Chapter 45
๏ฟผ
๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐
Lucas POV (โ๐ฃ๐๐ค๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ช)
I would have given anything to replay the moment she had stepped out into the light, her eyes lighting up at the sight of me still in one piece. I just stood there, speechless, breathless and overwhelmed.
I was so happy to be alive. If I had thrown myself into that fire, as I had intended to do earlier, I might have never gotten to see this, see her. I was going to have to exceptionally thank Eve later, privately.
Rita walked towards me, her grin widening knowingly. "You are alive." I managed to ground out and she beamed.
"I ain't that easy to kill, big bro." She said and stepped into my arms. I wrapped my arms tightly around her, breathing in her scent.
"How is it you know-"
"You are my brother?" Rita finished for me. I swallowed, my throat guff. She smiled.
"When Gina's men found me, they knocked me out with the base of their gun. When I finally came to, everything came flashing through my eyes and I couldn't wait to get to you. But I was all tied up in the van, I couldn't move."
I took in a deep breath, anger washing over me. "Then how did survive the explosion? I saw the van go up. I saw it-"
"You saw what we needed you to see. I was able to take Rita out of the van seconds before it went up. We didn't show ourselves because we needed Gina to believe she was succeeding." As Jay said this, his eyes landed on Laura's body. "Did you kill her?" He asked, his eyes lifting to meet mine.
Rita still in my arms, I grunted, "Nope. Gina did." That was when his eyes landed on the unconscious woman lying beside Eve.
"Is she dead?" Rowan asked, bending to check for a pulse.
"Not yet." Eve groaned and I smirked. The woman was sinister and I just realised that I loved it. Loved every piece of her. The good, bad and the in-between.
"I shiver at the thought," Rowan smirked. "You better have your way with her now. The DOC and TPD are already outside and will be coming in any time now."
"Nah, I've had my feel of Gina for a lifetime. Just make sure she never smells fresh air ever again." I sneered and Rowan gave a curt nod.
"No worries. We have all the evidence we need on the tape. Surprisingly, it wasn't destroyed when you all went all rouge on Gina."
I lifted my eyebrows, Rita finally stepping out of my arms. "It didn't? I expected it to be blown to pieces. Luck was on my side." I set my gaze on Rita and added. "On many levels."
"Did you guys find Damien?" Eve suddenly asked and I stiffened. I didn't want to hear that name ever again.
"Damien?" Jay muttered with a puzzled look splashed across his features.
"Long story." I groaned. They hadn't seen him.
"Let's get out of here," Rita grunted and took my hands into hers. "We have a lot of catching up to do."
******************
We returned to the Emerald hotel an hour later. We had to give the TPD and OCD some statements before leaving. The moment we walked into the suite, everyone went into their respective rooms, needing to wash away the stench of Laura, Gina and an absconded Damien.
After taking a much needed hot bath, I pulled on a sweatshirt and walked out and into the parlour to find everyone perched on the couches around the room, faces lost in thought, drinks dangling off their hands.
"Did you try to use me against Lucas?" Rita muttered, eyes settling on Eve.
"I never got around to doing it, but yes, that was my initial plan," Eve responded, eyes guided, lips in a thin line. I walked towards them and took a seat beside Eve.
"Why didn't you kill me? Why did you hesitate, waste time, fight for me, and even save my life? If you had hated me so much, why hadn't you just killed me and gotten it over with?" I whispered, turning to look at Eve.
She sighed, her eyes lifting to met mine. "I don't know. I wanted to make you suffer, probably join forces with Laura to frustrate you. But the longer I got into your world, the deeper I was drawn in. I-"
I placed my palm on my thighs and she stiffened. "I forgive you. I can't hold it against you when I know you were blinded by false rage. It wasn't your fault. I should have told you the truth earlier, I should have trusted you enough to handle it. I'm so sorry you lost everything, princess, I'm-"
Eve's lips covered mine, her palms gripping my head so fiercely, I couldn't help but groan into the kiss. After a moment of some hot tongue battling, we came up for breath, my lips tingling from the force of our kiss.
"You have nothing to be sorry about. You lost everything because of my evil mother. I should be the one apologizing." She turned towards everyone. "I should apologise to every one of you for dragging you into my messed up life. Please find it in your hearts to forgive me."
Jay nodded, eyes watery and Rita smiled.
"I just regained back my memory Eve, and if I recall correctly, you saved my life, gave me a new meaning, gave me purpose. I should be thanking you."
My eyes landed on my sister and I smiled. "I guess you should start taking lessons from Ri- Lydia here," I said to Eve.
"I'll stick with Rita, Lucas. Just like you, Lydia is dead. I'm moving forward with my life." She clarified before Eve could even give a resort. After a moment, I sent her a nod, respecting her decision.
"And what should we call you?" A previously silent Rowan grumbled and we turned to him. Apparently, he was talking to Eve.
"Well," She breathed, eyes twitching in a smile. "Call me Eve Red."
Yeah, Red. Just like a poisoned apple.
I grabbed Eve's hands and stood up. "While you guys sort out what you'll do with your lives after all this, I have a pending discussion to have with Ms Red." I began moving towards my room, Eve in tow.
**************
I shut the door behind us and pressed Eve against the cool wood. She looked up at me, eyes shining.
"You wanted to talk, so let's talk-"
"Will you marry me?" I blurted, cutting her words rights off her tongue. She froze, her eyes staring into mine like I was crazy.
"Are you mad?" She whispered, her tongue slipping out to lick her pink lips. "What makes you think you can just spring-"
I slammed my lips against her, determined to change her mind the only way I knew how.
"I bet I can change your mind," I grunted between kisses. She moaned, her arms lifting to wrap themselves around my neck.
"I bet you couldn't-"
I picked her up before she could finish her sentence and headed for the bed.
"We'll see about that Mrs crane." I groaned, with a smirk curving around my lips.
By the time I was done with her, she'd be begging to not only be my wife but my very own partner in crime.
Although, I was pretty sure we were already way past the last part.
The End!!
Thank you so much for sticking with Eve, and Lucas, and Rita and Jay and Damien and of course, me.
You have been amazing and I am honoured to say we cried and laughed and cursed together.
Thank you so much for being you.
There still one more chapter called the Epilogue. Hopefully, it doesn't make you bang your head against a wall. ๐
โค๏ธ
