Chapter 5
807 Words
As the sun rose over the horizon, both Luke and I were sitting in the kitchen, watching it through the window. We had discussed pointless things over the hours just to pass the time, but, in the back of my mind, I wondered where the next few days would lead me.
"Are you going to leave?" Luke asked softly as if sensing my train of thought.
I ran my fingers through my tangled hair and sighed. "I've been running for so long, Luke. I'm afraid if I stay I'll die, but I'm also scared that, if I run now, I'll be running forever."
"Whatever your choice, I will do as best as I can to help you."
I could feel his gaze on me, and, when I turned toward him, I found that is eyes were a grey-green with his complimenting light blue shirt. I suddenly knew I wanted to fight to stay, to fight to be with Luke.
"I'm not going to run," I murmured quietly, almost too afraid to voice my thoughts.
Luke reached out and squeezed my hand. "You're the bravest person I know. There are soldiers who would keep running no matter what."
I breathed in deeply. "I want my life back, Luke. I want freedom to do what I want to do. It's been years since I've been to a hairdressers or to a real clothes shop. It's been years since I've been to a public beach or a gym. I don't want to live life looking over my shoulder. And most of all, I want to stay with you. You're the best thing that has happened to me in years- you and Sarah that is. I don't want to run and lose you forever. I'm not prepared to lose the two people closest to me."
A proud smile pulled at Luke's lips. "You're going to stay and fight?" I nodded, and he wrapped his arms around my waist. "Then I'll help you."
For a long moment, we sat there, taking comfort in each other.
I wasn't sure who initiated it, but our lips found each others. It was a soft, innocent kiss that fanned my determination. I would not let this go.
Our kiss deepened, and his teeth grazed my bottom lip, making me shiver. In that kiss, I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time. Love.
Before it could go any further, I pulled away, one hand on my lips the other on Luke's chest. "Wait..."
Luke studied my expression before nodding, his gaze soft. "Of course. What's on your mind?"
My mind was racing at a million mile an hour. I couldn't start something without telling him my secrets. I knew he had told me he didn't need to know about my past, but he did. I needed him to know.
I got up and grabbed a glass of water. I drained it and refilled it. I drank three glasses before I finally stopped and leaned against the counter. "I'm scared, Luke."
He got up, and I felt him behind me. He placed a comforting hand on my back. "I promise I will do everything in my power to protect you. You don't have to be scared."
I closed my eyes and shook my head. "That's not what I mean... I need to tell you everything."
"Riley, you don't have to tell me anything-"
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I do." Turning toward him, I stared right into his eyes. "Luke, I've done some things..." I trailed off, not knowing if that was the right way to start this conversation.
"We've all done things we're not proud of, Riley. I should know that better than anyone else." His hand went up to tug at the dog tag hidden beneath his shirt.
I needed to come out and say it. Probably starting from the beginning. But where was the beginning? "For the past year, I've been running with no one to help me. I had to cut off all contact with people that I knew from my past. I've been on my own..."
Luke nodded, leading me toward the couch and sitting me down. "Why have you been alone?"
I took a long deep breath. "I trusted someone who betrayed me. I still don't know who it was who tried to give me over to the people after me, but I know it was someone close to me."
Luke's expression hardened, and it suddenly dawned on me that he had never told me his own story of when he was in the military.
I pushed that thought aside for another time. "Before the betrayal, I was in witness protection."
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