'Who's this man lying beside me right now?'
She tossed.
'What have I gotten myself into?'
She turned.
'Am I safe?'
She shut her eyes.
'Am I safe?'
She opened them.
Claire lifted Lucas's loose hand from her breasts and gently slipped out of bed. The cool floor against her feet sent a shiver through her body as she moved quietly across the room.
'Should've put on the fucking socks when I thought about it,' she thought to herself in regret.
She glanced back at him—peacefully asleep, completely unaware of the storm of emotions inside her.
Claire made her way to the mirror, her bare feet padding softly on the floor. She paused when she saw her reflection. For a moment, she barely recognized herself. The woman staring back at her had changed so much over the past few months.
She reached up and ran her fingers through her tangled hair. Everything about her felt heavier now.
Her fingers traced her collarbone absently as she took in her appearance. Her eyes, once bright and vibrant, now had darkness around it; both figuratively and literally.
All the memories came flooding back. Anton running off with her money, two men shot dead before her very eyes, the close call with the police and the ever-stinging cold-hearted words of Lucas, "I did."
Lucas had explained to Claire on the drive home that Craig, who was also an undercover journalist, was threatening to expose him and his partners for smuggling weapons through their legitimate business fronts, a revelation that could ruin them all. Even Claire herself.
***
"I was protecting you. Us. Craig got involved in stuff he should've stayed away from. I know he meant a lot to you, and I asked my partners, people more powerful than me, for an alternative. But there was no saving Craig. I'm really sorry Claire."
***
It had been three weeks since Craig was killed, and Claire still couldn't get herself to look at Lucas the same way again. He still had that same pull on her and she felt guilty that she still found him physically attractive.
'My god, he's sexy,' she thought as she cast a quick glance at him again. The Paris event is days away so this was not the time to be a cry baby.
'This is my life now,' Claire concluded with surprising determination.
'I chose this path, didn't I? There's no turning back now.'
With a deep breath, she straightened her posture, chin up.
She shifted her glance to the Bulgari digital clock on the dresser.
4:42 AM.
'Well, I definitely can't get back to sleep now. Might as well just go for a jog,' Claire thought as she gathered her hair, twisting it effortlessly into a neat bun.
Even in this early hour, without a hint of makeup, her beauty was undeniable—delicate features, full lips, and those piercing eyes, though tired, still gorgeous.
After slipping into her favorite jogger set—a fitted black tank and matching leggings that hugged her curves just right—Claire was about to head out when Lucas's voice called from behind her.
"Where are you going?"
Claire froze, then turned around to see him sitting up on the bed, his eyes on her.
His dark hair was messy from sleep, and he wore nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants, his chest bare and sculpted, the faint light from the lamp by the bed lighting his skin.
His eyes were still half-closed but curious, and for a second, her heart skipped at how damn good he looked, even when he wasn't trying.
"Just going for a jog," Claire said, her voice steady, as she tried to keep her composure under his gaze.
"Oh nice. Mind if I join?"
Claire hesitated for a second, taken aback by how lighthearted he sounded. One would think they were ACTUALLY married.
She then gave a small shrug, unable to resist his offer. "Sure!"
They made their way to the fields, where the early morning was quiet and still.
As they jogged side by side, Claire savored the cool morning breeze against her skin. It felt refreshing, like it was washing away the heaviness that had been weighing her down for weeks.
The gentle wind ruffled the strands of hair that had come loose from her bun, and for the first time in a while, her mind felt a little clearer.
'This is exactly what I needed,' she thought, enjoying the rare moment of peace and quiet.
Just then, Lucas's voice broke the calm.
"So," he began, glancing over at her, "how are you feeling about the Paris event?"
"I'm… excited," Claire said truthfully. "Nervous, but excited. It feels like it's gonna be a huge deal."
Lucas gave a small smile, his eyes staying ahead as they kept jogging. "You'll kill it. Just keep your focus."
Kill.
Claire nodded, ignoring the devilish voice creeping up in her head. She felt reassured by him. There was this calm authoritative energy about him that always made her feel safe. He was the best when he wasn't a psychotic killer.
"Oh, and Luna got married, by the way," Lucas said casually, as if it was an afterthought, barely worth mentioning.
"Wait, what?" Claire said, her brow raised in surprise. "I didn't even know she was seeing anyone."
"Yeah, not a big deal," Lucas shrugged. "She wanted it low-key, I guess. But she's gonna officially announce it at the event. I'm pitying the poor guy already."
Claire thought about it for a second, but didn't question further. There was always something off about Luna, so Claire made the decision to always stay clear of her.
By the time they were done, they came to a stop at the front of the mansion.
Claire's legs ached in that satisfying way, and she was breathing heavily. Lucas stood beside her, just breathing calmly, in a way that almost annoyed her, like he hadn't even broken a sweat. Like he was the one that asked her to come with him.
He turned to her, his blue eyes meeting hers with that intensity she always melted under. Claire's heart pounded, but this time, not from the run.
"Uhmm, thanks for coming along," she said softly, shifting the hair that hung over her eyes.
Lucas reached out, brushing the hair behind her ear, after her many failed attempts.
"Nahh, I also needed it."
Claire felt her breath seize as his face drew closer, his eyes shifting to her lips. She knew what was about to happen, and as much as part of her told her to resist, the rest of her—every nerve in her body—wanted it.
Needed it.
Before she could second-guess it, his lips were on hers, slow at first, like he was testing her. But when Claire responded, pressing into him, his hand cupped the back of her neck, pulling her deeper into the kiss. And in that moment, all her concerns and worries about him melted away.
'Uh oh, he's doing it again,' Claire thought as they pulled away, leaving her even more breathless.
Claire blinked up at him, her lips still tingling from the kiss.
"Now that's a good way to start the morning, isn't it?" Lucas asked, a cheeky smirk plastered on his face. "Let's call it part one," he added, causing her to laugh out loud, leaning softly into his chest.
"You're so nasty," she said, still giggling.
"And you're so sexy. So that's kind of your fault," Lucas said, cupping her irresistible butt, the smirk never leaving his face. "C'mon, let's go in," he said, taking her hand as they headed back inside.
'This is my life now,' she reminded herself, as she followed him.
'This is my life now.'