“In a manner of speaking. He was in the process of taking their territory. Your father had been laying low for a while, but he decided to get back in the game and he went into the east side to clear out anyone that might get in his way. Those kind of people don’t take too kindly to actions like that.”
‘That bastard,” she said, “but what does that have to do with me? I haven’t seen my father in years until tonight. I’m not in his business or his world.”
“You are still his daughter and he loves you. That is why he was keeping an eye out for you. Someone fed his rivals your name and they decided to use you as a bargaining chip. They contacted him to shut his operation down and make certain drug related concessions or lose his only daughter.”
“I can’t forgive him. I won’t. Saving me doesn’t change what he’s done or what he is.”
“He knows that, Lucy. He told me to tell you that no matter what he has done, he knows he’s made mistakes and that you are his one regret in life. He said he was too hard on you, demanded too much of you, broke you. He doesn’t want you to love him or forgive him. He just wants you to be okay.”
More tears fell down her face, full of conflict and pain.
“This involves a lot of different factions, Lucy. It’s bad. You aren’t going to be safe overnight and we will have to stay here until I know that you are. That might be a day or two, it might be longer.”
She nodded, seeming to accept this. It wasn’t completely great news, but it was something. He had Tate and the team working the east side on it already. The thought of Tate reminded him that he needed to call him and give him a heads up that he’d found her and there might be some bodies involved.
“I need to make a call. Why don’t you lay down for a bit? You can stretch out on the sofa or over in the bed if you prefer. I’m going to need to sort some things out real quick.”
“I don’t know if I can sleep after all this, but I could stand to just stretch out on something more comfortable than that hard mattress I was on.”
She kissed him on the cheek and went over to the bed, frowning down at its nakedness.
“There should be clean sheets in that dresser beside it. Blankets too.”
“Good,” she replied, pulling a drawer open and removing a plastic vacuum bag full of sheets pillows and a blanket. He heard the whoosh as she unzipped it and let the air in and then he pulled his phone out to make a few calls.
“Tate?’
“Oh, thank God. There you are.”
“I’ve got her. She’s safe, but there might be a mess out at the old chemical factory on Runhill Road.”
“Well, that would explain the explosion.”
“Explosion?”
“Yeah. It’s all over the news. Place blew sky high about thirty minutes ago. What are they going to find in there once they get it put out?’
“I don’t know. Maybe some bodies, maybe nothing. Derek Jameson helped me get his daughter home and I left him with the situation.”
“Got you. You were never there Derek. Lucy just came home and the two of you decided to get away for a bit to sort yourselves out. Are you somewhere safe?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Stay there until I contact you. There’s may be some fallout from all this depending on who knows about the situation and if they decide they still want to come after your girl . . . or you. If we can keep your name out of it, that will be a lot better for everyone.”
“You’ll take care of Lark and Peters then?”
“Yep. I’ll talk to you soon.’
“Thanks, Tate.”
Ryan hung up the phone and called his mother. He explained that he and Lucy were in a bit of bother and at the safe house. She agreed to send someone with some clothes for both him and Lucy from the extras they kept there for situations where someone ended up shredding clothes without a spare. He checked the pantry for food while he had her on the phone and it seemed good, other than fresh food.
“I’ll get it sorted for you, son. I love you. Be careful.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
There wasn’t much more he could do now. He went over to the bed and lay down beside Lucy, pulling her close to him. She snuggled against him, seeming more at ease now. He felt a sense of relief like he’d never experienced before as they lay there just enjoying the silence and the warmth of each other’s bodies.CHAPTER SEVENTEENLucy
Lucy was exhausted. She hadn’t slept well for days during her kidnapping and wasn’t sure that she could sleep now without nightmares, but Ryan insisted.