Chapter 45 Lawson
LAWSON
“I’d say you made your kid pretty damn happy today,” Holt said as we loaded gifts into large tote bags that Hallie had brought over for exactly this purpose.
“They’re all the happiest I’ve ever seen them.” God, that felt good to say. To know without a shadow of a doubt.
Holt grinned at me as we started toward the house. “You look happier, too.”
“I am.” Despite everything we’d been through recently, I was happier than I’d ever been.
“You love her?”
I glanced at Holt. “Nosy.”
“It’s a simple question.”
Still, it made my chest convulse. “Yeah. I love her.”
“She know that?” he asked as we started up the stairs to the house.
“I’m waiting for the right time.”
Holt scoffed. “Chicken.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but a crash sounded from inside, and Thor started barking like crazy. Panic lit through me, and I dropped the bag of presents, charging up the stairs and inside.
I skidded to a stop as I found Reed rolling around on the floor, crying and cupping his junk.
Hallie shoved her hair out of her eyes, her face red.
“What the hell happened?” I demanded, striding across the living room and pulling her into my arms.
“He’s a creep who isn’t keen on the word no,” she said with a huff.
Rage, hot and fierce, flashed through me as Reed clambered to his feet.
“She’s lying. She hit on me. When I said no, she kneed me in the nuts.”
“Law,” Holt warned, moving to try to get between us.
But he was too late. I whirled on Reed, my fist catching him right across the nose.
Hallie gasped behind me, and Reed crumpled to the floor again.
“You broke my fucking nose.”
“Dude, I think you tripped,” Holt muttered.
“She’s a fucking cock tease,” Reed snapped.
I started to charge, but Holt pushed me back, and Hallie caught hold of the back of my shirt.
“Don’t,” she pleaded. “Remember the son you just grounded for doing the same thing.”
My breaths came in ragged pants as I turned into her. “Did he put his hands on you?”
“Barely,” she said quietly. “He pushed me against the wall, said some ugly things, and I kneed him in the balls. He was crying.”
“She’s lying!” Reed yelled.
“Get him out of my sight,” I snarled at Holt.
Thankfully, he listened, hauling Reed up and dragging him out the front door.
My hands skimmed over Hallie, checking for injuries. “Are you hurt anywhere? God, Hallie. I’m so sorry.”
She gripped my flannel shirt hard. “Blue.”
I stilled at the use of my nickname.
A smile spread over her face. “I got him. I was scared at first, but then I thought about you. How much you believe in me. And I was able to think. To remember all the self-defense lessons I’ve taken. He went down with one knee.”
I dropped my forehead to hers. “Hallie…”
“He was crying. Like a freaking baby.”
In any other scenario, I would’ve laughed. “He could’ve hurt you.”
“But he didn’t. Because you’ve reminded me how strong I am. That I can fight back.”
“You’re the strongest person I know,” I whispered and took her mouth in a slow kiss. I pulled back, staring into her gray eyes. “Love you, Hallie. Might not always do it perfectly, but you have all of me. Always. Never thought I’d get that kind of chance again. But you gave it to me.”
Tears filled her eyes. “You love me?”
“With everything I have.”
A few tears slipped free, sliding down her cheeks. “That comes in handy because I’m head over heels in love with you, and it would be awkward if you didn’t feel the same.”
This time, I did laugh.
“You’re stuck with me now, Little Minx.”
She stretched up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to mine. “I guess I’ll just have to figure out a way to live with that.”
My family sat sprawled around the sectional while kids’ laughter and shouts sounded from the family room down the hall. Remnants of pizza and soda were everywhere, but we’d moved on to brownies that Aspen had insisted she needed to rage bake.
“I still think someone should let me use him as a real-life dummy for my knife-throwing practice,” Grae grumbled.
Caden pulled her closer to his side. “Dial it back a notch, Gigi. Your girl already burst his balls.”
Hallie hadn’t, but I wished she had.
Nash shook his head but grinned at Hallie. “He won’t be messing with Trouble again.”
No, Hall wouldn’t. Because I’d talked Hallie into a restraining order.
Thankfully, we had a couple of new cameras in the living room, courtesy of Holt beefing up our security system.
They had caught everything. Watching it back nearly had me going down to the station to kill Reed myself, but it was the proof I needed to bring charges and fire him from the force.
“I think I’m going to make a GIF out of him dropping like a stone,” Nash added.
Maddie shook her head but patted his chest. “I think that’s enough.” She glanced at Hallie. “You’re really feeling all right?”
Hallie smiled as she burrowed deeper into my hold. “I know it sounds weird, but I feel the best I’ve felt in weeks. Powerful. Maybe even a little badass.”
“Damn straight,” Wren said, lifting her water glass to toast Hallie.
Roan nodded. “I think I’m going to get you to teach my Cady those moves.”
Aspen gaped at him. “She’s six.”
He shrugged. “That little kid in her dance class looks like he wants to put the moves on her.”
Aspen dropped her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Lord, help me.”
Everyone laughed at that.
A doorbell cut through the noise, and I groaned. Whoever it was could go the hell away.
As if reading my impatience, Nash got to his feet. “I’ll get it.”
Muted voices sounded from the entryway, and then Nash reappeared. “There’s a guy here who looks like he chews nails for a hobby. Says he’s here to see you, Law.”
I frowned but got to my feet and headed for the door. I stopped a few feet away. He looked a hell of a lot different. Gone was his always clean-shaven face, replaced with thick stubble. Those alert eyes now had dark circles under them.
“Anson?”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “You were right. You need my help.”