Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
LOCKLAND
I was surprised I slept after the threat of Griz, who was damn scary, wanting to talk to me. But I managed to have the most peaceful night’s sleep in a long time. Maybe it was from being in Swan’s presence. It could be from finally figuring out how Swan and I lost contact. Whatever it was, I was grateful for those eight hours I got.
Hell, I needed another fifty like that to get over the exhaustion I lived and breathed every day since professionally singing.
I loved my job. Loved making people smile or having them fall for the songs I wrote.
But I needed a holiday.
One away from all the fans, the cameras, my agent, and my damn mother.
I had a tour to finish in Australia first. At least the Melbourne concerts would be my last ones. But it also meant I was closer to leaving. My agent wanted me in the studio to get those new songs recorded before the tour in Japan.
I scrubbed a hand over my face.
The thought of leaving put a downer on my mood . Even though I was refreshed from the sleep, sudden weariness from the thought of all the shit I had to do overtook me.
Maybe I could take Swan with me.
Now that thought had me relaxing slightly.
But I had to figure out if that was a possibility. I needed to learn more about Swan and her life in Ballarat. Figure out if I’d be disrupting anything important.
I could at least ask her if she’d want to come stay with me in Melbourne while I played through Saturday and Sunday. I was scheduled to leave the Monday after for the US.
That was if I did leave. I could delay recording to after Japan. My agent would kill me, and it’d delay the new album. But Swan was worth all the troubles in the world. Besides, my agent fucking owed me for colluding with Mum to get Swan out of my life.
Before I rushed anything, I first needed to see if Swan would be open to spending the weekend with me in Melbourne.
I threw the covers back, only to still from a new thought.
Nickolas had asked me if I had a girlfriend, but I didn’t know if Swan was dating anyone.
My gut soured at the possibility of someone special in Swan’s life.
Of someone kissing her. Hugging her. Loving her.
“Shit.” I shook my head and stretched.
I couldn’t worry about it right now.
I wouldn’t worry until I knew for sure.
Then I’d let myself panic if she was with anyone.
I’d been in love with Swan from the first time I saw her. It was a special moment when she finally overcame her shyness and offered me a friendship that gave me a sense of connection and belonging unlike anything I had ever experienced before.
She was my other half.
My soul.
And when I’d been cut off from her for those years, they’d been some of my darkest days.
I’d lost myself for a while. To parties. To alcohol. And even drugs.
My agent had supplied them. My mother didn’t stop him. And my father was fighting his own battle. The one he’d kept hidden until he couldn’t any longer.
It wasn’t until he’d been hospitalised that I got my act together.
Mum had still wanted me to write songs, record, make appearances, and attend concerts.
I couldn’t.
That was the first time I’d refused her and saw what a cold-hearted monster she really was.
Even to this day, I never understood what Dad saw in her. But he had a softer heart than me.
Things had to change.
I wouldn’t be her puppet anymore.
Swan was going to stay in my life, and I wanted our days to be harmonious.
If needed, I would give up the world for her. The travel, the fans, everything, if it meant I could keep Swan at my side.
But I knew my best friend. Even with the missing years between us, I knew how sweet and warm my Swanny was and how she wouldn’t want me to give up what I loved.
Which was why we’d have to work something out.
She had to stay in my life.
Not as a friend either. As more.
I needed Swan as mine.
I craved to kiss her, hug her, lie with her.
My cock throbbed. I gave it a squeeze as I stood, wondering if my princess would be awake.
However, first I had to get through the chat with her father.
* * *
After dressing, I made my way downstairs. I didn’t dare even look towards Swan’s room in case Griz somehow knew I’d thought about going in there.
After I reached the bottom step, I heard a voice coming from the kitchen.
When I entered, I paused and shit myself.
Not literally, but it was close.
In the room, Griz sat at the kitchen table as if waiting for me while he spoke on the phone. “Later,” he clipped before he ended the call and placed it on the wooden top.
“Sir,” I said.
He grunted and pushed the chair near him out with his foot.
I went over and took a seat just as the back door opened.
“Hey, Lockland. Do you want a coffee?” Mrs Daniels asked.
“Babe, it can wait,” Griz said.
“Grady, you can’t expect to grill him without a morning cup.” Her tone held her usual attitude.
Griz, who’d told me to call him that instead of Mr Daniels a long time ago, glowered at his wife, who promptly ignored him and went to the kettle to switch it on.
“Swan and Nicky went down the street to get some fresh baked goods at Channa’s bakery. Channa is Coyote’s wife.” She laughed. “Coyote is Cody. Do you remember him?”
“Mr and Mrs Marcus’s oldest. Maya’s brother.”
“That’s right. How do you have your coffee?” she asked, once again ignoring Griz’s grumbling under his breath.
“White with one, thanks.”
“Got it. Anyway, Channa is a baker. She has a bakery not too far away. They shouldn’t be too long.”
If I were to guess, she was letting me know I’d be saved from her husband soon.
“Channa makes the best things,” she said. “Grady loves the?—”
“I swear to fuck, princess. Finish the coffee and give us a sec. I ain’t gonna harm him unless I don’t like his answers.”
Let’s hope he likes them.
“Fine,” Mrs Daniels snapped. She brought two mugs over and placed one in front of me and the other in front of her husband. She leaned down and gave him a quick kiss. “Be nice.”
Griz grunted.
Swan’s mum patted my shoulder on the way out of the room. I took a sip of my coffee to wake up my brain some more. I was sure it needed to be ready for anything.
I looked to Griz. He didn’t say anything, just stared, or more glared, at me while he drank his coffee.
My pulse thought it was a good time to race while fear slammed into me.
Was he waiting until he knew his wife wasn’t close and ready to intervene, or did he just want me to sweat?
I was sweating.
And panicking.
It was then I figured out I wouldn’t do any good in an interrogation if it was with anyone like Griz.
His scowl never went away as he enjoyed his coffee.
Was he even enjoying it?
I wanted to look away to anywhere else, but a part of me was sure that if I did, I’d lose.
And if what I lost was Swan, I wasn’t going to risk it.
He finally set his mug down and wrapped both hands around it.
Was he picturing the cup was my neck?
Probably.
“What do you want with my daughter?” he finally asked.
“I’d like to make sure I never lose her from my life again.”
“That scene last night, was it some ploy just to cover why you stopped talkin’ to her?”
“No,” I said instantly. I appreciated how cautious he was, and of course he was since she was his daughter, but— “I would never lie to her.”
“You’re a famous singer. I’m sure you’ve got other women you can have.”
“No one could ever replace Swan. I wasn’t a saint after Swan and I were forced apart, but the spot at my side—as a trusted friend or more—was always hers to claim.”
“You sayin’ you want to date her?”
I put my coffee down and leaned into the table. Griz needed to hear the complete truth, which was something I’d figured out from being back in a home I’d spent more time in than my own. A resolve unlike any I’d felt washed over me. Everything always came back to Swan. How much I missed her. Loved her. Sure, I hadn’t had a superimportant conversation with the woman I gave my heart to when she was just a girl, but that would come soon. For now, I needed Griz to know how serious I was. “I’m saying, and I hope you’ll give us your blessing, that one day in the future, she’s going to be wearing my ring on her finger. As long as she’s willing to stick with me from here on out.”
His teeth ground together. “She’ll never be safe with all the crazy fans you have. I’ve seen the news reports of your place being broken into, so don’t fuckin’ lie about the fans. I know they’re out there.”
I nodded. “They are. But I want to keep Swan far away from that side of things. In an ideal world for me, I’d like to finish out the year touring but then cancel everything else. I’ve never liked being in the spotlight. If I can manage it, all I want is to sing, record, and release. No television, no concerts, just me and my music. All while Swan will be at my side.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I’ll make sure nothing harms her in any way. Believe me when I say I’ll always protect Swan and her soft, kind soul in any way I can.”
Griz grunted. “She’s the softest soul I’ve ever fuckin’ known.”
“She is,” I agreed.
“Fuck you for comin’ in here and takin’ her away.”
I stilled. “I haven’t.”
“You have. I see the way she looks at you. I see the goddamn hearts in her eyes. I know she’ll do anythin’ in her power to stick with you. The years you two hadn’t talked she was a lot quieter than before. And we both fuckin’ know how quiet she can be.”
I nodded. Hope thickened my throat.
Did this mean he’d give me his blessing?
“I ain’t sayin’ propose to her now.” His jaw clenched. “Not anytime soon either. Get to know each other again. You fuck her over in any way, and you know it won’t be only me gunnin’ for your blood.”
“I know, and I won’t screw her over. When I lost her, it was like losing a part of myself. She’s the most important person in my life. I’ll make sure she knows it every damn day. And all this is even if she’ll accept me as more than a friend.”
Griz scoffed. “Don’t be fuckin’ delusional.”
I ducked my head to hide my smile. He saw Swan’s interest in me. That there was a high chance I’d have her as mine was the biggest rush I’d ever experienced.
“Fuck,” Griz clipped. “You know you steppin’ into our world, things change. We’ll always be watchin’.”
“I know. I expect it. The club has always looked out for their own, and Swan will always be a part of the club. I wouldn’t try to change that.”
His jaw clenched again.
“Does this mean I have your blessing to date your daughter?”
His nostrils flared. “You don’t. But she has my blessin’ if she wants more from you.”
When I grinned, he swore.
We heard the front door open and close.
Moments later, Swan and Nickolas appeared in the doorway.
“Huh, no blood. Must have been a good chat,” Nickolas said, sounding disappointed. He walked over and placed a box on the table. “Swan nearly chewed my arm off when I took too long picking what I wanted.”
“I did not,” Swan said with a sigh. She moved over to us and placed another box down, flipping the lid back. “In this one are egg and bacon brekky burgers. The other box has pastries in it if you wanted something sweet.”
“Yes, please,” Nicky said, grabbing out a chocolate croissant. As soon as he bit into it, crumbs fluttered down onto the front of him and the floor.
“Grab some plates, kid,” Griz ordered.
Nickolas nodded and walked to the cabinet to grab some out.
While Griz was looking into the boxes, Swan touched my arm. When I looked up, she mouthed, “Okay?”
Smiling, I nodded.
Her shoulders relaxed, and she grinned back.
Her beauty was even more breathtaking this morning. I never wanted to look away, but it’d be a bit creepy if I glued my gaze to her constantly.
Would Griz cut off my fingers if I ran my hand through her long, soft waves?
“Boy, go get your mum and?—”
“Mum!” Nickolas bellowed.
“You shithead,” Griz barked, and his harsh tone didn’t faze his son even a bit. Nickolas just grinned around another bite of his food.
Swan handed me a plate that Nickolas had put on the table. I bumped my shoulder into her hip. “Thanks.” I smiled down at the table when she blushed.
Reaching over, I grabbed an egg and bacon roll and a cinnamon scroll as Swan took a seat next to me.
When her mum entered, she said, “Good to see you’re still alive and in one piece, Lockland.” She took a croissant out of the box and took a bite as she rested her hand onto Griz’s shoulder. He munched on his egg and bacon roll while glaring at me.
“Yep, no blood was spilt.”
Nickolas rolled his eyes, sitting down. “Boring. I thought you would have beat him up a little, Dad.”
“The thought crossed my mind,” Griz admitted.
Snorting, I nodded. “I could tell.”
Griz huffed.
Mrs Daniels bent and kissed Griz on the cheek. “He’s a big teddy bear, really.”
I was sure to her, and maybe most of the women in the club, he did seem like that. But I was positive if anyone crossed him in any way, he’d switch in an instant.
I hoped I never changed his attitude.
For now, I believed we were on good terms.