Ruinous Love Trilogy, #2
Leather & Lark
by Brynne Weaver
Contents
Chapter Twenty-Three: Last Defense
Overview
Lark shares a bittersweet farewell with Rose, then learns Ethel has died. Reeling, Lark calls Lachlan; they confess their love and plan to meet at Shoreview. Before she can leave, Abe Midus breaks into her apartment, drugs her, and threatens Bentley, escalating the immediate danger.
Summary
Lark meets Rose for coffee, sensing Rose’s unresolved pain over Fionn and the looming separation as Rose departs to rejoin Silveria Circus. They part warmly but sadly, promising to keep in touch.
Back home, Lark plays with Bentley and receives a call from her mother: Ethel has passed away. Overwhelmed, Lark phones Lachlan. He offers immediate support, and amid shared grief he confesses he loves her. Lark, realizing the depth of her feelings, tells Lachlan she loves him too, and they agree to meet at Shoreview.
As Lark composes herself to leave, she reflects on feeling seen and authentic, believing Ethel would be proud. Bentley begins barking at a disturbance in the living room. Lark discovers Abe Midus has broken in.
Lark bolts for the kitchen but is struck and injured; Bentley tries to defend her. Abe injects Lark with a sedative and disarms her attempt to reach her phone. As her strength fades, Lark sees Abe readying a brutal tool while Bentley stands guard over her, and Abe taunts the dog, leaving Lark helpless as the scene ends.
Who Appears
- LarkProtagonist; says goodbye to Rose, learns of Ethel’s death, confesses love to Lachlan, then is ambushed and sedated by Abe.
- Abe MidusAntagonist; breaks into Lark’s apartment, injures and sedates her, menacing Bentley with a brutal tool.
- Lachlan KaneHusband; offers support over the phone, confesses love to Lark, plans to meet her at Shoreview.
- RoseFriend; shares a heartfelt farewell before leaving with the circus, masking hurt about Fionn.
- BentleyLark’s dog; alerts to the intruder and tries to protect Lark during Abe’s attack.
- Lark’s motherCalls Lark to inform her that Ethel has died and coordinates meeting at Shoreview.
- FionnRose’s partner; arrives to pick Rose up, signaling their unresolved situation.