Return Of Ryan By Dawn


The phone rang, waking Lucy. She grabbed it and whispered into it. “Hello?”

“Lucy?”

“Kevin?”

“I... I was thinking about you, and I was wondering how you were.”

Something about his voice was wrong. Like he was upset. “What happened?”

“Nothing. I was thinking about you. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“I’ve been busy. The Serena line has my undivided attention right now. Plus, DV is really getting on my last nerve. I’m not sure what to do about him.” She stopped, not knowing what else to say.

“Do... you... do you think we could have lunch?”

Something was definitely wrong with him. If he was asking to see her... “Okay. The Grille?”

“No.. How about that little diner right off the highway?” That little diner was really nothing more than a truck stop.

“Kevin, what’s wrong?”

“I said nothing.” His voice took on an edge, then he paused, and when he continued, he sounded calmer. “I just wanted to see you. That’s all. But I don’t want to cause either of us problems.”

That told her that he didn’t want anyone to see them. “Okay. I’ll meet you. Noon?”

“Thank you. I’ll see you then.” He hung up. He’d sounded so strange, Lucy was too worried about him to really think about what he was asking her. She’d planned to go to Jax, but it could wait until after she found out what was wrong with him.

The diner was packed, but the clientele was truck drivers and tourists looking for a break from their travels. Scanning the crowd, Lucy saw no one she recognized until she saw Kevin sitting alone at a booth against the wall. He was wearing jeans, a black collard shirt, and looked nervous.

Sitting down across from him, she looked at him. “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me nothing. You wouldn’t call be out of the blue and ask me to meet you all the way out here if there wasn’t something wrong.”

He looked like he didn’t know where to begin. “I’ve been thinking about you. A lot. It’s like I can’t get you out of my mind.”

“What about me?”

“You. Everything about you. I’m beginning to think...” He paused. “What?” Her confusion showed on her face.

“I’m beginning to wonder... what if... I don’t know if you really want to hear this.”

“Kevin, I can’t tell you if I don’t know what it is we’re talking about.” Slamming down his coffee cup, he stared at her. “I’m beginning to wonder if I made a mistake walking away from you.”

For maybe only the tenth time in her life, Lucy was completely speechless. Kevin continued. “I don’t know what you’re doing with you life. I don’t know if you’re in love with Scott, or you still think about me. I’m taking a hell of a chance, here, but I had to tell you.”

Lucy still couldn’t speak. Shocked beyond words didn’t begin to cover it. “Can you at least tell me what you’re thinking?”

Finally, she tried to tell him. “Why? Why now? Because life with Eve isn’t all you thought it would be? Or because I finally have another chance to have a life? Is this really about us? Or is it about the fact that I finally got up off my knees and haven’t begged, pleaded, or cried to you for a while?”

“This isn’t about begging, Lucy.” He was beginning to get agitated. “It’s about regrets. Mistakes. Being an arrogant jerk who didn’t know the best thing that ever happened to him and walked away from her.”

“Kevin, I don’t know what to say. Do I still love you? Probably. Had I given up on you? Definitely. Can I throw away what I’ve got now with Scott for a maybe with you? Hell, no. I don’t understand this. What’s changed?”

“Everything. You have no idea.”

“So tell me.”

“I can’t explain it. Too much.”

“Then it’s too much for me. When you can tell me, call me again.” Standing, she walked outside. Just as she reached her car, Kevin caught up with her. Without a word to her, he grabbed her and kissed her. At first she struggled, but he was insistent, and she finally returned his kiss. It was different than she remembered, but not unpleasantly so.

Stepping away from her, he leaned on the car. “Tell me you don’t think about that.”

“What’s happened to you? You seem so.... different.”

“I’m a different person than I was the day I left you. I know you’ve changed. Let me show you how much I have. Please see me again.”

It was strange to hear him begging her for a change. “I don’t know. I can’t promise you. Call me later today at Jax.”

Getting in her car, she left him standing in the parking lot. Watching her pull out of the parking lot, Ryan smiled to himself. She still loved Kevin, he was sure of that. He could get her. But he’d have to work fast. Sooner or later, she’d come in contact with Kevin, and the whole thing could blow up. That was part of the fun for him. The chance of getting caught. As long as Kevin avoided her, he was free to work on her. He smiled wider at the thought of what Kevin would do when he found out Lucy was with him, thinking her dear Kevin had finally come to his senses. He decided to see how far he could take Lucy until she figured out what was really going on. Ryan wasn’t about to kid himself. Lucy should be able to tell the difference. But telling her he was a different person was more of the truth than she knew. The challenge was to distract her and keep her guessing until he was ready to make his presence known to his brother. On the other hand, he had to figure out what he was going to do with her if she figured it out too soon. He couldn’t have her blow the last six months he’d spent watching all of them. Somewhere he could hold her until he was ready. Or just kill her, and send her body to Kevin. Maybe a piece at a time. He laughed at the thought of the look on Kevin’s face. A long time ago he’d told Kevin that Lucy had ‘a body that could make a man drop and beg for mercy, or more.’ She still did. He was going to enjoy finding out for himself.

Chapter 2

Ryan waited until Kevin and Eve left the lighthouse. He knew they would be gone several hours. So he had time. It wasn't hard to get in the french doors. All the watching was about to pay off. He'd been inside several times when it was empty, but this was the first time he was going in with a deliberate purpose. The fun was about to begin.

It was so hard for him to control himself. But the payoff would be worth it. Hurting Kevin was his main objective, but it hurt Kevin more to go through the people he cared about. And it was so much more fun.

Grinning, he moved from room to room, stopping here and there to look at what Kevin called decorations. As far as Ryan was concerned, the decorations at the prison had been better. A few pictures of Victor, Eve, and paintings. He knew they were Kevin's paintings, and it took all he had not to tear them to pieces right then and there. When he reached the upstairs, he started to search in earnest. It wasn't that he knew exactly what he was looking for, but when he found it, he would know. Kevin's dresser. Some keys, and a picture of Eve on it. Nothing of interest. He looked in the top drawer and smiled. ''Here we go.''

Inside the drawer, were numerous items that belonged to Kevin. Private things, that he probably had no intention of ever showing anyone. Ryan hummed to himself and didn't realize he was also speaking out loud.

''More pictures of Evie. The love of your life this year, huh, bro? Passport? No, too obvious, don't want to do that. Maybe just one of Evie.'' He slipped one of the photos out and put it in his pocket.

''Jewelry? What kind do you have?'' Opening the small box, he whistled. Wedding rings. ''Couldn't bear to part with them, huh? Well, let me help you.'' The rings were the ones Kevin had been supposed to exchange with Lucy. Her engagement ring and both bands were in the box. ''I bet Evie doesn't know you still have these. She'd blow a gasget.'' The thought made Ryan laugh. Putting all three rings in his pocket, he put the box back. Under the box were more pictures. These were of Lucy. Some of her, some of her and that kid, Serena. And a duck. ''Yes, Kevin, you don't care about her. Why do you have more pictures of her than Evie next to your bed? Something to think about after the good doctor goes to sleep?'' He took a few out of the stack where Lucy looked particularly sexual. ''Hope you don't miss these. Or if you do, I hope you think Evie found them. That would be fun.''

There was nothing else of interest to him in the drawer. He didn't want to move things around too much or take something Kevin would miss immediately. Well, maybe move a few things around. He thought about it. Not enough to alarm Kevin, just enough to make him wonder. Grinning again, he went to the shelf where Kevin kept his CDs. Alphabetically, by artist. That was Kevin. SO organized. Just for kicks, he switched a few. Kevin would notice, but he wouldn't think anything of it.

Tilt one of the pictures on the wall just a bit. Maybe even a knife in the fork slot in the kitchen drawers. The thought that Kevin would notice things this stupid amused him. How anal retentive could you be?

It never ceased to amaze Ryan the he and Kevin were related. Chaos was great. Ryan thrived on chaos. Kevin wanted his life so orderly, the forks had to be in the right slot. Go figure. It was time to leave. Before he got carried away, and gave up the game before it really got interesting.

Chapter 3

Lucy tried to keep her mind on the numbers in front of her. But her mind kept going back to her encounter with Kevin. Did he really regret what he'd done to her? Or did he just want to see if she'd come running if he snapped his fingers.

She shook her head. Kevin wasn't one to play games. It wasn't that. Then what was it? She didn't notice the door opening. ''Hello? Earth to Lucy?'' Scott snapped his fingers once. ''You here?''

''Hi.'' Scott kissed her, and she felt a twinge of guilt at having kissed Kevin a few hours ago. ''What brings you here?''

Scott proceeded to tell her, but she didn't hear much of what he was saying. Her conscience told her to tell him she'd had lunch, well intended to have lunch with Kevin. She knew she wouldn't tell him what Kevin had said, let alone done, so she didn't want to even start down that road. Scott was telling her something to do with the Serena line, and the latest onslaught of DV's ugly publicity.

Scott realized she wasn't listening to a word he was saying. ''So I told them to take their ray guns and get back to their own planet.'' No response. ''Maybe we'll talk about this later. Care to tell me what you are thinking about?''

''I'm just preoccupied. Bad hair day.''

Standing, Scott ran for the door. ''I know what that means. I don't want to be in the line of fire. Your bad hair days make World War I look like a fist fight. I'm out of here.'' He kissed her once, quickly. ''Luv ya, bye.'' And he was gone.

Lucy stared at the door. Scott really did love her. Or at least thought he did. He knew she wasn't really over Kevin, yet. But he'd still stood by her and let her know he was there, ready and waiting for the day she could commit to him. They both knew something was holding her back. They both also knew it was Kevin. But until she knew exactly where Kevin was coming from, she wasn't sure he was the answer anymore.

The phone rang and she absently picked it up. ''Lucy Coe.''

''I know who you are. The question is, do you know who I am?''

''Kevin.'' She was completely stunned again.

''I just thought I'd call you. Have you thought about what I said earlier?''

''Nothing else.'' He knew she'd been thinking about it, so she might as well admit it.

''And?''

''And what? I still don't know where you're coming from.''

''I'll be more than happy to tell you. Can we meet again, say tomorrow?''

''To be honest, I don't know. Where do I fit in your life? What about Eve? How long can you play this out?'' Her heart pounded at the thought of seeing him, let alone kissing him again. But not enough to risk herself again. Yet. ''How can I agree to anything when I have very little idea of what you're really after?''

Ryan was getting frustrated. The Lucy he remembered wasn't nearly this difficult for Kevin. ''How can I know what you're after? What if you're trying to set me up for payback? We're both taking a chance, here, Lucy. I'm willing to take it if you are.'' It worked. She sighed. ''Okay. Tomorrow. Where?''

''The same diner? Maybe this time we'll get to eat.''

She knew he was still trying to hide their meetings. For the time being, it was okay with her. ''Fine. Noon again?''

''Noon it is. See you then.'' Ryan hung up, laughing to himself. Who could he cause trouble with next?

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