Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
NADINE
Sucking in a breath, I stare at my packed bag on the bed.
This is insane.
Truly.
I should not be doing this.
But as I tug the bag from the bed, then reach for the smaller one that contains my toiletries, I know I am doing this.
If I want Grayson back, I don’t have a choice.
I am going to have to be a bit crazy.
He has it in his head that he is a certain way, that he can only be one type of man, but he is so much more.
He doesn’t realize his potential, thinking he’s too fucked up to love.
But he’s not.
Nobody is, and I’m going to prove it to him.
“Are you ready?” Lucille asks from behind me.
Turning my head, I look over my shoulder, seeing her standing just in the doorway to my bedroom.
Her gaze searches mine, her eyes a bit wild.
Actually, they sparkle with excitement.
Only Lucille would be excited over an unhinged plan.
“Theron told me that this guy is really scary, like cartel scary,” I whisper.
She hums but doesn’t speak.
Instead, she takes a step toward me, then another, and stops before she reaches out and takes my hands with hers.
“Nobody would think less of you if you wanted to stay. We can come up with a plan B . It doesn’t have to be this.”
The exciting sparkle in her eye has dimmed slightly.
She’s saying the words, but Lucille is a girl of action, and she wants me to go and seize the day, but at the same time, she also knows how timid I can be.
A scaredy-cat, a wallflower, whatever you want to use to describe it, that’s what I am.
“I don’t want to wait any longer.”
She sinks her teeth into the corner of her bottom lip and worries the flesh for a moment.
She doesn’t say anything, her attention fixed on my face, but otherwise, she watches me in silence.
Releasing her lip, she opens her mouth, then closes it before her brows snap together.
I can tell she wants to ask me why I don’t want to wait, but she also doesn’t want to pry, which is hilarious in and of itself because she usually has no problem meddling.
“Is there a reason you don’t want to wait?” she finally asks, her gaze flicking to my stomach and then shifting back up to meet mine.
“Are you asking me if I’m pregnant?”
Her eyes widen.
“Are you?” she hisses.
I almost laugh but decide against it.
Maybe she just wants all three of us to have babies back-to-back.
I’m not sure, but I’m not pregnant.
Shaking my head, I clear my throat before I answer.
“I’m not pregnant,” I state.
“Okay, then you don’t want to wait…”
Pressing my lips together, I roll them a few times before I speak.
“I don’t want to wait to start my life. I’m finally truly free to live, and I’m ready for it. I want love, companionship, and babies. I want it all, and the only person I have ever dreamed of having it with is him—Grayson.”
An expression that I can’t quite read crosses Lucille’s face, and she gives me a trembling smile.
“I can understand that completely. I’m going to do whatever I need to do on this end to make it happen. You sure you don’t want to put a hit out on yourself?” she asks.
My lips curve up into a smile.
“I’m sure, at least for now.”
She smiles, wrapping her arms around me in a huge hug, and I feel her lips against my ear.
“Just say the word. and we’ll do it. Besides, you know how to delete it.”
“I do,” I exhale.
Breaking the embrace, I take a step backward, and she does the same.
Her eyes search mine for another moment, then she jerks her chin in a single motion.
“Okay. You’re going to go off to Miami and come back with a whole man, I know it. But keep me posted and text me regularly.”
My lips twitch into a smirk.
I don’t know if she’s right or not.
Honestly, Grayson could tell me to get lost, pack me up, and send me back home.
He may have used everything he said to me as an excuse because he hit and quit it.
I’m doubting my mission because I’ve heard the saying, “If a man wants you, he’s going to make that happen, no matter what .” But I’m not sure if that includes men who think they aren’t good for you, men who think they don’t deserve you.
I guess I’m going to find out.
“Nadine,” a gruff voice calls out.
I open my mouth then snap it closed because I know who that voice belongs to, and I’m shocked to hear it.
First of all, he may have always known where I lived, but out of precaution, he’s never actually been to my place.
I’m free now.
My brother can visit me freely, and it’s the oddest feeling on earth.
And the best feeling, too.
I imagine it’s all going to take some time to get used to.
I’m excited about it all, every different emotion and sensation that can go through a person.
I want them all—I crave them.
“Brody,” I call out as I step out of the small hallway and into my living room.
Sure enough, Brody is standing there, live and in person, a small smile playing on his lips.
“Nadine,” he repeats my name with the same gruffness as just a moment ago.
I haven’t seen him since my short time in South Carolina, and I didn’t think I would until I came back from Florida, whenever that might be.
“I’m taking you to the airport,” he announces.
My brows snap together.
“You are?”
He hums, closing the distance between us before he wraps his arms around me in a hug.
“You’re my family, Nadine. It’s time I start taking care of you like I always should have.”
I like the way he says that.
I’m just not sure what he means by it, but I can’t deny that I like it.
Love it even.
His arms tighten before he releases me and takes a step backward.
He jerks his chin behind me, clearing his throat.
“Your bags ready?” he asks.
“They’re ready.”
A few moments later, my phone is in my hand, my bags in the back of Brody’s pickup truck, and we are heading toward the airport.
The ride happens in silence, but when he stops at the drop-off door, he turns to face me.
“Do me a favor?”
“Anything,” I immediately respond, whipping my head around and flicking my gaze up to meet his.
He smiles, his eyes searching my own.
“Make sure he deserves you. Deserves this gift that you’re going to give him.”
“Gift?” I ask.
I hope he doesn’t think I’m pregnant, too, but I don’t say that.
When he continues, he causes my eyes to tear up and my whole body to tremble.
I can’t believe that my brother is saying these beautiful words to me.
“The gift of you, Nadine. Your heart, your mind, and your body. Make sure that Grayson deserves them because they’re really fucking special.”
“Brody,” I rasp.
“Mom and Dad didn’t deserve to have you in their lives. Tate didn’t deserve to lick the shoes you walked on, but you’re not jaded from that shit. I don’t know how because I am. But you’re so fucking innocent and pure. Make sure this man protects all that beauty inside of you. Because if he doesn’t deserve you, then it’s gonna be a bad fucking day for him when I get a hold of him.”
Tears prick my eyes.
I could be bitter and angry that my older brother couldn’t protect me, but that would be fruitless.
It wasn’t his job.
And I know that he tried his best.
We were not given tools on how to navigate the world.
It’s a wonder we aren’t both lost in a world of drug abuse.
“I want to laugh because you just called me innocent. But at the same time, cry because you are willing to get rid of this man if he doesn’t take care of me.”
“You are innocent, Nadine. Doesn’t matter what your body has been through, especially if most of it was against your will. You are innocent.”
My lips try to smile, but they’re trembling too much, and then the tears begin to fall from my eyes and roll down my cheeks like two small rivers.
My brother and I haven’t had many serious conversations, and he’s choosing the departure lane at the airport to do it.
“I love you, Brody. I’m going to be okay. I promise.”
He grins.
“Let’s get you on that plane, then. And just remember,” he says, “I’ll fucking make him wish he were dead if he fucks you over.”
My smile grows at his words.
“I love you, Brody.”
And that’s that.
He opens the pickup door, taking my bags out of the bed before setting them down on the sidewalk.
I unfold from the passenger seat, reach out, and wrap my fingers around his wrist before he walks away.
Brody looks over his shoulder at me, clearly wanting to get the hell out of here and away from all the emotions that fill the space between us.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He jerks his chin as I release my grasp on him.
He takes a step backward, then turns back toward his truck and climbs inside.
I stand on the curb, watching him as he pulls away.
Only then do I gather my bags and turn toward the doors.
Walking through, I wince at the sight of the bright fluorescent lights that surround me.
My eyes are sensitive and swollen from the crying jag I had in Brody’s truck.
Wheeling my bags up to the ticket counter, I check in and then make my way toward TSA, hoping I can slide through without too much touching, though I’m not holding my breath.
I have a feeling I’m going to be fully felt up.
While I wait in line, I take my phone out of my pocket and text Brody to let him know I’m all checked in.
He sends me a thumbs-up emoji, which makes me snort with a laugh.
Then I send one to Lucille to let her know the same thing.
LUCILLE: Go get your maaaan.
Also, I’m ready to start whatever shit needs to be started.
My lips curve up into a grin.
Hopefully, no shit will need to be started.
LUCILLE: I can’t deny I kind of want shit to go down.
I’m getting bored.
Of course, she’s getting bored.
Lucille craves the action, and not just that, she wants all her fingers and toes in said action.
I hope that whatever happens next, she’s in the midst of it all so she can get her fix.
But whatever the drama is, I also hope that it’s harmless.
I can’t handle any more of what we’ve already gone through.
I feel like, as a group, as a business, we need a bit of a break.
A little breather from the drama.
But I also don’t know when that’s going to happen, especially since I’m about to insert myself in some serious drama that is going to do nothing but shake shit up.
And as I think about that, a smile slowly plays on my lips.
I’m excited about it.
Just this once, I’m going to have a bit of fun, and if everything goes as planned, which I hope it does, I’m going to come home with my man at my side.
And if I don’t, I’m going to be pretty damn embarrassed, especially after all the men at Securus have agreed to this plan.
I’m not sure I could face them again.