“But
didn’t he wonder who called 911?”
“They
had a guy with his dog.” He laughed. “They thought of everything. They had this
guy pretending he had been walking his dog, and he was there screaming about
how he saw me jump. So Braydon just assumed what the cops said was true.”
“Wow.”
I paused and sat back thoughtfully. “So that’s why Zane was never able to see
your body, huh?”
Noah
nodded and grinned. “I see you’re a smart one.”
“And
that is why Braydon’s story and the police report didn’t really add up.” I
played with my curls as all the inconsistencies came to mind. “Braydon really
didn’t witness you jumping off the roof, so he wasn’t lying in the
interrogation. He couldn’t have saved you because you never died.”
“Crazy,
right, Lucky?” Zane walked back into the room and handed Noah his drink.
“Thanks
for telling me about the plan before it went down, Noah.”
“We
needed everyone to think that I was dead.” Noah shook his head and sighed.
“They told you that man. It wasn’t my choice.”
“You
can’t just disappear and make people think that you’re dead, man. You were all
I had. You fucking tore me apart.”
“I’m
sorry.” Noah’s voice was soft and I could tell he was devastated at Zane’s
obvious hurt. “But we did it, man, we got them.”
“You
risked my life, Noah, you risked Lucky’s life. If anything had happened to her...”
He took a deep breath and I saw his face turning red. “Do you know she went on
a date with Braydon?” Zane’s voice rose with anger. “Who knows what he may have
tried to do to her?”
“You
dated Braydon?” Noah looked at me in surprise and I rolled my eyes.
“I
did not date Braydon, we were friends and we went to dinner.”
“He
wanted more than dinner from you.” Zane glared at me and downed his whiskey.
“Well,
I didn’t want more from him.”
“You
thought he was a nice guy.” Zane’s eyes narrowed. “You …”
“Bro,
don’t get mad at her when it’s me you really want to punch.”
“I
do want to punch you, you jerk.” Zane looked at his brother and then brought
him in for a hug. “If you ever pull a stunt like that again, I will kill you
myself.”
“Well,
it’s a good thing I don’t plan on doing that again then.” They grinned at each
other and something hit me. Something I wanted to ask but I didn’t know if I
should bring up.
“Did
Sidney Johnson know?” My voice was quiet as I asked the question in my mind, a
part of me didn’t really want it to be heard, but I needed to know.
“What?”
Noah turned towards me with a glint in his eyes and Zane froze still.
“She
asked you if Sidney Johnson knew.” Zane looked at his brother and sighed. “You
told Sidney Johnson and you didn’t tell me?”
“I
could trust him.” Noah sighed and he looked at me. “How did you know he knew? I
know he would never say a word.”
“He
didn’t tell me exactly, but I think if I had really listened to some of the
things he had told me, I wouldn’t be as surprised as I am now.”
“That
Sidney.” He laughed and then looked at me curiously. “How did you meet him
anyway?”
“We’ve
been working on the documentary.”
“My
documentary?” He looked shocked and turned to his brother. “You’ve been working
on civil rights stuff now? Wow, you must really have missed me.”
“While
I did miss you bro, the documentary was for Lucky.” Zane raised an eyebrow at
me and I blushed. Noah looked back and forth between us and shook his head. “This
is all too much for one day. I need to take a nap. I hope you feel better,
Lucky. We’ll talk later?” He smiled at me warmly before yawning and I nodded
eagerly.
“I
feel awful. I haven’t even asked where you’ve been. Or how you were able to
come back. Or if Braydon knows you’re really alive.” I blurted out a bunch of
questions. “Sorry, that was a bit much.”
“No
problem.” Noah walked over to me and kissed me on the cheek. “I’m honored that
you’re interested. I’d love to tell you more.”
“Back
off, Noah.” Zane teased his brother and winked at me. “You can sleep in the
room two doors down. You okay to go by yourself? I want to make sure Lucky is
okay.”
I
felt myself flush at his words. Oh shit, he still doesn’t know that I may be
pregnant. I bit my lip and I saw Noah frown as he saw the worry in my face. He
gazed at me in concern for a moment before turning back to Zane. “No problem
bro, I can find it.”
He
reached over and gave Zane a pat on the back and Zane brought him close for
another bear hug. They stood there for what seemed like five minutes just
hugging and then they broke apart. I could see the love and happiness shining
in Zane’s eyes as he stared at his brother and I couldn’t believe I was in this
moment. It was truly one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my
life.
“Sweet
dreams, Noah.” I smiled up at him and he winked before he left the room. Zane
watched his brother walking away and then came back to the bed to join me.
“Crazy day, huh?” I grabbed his hand as he sat on the bed next to me.
“I
don’t think I even know the definition of crazy anymore.” He shook his head in
disbelief. “I don’t know that I even know which way is up and which way is down
right now.”
“Are
you okay?” I looked at him, worried that it had all been too much for him.
“I’m
beyond okay.” He shook his head. “Today has been the best day of my life.
Lucky, when I saw Noah walking towards me, I thought I was going to pass out or
that I had died and gone to heaven.”
“I’m
surprised that he got to leave the program? On TV, they always make it seem
like once you go into witness protection, it’s for life.”
“It
was slightly different for Noah.” Zane explained. “The FBI was worried that
Braydon would hire someone to take Noah out. They weren’t worried so much that
Braydon would do it, but they knew he had a partner that was a lot more coldhearted.
The problem is, they didn’t know who, so they didn’t want to take any chances.”
“Oh,
my God, Braydon’s partner was Angelique right?” My blood ran cold. “What if
something had happened to you that night? What if she got suspicious?”
“She
didn’t harm me, Lucky. Nothing happened.” Zane leaned over and kissed me.
“But
something could have happened.” I closed my eyes. “And I never would have
known. I would have just been sitting here waiting for you to come home and you
would have been laying dead in a ditch somewhere.”
“It
didn’t come to that Lucky.” He pulled me towards him. “And I don’t think she or
Braydon had a clue that I was working with the FBI. Or about Noah. My grief and
hatred was too real.” He shook his head. “In a way, I understand why they
didn’t want to tell me that he wasn’t dead. It was the best way for me to get into
the group and to do everything I could to make sure I could get the evidence to
prosecute Braydon.”
“They
used you.” I frowned and we sat there in silence for a few minutes. “So what is
going to happen to Braydon?” I was scared he was going to try and come and
exact revenge on Zane and Noah now.
“Braydon
and Angelique both took plea deals to testify against Sanchez.” His eyes
burned. “But they will likely still be in jail for 20 years at least.”
“But
what about Sanchez, will he come after us?” I trembled a little at the thought.
I didn’t want to be looking over my shoulder every time I went out, and I
certainly didn’t want Leo to become a full-time bodyguard.
“Sanchez
was murdered last week.” Zane shrugged. “What can I say? Drug lords don’t play
fair.”
“That’s
really scary.” I cuddled up next to him. “Please tell me we don’t have to deal
with this anymore. I don’t want to even think about these things anymore.”
“I
promise, Lucky. It’s over.” His eyes gleamed as he looked down at me. “And I
have Noah back.”
“He
looks a lot like you.”
“Just
a bit more handsome,” he laughed and I ran my hands through his hair and down
his face.
“No
one’s as handsome as you, my love.”
“Well,
I’m glad to hear that.” He grinned and kissed me deeply. “I feel so happy
Lucky, I don’t know that I’ve ever felt happier in my life.”
“I’m
glad.”
“Make
it the best day of my life.” He whispered while staring into my eyes. “Say
you’ll marry me.”
“What?”
My eyes popped open at his words and I thought my heart stopped beating for a
moment. “What did you say?”
“Say
you’ll marry me, Lucky. I love you to the moon and back. Since you’ve been in
my life, I have felt such contentment. You’ve been able to awaken my heart and
make me whole again, I don’t just want to be your last boyfriend; I want to be
your husband.”
“My
husband?” I breathed the words back to him, still shocked to my core.
“Say
I can be your last husband, Lucky.” He winked at me. “Make me the happiest man
in the world. Make this the happiest day in my life.”
“Yes,
Zane. Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you, Zane. I love you more than life itself.
I don’t even want to think about a day without you in it.”
“You
will never have to know a day like that ever again, my dear.”
“I
have something to tell you.” I took a deep breath. “Well, two things to tell
you.”
“What?”
He looked worried for a second. “Please do not tell me you’re already married.”
“No,
goofy.” I laughed and he laughed back at me, stroking the hair away from my
face. “I decided to apply to UCLA. I researched their History program and it’s
great. I’m hoping to be able to transfer.”
“Are
you sure?” His face was full of concern. “Don’t do that for me, Lucky, I’d be
happy to go back to Miami with you so you can finish school there.”
“No.”
I shook my head. “This is our home. I feel like this is my real home. I love it
here. I don’t want to leave.”
“Then
we will never leave, my love.” I felt Zane’s hand creep up to my breast and I
pushed it away gently.
“I
have something else to tell you, Zane.” I grabbed both of his hands and stared
into his eyes. “I think we’re having a baby.”
“What?”
His jaw dropped open and he looked at me in shock. “How?”
“Well,
one day we had sex and we didn’t use a condom …” I started and giggled as he
started to tickle me.
“I
know how, you little …” His words drifted off as he kissed me and then he
looked back up at me. “I thought you got your period.”
“You
can still be pregnant when you have your period. Plus remember that day in the
field in Paris?”
“Oh
yeah,” he grinned.
“And
the day at the beach.”
“Oh,
yeah.” This time he licked his lips.
“We
haven’t exactly been the poster children for safe sex.” I shook my head and we
both made faces at each other.
“I
guess that is what the puke was doing on the couch downstairs?” Zane made a
face and I smacked my mouth across my face. “Oh shit, I forgot. Sorry. Let me
go and wipe it up.” I tried to get off the bed and he held me down. “Don’t
worry about it, Lucky. I’ll go clean it up later.” I smiled up at his caring
face and felt so special to be loved by this man.
“So
when will we know?” He looked serious all of a sudden. “We have to get a doctor’s
appointment so we can check and find out for real this time. What makes you
think that …” All of a sudden his eyes popped open. “Oh shit, you’ve had
morning sickness, haven’t you?”
“I
think so.” I nodded my head.
“And
that would explain why you have been eating so many pickles.” He shook his head
and laughed. “I thought you were trying to turn me on.”
“What?”
I laughed. “With a pickle?”
“Well,
you know.” He paused. “It’s the way you eat it, all nibble, nibble and then
gulp, gulp. It makes me think things.”
“You’re
disgusting, you know that?” I wrapped my hand around his waist and pulled him
closer to me. “But that’s why I love you.”
“You
love me because I’m disgusting?” His hand found its way to my breast again and
this time I didn’t push it away.
“I
love you because you look and act like this big macho guy, but you’re really a
big ol’ softie inside.”
“I
am?”
“Well,
maybe just a big old goof.”
“I
love you because you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“I
bet you say that to all the girls.”
“There
are no other girls. For me, there is only you.”
“Unless
we have a daughter,” I spoke softly and he looked at me with shocked eyes.
“I
never thought about that. We may have a daughter. I may be a dad.”
“Are
you okay with that?”
“I’ll
be the happiest father in the world.” His words were light, but I could tell
from the intensity of his eyes that he meant every word that he said. “I’d love
to see a little Lucky with big curls and big brown eyes.”