Fractured (Lucian & Lia #2)(13)
Max shakes his head. “We’ve all got skeletons in the closet, Luc. Some of them just rattle more than others.”
“True,” I acknowledge his statement before asking, “So, you think it’s only a matter of time before he shows up?”
“You better believe it. If we’re right, then Lia is his only child, at least that I know of. There’s no way he’ll be able to resist seeing her in person.”
“We both knew it was inevitable from the moment we found out. I know his dealings are sometimes questionable, but really, could he be any worse than her mother?”
“I don’t know, Luc,” Max answers honestly. “He does maintain close ties with his brother, so obviously family means something to him. I don’t think he’ll approach Lia without coming to you first. You two are acquaintances. I figure he will want to feel you out before going to Lia. I have to believe he’s as f*cking blown away by this turn of events as we are.”
“What makes you think he hasn’t known about her all along?” I ask, hoping to Hell I’m wrong. The last thing Lia needs is another parent who has failed her.
“It’s possible,” Max admits. “But from what I know about him, it’s not probable. No matter what he is, I don’t see him leaving a daughter in the situation Lia was in. Lee isn’t the type of man to let someone else mess with his possessions.”
I’m inclined to agree with Max’s assessment. Regardless of whether his dealings are legal, not legal, or strictly in the grey, Jacks is an accepted and sought-after member of Asheville society. He’d never leave a scandal like that to come back to haunt him later. If Lia is his daughter and he knew about her, either she’d have lived with him or he would have sent her somewhere far away. He would have never left her here right under everyone’s nose for someone to stumble across at an inconvenient time. He’s not a stupid man. Although, the argument could be made that he must have had a severe lapse in judgment at least once in his life. A relationship with Maria Adams is enough to make me shudder. It’s hard to imagine that the bitch could have been that much different then.
“We’ll see what comes of it,” I finally say. I fight the urge to light another cigarette while I process his news. I’ve been gone a while, and I need to get back to Lia. I can’t imagine what she must think at the abrupt way I left. I feel like it will be easier for her to talk to the police about what happened to her without me present, but I need to be close in case she needs me. If I’m truthful with myself, I’ll admit that I’m afraid I’ll have a hard time dealing with it, as well. The thoughts of anyone touching her makes me violent. I’ve never been this possessive of a woman before, certainly not of Cassie, and it’s more than a little disconcerting. “Let’s go back in.” I wave Max forward.
I don’t miss the look of relief that crosses Lia’s expressive face when I walk into the room. I cross to her immediately, blocking the view of everyone in the room as I stop next to her bed. “Okay?” I ask, probing her tense expression. She nods just once, but looks so grateful to see me that I immediately feel guilty for leaving her. “I’m here, baby,” I assure her before settling into the chair on the other side of her bed and rubbing her leg soothingly.
The police detective is obviously still dressed for an evening out.. If I were a little more juvenile, I would give Max a thumbs-up because Carly Michaels is a very attractive woman, and if the form-fitting black dress she’s wearing is any indication, she looks just as good under her clothing. Who in the hell am I kidding; I’ll comment on it to him for sure the next time we’re alone.
“Miss Adams…Lia, I know this is hard, but let’s go over it one more time from the top. If you don’t have any objections, I’ll record your statement this time. I’m sorry to put you through this again, but I’ve found that sometimes things are clearer after you’ve had time to reflect on your initial memories of the event.”
When Lia’s eyes fly to me as if concerned by my presence, I say, “Honey, I can step out in the hallway if it’ll be easier for you?”
She looks conflicted for a moment before saying, “Please, don’t leave. I want you here, just…”
I know what she is trying to say. She’s afraid that what I hear will change how I feel about her. It’s likely to tear me apart and infuriate me all to Hell, but it won’t make me walk away. She doesn’t realize the hold she has over me; even I don’t understand it. I never intended to be in this kind of position again, especially with someone just as damaged as I am. Nevertheless, Lia became a part of me before I even knew what was happening. I can no more cut her from my life and survive than I can stop breathing. “It won’t change anything,” I reassure her while bracing myself for her story. Max excuses himself from the room, not wanting to make Lia more uncomfortable.
“All right, Lia, I’m ready,” Carly says as she lays a recorder on the bedside table. “Just take your time and go from the top, please.”
Lia takes a couple of breaths before beginning haltingly. “I…finished my last class at school early and had some time to kill before Sam was to pick me up. I had been staying with Lucian and needed some clothing from my apartment, which was just down the block from school. I thought I could pick up my things and be back in plenty of time to catch my ride. I was checking the mail in the lobby of my apartment building when suddenly someone grabbed me from behind. I was so surprised I didn’t even try to fight until after I was pulled into the storage room. I was turned until I was facing my stepfather, Jim Dawson. When I started to struggle, he punched me in the stomach with his fist, driving the breath from me. While I was trying to recover, he took his belt off and used it to tie my hands. Then he stuffed some type of cloth into my mouth and put tape over it. The taste was so bad I started to gag, but he told me if I vomited, he would leave the tape on so I choked to death on my own puke.”