CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Lucas's POV

I woke up with a start, my heart racing as I reached for my phone on the nightstand. Seven missed calls from Claire. Two unread messages. Shit.

I jumped out of bed, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I couldn't call her back. I needed to see her, to hold her in my arms and reassure myself that she was okay.

Especially after that meeting with Eddie Spencer. That smarmy bastard had set my teeth on edge from the moment I laid eyes on him. And don't even get me started on Chloe's little ambush.

I shook my head, trying to dispel the lingering unease. I had plans for today, dammit. I was supposed to take Claire and Brian to the art gallery, to nurture Brian's budding love of drawing. But now...

I brushed my teeth in record time, barely pausing to rinse before I was thundering down the stairs. I snagged my keys from the hall table, my mind already three steps ahead.

"Lucas! Your phone!"

I skidded to a halt, whirling to see Margaret, my long-suffering housekeeper, holding up