Lucas POV

I grabbed my phone. It had been later in the afternoon since I spoke with Mykel. I wanted to be upset with him for not knowing about this strange, unidentified man, but how could I? He promised to try to find out from Sarah and see what she knew about him for me. So far, all he knew was that his name was Nick. What kind of name was that, anyway? Nick, what? He sounded like a fucking douche. As I picked up my phone, I could not help but roll my eyes.

"I swear that I will castrate you, and the baby in Sarah's womb will be your only fucking spawn, if all you know this time is a fucking name."

"Boss, they are currently out on a date! I will send the address to you! And a couple of photos that Sarah took when he picked Rayne up tonight." My phone beeped multiple times, indicating that there were new messages.

"Thank you, good work, Mykel; your balls got saved this time," I chuckled as I disconnected the phone and opened up the messages. I almost dropped my phone as my eyes landed on the most beautiful creature in an image with a blonde male sitting in a black truck as she was climbing in. Fuck, she was even more gorgeous than I remembered.

I quickly plugged in the address to my GPS, only to see it was almost an hour's drive. I groaned loudly as I quickly changed and grabbed my handgun, slipping it into my waistband just in case before I grabbed the keys to a motorcycle, hoping I could cut some of my drives with that as I popped in a set of earbuds before I slipped my helmet on along with my leather coat and took off.

It was about seven o'clock by the time I finally made it to the hole-in-the-wall club the address sent me to. I was not getting a good vibe from the place at all; aside from that, it did not seem to me to be a place that would fit in with her thing. At least not the Rayne I remembered. I thought back to our date in the back of my truck with the picnic. Fuck, I fucked up a good thing with her, but that was not what I was here for. I just needed to know she was okay and he was going to treat her right. I was going to walk away from this fucker and never look at him again after that.

At least that was what I told myself.

I walked in, and the first thing I noticed was the type of music that was playing. It made my ears want to bleed, and I knew it would be driving her insane as well. I shook my head, knowing this was not her scene at all, as I scanned the club, looking around and seeing people looking like they were dry-humping each other on the dance floor. My eyes land on a corner booth, and I find her, my Tesoro. She was sitting in the corner, closed off. I could tell by her body language exactly how uncomfortable she was. The forced smile from her towards the drunk guy who kept trying to lean in on her and her drink that she kept pushing away.

I felt my body go rigid as she finally took it and downed it, rolling her eyes. She smiled another forced smile. My hands balled to fists as he raised his hand for another drink. He looked hammered as she tried to push him back, and he started to kiss her neck. I smile to myself, watching her shove him away and slap him, then feel my blood boil as he yanks her by the arm, and I hear him yell at her.

"YOU FUCKING BITCH YOU FUCKING TEASE THREE MONTHS I HAVE."

That was all he got to say before my fist connected with his jaw. "Shut the fuck up you piece of white trash. Fucking pathetic garbage!" I yelled as I let out the last five years of frustration and anger into every punch I threw at him.

I did not stop until he stopped moving. I got up and turned back to Rayne, wiping my hands on my black pants, grateful for my color choice for the day. "So apparently your taste in men has just gotten worse over the years."

"Lu...Lucas?!?" She squeaked out.

I glanced over my shoulder and froze, looking at her. She looked as if she had seen a ghost when our eyes met. She turned, looking like she was about to run. And I was right. "Shit!" I took off after barely being able to catch her outside the building. I grabbed her by her wrist and spun her around, pinning her against the building between my arms as I held her one wrist above her head. She still had the same electrifying effect on me after all these years.

"LET ME GO, LUCAS!" She screamed, kicking at me.

"Fucking hell, Rayne! Stop fucking running and talk to me for a second, or at least fucking say thanks for fucks sake!" I yelled at her, my eyes meeting hers in a challenge. As soon as my eyes met, he thought I realized I was done, for I lost all will to truly be angry with her. All I wanted to do was pull her to me, hold her, and plead with her to forgive me. After five years, this woman caused me to get lost in her eyes.

"Say thanks for what? Oh, I know, thank you for fucking around and cheating on me and causing me to take five years of having a dad from my son or letting him think he could have a dad only to realize his dad was a fucking cheating scumbag who likes to assault anyone I decide to talk to."

"Oh, fuck you, Rayne, fuck you! He was trying to force himself on you and was a verbally abusive dick. I was saving you from a long, abusive road with him! I fucked up. How long am I supposed to apologize for that? Huh? How long am I supposed to suffer for my fuckup? I am fucking sorry!"

I did not realize it, but I had tears running from my eyes at this point. "How long am I supposed to watch you and our son move from place to place? See him grow and watch you with him, knowing I cannot speak to you because I am petrified you will run and I will not find you the next time, so I will not be able to protect you then."

I felt her stop struggling against my hold, and I let her wrist go as groaned and turn leaning against the wall as I slid down the cool cement to sit on my ass as I let my hands fist my hair. "Leave, run; I won't chase you," I mutter to her, staring at the ground, my hands fisting my hair in frustration. "Just stay away from the douchebags. Please"

Rayne rolls her eyes as she snatches her purse, and I did not even realize she dropped off the ground. "Fuck you, Lucas. You get fucked." She walks off, hailing a cab, and leaves me sitting there alone in the alley, like I had been for the last five years. I gave Frank a call to inform him of the situation and to let him know that she was taking a cab home. I told him, too, that if she tried to run again, I would stop her. I called Korey to ask him to come help take care of this piece of trash because when I walked back inside after hanging up the phone, I noticed Nick was still unconscious on the floor. When Korey arrived, he cast a downward glance at him. "What should I do about him?" He looks up at me and asks. "I do not care; drown him; cut his hands and tongue off; I really do not care," I respond with a shrug of my shoulders. After saying so, I turn to leave.

I turn around and ride back to Raynes' house on my motorcycle. It is time for me to see my son again after a five-year separation.

Eventually, I made it to Rayne's residence. It was covered in photos of Dante and Rayne when I simply strolled in and took a look around. Sarah and Mykel: I see pictures he made as he grew up and see how much Dante looks like me. He has my eyes and my curly, dark hair. He reminds me exactly of myself.

"Why are you in my house, and who the fuck are you?" I hear a kid say I turn and see my son standing on the stairs looking at me with his arms crossed.

"You do not talk to people like that, Dante James. Now get your ass to your room now." I hear Rayne yell from the other room as she is walking to the hallway.

I look at him with what I hope is love, and I say, "He has grown, Raye." "Lucas, why are you here?" Rayne asks in annoyance, crossing her arms.

"I want to see my son, but I also wanted to help you, Rayne, believe it or not. Frank told me that you have been experiencing issues with his attitude and temper. Yes, I am aware that you told him not to talk to me, but I can still assist." With seriousness, I say it. "No, Lucas, I do not need or want your assistance. I have been managing well on my own. My son doesn't need you," she says. Shaking my head, I laugh at her. "OUR son needs me just as much as you do. Rayne, you have a choice: either you accept my assistance or I take you to court." I say, and she gets ready to speak when we hear Dante coming down the stairs.

"YOU LIAR, You lied and said he was in jail." With a scream, Dante bolts up the stairs once more. Turning around, I see that she is crying now. I was about to make a wise comment, but I decided against it. I shake my head and go speak to him. If telling this lie makes him stop being angry with her, then I will keep doing it.