33. Lockheart
LOCKHEART
I can’t stop smiling. Lucky’s coming home. Our little family will be complete again.
Grabbing one of the pies from the fridge and tearing off the foil covering it, I place it in the oven to warm up. Nico said he likes warm apple pie and ice cream on the side, so that's what he’ll get when he’s home.
My smile gets wider when I think of her. She kept me together through this whole ordeal, and I’m so fucking grateful she’s mine. I look toward the stairs, knowing she’s up there washing her face of the happy tears she allowed herself to cry when we got the news our boy was coming home.
She doesn’t want him to know she’s been crying.
Because she’s selfless, always thinking of someone else.
That makes what her scumbag dad did even worse—he took the one thing he knew would cause her the most pain.
Took her son from her for his own gain. I’ll never forgive him.
And if I ever get my hands on him, I won’t be responsible for my actions.
Bile rises in my throat as I picture what I’d like to do to him. My hands wrapped around his throat, Lucky bound and gagged on a cold and dirty floor…
No! I slam my hand down on the countertop and force the images away. I focus on reality. Lucky’s safe. He’s on his way home and Nico is mine. They’re both mine.
I blow out a shaky breath, deciding there and then that I’m going to propose.
Make us official. If this has taught me anything, it’s how quickly things can change.
I’m not letting either of them go again.
I want Nico to be Mrs. Lockheart. My wife.
A smile graces my lips as I picture her dressed in white and floating down the aisle, Lucky standing by my side as we become husband and wife.
Now that’s the kind of image I can hold onto.
The front door opens and I hold my breath thinking it’s Lucky, but Jaxson breezes inside without a care for the police officers and their concern. He walks straight past them without a second glance when they call out, ‘Sir?’ in his wake.
“Call off your dogs, Kincaid. You know he’s family,” I tell him through a chuckle, and he signals with his hand to his guys that he’s cleared to come through.
“Old timer, are you baking again?” There’s a chuckle in his voice when he spots the ‘kiss the cook’ apron slung over the back of the chair and the smell of apple pie infiltrates his senses.
“Nope, I'm warming up. Nico said Lucky liked it warm and with ice cream on the side.” I grab a water from the fridge and offer it to him, but he shakes his head.
“Is there any other way to eat apple pie? I mean, it would be better if it had cinnamon in it, but…” He shrugs his shoulders, grins and eyes the kitchen sceptically. “Where is she?”
I tip my head to the stairs and he nods in understanding.
“And she’s okay?”
I blow out a breath. “I think so. She’s been quiet. But what do you expect when your own father betrays you like that? I swear, Jaxson, if I could…”
I head over to the dining room chairs and sit down, dropping my head into my hands whilst he flops onto the sofa next to me. It reminds me of our conversations in here when he was trying to win over Edie.
“You and me both, Old timer. All I’d need is a few minutes, an alibi, and a shovel, and the man wouldn’t be a problem for anyone anymore.
” I lift my head and smile at him and receive a wink in return.
“I can’t even imagine what this must feel like for Nicole.
It’s like something out of a movie. Is she being hard on herself about it? ”
“You mean like blaming herself?” I take a swig of water as he nods. “I hope not. It’s not her fault. She can’t control what her dad does or doesn’t do.”
“You and I know that. But she might not. She’ll feel responsible for this, so go easy on her.” His warning sets something off in me and my defences rise.
“What do you mean go easy on her? Like I’d be anything but?” I growl through gritted teeth, but he just raises his brow and smirks at me.
“I distinctly remember you being a douche a couple of days ago during our call,” he tells me, precisely and to the point.
“That was different,” I grumble back, knowing he’s got me bang to rights. “And I took all your points on board and realised I was a major arsehole and rectified my behaviour. Thank you very much.”
He sits straighter in his chair and smiles smugly at me. “Good. She deserves the best. And no matter what you believe, you are the right man for the job. Make sure she knows that as well.”
“I intend to.” I look around to make sure she isn’t in earshot. “I want to ask her to marry me. I want her to be my wife.”
Jaxson’s grin transforms his whole face, making him look even younger, excited.
Like a puppy dog about to get a treat. “Yes. What can I do and when is it happening?” He stands abruptly and bounces on his toes.
“You’re the last man standing on the team.
Once you’re done, I can start on Jenson and Penny.
” He claps his hands loudly and I jump up and hold them together.
“Shut the fuck up. I don’t want her to know yet.”
“Oh, right.” He puts his finger to his lips and heads for the back door.
He only makes it a few steps before he stops and turns back to face me with a smile as wide as the Cheshire Cat’s. “I’m proud of you. I know how hard it was for you. When she wasn’t around. And the way you are with Lucky… You’re like my hero, dude.”
He grabs the back of his neck awkwardly, and I storm over to him and grab him in a hug. My arms wrap around him tightly and slap his back a couple of times for good measure.
“You’re my fucking hero too, Brady. My little brother, always.” He squeezes me a little and turns and heads out of the kitchen without another word.
“Who was that?” Nico’s voice makes me jump up and spin around to face her, wiping the tears pooled in my eyes away. Her brown hair is up in a high ponytail. There isn’t a trace of makeup on her face, and her eyes look a little sad still, but flickers of the flames I love seeing dance in them.
“Hey.” I reach for her and try to ignore her slight hesitation before she joins our hands and steps closer to me. “You okay?” I raise her chin so she's looking into my eyes rather than at the floor.
“Mmmhmm,” she replies, and I search those amber eyes for any sign of emotion, but she’s shut them down.
“Marry me!” I state, and almost instantly want to kick myself for demanding rather than asking.
“What? Owen, you’re not serious.” She turns her back to me, but I grab her elbow and gently turn her back to face me.
“I am. I want you forever, Nico. You, me, and Lucky. And any other little Luckys that come along. I’m serious.” I try to convey just how serious I am in my voice as I brush away a stray tear that’s fallen down her cheek.
“Owen. I can’t. You deserve better. I’m sorry.”
She looks away from me again, and this time I let her.
I bring her closer to me, though, wrapping my arms around her and fitting her snugly to my chest. This is about her dad.
She feels guilty, like it’s her fault, when it’s not.
But instead of getting angry and telling her that it’s not, I’ll show her that she’s perfect for me instead.
“I promise you I’ll spend eternity making you see that's not true. You’re what’s best for me, Nico. My Whiskey Girl. There’s no one else, and there never will be either.”
I place a gentle kiss on her head and let what I’ve said sink in. As we stand in our embrace for what seems like an eternity, a loud voice clatters through the hall and floats into our ears.
“Hey, Mumma. Hey, Dad.” Flanked by two officers, Lucky's beaming face comes into view.
Nico runs to him and scoops him into her arms. He wraps his little legs around her body and she sobs into his shoulder.
I press my front against her back and wrap my arms around both of them, my hand running through his hair as he looks up at me and then over his mum’s shoulder to the female police officer he came in with.
“I fink dey missded me,” he mutters out through a chuckle, and I find myself laughing and crying at the same time.
I place another kiss on Nico’s head and whisper into her ear, “This is what I deserve, baby. You, him, and me. Forever.”