Chapter 24

    Chapter 24: Lyric, see of your boyfriend 

 LYRIC Spencer POV

    Panic set in as the man bore down on me. I scrambled to escape, but my feet betrayed me, sending me tumbling to the ground. The man towered over me, then slowly crouched, his helmet coming off to reveal a face that filled my field of vision.

    I stared at Gavin, my mind racing with questions. Why was he here at my house?

    "Are you okay?" Gavin inquired, concern thick in his voice as he extended his arm towards me.

    I nodded, still trying to process everything that was happening. My eyes followed Gavin’s gaze, which was directed at the mystery man.

    Even in the light, I could not make out his face, as he had it covered with a cloth. For a moment, everything seemed to stop.

    In an instant, Gavin pulled me up by my arm and secured me beside him. We watched the man, waiting for him to make a move.

    "Stop following her. If you have a problem with someone, it’s me. Stay away from Lyric." Gavin’s voice was dangerously low, and a shiver ran through my body at the tone.

    I had never seen this side of Gavin. It was... scary.

    The man darted his eyes between us. His eyes narrowed when they met Gavin’s, who was standing tall with broader shoulders. They were of the same height, but Gavin looked more imposing.

    I couldn’t help but wonder who was under the mask. It was a small town—could I spot who it was?

    "Non fare il difficile, lasciami stare!" the man said in a foreign language, his words almost sounding unreal in my ears, like something I’d hear on TV. I turned to Gavin, hoping to see confusion on his face. Instead, he had a frown.

    "Non pensi che dovrebbe valere anche per te?" Gavin replied, raising a brow at the man. The mysterious figure chuckled, then glanced at me. Out of fear, I hid behind Gavin, keeping my eyes low.

    The man tipped an invisible hat and, like the wind, he vanished. I had never seen anyone run that fast. Soon after, the roar of a motorcycle echoed, signaling his departure.

    "Are you okay, Lyric?" Gavin asked softly, glancing at my hand resting on his shoulder. I shifted my weight, quickly pulling my hand off his shoulder, suddenly feeling awkward.

    ###

    "Who was that man?" my aunt demanded the second we got inside. Gavin had her lock the doors to ensure our safety while I went into the kitchen to make tea for both of them.

    Luckily, the triplets were asleep and baby Derrick was in his crib. It would make it easier to carry out the conversation without any interruptions.

    "I don't know, ma'am," Gavin replied carefully. "He had his face covered, but it seemed he was trailing your niece home."

    "My niece?" my aunt gasped. She tapped the ash from her cigarette onto the carpet, her eyes fixed on Gavin. "Why Lyric? She wouldn't hurt a fly! She's unable to even hold a conversation or a quarrel."

    Gavin glanced at me, and I looked away, trying to hide my hurt. I poured the tea into two cups and placed them on a tray with some cookies I had baked yesterday for lunch.

    "Well, he's not after your niece but your husband," Gavin explained, his voice tight.

    "How do—"

    "Ma'am, your husband tried to sell your niece at a brothel some days back," Gavin interrupted, his tone grave.

    "What?" Aunt Stephanie stood in shock, glancing at me with furrowed brows. "Is this true, Lyric?"

    I nodded.

    "Why didn't you tell me? Freddy is such a jackass," she hissed through clenched teeth.

    "I stopped him, and the man who he tried to sell your niece to sent his men," Gavin continued.

    "What are we going to do? Do we need to relocate?" Aunt Stephanie asked, panic rising in her voice.

    "No," Gavin said vehemently. His eyes locked onto mine, causing a flutter in my chest. "I will speak to Alessio, but for now, Lyric needs someone to watch over her."

    "We can't afford a bodyguard. Why don't we tell the cops? I can't have my niece on house arrest," my aunt protested.

    "It's fine. I will keep an eye on her," Gavin offered.

    "How?" 

My aunt's eyes narrowed. I also wondered how he was going to keep me safe.

    "I will escort your niece home at the end of each day." 

My face turned ashed. He wound what? 

    "Really?" Aunt Stephanie's face lit up with joy at Gavin's suggestion. "You would really do that?"

    I poured tea into auntie's cup; she barely noticed as her focus was entirely on Gavin. When it was his turn, Gavin held up the teacup while I poured. I could feel my face heating up from his stare.

    "Yes, ma'am. Anything to keep her safe," he said in his husky voice. His fingers brushed against mine, startling me and causing me to divert the kettle, pouring tea onto my hand.

    I let out a soft yelp as the scalding tea splashed onto my skin. Gavin quickly set down his cup and grabbed my hand, examining the burn.

    "Lyric, I'm so sorry," he said, his voice filled with concern. He brought my hand to his lips and blew cold air on it. "Where's the sink?"

    My aunt rushed over, pointing toward the kitchen. "Over there. I'll get the first aid kit!"

    Gavin gently led me to the sink, running cold water over my hand. His brows furrowed as he stared at my injury. "I'm sorry, Lyric."

    I looked up to meet his eyes, which were full of remorse. When I recalled what had transpired days ago, anger swelled in my heart. I tried pulling my hand away, but his grasp remained firm.

    "Don't fight it, Lyric. It might leave a scar," Gavin said softly.

    A scar from a first-degree burn? He was exaggerating.

    "Here's the kit!" Aunt Stephanie announced as she returned to the kitchen, holding the first aid kit in one hand and her leftover cigarette in another. Gavin took it and placed it on the kitchen counter.

    "Don't panic, it's just my touch," he murmured.

    Before I could understand what he meant, Gavin held me by the waist and positioned me on the edge of the counter. It was a small counter, so I was barely balanced there.

    Here's the final portion of the corrected chapter:

    Gavin carefully dried my hand. He blew on it with each touch, even though he was being very gentle. He applied the analgesic lotion with careful precision.

    I looked up at Gavin, our eyes meeting. His heterochromatic eyes were more beautiful this close. I suddenly had the urge to paint a canvas of such pretty eyes.

    For a moment, everything else faded away. Gavin raised his hand, softly caressing my chin, while I placed my hand on his chest. His heart was beating hard against my palm.

    Was he alright?

    I glanced up at his face, a gasp escaping my lips when he grabbed my arm.

    Suddenly, my aunt cleared her throat, breaking the spell. We quickly let go of each other, Gavin stepping away to create space between us, while I pretended to nurse my arm.

    Leaning by the kitchen door, a smile played on my aunt's lips. "Thank you, Gavin," she said knowingly.

    Gavin smiled back, his eyes never leaving mine. Longing swelled within me; I wanted his hands on me again. "No problem, ma'am," he replied smoothly.

    As my aunt busied herself cleaning up the spill, Gavin turned to me, desire evident in his eyes. "Are you okay?" he whispered.

    I nodded, still feeling the warmth of his touch. My hand unconsciously drifted to the spot on my face where he had touched earlier.

    Gavin's gaze lingered on mine before he left me on the counter. I hopped down and followed him into the living room.

    Gavin's phone lit up from an incoming call. He glanced at it, then at my aunt. "I'm sorry I can't stay for dinner. I have to leave now," he announced apologetically.

    His eyes wandered to mine, and I felt another flutter in my chest. "Good night, Lyric," he said softly.

    I nodded slightly, struggling to look away.

    "Don't forget to apply the lotion tomorrow," Gavin reminded me, to which I remained silent. I watched as he headed for the door while my aunt lit her second cigarette. She tended to smoke more when stressed.

    Aunt Stephanie caught my eyes on her and looked back at me with a strange emotion in her eyes. "Lyric, see your boyfriend off," she teased.

    My eyes widened, and I shook my head in denial. My face burning in embarrassment.