Chapter 28 #2
Disgust—and fear—flashed on Olivia’s face. “Why the hell did you have to come home, Melody? Why? We were just going to leave you there! You could’ve had a life.”
“I already had a life,” Melody snapped back. “You took it from me. I came to get it back, you bitch.”
Olivia’s mouth dropped open.
“Really have to know.” Melody had to choke down her rage.
“The big plan of yours—it involved you marrying Dario, huh? What were you going to do, kill him eventually? Then live happily-ever-after with your detective? Or was the detective gonna die, too?” She tapped her chin as she pretended to consider things.
“If Dario died, did you believe that you could get all the Mage money and the property? The business?”
“There is no money any longer. No property. Victor has it all!”
“Bet you wish that you’d known all of that before you started spinning your plans.”
A knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” Laila called.
Uniformed officers entered. A male and a female in dark blue.
“We’re here for the prisoner transfer,” the male announced.
Olivia began to cry.
“Guess it’s time for her to go home,” Hunter said, finally speaking. “But I don’t think she’s going to like the new digs.”
“You fucking asshole!” Olivia shouted at him.
“I get that a lot.” Hunter rolled one shoulder. “Merry Christmas to you, too, sunshine.”
“I think you should have stayed in the hospital for another day,” Melody fretted as she stood on the front porch of Victor’s home.
Snow fell lightly, fluttering in the air around them.
She’d bundled into her coat and a warm, red scarf wrapped around her neck.
“We could have celebrated Christmas there. I had a tree in your room.”
Victor turned. Frowned at her.
She smiled at him. Happiness surged inside of her. Sure, her best friend had tried to kill her. There had been a million questions to answer. Details to sort out but…
Victor was alive. He’d gotten cleared from the docs at the hospital so that he could actually be home for Christmas. Her father was safe. She’d been talking to him more and more. Yes, his mind slipped. Sometimes, he would forget her.
She could certainly understand forgetting…
But sometimes, her father would look at her with such love that it stole her breath.
And someone else who looked at her with love? The big, tall, dangerous man before her. The man who was currently frowning. Frowning with love. It was a thing.
“We are not having Christmas in the hospital,” he growled. “We’re having it at home, together. I’m going to make love to you all night long…”
“Ah, Victor, I’m not sure the docs said we could do that yet.” He was clear to go home but not clear to engage in “vigorous activity.” As per his release paperwork.
He just stared at her.
“I don’t want you to wind up in the emergency room,” she mumbled.
“It would be a small price to pay.” He unlocked the front door. Swung it open. “Ladies first.”
Yes, about that price… “You winding up in the ER is not a price I want to pay…” But her words trailed off as she crossed the threshold.
She’d just become aware of the music playing. Instrumental Christmas music. And when she paused…Melody was pretty sure that she knew that song. Correction. Not pretty sure. One hundred percent. She even found herself whispering, “I’ll be home for Christmas…if only in my dreams…”
The foyer was decorated. Green, gorgeous garland. Red bows. She could smell freshly baked cookies. Her feet rushed forward, she almost stumbled, and then she was speeding down the hallway. Bursting into the den.
A decorated tree. So many ornaments. Presents stacked beneath the tree. Stockings were carefully hung near the fireplace. A red stocking with an embroidered M. A green stocking with an embroidered V. The whole place smelled of pine. Well, pine and chocolate chip cookies.
It was beautiful and warm and happy and…home.
“I cheated,” Victor announced.
She spun around.
He stood just inside the den. He’d pulled off his ski cap. His dark hair was tousled. His dark eyes so very intense.
“Last year, you did all of this yourself. This year, I was stuck in the hospital, so I had to get a little help.”
“Help?” She felt oddly numb. At least on the outside. But deep inside, a spark of joy was growing. Getting bigger. Warmer. Stronger.
“Hatterson.” His lips twisted into a half-smile.
“I know, I know. You probably wouldn’t think he is a decorating expert, but, seriously, the man can do just about anything.
Guard, butler, cook, decorator. He is truly a jack of all trades.
Though, full disclosure, I’m pretty sure he hired a staff to help out here. ”
She whirled back around, looking at the tree. The mantel. The presents. “When…” Melody stopped and exhaled. “When did you have a chance to buy presents?” Or had Hatterson done that, too?
“Bought them last year. Saved them for you. Just like I saved all the decorations. I mean, the tree is new. The garland, too. Can’t have a dead tree and garland in the house.
Kinda doesn’t fit the mood. But, ah, the tree and garland are just like the ones you had last year.
” The floor squeaked as he advanced into the den.
“I just wanted everything perfect for you.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need perfect.” Slowly, she faced him once more.
He stared at her with such absolute love on his face. “You are not my secret,” he told her. “You’re my world.”
The last of the numbness—the ice—that had seemed to surround her for so long vanished. She didn’t have all of her memories. Maybe she never would. But she had her life back. She had her future. She had this man. A man she loved with all of her being. A man she’d cherish for the rest of her life.
Melody ran to him.
His arms opened for her.
And Melody knew that she was truly home.