Eye of the Storm

“She was drugged, unless she took something on her own before the party,” Doctor Wren said as Lucas stood next to Layla’s bedside at the ER.

“What medicines are you on?” Wren skimmed the papers. “Anxiety, sleeping, antidepressant…”

Layla blushed, but even though the doctor was a little concerned with how much she was prescribed, Wren didn’t think that was the problem at the moment.

“You hadn’t taken anything with alcohol?”

“No, and I take my meds at night and only my anxiety when I absolutely have to.”

Lucas was quick to tell Wren his medication in case it helped with the investigation.

“Someone definitely slipped you something that you’re currently taking, but in a very high dose. You didn’t overdose, but you were very close.”

Lucas growled. It’s what they wanted. Officer Perkins couldn’t find a trace of anything out of the ordinary from the party or in the bedroom.

“It’s insane. Like these people are damn phantoms.”

“I need to vet my crew,” Lucas told Gretchen as they stood in the hall so Layla could get some rest. “That means you too.”

Gretchen, even though she was Layla’s best friend, had to be weeded out as a suspect.

After the week, Lucas had cleared everyone, but that didn’t make him feel better.

Layla was in the hospital for two days and sent home with her parents as Lucas trailed behind them.

Shelly got Layla into her room and resting before she and Ron spoke with Lucas.

“Look, is it something you’re not telling us? Someone you know that could be doing this to our baby because of you? An old flame? An enemy?” Ron chided as they sat for coffee at the kitchen table. “I told you what I’d do if my daughter was hurt in any way, Lucas.”

Lucas couldn’t think of anyone who would hurt Layla because of him—they would go for the jugular and straight for him.

“I have a lot of enemies, but nothing to that capacity. This is a fucking cat and mouse game that even I can’t understand.”

“She’s got some time off before starting work again. Why not see if she’s interested in finding Fred or her siblings?” Shelly offered.

Lucas ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t want her disappointed if they’re not receptive. However, I hate to do this, but I have to vet y’all as well.”

“Like hell!” Ron stood up, ready to pound Lucas’s face in. Lucas didn’t flinch. “I’d never do this to my daughter. Neither would Shelly!”

Lucas had already allowed Heath and Lyle to pay a visit to Nick and Brenda again, and they were cleared.

“Covering all the bases, Ron.”

Ron scoffed. “Fine. Do what needs to be done.”

Layla was standing in the kitchen now, sobbing. “What if it’s you, Lucas?”

Lucas stood up and readied himself to gather her in his arms, but she backed up.

“No, I—I can’t…” Her eyes were bloodshot, and she was shaking, trembling violently as if there was a draft. “Just do what you need to do and go to work. I will be fine.”

“I asked for the day off, baby girl.” Lucas didn’t invade her space; he couldn’t make her feel uncomfortable.

“I don’t want to be near Colt or Paul or anyone else except for you, Lucas. You’re going to save me, right? You’ll make all of the boogeymen go away?”

Lucas wasn’t sure if she was having a breakdown or being sarcastic. Her tone was different but could have been the amount of meds flowing through her system.

“I’m a pretty little doll face, right?” Layla said to Lucas as he led her back to her room. “I don’t have all of my freckles anymore—just the ones across my nose.”

Lucas frowned as she brought her big stuffed teddy bear to the bed.

“Am I cute? Should I put bows in my hair?”

“Layla…”

“I was there for a few days, Lucas. They dressed me up and sang to me—like I was younger than eleven.”

She was remembering more every day.

“I should sleep.”

Lucas nodded. “You should, Little Hippie. I’ve got you covered.”

“Are you going to pound me with that big, fat, throbbing cock of yours? I feel it nudging against my leg.”

“No, not today. Today is recovery day, baby.”

“That’s no fun.” Layla pouted, and he then smelled her breath.

“Where’s the booze?” Lucas sighed.

Layla leaned over, smiling and hiccuping. “It’s in me,” she whispered.

“Goddammit, Layla. You want your fucking stomach pumped?”

“I didn’t take any pills—yet.”

Something was happening to her. She was acting like old Lucas, and Lucas didn’t like it.

“Let’s get your bowls out, baby girl. Wanna do some meditation?”

“I want to fuck you while you lick whiskey off of my naked body.”

“As tempting as that sounds, you need rest. I’ll stay with you until you…” Lucas looked up to find Layla already asleep.

“Little Hippie, what the hell is going on with you?” he whispered, snuggling in next to his woman who desperately needed a break.

***

“I think it’s been Paul,” Gretchen said as she and Layla sat in Layla’s room. “I bet he slipped in and did something to your drink. Who the hell else would it be? Lauren?”

Layla gasped. “Oh my God! What if?!”

Gretchen frowned. “But why?”

“He keeps telling Lucas how horrible Lucas is for me.”

“Well, I mean, I like Lucas, but things are weird with you two together, yeah?”

“Coincidence.”

“Is it? Or do you just want it to be?”

“Gretchen, maybe it’s you!” Layla yelled in anger.

Gretchen scowled. “It isn’t me, Layla. I wouldn’t dream of doing this to someone and I’d never, ever hurt you.”

***

Layla didn’t know what to believe. Her life was going in slow motion sometimes and some days it was all a blur.

She was helping around the farms before the summer was over and she was looking over her shoulder every minute—but Lucas seemed to be close by at all times.

“Did you get the job here to be near me?” Layla teased as she and Lucas fed the horses and chickens at Bonner’s Farm.

“I did. Hell, even if I wasn’t protecting you, I’d still want to be near you, baby girl.”

“Obsessed with me?”

“I seem to recall a particular auburn woman begging me to fuck her into oblivion last night and got oh so mad when I had to take a phone call.”

“Me? Not me… I couldn’t have been that woman.” Layla blushed, rolling her eyes at her man. “Stop staring at me. You’re feeding the same chicken.”

“Guess I will just have to feed this cock over here in a minute.”

“What are you going to feed it?”

Lucas laughed, startling the horse standing nearby. “Such a fucking tease.”

They were inseparable, and even though little things would happen that were unusual—cars following them, finding their houses unlocked or cars opened—they tried to lead a normal life.

“So, I decided to reach out to the foster parents of Bea and Ben and they’re going to let me come see them!”

Lucas smiled. “Did they know about you?”

Layla’s tears streamed down her face. “Remember when I told you that I get birthday cards from Brenda in July? It’s been from them. Nick just told them the wrong month.”

“Because he’s a fucking asshole prick face.”

“I guess they didn’t want to get in trouble for sending me a card.” Layla was so happy she could barely contain herself. “Why is my life so weird?”

Lucas chuckled, tossing his head back. “I think it got weirder the day you trespassed…”

“Yeah, you are a weirdo.”

“Just wait until I put that sassy mouth to better use later on, baby girl.”

“Promises, promises.”

But Lucas kept his promises, and Layla found herself on her knees in the middle of Lucas’s bedroom, his cock shoved all the way down her throat.

“I’m about to cum, baby.” He ran his hands through her hair. “Can you take me?”

Layla moaned, nodding as she held on to Lucas’s thighs for support. With one more grunt and a forceful thrust, her throat was coated in Lucas’s cum.

“Damn, you are so good at this,” Lucas panted as he pushed into her one last time and then slipped out.

“I only want to please you, Lucas. It’s why I’m good at it.”

That’s what their days were like: working together, making love, making plans, making dinner—everything Lucas ever wanted in a woman and a relationship.

He couldn’t help but notice her slowly breaking down though. Her night terrors and his attacks were strangling them both.

Then there were the naysayers like Paul and Ron and whoever else wanted to tell them that they weren’t good together. They were amazing together, and that couldn’t be more of Lucas and Layla’s truth.

Her time at the crisis center was even cut short due to Rosie. She loved Layla and thought she was a great dispatcher, but with the goings-on? She had to let her go.

***

“Well, if it isn’t the fucking basket case.” Lauren’s voice echoed through the supermarket as Layla walked the aisles of Cole’s. “Ya know, Lucas Foster is one hot motherfucker, but he has cracked you, baby.”

“Go to hell, Lauren. You don’t know shit about me.”

Lauren’s mouth widened to say something else, but she caught sight of Lucas and Jefferson and continued on.

Lucas had heard it all. Maybe Lauren was right. Maybe…

Layla turned around and rushed to him. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” Lucas said, embracing her as Jefferson gave them their space.

“Don’t believe them.”

It was hard not to. Maybe he really was her demon.

***

For her birthday, Lucas, Ron, and Shelly surprised her with something she’d never forget. Her first meeting with her siblings.

Before Lucas led her to the house, he pulled out a box and breathed in deeply.

“This isn’t an engagement ring, so don’t slap me, but it is a promise ring because you’re the cheesiest person I know.” Lucas handed her the box with a ring inside, their birthstones intertwined with an infinity symbol.

“Oh, Lucas! I love it! Thank you so much.” She handed it to him. “Put it on me?”

His hands were shaking when he slipped it on her finger.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Like you, baby girl, but that’s not all,” Lucas said, escorting her from his truck. “Now close your eyes.”

Layla had been writing and calling her siblings for a few weeks, receiving pictures online of them, and she had sent pictures of herself and Dinah.

She didn’t want to wait to meet them, but she knew all too well about jumping on something so special, yet so touchy.

“My surprise is in my parents’ house?”

Lucas led her into the foyer. The foster parents of Bea and Ben were standing near the children, grinning from ear to ear. Bea was already crying, and Ben was wringing his hands.

Ron and Shelly were off to the side with Dinah and Yeehaw.

“Okay, baby girl, open those beautiful blues!”

“Oh my goodness!!!!” Layla didn’t know who to run to first, but all three of them somehow met in the middle, embracing and crying rivers of joy. “Oh my goodness!” Layla kept saying through her tears.

“Good job, Lucas, ole boy.” Ron patted Lucas on the back as they stood back watching and taking pictures of the reunion from a distance.

“I can’t believe it!” Layla sobbed. “I just—I love you both so much already.”

And they loved her. There was a sense of belonging when the three of them were together, even though they had an age gap.

“This is the best birthday ever!”

***

Lucas decided all he wanted to do was be with her on his birthday, so they went fishing, dogs in tow, and on a picnic.

Layla had made him a coconut fudge cake and had bought him some new chaps, a leather jacket, and a new motorcycle helmet, all imprinted with their memories: his porch, Vegas, Cole’s, the pasture, and even the VFW. She had even had someone print a pair of boxing gloves on the sides.

They made love all night long and, once spent from all of the romance, they showered and headed to bed.

Layla rolled over, finding Lucas’s bedside cold. She saw him at the foot of the bed, and then he started mumbling to himself.

“Lucas…” Layla watched as Lucas paced the room, currently not available, as he was having an attack. “Darling, where are you? Where have you gone?”

“There… I’m there…”