Chapter 16 The terms of surrender
The next morning, Lucy woke up with sunlight warming her cheek and the faint scent of coffee drifting through the penthouse. For a few blissful seconds she forgot about threats, families, enemies, and the fact that her entire world had changed overnight.
Then she heard Lucas’s voice from the kitchen.
“Morning, angel.”
She sat up, rubbing her eyes. Lucas stood by the counter, sleeves rolled up, hair still damp from a shower, a mug in each hand. He looked soft—which was dangerous, because softness made her forget he was one of the most feared men in the city.
“You made coffee?” she asked.
“I make excellent coffee,” he said, handing her a mug. “Don’t let anyone tell you different.”
She laughed softly. “I’ve never seen you cook or make anything in a kitchen.”
“I can make coffee,” he insisted, leaning against the counter. “And toast. Anything that involves two steps or fewer.”
She sipped. “It’s actually good.”
His chest puffed up. “See? I have many hidden talents.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks, remembering some of those talents from the night before.
Lucas noticed. Of course he noticed. A slow smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.
“Sleep well?” he murmured.
“Lucas—” she warned, trying not to smile.
“What? It’s an innocent question.”
“It’s not.”
He moved closer, sliding a knuckle under her chin. “You looked peaceful. I like you looking so peaceful. You don’t let yourself be that way often.”
Her throat tightened. “I can’t afford to be.”
“Maybe not,” he said softly. “But I can.”
She frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means you’re not alone anymore.” His hand cupped her jaw. “Whatever comes next, we face it together.”
She swallowed hard. Together sounded wonderful…and terrifying. It would take some getting used to.
THE MEETING CALL
Her phone buzzed on the table.
Unknown number.
She froze. “It might be Rowan’s men—”
Lucas shook his head. “Already traced it.” He held out his hand. “Put it on speaker.”
Lucy answered cautiously. “Hello?”
A distorted voice crackled through the line.
“Lucy Hale…I hear you’ve been busy.”
Her stomach dropped. Mercer.
The man who ran the trafficking network from the shadows.
The man she’d been hunting for three years.
Lucas straightened instantly, eyes going sharp and lethal.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Lucy said coldly.
Mercer chuckled. “And I’ve been looking at you. Brave little thing. Meddlesome. But you’ve become… inconvenient.”
Lucas took a step closer to the phone. “You touch her and—”
“Ah,” Mercer interrupted. “Mr. Bravata. I was hoping you’d join the conversation.”
Lucas’s jaw flexed.
“I know you’re trying to dismantle my operation,” Mercer continued calmly. “And I know the girl you rescued last night wasn’t the only one. You’re becoming a problem.”
“Good,” Lucy snapped. “That means I’m close.”
Mercer ignored her. “So here are my terms.”
Lucas bristled. “You don’t get to set terms with me.”
“But I do,” Mercer said smoothly. “Because I have someone you care about.”
Lucy’s heart lurched. “Who?”
A picture came through—Lucas’s phone buzzed, showing it.
Emily.
Bound. Terrified.
Lucy gasped.
Lucas’s face turned to stone.
Mercer’s voice returned, colder. “You bring yourself to me, Lucy. Alone. No police. No Bravata men. Tonight at midnight.”
Lucas growled, “If you think—”
Mercer spoke over him. “If you don’t come, the girl dies. Slowly.”
The line went dead.
Silence slammed into the room.
Then Lucas exploded.
“NO.” He slammed his hand on the counter, rattling the glasses. “You are not going anywhere near that psychopath.”
Lucy’s breath shook. “Emily…”
“We will get her back,” Lucas said fiercely. “But not by handing you over.”
Lucy looked at him, tears burning hot behind her eyes. “Lucas, he has Emily. You saw her. She looked… she looked so scared.”
He grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“And if you go, I lose you. I won’t survive that.”
Her chest tightened painfully. “Lucas—”
“We find another way,” he said, voice low, final.
“We track him. We break his operation. We take Emily back by force.”
“You don’t even know where he is.”
“I’ll learn,” he said darkly. “And when I find him…”
The promise in his voice could’ve frozen fire.
Lucy swallowed. “There isn’t time. Midnight is—”
“I’d burn the city down before I let him touch you,” Lucas growled. “I mean it.”
His hands slid to her waist as if anchoring her there.
“Lucy. You’re mine.”
He pressed his forehead to hers, breathing hard.
“I’m begging you… don’t ask me to let you walk into that.”
Her heart cracked. “And I’m begging you to not make me choose between saving Emily and obeying you.”
The air between them shook—two unstoppable forces colliding.
Lucas whispered, “If you go… it’ll destroy me.”
Lucy whispered back, voice almost breaking, “If I don’t go… it’ll destroy me.”
The worst part?
They were both right.