Chapter 289

Serena's POV

I reluctantly accepted the bowl, our fingers brushing during the exchange. That's when I noticed the angry red swelling across his knuckles - the aftermath of the confrontation earlier.

"Lucas, you need to take care of your hand," I said, nodding toward the injury.

"It's nothing," he dismissed, his gaze returning to the monitors.

"You said it yourself - health comes first," I reminded him, using his own words against him. His lips curved slightly at that, the closest thing to a smile either of us had managed all day.

I took a spoonful of the warm soup. The liquid soothed my throat, which ached from holding back tears all day. I'd swallowed so much grief, so much fear, it felt like a physical presence lodged in my throat.

As I ate, I couldn't help studying Lucas. The penthouse lights cast shadows across his face, highlighting the sharp lines of his jaw, the determined set of his mouth. Even exhausted, he emanated a quiet strength that steadied me.

"Rachel likes playing these games," I said softly, setting the half-empty bowl aside. "She enjoys torturing us like this."

Lucas's gaze met mine, understanding reflected in his gray eyes. "We'll find her."

Spencer and Drew moved quietly around the penthouse, bringing coffee, making calls, checking other sources for information.

I nodded and turned back to the screens, determined not to miss a single detail.

Lucas pulled up a chair beside me, our shoulders touching each other as we both stared at the footage. In this moment, we were completely aligned. If either of us faltered, the other would crumble completely.

I stole another glance at his injured hand resting on the desk. Without thinking, I reached out and gently covered it with my own. His skin was warm despite everything. His fingers intertwined with mine, squeezing gently.

Lucas's POV

The silence in the living room was deafening. I watched as Serena sat at the dining table, her spoon moving mechanically between the bowl and her lips. Her eyes were vacant, staring at something far beyond the walls of my penthouse.

I unwrapped the makeshift bandage from my hand, wincing slightly as the fabric pulled at the dried blood. The gash across my palm was an angry red, swollen and throbbing.

I had to stay strong, had to believe Milo was okay. My son was resilient, always had been.

Drew approached from the bar area, his usually carefree face lined with concern. "Let's go have a smoke," he suggested, nodding toward the balcony.

I shook my head, focusing on wrapping fresh gauze around my hand.

"Being wound this tight isn't helping anyone," Drew persisted, his voice low enough not to disturb Serena. "Just one cigarette. It won't delay anything important."

When I didn't respond, he called over his shoulder, "Spencer, come join us for a smoke."

Spencer looked up from his laptop where he'd been monitoring police channels and nodded solemnly. I glanced at Serena, still lost in her mechanical eating ritual, and reluctantly followed my friends outside.

The night air hit my face, cool and indifferent to our suffering. The three of us stood at the railing, the city lights spread before us like stars fallen to earth. I lit my cigarette, feeling the familiar burn in my lungs but none of the usual relief. Drew and Spencer stood on either side of me, their presence a silent support that nearly broke my carefully maintained composure.

"You two should head home," I said finally, exhaling a plume of smoke that disappeared into the darkness. "It's getting late."

"What kind of bullshit is that?" Drew scoffed, flicking ash over the railing. "We're staying right here with you."

Spencer nodded in agreement. "We may not be able to do much, but we're here for whatever you need."

"Lucas," Drew said softly, "we're friends. You don't have to hold everything inside."

I looked at him, at Spencer, and felt a rush of gratitude that threatened to unravel me. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, and took another drag from my cigarette instead.

When we returned to the living room, I found Serena had fallen asleep at the coffee table, her head pillowed on her arms next to her laptop. Her brow was furrowed even in sleep, her body trembling slightly. I quietly crossed the room, careful not to wake her, and gently draped a cashmere throw over her shoulders.

I stood there for a moment, watching her breathe, feeling a complicated tangle of emotions. As I adjusted the blanket, Serena suddenly jerked awake, her eyes flying open in terror.

"Milo!" she cried out, her voice raw with panic.

"Serena, it's Lucas," I said softly, kneeling beside her. "You were dreaming."

She looked at me with such distress that it physically hurt to meet her gaze. Her eyes filled with tears, and she shook her head desperately.

"No... Milo..." Her voice broke, and she covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking with sobs.

I waited, giving her a moment to gather herself. When she finally looked up, her face was pale with horror.

"Lucas," she whispered, "I saw Milo in my dream. He was falling off a cliff... Rachel pushed him... she was smiling as he fell..."

The image she described sent ice through my veins, but I forced myself to remain calm. Serena needed my strength now more than ever.

"That's not going to happen," I said firmly, my voice steadier than I felt. "I won't let anything happen to Milo. I'm going to bring him home safe."

"But what if-"

"No," I cut her off, unwilling to entertain worst-case scenarios. "Listen to me, Serena." I took her hands in mine, my injured palm protesting but I ignored it. "I promise you. I will protect Milo. I will protect you. You're not alone in this."

Her eyes searched mine, desperately seeking reassurance that I wasn't just offering empty words. I pulled her into my arms, holding her against my chest where she could feel the steady beat of my heart.

"Feel that?" I murmured against her hair. "As long as that's beating, I will move heaven and earth to keep both of you safe."

Slowly, I felt some of the tension leave her body as she pressed her ear against my chest. Her breathing gradually synchronized with mine, and the trembling subsided. For the first time in hours, I felt a flicker of hope.

Then my phone rang.

The sudden sound sliced through the quiet like a knife. Serena stiffened in my arms, her fingers digging into my shirt. Time seemed to stop as I reached for my phone, unknown number.