips, “I said you were free to go. If anything comes up or we need anything I’ll have Lukas let you know,” he said.

I smiled and nodded, “Thank you Detective,” I said and stood to my feet and started to move towards the door, only to stop abruptly and look back at Detective Kincaid. “Black rose, snake, purple skull.”

“Excuse me?” He said looking at me, not following.

“His tattoo.”

“Tattoo?” he asked.

“Yeah, my attacker, he um, had a tattoo here,” I said placing my hand just above my breast, “Black rose with a snake wrapping around it and its mouth open and holding a purple skull.”

Kincaid looked at the file on his desk and started flipping papers back and forth as his eyes searched the pages. “No one else reported a tattoo,” he said still looking at the papers in front of him. “I’ll pass the information to Luke, and have him look into it.”

He closed the file then stood from his chair, and leaned forward to shake my hand. “Thank you for all your help with this Lexie,” he said with a soft smile playing on his lips.

Leaving his office, the pit area was full of officers walking around, going from one desk to another. Not seeing Lukas anywhere in sight I took a walk around to look for him. I walked around aimlessly not finding him, so I decided to go wait by his truck for him.

Hurrying, I stepped off the bottom step, only to crash into something hard. So hard I was stopped dead.

Ouch.

My eyes saw nothing but chest in a grey tee so tight the ripples of his muscles were visible through the fabric. My eyes traveled up, and what they found wasn’t pretty.

It was fucking scary.

And intimidating.

He was tall, at least six foot five with broad, muscular shoulders. I couldn’t focus on anything else about him other than the look he was giving me that was scary as hell and if looks could kill I’d be dead at least three times over.

I swallowed. Holy fuck.

When his head dipped down to look at me, his light brown hair fell over his shoulders and into his face. His piercing emerald green eyes bore into mine, and I couldn’t escape from the look; I was completely mesmerized. His rigid mouth was surrounded by a thick scruffy beard, and I could feel the blood drain from my face, possibly my entire body.

Fear tightened my stomach when I heard him growl at me, like an animal ready to devour their prey and I couldn’t stop myself as I jumped. Coming unfrozen I backed away, my eyes not straying away from him. I quickly moved around his large frame, and made my way down to the doors and threw them open without looking back.

I made it back to Lukas’ truck, my mind still on whoever the hell that guy was. I was sure he was a convict of some sort; no one looked like that on purpose. Regardless of the fact he scared the shit out of me, I couldn’t help but find him fucking gorgeous.

Sitting down on the cement block, I heard the front door to the building fly open, hitting the wall then slamming shut. Looking up, I saw Lukas stalking towards me and he looked
furious.

Oh shit.

I stood quickly as he approached me. His eyes narrowed on me and they were almost black, like nasty storm clouds and angry, very angry. His face was stiff, jaw clenched and lips in a set line. As he got closer I could feel his anger engulf me and I took a step back, only to hit the cement block I had just been sitting on.

“Lexie,” he said through gritted teeth. “Why the fuck you out here alone?” he snapped the last word, his face only inches away from mine. “I’ve been looking for you inside.”

I looked up at him, my eyes wide and my heart beating rapidly in my chest. I hadn’t thought about being out here alone with my attacker still out there, I had just booked it out of the station quickly after my run in with the giant, that I wasn’t thinking of anything but getting away from him.

“I... I’m sorry, I guess I wasn’t thinking. I couldn’t find you so I, uh came out here to the truck,” I said nervously as my hands fidgeted.

His eyes intensified, pinning me in my spot. As he moved to cross his arms over his chest, I flinched, and not in a small unnoticeable way. My eyes snapped shut and I reeled back, stumbling as I almost lost my balance.

I realized what I did and who I was with and my eyes opened. I knew there was no way he missed it, regardless of being a cop or not, it wasn’t something anyone would miss. I could see him from the corner of my eye, his face was washed of anger and his eyes were no longer full of anger but now back to being grey.

I watched from the corner of my eye as his arm reached towards me, and my body stiffened. His arm froze in mid air before it found its way around my hip, then resting on the small of my back where tingles of warmth started to spread, traveling slowly around me. His hand pressed and pushed me closer to him. It was almost instant when my chest pushed into his.

He lowered his head kissing the top of mine and murmured, “Peaches.” His voice was so low, I almost didn’t hear it.

“Hmm?”

“You smell like peaches,” he said gruffly.

“My shampoo,” I said looking up at him, his eyes gazing down at me.

He motioned towards his truck, and in a rough voice said, “Waffles.” Before he pulled away, he kissed me softly on the forehead then opened the door for me.

We were now parked in my driveway and I was hoping he’d change his mind about joining us for breakfast. I needed to be alone, not around his presence for awhile as it was confusing the fuck out of me.

One minute I want nothing more than to be away from him and then the minute he gets near me, I forget everything and want to be around him and actually like the way he makes me feel.

He eyed me, “You work tonight?” he asked throwing me off from what I thought he was going to say.

“Yeah, at four,” I said softly. Work was the last place I wanted to go.

He nodded his head. “Here’s the deal Lex. I can see your working through some shit right now, don’t know if it all has to do with last night or not, but my guess it’s more,” he said searching my face, like he was looking for the answer. “Listen, I have some shit I need to go deal with. So you’re gonna spend the day with your girl and your boy and also call work, tell them you won’t be in tonight, but don’t tell them why. Just tell them you’re sick, I’ll stop in later, talk with Bobby and Danny, if he’s in before I swing by later.”

I’m sorry, what?

“First, why am I calling in sick and not telling anyone about what happened? Colt’s the owner, he should know. And secondly, why are you coming back?” I asked the latter snottier then I had anticipated, but I couldn’t help it, I was getting annoyed.

I saw his eyes flash quickly, “Just call in sick Lexie and don’t tell Colt Fisher a goddamned thing that happened last night, okay?” his voice clipped.

“Lukas, I don’t understand, why I can’t –” I started only to be cut off.

“Just trust me on this, ok? I’ll see Bobby and Danny later, before I swing by,” he said. When I didn’t say anything he continued. “When’s your next shift after tonight?”

I huffed, annoyed at how bossy he was being. “Not until Thursday night.”

“Good, I’m your ride there and back,” he stated, not bothering to ask me but tell me.

My head snapped in his direction. “Excuse me? Lukas that’s
really
not necessary.”

“Not giving you a choice, Lex,” he said flat out.

My eyes bugged. I swear everything he just said, I had made up in my head.

“I’m sorry
detective
but last I checked I had rights, rights that included making my own fucking choices,” I snapped.

His eyes narrowed in on me. “Lex,” he said sternly, his eyes darkening. “When the guy who attacked you last night and who’s also attacked, beaten and
raped
other girls isn’t out there somewhere, lurking about, then you can talk to me about your rights and choices.”

The air rushed out of my lungs as I sat there, looking at Lukas, feeling a wave of nausea roll through me. He was right and there was nothing left to say on the matter.

I watched him throw open his door and jump out, walking around the front of his truck, and opening my door. He reached inside, across my lap and unbuckled me then proceeded to lift me out, planting me on my feet.

“What the fuck!” I shouted as my feet unsteadily hit the ground. “I can get out myself Lukas, you don’t have to manhandle me like a damn caveman. Jesus,” I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest, glaring at him.

His face smoothed. His mouth pulled to a full smile that reached his eyes, lighting them up. My breath hitched as my lips parted.

Fuck he was gorgeous.

Why was I mad at him?

He laughed. “Like this side of you Peaches, not only entertaining but also fuckin’ hot,” he said amused.

My arms uncrossed and fell to my sides.

Well that’s new. I’d never been called anything like that before, other than by Mollie but that’s Mollie. But someone like Lukas didn’t find someone like me hot, let alone anything else.

“I need to get inside and make waffles for Finn,” I declared and quickly moved to walk around him but his arm reached out, snagged me, and turned me to face him. His brows were scrunched together, and his eyes were questioning.

“Lex,” he said softly.

No one had ever called me anything but Lexie, other than my parents and Dex, who only called me by my given name, Alexia, and I hated it. It made my skin crawl, especially when it was Dex’s mouth it was coming from.

I shook the memory away. “Lukas, Finn’s waiting,” I said just wanting to get inside. I shook my arm and his hand softly glided down my arm, lingering around my wrist.

Before I could walk away, his arm slipped around my shoulder, and I was perfectly tucked under his arm tightly. It was comfortable and I felt safe there, surrounded by him and I couldn’t stop the thoughts as they floated through my mind, telling me it’s where I belonged.

As soon as the thought entered my mind I tried to pull away but Lukas just held me tighter, my body making no argument to him as he walked me to the front door where he kissed my cheek and told me he would see me later and I still had no idea why; it’s the question he never answered
.

It was after breakfast and Mollie and I were cleaning up and doing the dishes while Finn played in his playroom.

“So, are you going to tell me the real reason Lukas didn’t stay for breakfast?” Mollie asked out of the blue.

I looked at her as I dried the plate in my hands. “I told you, he had shit to do. His words, not mine.”