The warmth of that mont was interrupted by Gabriel, who walked over to Lucas, dusting his hands off from the scuffle with Alpha Grey’s n.
"The cops have it under control," Gabriel said, his voice breaking into Lucas’s thoughts. "The rest of the guards are in custody. We should get going."
Lucas nodded, his focus still on Aurora. "Yeah. Let’s go ho."
As the three of them made their way out of the warehouse, Lucas glanced at Aurora, who was still holding Leo close.
"I’ll take you ho," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "It’s late, and you’ve both been through enough. Let make sure you get there safely."
Aurora looked at him, her expression a mixture of exhaustion and gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Lucas," she said softly. "I appreciate it."
Gabriel opened the car door, and Lucas gestured for them to sit in the backseat with him.
Leo, still clinging to his mother, climbed into the car, and Aurora followed, her arm protectively around her son.
Once they were settled, Gabriel got into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
The car pulled away from the warehouse, the darkened streets quiet as they drove through town.
Leo, snuggled against Aurora, had finally fallen asleep, his small hand clutching her shirt.
Aurora stroked his hair, her heart still racing from the night’s events, but she felt a strange sense of calm with Lucas nearby.
After a few monts of silence, Aurora quietly gave Gabriel directions. "Here, turn left... that’s my house up ahead."
Gabriel slowed the car and pulled to a stop in front of a large mansion.
The house stood tall and imposing in the moonlight, its stone exterior gleaming faintly under the soft glow of the streetlights.
Aurora gently shifted Leo in her arms and opened the door.
She glanced back at Lucas, offering him a tired but sincere smile. "Thank you again, Mr. Lucas. I don’t know what I would’ve done without your help."
Lucas returned her smile, though sothing about the mansion was nagging at the back of his mind. "Anyti, Aurora. I’m just glad you’re both safe."
Leo stirred slightly, blinking up at Lucas.
"Thank you, Daddy," he mumbled sleepily before resting his head back on Aurora’s shoulder.
After Leo’s heartfelt "Thank you, Daddy," Lucas felt sothing stir deep within him.
The simple word, "Daddy," echoed in his mind, creating a warmth that both comforted and unsettled him.
Aurora gave Lucas one last grateful look before she carried Leo up the steps and into the house.
As the door closed behind them, Lucas’s gaze lingered on the mansion.
There was sothing about it—sothing familiar.
His brow furrowed as he tried to shake the odd feeling.
Gabriel glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Everything all right, sir?"
Lucas blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Yeah... yeah, let’s get going."
Gabriel nodded and pulled the car away from the curb, but Lucas couldn’t shake the nagging feeling in his chest.
While Gabriel drove, the mansion flashed in Lucas’s mind again, but this ti, it was clearer.
Lucas suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head, as if sothing deep within his mory was struggling to break free.
He winced, pressing his hand against his temple.
"Sir? Are you okay?" Gabriel asked, concern creeping into his voice as he watched Lucas in the rearview mirror.
Lucas didn’t answer.
He was too caught up in the sudden flood of fragnted images racing through his mind.
He could see himself walking through the halls of that sa mansion, the one they had just left.
In his mory, the lights were dim, and rain pattered softly outside.
He rembered stepping into a room—a bedroom—and there was a woman there, her back to him, wearing a nightgown.
The mory was blurry, but Lucas could feel the warmth of the woman’s skin as he hugged her from behind, pressing a soft kiss to her neck.
He tried to focus on her face, but it was just out of reach, lost in the fog of his mind.
The pain in his head intensified, and the mory dissolved as quickly as it had co.
Lucas gasped, clutching his head as a wave of dizziness washed over him.
"Sir Lucas?" Gabriel’s voice was urgent now. "What’s wrong?"
Lucas tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t co.
His vision blurred, and his body slumped back against the seat, completely still.
Gabriel glanced back and saw Lucas had gone completely limp.
"Sir Lucas!" he shouted, panic rising in his chest.
He slamd on the brakes, pulling the car over to the side of the road.
Jumping out of the car, Gabriel hurried to the backseat, his heart pounding.
He gently shook Lucas’s shoulder. "Sir! Can you hear ?"
Lucas remained unresponsive, his breathing shallow.
Gabriel quickly grabbed his phone, dialing ergency services, his mind racing as he gave their location.
---
Lucas fluttered his eyes open, his vision blurry as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
He blinked a few tis, the familiar details of a room coming into focus—the soft lighting, the simple decor, and the cool gray walls.
His head throbbed, a dull ache pounding at his temples.
He groaned softly and shifted in bed, trying to recall what had happened.
There was a vague mory of the drive, the pain in his head, and then...nothing.
He winced as he brought a hand to his forehead, the pressure of his fingers doing little to ease the lingering ache.
As he lay there, trying to piece together the events, a small voice cut through the silence. "Daddy, are you awake?"
Lucas froze, his breath catching in his throat.
The voice was soft, almost hesitant, and oddly familiar.
Slowly, he turned his head toward the sound.
Standing at the edge of the bed was Leo, his wide eyes filled with concern. The little boy looked up at him, his small hands clutching the blanket that hung off the bed.
"Daddy?" Leo repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb him.
Lucas stared at him, his mind racing.
He tried to process the word—Daddy—but it didn’t make sense.
He wasn’t Leo’s father. And yet, the way the boy looked at him, with such trust, tugged at sothing deep inside him.
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