Chapter 28


After Kevin had left, Lucy had taken another shower and gone back outside. When the sun came up, she was exhausted but every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was Ryan and Kevin in the living room. At that moment, she didn’t think she’d ever sleep again.

When she heard the car out front, she jumped to her feet and ran to the door. Opening the door, she looked at Victor.

"Oh, Lucy. I’m so sorry."

"I take it Kevin told you the whole story?"

"I hope you aren’t upset he told me."

She stared at him for a moment, then shook her head. "I guess you had to know that Ryan is still around."

The lost look in her eyes almost physically hurt Victor. He stepped towards her and when he put his arms out, she leaned against him.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"This is nice. I really needed it." Hugging him back, she didn’t want him to let go. Finally, she stepped back. "Come on in."

They sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee.

"Do you have any idea what you’re going to do? I know this is way to soon for you to make any permanent decisions, but..."

She sighed. "I don’t know. The first thing I have to do is find a place to live. I don’t want to go to the hotel, DV’s there. And he’s not someone I want to deal with right now. I need to get up, get myself together, and go to the office. If I concentrate on something else, maybe something will come to me."

Standing, Lucy started to wander around the living room. Following her, Victor watched her.

"What are you looking for?"

"My phone. It was in my purse the last time I saw it. But it’s not there. I..." A thought occurred to her. "I bet he took it."

"It makes sense. He wouldn’t have wanted you to call anyone. Here." He handed her his phone.

"Never mind. I’m just going to go to Jax. I need to get out of here."

Running upstairs for a few minutes, she returned, ready to leave.

"Victor, would you like to have dinner? I mean, if you can get away, I just... I can’t-"

"I would love it, Lucy." Walking out the door with her, he hugged her again. The fact that she still loved him after both of his sons had completely tortured her amazed him.

When she tried to start her car, Ryan’s handiwork struck again.

Fortunately, it took Victor only a few minutes to figure out what he’d done. But it also told Victor how methodical Ryan had been in his quest to completely destroy Lucy. He’d succeeded in isolating her so she wouldn’t figure out what was really happening.

Watching her drive away, Victor wondered if she was ever going to recover.


Chapter 29


Eve was sitting on the sofa when Kevin came downstairs. When he’d come home last night, his face told her he didn’t want to talk. So she’d left him alone, knowing that at some point he would tell her what was happening.

After calling Mac, and finding out that there was no trace of Ryan, Kevin sat next to her and closed his eyes.

"Kevin, I know this is killing you. Not knowing where he is, or what he’s going to do next. But that is exactly what he wants."

"There’s a lot more to it than that. I can’t believe he… You have no idea what he’s done to Lucy. As long as I live, I will never forget the look on her face when she realized what was going on. I have serious doubts that she will ever get over it."

"I know. But it wasn’t you. Ryan did this. You’ve been hurt so much by him. And he wants you to feel guilty, like this was somehow your fault. It’s not. You had nothing to do with this."

"Neither did Lucy. I know how you feel about her, but she didn’t deserve this. She had a life, Eve, she had Scott, and Serena. Ryan took that away from her."

Shaking her head, Eve tried to find a way to say this without sounding vindictive. "He lied to her. He used her, and he hurt her. But he did NOT make her leave Scott. If she’d really loved Scott, she wouldn’t have left him." Opening his eyes, Kevin stared at her.

"I don’t mean it to sound as bad as I’m sure it does to you. But she made the decision to leave Scott."

"Because she thought I wanted to marry her! Ryan gave her back her engagement ring!"

Eve was stunned, but not by the fact that Ryan used it. "How did he get it?"

"He’s been here." Kevin realized Eve hadn’t known he’d kept the rings.

"I had the rings in a drawer. He found them, took them, and gave them back to Lucy to get her to come to him."

"I didn’t know you still had them." And her tone told him she wasn’t thrilled to find out.

"I don’t know why I still did. Now I wish I’d gotten rid of them."

Touching his face, Eve tried to get him to understand. "You had no idea what was going to happen. This is not your fault. Don’t let him get to you. That’s what he wants."

"I know you’re right. It doesn’t mean I can forget what he’s done. I want to help her, but I think my presence hurts her more then helps her right now. I wish Mac would come up with something. As long as he’s on the loose, no one I care about is safe."

Taking her hands, Kevin pulled her to him. "That means you, too. I don’t want you alone. You don’t know him."

"I’m not scared. I know you’ll protect me." Laughing, she kissed him.

But he wasn’t amused.

"Kevin, Mac keeps sending cars by here, and you’re here. Ryan would be a fool to try to get to me, now that you know he’s alive. And from what you’ve told me, he’s a lot of things, but he’s not a fool."

"No, he’s not. He’s borderline brilliant. That’s what makes him so dangerous." He realized it was pointless. Eve had no idea what Ryan was. And he couldn’t convince her. So he had to protect her.


Chapter 30


Victor pulled up to the address Lucy had given him over the phone. Her voice had sounded much stronger when she’d called him earlier, and she’d told him to meet her at this address. When he pulled into the driveway, she came out, smiling. "Come on in. You won’t believe what I’ve done."

"Lead the way." It thrilled Victor to see her smile.

"I ran into Jasper Jax this afternoon. And it hit me. When Brenda... died, she left him this cottage. I started thinking about it. She moved in here after she got out of the hospital. When she was trying to start her life over. Clear her head, and all that. I realized I’m in the same situation. Sort of. I mean, she was trying to get over Sonny, and she didn’t want to run to Jax. She wanted to be on her own." Stopping in the middle of the living room, she stared at Victor. "She wanted to learn how to be herself without a man in her life. And, to be honest, I’m kind of in the same position." She sighed, and before Victor could reply, she continued.

"Lucy Coe without a man. Novel concept. But it’s time, you know? I mean, Brenda was so young.... I probably should have gotten to this point years ago, but I’ve never been that strong, you know?"

"Lucy," Victor finally interrupted her. "You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever known."

"Oh, sure, when I have a man to run to. It’s a whole different story when I’m alone. But, anyway, I started talking to Jax, and I remembered this place. He hasn’t been here since Robin moved out. He can’t bring himself to part with it, but he can’t stand coming here, either. So he leased it to me on a month-to-month basis. I’m putting all of Brenda’s things in storage until Jax can deal with it."

"How about you? You were close to Brenda, too."

Lucy sighed. "Actually, I feel closer to her by being here. I thought I understood her then. Now I feel like I know exactly what she was going through."

"I think if it’s going to help you, then this is what you need to do."

Victor nodded and held out his arm. "Now, can I get the grand tour?"

"Definitely. How about going shopping with me tomorrow? Jax said I could use the furniture, but I want to make this place mine, you know? A few things of hers here and there is nice, but I need a place that’s all mine. Why don’t we go shopping and do lunch tomorrow? Bring Mary! I’d love to have her opinion."

"Mary knows Ryan is alive, but she doesn’t know what’s happened to you. I didn’t think it was my place to tell her."

"But it was Kevin’s to tell you?" She shook her head. "I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. It’s okay with me that Kevin told you, I’m glad. But…"

"He didn’t ask you. I understand. I don’t think he was trying to betray your confidence. He thought maybe I could help you. To be honest with you, I’m surprised you even want to see me."

"Why?" Lucy was shocked.

"Well, let’s see. I have two sons. They have both gone out of their way to hurt you in the worst ways imaginable. And I couldn’t stop them."

"Victor," Standing in front of him, she tried to stop the tears that filled her eyes. "You are the one person I’ve always known would be here. No matter what happened, no matter what I did. You always held my hand, told me you loved me, and you always accepted me. Even when everyone else hated me. You can’t imagine how much that means to me."

"You have no idea what you mean to me, Lucy. No matter what. You have me. And now you have Mary. She doesn’t know you that well, but I’m sure she’ll grow to love you the way I do."

"Don’t be too sure, Victor. I’m not that easy to love." She shrugged, and began to really cry.

"Of course you are." Hugging her, Victor stroked her hair like he would a child. "You are the most loving person I’ve ever known. Anyone that loves as deeply as you do is easy for me to love. You’re family to me, Lucy. It didn’t matter to me if Kevin married you or not. I mean, I wanted him to, but I still always thought of you as my daughter."

He didn’t mean to, but his words made her cry harder.

"Come on. Let’s get out of here and get some dinner. Tomorrow, you, me, and Mary will work on making this adorable house truly yours. Okay?"

Wiping her eyes, she smiled. "Yes. You can tell her what’s going on. I don’t want to relive it, but…"

"As long as it’s okay with you."

Nodding, she followed him out the door.


Chapter 31


Kevin had gone to PCPD to talk to Mac. Partly because he wanted to help, partly because he had to feel like he was doing something besides sitting around waiting for Ryan to strike next. A squad car was at the lighthouse, which where Eve had insisted on staying. As far as she was concerned, Ryan wasn’t going to get the satisfaction of disrupting her life. Kevin smiled at how determined she was, but he also made it a point to be sure it wouldn’t get her killed.

His cell phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hey, it’s me. I have a problem, that I think you should handle."

"What?"

"Well there is a truck here, with two men, and all of Lucy’s things from the firehouse. What do I tell them? Hey, I don’t want this! Kevin! They’re trying to give me Sigmund!"

Almost laughing out loud at the mental picture that formed in his mind, Kevin answered her.

"I’ll call Lucy and see what she wants to do with him. I’m sure she hasn’t talked to Scott. I’ll call you right back." Hanging up the phone, he dialed Lucy’s cell. It rang several times, then a familiar voice answered.

"Hi, Kevin, nice of you to call. But, you were looking for Lucy, weren’t you? I just love this caller ID function. I would have never known it was you."

"Where is she?"

"How should I know? I have her phone. I don’t have her. What, you lost track of her again? How is she, by the way?" Ryan was surprised to realize he really wanted to know.

"How do you think she is? Where are you?"

"Oh, yeah, I’m going to tell you where you can just come down and get me. Do I have stupid written on my forehead? I think not. Just know that I am. And make yourself crazy wondering where. Bye!"

After Ryan hung up on him, Kevin dialed Jax. Don told him that Lucy was with Victor. So he dialed Victor’s number. Victor answered, then gave the phone to Lucy.

"Hi, Kevin." Her voice sounded wary.

"I just called your cell."

"Ryan took it."

"I know. I just talked to him."

Inhaling sharply, Lucy looked at Victor and Mary. "What did he say?"

Her tone told him she was terrified. "Nothing. I didn’t tell you to scare you. I told you so you can get it disconnected."

"I didn’t think about it. Thanks. It that it?"

"No." He wasn’t sure how to go about this. "Eve just called me. There is a truck at the lighthouse. From Scott."

She didn’t answer.

"Lucy?"

"I’m thinking. Can I call there and talk to them?"

"Of course."

"Okay, bye." She hung up before he could answer. When she dialed the lighthouse, Eve answered. Lucy took a deep breath before speaking. "Kevin told me to speak to the movers."

There was a long moment of silence before a man answered. "Yeah?"

Giving him the address to the cottage, she instructed him to not tell Eve where he was taking her things. He took the address, then told her in no uncertain terms that Sigmund was not welcome back in the truck.

"It’s only ten miles."

"No way. The duck stays here. The guy at the firehouse tipped me $40 to take him here. End of the road."

Victor tapped Lucy’s shoulder. "Leave him there. I’ll go get him and meet you at the cottage."

Smiling, Lucy spoke to the phone. "Let me talk to Eve again."

"What?" Eve sounded frustrated.

"Victor is going to come by and get Sigmund. Just put him out back until he gets there. Please."

Sighing, Eve agreed to keep Sigmund until Victor came for him.

Hanging up, Lucy turned to Victor and Mary. "I need to get over there. I’ll meet the two of you there?"

"We’ll be there with duck in hand." Victor hugged her again.


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