16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Drake

Lacy stares at me for a moment and then calmly walks further into the property. For a moment, I think she is trying to leave and just went the wrong direction, but then a sort of calmness comes over her and I am just perplexed. I watch in a strange wonderment as she walks around the property, mumbling things to herself as she goes.

“Um, babe. What are you doing?” I ask.

“I think the house would be perfect about there. The front door could be about here,” she says, taking a few steps to her right. “We could sit on the porch in the evenings and watch a dog or kids play around here,” she says, waving her hands in front of her where I stand.

I take her in, complete lust and wonderment filling me as she begins to map out a house and talks through where bedrooms will go. Where she wants the couch to fit in the living room. I can’t seem to wrap my mind around the thought that she is totally bypassing this moment to capture why I wanted to bring her here in the first place.

As she continues talking, I slide in next to her and wrapped one arm around her waist. I let her continue on until she is finished. I am loving this moment, even though part of my life feels like it is falling apart.

“What do you think?” she finally asks, as she turns and the sun hits her face just right. She looks like an angel standing before me and I know I am not worthy of her presence.

“I think you are fucking amazing,” I say, pulling her into me and kissing her hard. “I also think that we have to talk about the real issue here,” I added, breaking our kiss and the magical moment we had just shared.

Lacy continues to smile, even though I can see the heartbreak she must feel. This terrifies us all. “Drake, we have fought monsters like Josh before. This time is no different. We just need a plan and to work together. I’m not going anywhere. And this place will become our home one day.”

“Lacy, there’s something else you need to know. Josh and Chuck are cousins. This is some sick and twisted way for him to get revenge for what we did to his family,” I say.

“His family?!” Lacy screams, throwing her hands up in the air. “Chuck tried to destroy the bar. He was abusive to his own sister, and he wants revenge? This is absurd! How did we not know this?” she asks.

“I don’t know. Axel has been trying to wrap his brain around it, too. You are the only one, other than the guys who were with me, who knows what is truly happening. I can’t go to jail and lose you and I can’t let Josh threaten you either. I will protect you all,” I say, my voice louder and booming than I had expected.

“You aren’t going to get me to turn away now. We are in this as a team. Drake, you don’t have to handle the weight of the world alone. I get that you feel responsible for us all, but you have a family willing and able to stand with you, not behind you. Let us in,” she begs.

As much as I hate it, I know my stubborn and feisty girl won’t back down now. I don’t know how Axel, Storm, and Ryder handled this when they were faced with the wrath of Chuck’s family, but now that it’s my turn, I plan to make sure this is the last fucking time.

“You let me handle most of it, and I promise to keep you updated. That’s the best I can do right now. I have a plan, but until I am ready to share it, you need to just be patient with me while I talk with my brothers,” I argue back.

We have to compromise here. As conflicted as Lacy is, I know she sees this is the best for now. Nodding, Lacy grabs my hand and squeezes. “Fine, but I still want a big wrap-around porch,” she says.

And that right there is what I love about Lacy. She can go from a spit-fire little raging storm to a sweet and sassy woman in no time. I kiss her one last time and agree to give her anything she wants. Because if my plan works out, I plan on giving her the fucking world.

My desire for this unbelievable creature standing before me becomes too much. Before I know it, my lips come crashing down on hers and I am ready to make love to this woman right here, in the place that will one day be ours.