35. Lockheart
LOCKHEART
As I pad into the empty living room, I reach for the crystal decanter and pour myself a whiskey.
The amber coloured liquid stares back at me, sloshing against the glass as I take a sip.
Lucky and Nico are upstairs asleep. The officer who’s staying here with us for the time being is in the downstairs suite, and the house is silent.
I blow out a deep breath and let my chin hit my chest as I lower my head and try to decompress from everything.
Slumping on the sofa and propping my feet up on the coffee table, I take another sip, letting the sweet taste dance on my tongue.
The past two days have been nothing but a fear-induced panic.
Lucky being taken. Nico blaming herself.
Lucky keeping the identity of his kidnapper a secret out of some sort of fucked up loyalty to them.
It’s too much. I want Nico back to the way she was.
I want her to stop doubting herself and her worth and to agree to be my fucking wife.
The security detail I hired walks past the window, his torch shining brightly in the dark. I shouldn’t have to have all this extra security, but knowing what nearly happened to my boy, I can’t risk it.
I push my fingers into my eyes to stem the flood of images my mind’s concocted. Lucky tied to a chair, a gag on his mouth. Tears streaming down his face, whimpers floating through the dirt encrusted room as he cries for me to rescue him.
“ENOUGH!” I shout as the crystal glass flies across the room and smashes against the wall. The droplets run down the white wallpaper and my gaze moves over to the window as a figure appears.
Luckily I’d know that grinning buffoon’s face anywhere, and roll my eyes and stomp into the kitchen to unlock the door as the officer appears from her bedroom.
“It’s okay. It’s just me. I’m sorry I woke you.”
She nods her head and retreats into her room with a yawn. I hope I haven’t woken Nico and Lucky up, too.
“What do you want, Brady?” I turn my back on him and walk into the living room and flop down on the sofa.
“Oh no, you don’t get to be the grumpy one here. Not when you’ve got your boy back, a beautiful woman in your bed, and haven’t been woken up by a dude flashing a light in your window. I get to be the grumpy one.” Brady grabs his baseball cap off and runs his hand roughly over his hair.
“Sorry, bro. I’ll tell Moe to be more careful when he’s securing the perimeter.” My gaze travels to the amber liquid oozing down the wall and I grab my head in my hands.
“What did you do? Talk to me while I clean this mess up. We don’t want Lucky cutting himself in the morning.”
A loud groan rumbles out of my throat and I rake my hands over my face. “Shit. I didn’t think of that. I’ll clean it. I’ll sort it…” A yawn interrupts me and again I let my chin drop to my chest.
Jaxson fetches the dustpan and brush to clean the glass up as I sit and watch, too tired to move. I’m fucking exhausted. Wiped out from the constant stress and anxiety of the past few days and the more to come.
“I’m worried about Nico, Jaxson. I’m scared I’m going to lose her. She means more to me than anything. Her and Lucky, they made me feel again, and I can’t go back to the sad, lonely life I had before.” Desperation laces my voice as I bite my lip to fight back my emotions.
“Well that was unexpected.” Brady blows out a breath and finishes sweeping the last of the glass into the pan. He turns back to face me and perches on the coffee table. “Tell me what’s going on and I’ll help you fix it.”
So I do. I tell him everything. I open up and share my feelings, my thoughts, and everything else with him.
I’m letting him see the real and raw Owen, not the closed off and always in control Lockheart.
I explain about Nico, her feelings and that I want her to be my wife but she’s refusing to accept my proposals because she doesn’t believe she’s what I need.
He listens intently, nods his head a few times, and then takes his cap off again and hits me on the head with it.
“Can I be your best man? Come on, tell me I can. You can’t pick Marcello, he’ll cry the whole way down the aisle.
And Charlie’s way too grumpy to stand next to you.
Plus, I’m pretty sure Nico will ask Edie to be in the wedding party, and I can’t be left out. Come on.”
With a sigh, I shrug. “She hasn’t said yes. She might not ever say yes, Jaxson.”
“She will. You just gotta ask her right. Third time’s the charm.”
“You’re right,” I tell him wearily.
“Yeah, I am. Now say it louder for the people in the back.” He grins at me, and ordinarily I’d wipe that grin off his face with a slap to the back of his head, but right now I can’t be bothered.
“What do I do now? I can’t force her to say yes. To acknowledge that I want her and don’t care about our past or blame her for anything.” I slump on to the sofa, groaning as I go. I know I sound and look pathetic but right now, I don’t have the energy to care.
“Jeez, dude. Was I like this when Edie kicked my sorry ass to the curb?”
With my eyes closed and my head leaning back on the headrest of the sofa I mumble ‘yep’.
“Alrighty then. Be attentive. Love her. Shower her with affection. Show her and tell her how much she means to you. Remind her of the way you both were before. And I’ll help you come up with a kick-ass proposal.
“I’ve been reading Edie’s books, and damn these romance writers know how to write.
I just read a fucking brilliant series. Dex is the most romantic dude I've ever met. He not only secured his own HEA, but also helped all his buddies with theirs too. It was brilliant. I’m man enough to admit I even cried a little.
Avery Maxwell. Cross My Heart. Read it. You won’t regret it. ”
My head lifts up and tilts as I stare in amazement at this kid. “Firstly, way too much information. And secondly, I didn’t even know you could read. So kudos for that.”
My head’s back in my ‘woe is me’ position, so I don’t see the cap flying through the air and smacking me in the face. Normally, I’d beat the shit out of him, but today I just smile and let my eyes close for a little bit.
His chuckle softens as he goes into the kitchen, and when I open my eyes again, it’s to see him wiping down the wall. All remnants of my little outburst are gone, and I have Jaxon Brady to thank.
“Old timer. Go to bed. Hug your lady and fucking sleep.” He pulls me up and I grab him in an embrace. “Dude, that’s two hugs you’ve given me in the past few days. I’m starting to think you’re sweet on me.”
I squeeze him a little tighter and gently slap his cheek. “I’m way out of your league, bro.”
I spin him around, push him out the door and lock it before he can respond, then head upstairs to follow through on his advice.