Risk It All (Mustangs #1)

1. Luka

Luka

My Ma always told us that there is one person in the world for us.

One person who will complete us. She and my Pops fell in love the second they saw each other.

It happened with my brother Liam and cousin Cross.

It even happened to my brother Callum, if he can ever get his shit together for Lacey.

I felt it. I felt the connection the second I saw her.

I knew she was it. The only problem? She wants nothing to do with me.

She hates that I am a hockey player. Hates who my family is and what people think we do.

Am I willing to risk it all, knowing that she is my person?

The thought runs through my head as I step out of the arena and cold air hits me in the face.

We are so close to taking the cup. I am so close to having everything I have worked my life to achieve.

Is she worth the risk? The nagging voice inside my head won't stop.

"Yes!" Eyes closed, I tip my head back and scream. Trying to get my brain to understand she is worth it.

As I bring my head back down, I feel a fist connect with my face.

Pain radiates through my head. I have been hit before; I play hockey, for Christ's sake.

This is different. I fall to the ground and another hit comes.

Instinctively, I cover my head and start kicking my feet towards the asshole.

Feet hit my rib cage and I realize it's more than one asshole.

I didn't even get to tell her I love her.

A foot connects with the back of my head and my world fades to black.

3 months earlier

I am staring at Lacey as a little blonde-headed girl clings to her legs.

Her Dad is being dealt with. He was the man that hurt my little cousin Cecilia.

When I found out someone had hurt her, I wanted to burn the city down searching for him.

My family tries to make it so I don't touch the family business.

Hockey is my love, my job, and my focus.

But my family is my driving force behind it all.

When Lacey called Callum to tell him that the asshole that hurt Cecilia was here in her studio, I couldn't believe it.

Now, I find out this man has a daughter, or had a daughter now that my brothers, cousin and Romeo got to him.

I drove back to the studio to make sure the girls were good.

My sister Mia and soon-to-be cousin Sam are both pregnant, and their men are batshit crazy.

Not that I won't be that way if I ever find my person.

"What am I supposed to do with her?" Lacey looks up at me and picks up the little girl, who instantly wraps her arms around Lacey's neck. "He didn't put another number on the form for a contact."

"Hey, Sweetheart." I brush my hand on the little girl's back. "What's your name?"

The little girl looks at Lacey and shakes her head. Lacey brushes the hair out of her face. "It's okay, pretty girl. Luka here is our friend. He will protect you, I promise." The little girl nods at Lacey, who turns to me. "Her name is Layla."

Hearing Lacey call me her friend makes my heart happy.

This girl is locked down tighter than Fort Knox.

I think her only friend ever was Mia. Unfortunately for her, Mia married into my crazy family.

Once the Rizzoli's get their hands on you and claim you as one of theirs, there is no escaping.

I have been working hard to get Lacey to trust me, so for her to tell this little girl that she does means a lot to me. I don't take that trust for granted.

"Hi, Layla. Lacey is right. You can trust me. I can promise you nothing is going to happen to you. We will take care of you. I need to know where your Ma is?"

She looks up to Lacey again, this time with confusion on her face. Her little eyebrows bow together, and I want to reach out and tap her nose.

"Layla, how old are you, Sweetheart?" I ask an easier question. Maybe getting her trust will help with the bigger questions.

"I'm 6." It's the first time I have heard her speak and her little voice is so sweet, but what she says next crushes my soul. "I don't have a Mom. It was just my Dad and me. It's always just been my Dad and me."

Lacey looks up at me with tears in her eyes. She grabs Layla's head and pushes it against her shoulder, holding the sweet girl in a huge hug. "What are we supposed to do with that, Luka?"

"Give me a minute. I will call Callum." I brush my hand over Lacey's hair and Layla's face. "Go in with the girls and get Layla girl here a snack out of my drawer."

"You are going to let me open your snack drawer? Layla, sweet girl, you have stolen Luka's heart." Layla laughs as they go down the hall and I pull out my phone.

"Hey, Brother," Callum answers on the first ring. That is the one thing about our family. It doesn't matter what we are doing; we answer right away.

"Hey, Bro. Everything okay there? When you have a minute, I need some info."

"Everything is good. Romeo and CeCe just left. Liam and Cross are cleaning up. How are the girls? What do you need?"

"The asshole, I need information on his family. His little girl is here. Says she doesn't have a Ma. That can't be right. We need to figure out what to do with her." I look back towards the door to make sure the girls are still in there.

"Give me a second." Callum must be getting on his laptop because a few seconds later, I can hear his fingers against the keys. "He has a house outside of town. I will send Cross the information." Another pause, "He has one little girl named Layla Ann. She is 6 years old. No mother is listed."

"How is that possible. She has to have a Ma." I walk over and lock the front door. I don't need anyone walking in on my conversation. "Did he steal her?" I whisper into the phone.

I can hear some more typing. "Doesn't look like it.

Looks like he brought her home the day she was born.

" More typing. "I got into the hospital records.

Looks like mom was a junkie. Overdosed when she was 7 months pregnant.

Thankfully, the neighbor was checking on her and found her in time to save Layla.

So no, she doesn't have a Ma. Doesn't look like this asshole had anyone but Layla.

Which is the only way he could stay being a rapist dick.

" Callum starts his deep dive again and I hear the office door open.

"Find out anything?" Lacey's voice is quiet and I make sure she is alone before I set my phone down and put it on speaker.

"Callum just found out Sweet Girl's Ma was a junkie and overdosed when she was born. He can't find anyone else for her." I watch sadness wash over Lacey's face before she brings her hand up to her shaking lips.

"Oh my God." Lacey's voice starts to shake.

"Lace?" Callum's concerned voice rips over the speaker. I had almost forgotten he was there. "Luka, take me off speaker and hand the phone to Lacey." My brother sounds pissed, which is not a norm for him, so I do exactly what he asked. I watch as Lacey puts the phone up to her ear.

"Cal. What are we supposed to do?"

Cal? What the hell?

I watch as she listens for a minute. "Cal, you can't do that." She pauses for a second. "Because that is crazy." Another pause. "She belongs with me."

What?? I raise my eyebrow at her and she holds her hand up to me.

Tearful Lacey is gone and the perfect girl that shows no emotion is back.

"You fixed it for Romeo and Cecilia. You can do it for me.

Get it done, Cal." She turns around and I hear her whisper to him, "Please, Cal.

I need this. Please do this for me. Okay, I will wait. "

She turns around to me and hands me back the phone. "Callum is on his way here. I am going to talk to the girls and get Layla's things together."

20 minutes later, my brother shows up with my oldest brother, and head of our family, Liam, and my cousin Cross. I knew they couldn't stay away from their pregnant girls too long.

"Where is she?" Callum storms into the studio.

"In the back with the girls and Layla." I point my thumb over my shoulder. "Come here." I drag my brother into one of the dance rooms and shut the door. "What the hell are you thinking? We can't just keep this girl." I throw my hands in the air.

"We did it for Gio. Why can't we do it for Layla?" Callum says, but it doesn't sound too convincing.

"Why can't we do it for Layla?" I ask him the question back and make sure he sees the are you fucking kidding me look I have on my face.

"It's what Lacey wants." Callum sighs and leans back against the door.

"Are you sure? What if she can't handle it?

What makes it your job to give her what she wants?

" I walk up and put my hand on his shoulder.

He always feels like everything has to fall on him.

Even though Liam is the oldest, most of our family shit lands on Callum and the business shit lands on Liam. And me, I just play hockey.

"I am going to make sure this is what she wants.

I will help her if she needs it; we all will, so don't act like you won't. And for my reason why it's my job...

because she is mine and I will do anything for her.

" He turns and walks out of the room. A couple minutes later, he is walking out with his arm around Lacey, who has a smiling Layla in her arms.

1 month later

"Are you sure someone is supposed to meet us here tonight, Man?" Jake gets out of the elevator before me.

"Yeah, Man. My cousin set it up with Coleman. He is our realtor. He knows we are only in town for Christmas. I think CeCe's old place is going to be perfect for you, Man. Then we will be neighbors!" I go and use my key to unlock Cecilia's old door.

"First thing I am doing is changing the fucking locks." Jake rolls his eyes as I open the door.

"Who the hell are you?" I stare at the vixen standing in front of the living room windows. Her long, auburn hair is the first thing I notice. It cascades in big waves down her back.