Bound to my Enemy novel Chapter 248

Chapter 248: Chapter 248.

"No," I say again with a weak laugh. "Apparently that’s my default answer now."

His voice softens instantly.

"How’s Zane?"

"Annoying. Which means he’s alive and well."

A quiet chuckle leaves him.

"Good."

I lean against the balcony railing, staring out at the gray sky.

"We fixed the funeral date," I say quietly after a moment.

Lucas goes silent for a second.

"When?"

I tell him the date softly.

"That soon?"

"I don’t think dragging it out will help."

"No," he agrees quietly. "Probably not."l

I close my eyes briefly.

"She didn’t deserve this."

"No," Lucas says firmly. "She didn’t."

The ache in my chest returns instantly.

God.

Margaret really is gone, even saying it in my head still feels unreal somehow.

Lucas must hear the shift in my breathing because his voice becomes gentler.

"Hey."

I swallow hard.

"I keep expecting her to walk into the kitchen yelling at somebody."

He exhales quietly.

"I know."

I wipe quickly at my face before tears can properly start again.

"I’m tired of crying."

"You don’t get to decide grief on a schedule, El."

"I know."

"You’ve been through hell these past few days."

The understatement almost makes me laugh.

Instead I stare down at the wet gardens below.

"How’s grandpa?" I ask quietly.

"He’s stable this morning."

Thank God.

At least one good thing.

"And Noah?"

"He’s downstairs arguing with security because they won’t let him bully his way into seeing Aaron."

A startled laugh escapes me.

"That sounds about right."

"Apparently threatening federal charges isn’t working."

"Shocking."

Lucas laughs softly too, and for a second things feel almost normal again.

Almost.

Then his tone shifts slightly.

"You need anything?"

I glance back toward the bedroom door behind me instinctively.

"I just need everybody alive for like five minutes."

His voice softens again.

"We’ll figure this out."

I want to believe that, I really do but lately every time things start calming down, something worse happens.

Still...Maybe hope is all we have left right now.

"I should call Noah too," I murmur.

"Tell him yourself. He’s already on his way there."

I blink.

"What?"

"He said you sounded terrible yesterday and he doesn’t trust you not to emotionally collapse."

I scoff weakly.

"That’s rude."

"He’s not wrong though."

"Traitor.

Lucas laughs again.

Then quieter now, "We’re here, okay?"

My throat tightens painfully.

"I know."

And for the first time in days...I actually believe those words.

Lucas goes quiet for a second on the other end of the line.

"What?" I ask slowly.

"You remember that thing you asked me to check some time agao ?"

Every muscle in my body stiffens immediately because I know exactly what he means and suddenly I wish I didn’t.

My grip tightens around the phone as cold wind brushes across my face out on the balcony. The thing I asked him to investigate feels stupid now, and dangerous too...especially after everything that’s happened between me and Zane these past few days.

After almost losing him, after realizing I actually do love him:..maybe some things are better left alone.

Lucas exhales softly.

"You still want to know?"

I don’t answer immediately. Because honestly? I don’t know, part of me desperately wants to hang up before he says another word but another part of me needs the trut and clarity, even if it hurts....Especiall if it hurts.

My pulse starts beating harder.

"What did you find?" I ask quietly.

"El."

I close my eyes tightly.

"Just tell me."

"You sure?"

No. Not even remotely.

But I force the word out anyway.

"Yes."

Silence stretches between us for a second too long and in that silence my mind starts spiraling immediately.

What if Zane lied to me? What if everything between us is built on manipulation? What if the feelings I’m drowning in aren’t even real to him?

God.

Why does my chest already hurt?

Behind me, I can hear faint movement inside the bedroom. Probably Zane shifting around or getting irritated that I’ve been gone longer than five minutes. The thought somehow makes this worse, because now there’s something to lose. Lucas finally speaks again, voice quieter this time.

"I checked the transfer records like you asked."

My heartbeat skips.

"And?"

"There was definitely help from the inside."

A chill crawls slowly down my spine.

"I knew it," I whisper.

"But that’s not the worst part."

My stomach drops instantly.

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