Chapter Twenty-Six
Lucky opened the door and the knots in her stomach loosened just a little at the sight of the big man standing in front of her with his arm wrapped around his pregnant wife. “Mason. Lyric. So good to see you both again. Please come in. Hawk will be out in just a moment.”
Mason walked in, hooked his free arm around her neck and pulled her close so he could hug and kiss her on the forehead.
She kind of loved their little ritual of riling each other up by kissing each other’s women. “You know Hawk’s going to get you back for that.”
“Like he hasn’t already kissed my wife a thousand times.”
Lyric rolled her eyes and came in close to hug Lucky. Lyric’s even bigger baby bump pressed to her stomach and Lucky felt a pang of envy.
Maybe someday she and Hawk would hold their baby, too. Soon. Ish.
They still needed time to settle into life together, though there was no doubt she loved him like crazy and wanted to be his forever.
One thing at a time, even if she wanted it all at once. With him.
Today was about letting go of the past and exposing all the secrets that had kept Lucky afraid and Desiree in control too long.
“I’m sorry for the reason we’re here, but I’m so happy to see you again.” Lyric pulled out of the hug. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. Even if I can’t get Desiree to confess to trying to kill me, we have enough evidence of her blackmail scheme to put her in jail. At least that’s something.”
Mason put his hand on her shoulder, and she was proud of herself for not flinching.
Mason squeezed, letting her know he was offering comfort. “With the information Jase sent me yesterday, I was able to secure warrants for Desiree’s devices. I’m betting there’s even more incriminating evidence on them.”
Lucky felt even surer that Desiree would pay for her crimes and treachery. “Thank you for helping with this.”
“My pleasure. You’re family. And besides, she has a judge, the DA, and who knows how many others in law enforcement in her pocket. You need federal help, since the locals are compromised.”
“Do you think the plan will work?”
“Since I don’t spend a lot of time here, and the family doesn’t talk about me or my job, she won’t know I’m FBI unless someone tells her. All you have to do is goad her into bragging about how she did it and got away with it.”
“I think she really hates me and wants me to know everything she’s done that makes her smarter and better than me.”
“Sometimes the people we let close turn out to be the people who hurt us the worst. She’s resentful, jealous, and has a sense that you have what she wants. Instead of being happy for you, she wants to knock you down so that she feels better about herself.”
“There’s nothing I have that she can’t have herself.”
“Really?” Lyric asked. “Because you have a really great guy who loves you. She doesn’t have that. In fact, she tried to steal that from you with Neil, but instead of him loving her more, he doubled down that he’d never stop loving you.”
“I think that’s what sent her over the edge and why she killed my family.”
Mason’s eyes filled with sympathy. “I’m surprised she didn’t kill Neil that night, too.”
Lucky hadn’t considered that. “I think she really cared about him. At least enough to let him live, even if she did make sure he went to prison.”
“Right. But not for killing your family,” Lyric pointed out. “She wanted him to get out. Maybe she hoped they’d finally be a family with their little girl.”
“She refused to let him see her.”
“Maybe she’s been waiting for him to make a move on her, to prove he’s not just there for their child, but her, too.”
Lucky didn’t know what was in Desiree’s twisted mind anymore.
Hawk came out of the bedroom looking yummy in a pair of worn black jeans, a black tee stretched across his shoulders and biceps, and a smile for her and their company. His hair was still damp, his feet bare. He had big, manly feet to match his hands, the nails clipped short.
Like always, he kissed her with a sweet brush of his lips against hers. “You doing okay?”
“I’m fine,” Lucky assured him again. “I’m ready for anything today.”
He cupped her cheek. “I know you are. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.”
“Nothing in my life has been easy. Except you.”
“That’s because he wants to be your sex slave,” Mason teased.
Lucky laughed when Hawk glared at his cousin, then looked at her like she was his everything and nodded his agreement. She reassured him, “You’re more than that to me and you know it.”
“I’ll be whatever you need me to be.” He kissed her again like no one was watching, right in front of his family.
“I could use a drink,” Mason announced. “Let’s leave the lovebirds alone for a few, angel.”
Lucky heard Lyric giggle as Mason led her away.
Hawk let her up for air and brushed his nose against hers. “I love you. Everything is going to work out today. And even if it doesn’t, Desiree will face the consequences of her actions. At least the ones we can prove.”
“I know. It’s going to be fine and I’ll finally be free.”
“Lunch?” he asked to distract her.
“I’ve got it all ready and in the fridge.”
They joined Mason and Lyric in the kitchen. Lucky set out the chicken pesto pasta and crusty bread. Everyone served themselves a bowl, then took a seat at the table. Hawk had prepared a strawberry peach cocktail that was light and refreshing, and a glass of limeade for Lyric.
They chatted about life since they’d all seen each other last. She and Lyric talked about her upcoming baby shower while the guys talked about the game they caught last night.
It was wonderfully normal, even though they were all just killing time until Neil and Desiree arrived.
Hawk got the text from Jase right after they finished eating a slice from the double chocolate cake she’d made this morning just to keep busy. He held up his phone so she could see it.
JASE: Desiree ETA 10. I’ll stick close in case you need backup.
Lucky’s heart sped up. “She’ll be here soon.”
Like he’d heard her, Neil rang the bell.
“I’ll get it.” Lucky hadn’t even gotten out of her seat when Hawk rose and put his hand on her shoulder to keep her in place.
“I’ll get it just in case.”
“In case of what?” she asked.
“I don’t know. But I’m not putting you in harm’s way any more than I have to.”
She wanted to roll her eyes, but maybe he had a point.
Hawk checked the peep hole, turned off the alarm, then opened the door. “Open your jacket and turn in a circle so I know you’re not armed.”
“Armed,” Neil scoffed. “Dude. You’re paranoid. I’m on parole.”
“Just do it,” Hawk instructed again.
Neil must have complied because a moment later, Hawk opened the door wide enough for him to come inside. The second Neil spotted her, he walked forward. “Lucky.” Her name sounded like a prayer. “I can’t believe this could all be over today.”
“We’ll see.” She rose and met him by the table.
He looked like he wanted to hug her, but held himself back.
Hawk had no trouble hooking his arm around her waist and planting his hand on her hip. “Did your parole officer agree to come?”
“Yes. He said he’ll leave his car down the road a bit, then walk in and wait out back like you instructed.”
Hawk let her go and opened the window closest to the deck out back. “Are you going to be able to keep your cool?”
Neil nodded. “I know what I have to do. For Lucky. For me. For my daughter.”
“Good.” Hawk stared toward the front of the house. “Because she’s here.” Hawk checked his phone as a text pinged again. Had to be Jase alerting them to Desiree’s arrival.
Lucky turned to Mason. “You ready?”
“Do your thing,” he encouraged her.
Lucky headed for the door to answer the bell. Hawk was right behind her.
Desiree stood on the porch, her hands behind her back, face a mask of composure.
Lucky waved her in. “I’m glad you came. It’s in Krystal’s best interest to have her father in her life.”
“Why? It wasn’t in your best interest to be with your father,” Desiree shot back.
“Neil is nothing like my father.”
“He betrayed you. Again and again and again.” Her voice grew breathy, like she was remembering their intimate time together. Or simply trying to stick it to Lucky.
Lucky’s stomach churned.
Desiree zeroed in on Mason and Lyric canoodling in the kitchen. “Who are they?”
Hawk chimed in. “That’s my cousin and his wife. They just arrived for a family visit. Kind of a babymoon before the baby arrives. Don’t worry about them. They’re always in their own little world.”
Lucky held her arm out toward the couch. “Sit. Let’s talk about the bomb that got dropped yesterday and about Neil seeing his daughter.”
Desiree sauntered past Neil, a gleam in her eyes. “He’s not her father. He’s the deadbeat drug dealer who knocked me up. That’s all.”
Lucky snagged Desiree’s wrist and halted her. “Don’t be like that. We can have a civilized conversation. Can’t we?”
“I don’t think you’re going to like what comes to light. Like how your boyfriend used to fuck me hard and deep, like he couldn’t get enough.”
Neil brushed past Desiree and took a seat on the couch furthest away from the window.
“How about you tell her that you had to blackmail me into sleeping with you at all and how every time I begged to get out of it.” He gave her an insincere smile.
“Every. Time. Because I didn’t want you. I loved her.”
Lucky and Hawk took the chairs across from the couch, leaving Desiree the far spot on the couch with her back to the kitchen and dining area where Mason and Lyric were still pretending no one else existed but them. Not that Desiree could see them now. She was too focused on her and Neil.
Lucky steered the conversation. “Why won’t you let Neil see Krystal, spend time with her?”
“Because she’s mine. He doesn’t deserve to see her after he left us.”
Neil scoffed. “Left you? Seriously? I went to jail because you set me up.”
Desiree laughed. “Are you still high on what you stole?”
Neil leaned toward her. “I never used the drugs I stole. But you did.”