In the Shadow Of Memory

Chapter 24

"So... do I call you Lucas now?" Mia asked, her tone cautious.

"Yeah," he replied, placing the cake on the table. "Because technically, Mason doesn't exist anymore."

His broad shoulders slouched as he noticed Mia standing there still. "Oh my God, why are you so stiff?" he said, standing and walking toward her. "Relax. I'm still your old friend." He pulled out a chair for her and placed a mug of hot chocolate on the table, along with a huge slice of the cake.

"Tonight, I'm all yours. Whatever questions you have, I'll answer," he said with a smile. Mia blushed, feeling the weight of the moment settle in.

As they sat down, Mia took a deep breath, finally letting her emotions surface. "I'm just... happy you're alive," she admitted, her voice trembling. Suddenly, tears streamed down her face. This was something she had wanted to say for a long time, and it all came pouring out.

Lucas looked at her with a soft smile. "Why are you smiling?" Mia snapped through her tears. "I'm crying here over your ass! You're a freak."

"Nothing," Lucas said with a soft chuckle. "You're just cute. I've missed you too." He took a sip of his hot chocolate, his gaze warm and reassuring.

Mia wiped her tears, trying to regain her composure. "Look," Lucas said gently, pulling her into a warm hug. His hand ran soothingly over her hair. "I'm still here. I'm back, and everything from the past is just that—past."

Mia pulled back slightly, looking at him with a playful glint in her eye. "You're still a jerk, you know."

They both laughed, the tension easing as they shared this moment of genuine connection.

.......

As Mia finished sharing her thoughts and stories, she glanced at her half-empty mug, her smile fading slightly. "What about you?" she asked softly. "You said you're mine for tonight. Can you tell me how that happened?"

Lucas lifted his head, resting his chin on his hand, and seemed to search for the right words. He sighed deeply, his eyes momentarily squinting as he delved into his memories.

Lucas took a deep breath, his gaze distant as he recounted his story. "It all started when I went on a walk and ended up in a new neighborhood. Curiosity led me to explore, and that's when I saw a black van parked by a house. There were people with guns—I'd stumbled into a Mafia operation. They were about to kill a man. I tried to leave quietly, but one of the guys noticed me. I thought I'd managed to avoid trouble, but I was wrong."

He paused, his face showing a mix of pain and regret. "After that, I realized I was being followed. I was terrified and didn't want to tell my parents. That night, I saw him watching me through the window." Lucas sank back into his chair, still lost in thought.

Mia felt a shiver run down her spine. The fear and danger Lucas had faced were overwhelming. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you," she said, her voice trembling.

"No, I'm glad I slowly pushed you away," Lucas replied, his tone reflecting his own regret. "Whatever happened, it wasn't fun. You could have ended up getting hurt."

He picked up his cup and took a sip of his hot chocolate, trying to steady himself. "Anyway, I made a plan for my safety. I wanted you to contact the cops for me—that was the plan in the diary, the barn, and all that. But I never got to leave more clues. They found me before I could add anything."

Lucas's voice grew somber again. "One night, I woke up with two big guys by my bedside. One of them knocked me out. When I came to, I was in a concrete cell. My arms were sore, and I later found out my room had been splattered with blood. They used it to intimidate me."

Mia's heart ached at the thought. Lucas glanced at her and continued, "You might not understand this, but don't blame yourself for getting involved. I was the one who pushed you away. I wanted to protect you from this mess." He paused for a moment and then looked her in the eyes. "Why are you so desperate to know?" Lucas asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mia looked at him with pain in her eyes, "Continue, you promised..."

Lucas sighed deeply. "I wanted you to know because I wanted you to understand. I was supposed to be killed, but they decided to keep me alive. They saw that I didn't go to the cops or my parents after witnessing their operation. They liked that. They kidnapped me and tested me, seeing how far I'd go to survive. I had to pretend to be loyal, to avoid looking for an escape, even though it was tempting. I gained their trust, made friends with them, and showed that I was ready to cooperate."

He paused, his expression reflecting the internal struggle he had faced. "They would bring random people to try and help me escape, but I knew it was a trap. So I stayed put, pretending to be content with my situation, just to survive."

Mia looked at Lucas, her fear evident. "Were you the only one?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"No," Lucas replied, shaking his head. "There were other guys, but they gave up easily. That cost them their lives."

Mia was silent, overwhelmed by the gravity of his situation.

Lucas continued, "Eventually, I was put through more intense training—learning to fight, shoot, and all that. I realized I was in a different location, so I tried to calm myself, waiting for my turn. They eventually gave me a new identity, new documents, a new life in a new place. They sent me to another town."

"Do you still work for them?" Mia asked.

Lucas sighed, his face reflecting the complexity of his situation. "It's complicated. Yes, I have no other choice."

Mia's concern deepened. "Do you realize what you've signed up for? The government will find out about you eventually. You're involved in dangerous work."

Lucas's gaze hardened. "I'm not doing dirty work," he said with disgust. "My job is to deliver files." He touched his lips, realizing he had revealed too much.

Mia's worry grew. "So, you're not safe, and I can't be around you."

"It's not that dangerous," Lucas tried to reassure her, though his voice lacked conviction.

Mia shook her head. She touched his hand gently, hoping her words would go deep into his heart. "You're lying to yourself. You're hiding deep feelings, trying to protect yourself."

Lucas pulled his hand back, feeling the weight of her words. "It's getting late. I'll walk you home," he said, standing up to clear the dishes.

"You still haven't answered half of my questions," Mia said, standing up to follow him.

"I know," Lucas said, grabbing his coat. "But I promise we'll get to the bottom of it."

They walked to her place in the snow, Mia feeling overwhelmed by everything she had learned. She knew she still had many questions, and as they reached her home, she couldn't shake the feeling that the answers were still elusive.

As they arrived at Mia's place, she sighed, feeling overwhelmed. "I just have more and more questions."

Lucas smiled softly, his eyes warm despite the chill. "Look at you, you're freezing," he said, gently pulling her into a tight hug. "Better head inside before you catch a cold."

He leaned in and kissed her forehead, leaving Mia in shock. "Anyways, good night," he said casually before walking away.

Mia stood frozen, her mind racing. Does Lucas actually like me? she wondered, feeling utterly confused. She watched as he glanced back, blew her a kiss, and then disappeared into the darkness. Her heart raced, and she whispered to herself, "Oh no, Mason, why me?"

The door swung open, and she was met with Daisy and Tanya, who were laughing. "Oh my gosh, he just kissed you!" Daisy exclaimed.

Mia, still in shock, stammered, "Why were you stalking me?"

"We saw you two together and wanted to see how it went," Tanya explained. "You went on a date!"

Mia felt a pang of distress and wanted to cry out, Lucas, why? but she kept it inside.

She shut the door and trudged to her room, throwing herself onto the bed. Too much information, she thought, her mind swirling. Her phone buzzed—Detective Jonathan was calling. She groaned and ignored it. Not now, she decided.