28. Bronson

brONSON

I slammedmy fists against the bag over and over.

It was date night again, having had to postpone it the previous week after the accident. I'd gone into the station as well as No Surrender to see if there was any new information on the person who'd been responsible for the accident the week before. Luckily the couple from the car were going to be okay.

What wasn't okay was the fact we were not any closer to figuring out who the hell had a vendetta against Lake.

Frustrated and angry, I stayed for a workout hoping it would calm the turmoil running through me so I was as clear headed as possible for the evening.

"What did that bag ever do to you?" Lyric asked as he walked toward me.

After a few more solid punches, I stopped and gave him my attention. "I can't let anything happen to her or Stormi."

Lyric didn't tell me nothing would happen, he didn't tell me that everything would be okay. He'd been through shit in his life and with the woman he'd made his wife. He had a family to care for and knew how it felt to worry. He'd also been in the military, a cop and was aware that things didn't always go just right.

But he also knew how to never give up.

"You will do everything possible to make sure that doesn't happen." He brought his hand down on my shoulder. "And the guys and I will do anything we can to help. We take care of our family."

Lyric was like an older brother to me. When I joined the force, he'd taken me under his wing. I missed not working with him as much since he went to work for No Surrender full time, but we saw each other often whether it was when I came in to shoot, workout, or when the whole clan got together.

Because of the ladies and their love to hang out, that was quite often.

"I appreciate that." I rolled my neck trying to release the tension. "I finally pulled my head out of my ass when it came to Lake and I'm making a future with her."

He gave my shoulder a slap and then dropped his hand. "Glad you're going after what you want finally. I haven't seen you happy like you are with those two girls around."

That was because I'd never felt like I did now.

They change everything for the better.

"I know and that's why I need to figure this shit out so they are safe." I raked my hands through my hair. "There are no leads. Lake has been to hundreds of calls so there is no easy way to narrow down who might be mad at her and that dark highway certainly didn't have any cameras on it for us to go off of."

The more I talked about it, the more my anger started to burn inside me again. Fuck, I was going to have to go at the bag again.

"Keep her close, we will figure this out and the fucker will mess up," Lyric said.

Just then Paxton walked in.

"This might make you feel a bit better." He had something in his hand and held it out to me as he approached. "Not sure how your lady will take it though."

Taking off the gloves I had on, I dropped them to the mat and took the box from his hand. I opened the top and peered inside to find a pretty impressive looking necklace. It was the same one I saw all the ladies wear and after a second it dawned on me what was going on.

"Capri insisted that your woman had one too. She said that she and the other women were going to give it to her at their famous sleepover they are planning but that Lake could use it now with everything going on." He winced at the reminder he just put back in my head. "Sorry. My wife said it was also perfect timing with your date tonight. You can't go empty handed." He gave me a wink.

It looked like an exquisite piece of jewelry that I'd love to be responsible for giving to Lake, but the truth was it was really from Capri and the girls. A sterling silver heart-shaped necklace with sparkling diamonds around the outer edge. But it was a lot more than that with a built-in tracking device and one I was happy that she would have so I'd definitely do the honors.

Like all the guys, Paxton had connections and he worked some magic to get his wife one of these before she'd gone missing. What a blessing that was that she had it on her so her husband could find her. Once she had one, Capri had insisted everyone get one and handed them out like candy to all her friends.

I was touched she had included Lake.

"You're right. It does make me feel a little better. Let's hope my girl sees it the same way," I told Paxton.

He chuckled. "Well if you can't convince her it's a good idea, I'm sure the ladies will get the job done."

Paxton was right again. I wasn't sure there was anything that group of women couldn't do once they set their mind to it.

I reached out my hand to shake his. "Thank you."

As he grabbed my palm he said, "Thank my wife. She adores you and we will never forget what you did for her that night at Alley's."

When I started to open my mouth he held up his hand to stop me.

"Don't you dare say it. You may see it as doing your job but we see it completely different and I owe you so much. My wife and daughter are alive because of you."

Lyric slapped me on the back. "Listen to the man or he will sic Capri on you and you know you won't win that argument."

We all busted up laughing and I felt the tension seep from my body.

I was ready for my date with Lake.

It would be the first of many.

I raisedmy right hand to knock and laughed at myself over how nervous I was.

This was Lake.

But maybe that was exactly why I was feeling so keyed up. I wanted everything to be perfect. She wasn't just any girl. I'd never met a single female in my life that I wanted to share all my secrets with as best friends do or that drove me so crazy that I needed her in my bed every night.

Except for Lake.

There was something to be said about your lover being your best friend too. Everything was more intimate.

It may have been silly to come to the door of the place I'd been living at for months but I was going to make sure that Lake had the real date experience.

With my hand still hovering in the air, the door was flung open causing me to jump where I stood.

Lake stood there laughing. "Were you going to knock or are you having second thoughts about our date?"

She may have been teasing me but I still saw the worry in her eyes right before my brain short circuited all together. I opened my mouth to reassure her but nothing came out. My gaze swept over her from head to toe and my groin tightened.

It was only the beginning of the date and I hadn't said a word, yet I already wanted to get naked. Lake was a knockout and looked absolutely amazing. When she asked what she should wear, I told her to dress casual and comfortable. Knowing she had never dated, I was going for a simple night like young couples would enjoy. The kind she missed all those years ago.

We were going to dinner and a movie. Then I planned to top it off with ice cream after. While I'd liked to have spoiled her even more, my girl was simple and she'd expressed in conversation how all the kids in high school talked about their dates but she wasn't the one indulging in the act.

"Maybe this was a bad idea," she whispered.

Fuck, I'd been so busy staring while speechless, I hadn't answered. Lake's idea of casual worked well. She had on a pair of black leggings that clung to her beautiful legs, with a pair of black strappy sandals that showcased her perfectly-adorable, red painted toes. A gray and black checkered flannel, belted in the middle, showcased her curvy hip and slim waist.

But it seemed to be the two top buttons that were open on her shirt that had me tongue-tied. My eyes traveled the long column of her neck down to the red tank top underneath her flannel where her impressive cleavage played peek-boo with my gaze. The necklace was going to look perfect hanging against her smooth, creamy skin. That had my mouth finally kicking into gear.

"This was the best idea I've had in a long time, Cupcake." My left hand suddenly whipped up, the bouquet of wildflowers I'd bought for her grasped tightly in my palm. "These are for you."

My voice was filled with apprehension wondering if she'd like them. Lake loved the flowers that grew around our homes and they fit her. But would she like these? I wondered.

Taking them from my hand, she buried her nose in the mix and inhaled. "These are perfect," she mumbled, her face still in the middle of the arrangement.

I felt air whoosh from my lungs.

Her eyes came back to mine and my heart pounded. I took a step forward, getting as close to Lake as I could. "You're so far under my skin. I can feel you wrapped around me even when we're not touching."

She looked shocked. Hopeful. And again, that familiar worry entered her gaze.

"What if your feelings fizzle?"

Fuck that noise.

I wrapped my hand around the nape of her neck and drew her to me. My mouth claimed hers and just like every other time we kissed, it was as if the world righted itself to perfection.

"That will never happen, sweetheart," I assured her after I reluctantly pulled my lips from hers. I kept my forehead pressed against hers. "It didn't while I was gone and it certainly won't when I am right here with you. And I am never leaving you again."

She gave a little sniff and I pulled back to see a couple of tears sliding down her rosy cheeks. "You better not," she said softly.

"I promise you, I'm here to stay and you are mine. Stormi too." I pulled her against my body and wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tight.

Her sigh soaked deep into my soul.

"I think we did this backward," she mumbled against my chest. "The kissing is supposed to come at the end of the night."

Chuckling, I placed my hands on her arms and pushed back from her, giving her a sly smile. "Oh, there will be kissing later, trust me."

"I do," she replied, humbling me. Then she rubbed a spot above her breast. "What the heck do you have in your jacket pocket that is poking me?"

I guess there is no time like the present.

After reaching in, I pulled the silver box from my inside coat pocket. She watched with fascination and then her eyes went wide. I needed to explain quickly because the gift was really from the ladies.

"As much as I want to shower you with gifts and plan on doing it for the rest of my life," I started, causing her breath to catch, "this one is from Capri and the other women."

I held the present out to her and took the flowers from her hand so she could open it. When she pulled the top off, her gaze flew to mine.

"I've seen all the ladies wearing this necklace," she said. "It's beautiful. But why are they giving me one?"

Here goes nothing.

I blurted it out quickly, like ripping off a Band-Aid.

"It's a tracking device."

Waiting, I stood there letting her think about that for a minute. She cocked her head, her cute nose scrunched up and her eyes squinted as she pondered what I'd just said. She looked adorable. Then she straightened and reared her head back a little and I could tell something clicked.

"That's how Paxton found Capri wasn"t it?"

Yup, she'd figured it out.

I nodded. "With everything that was going on in Capri's past and life, Paxton used his scary connections and came up with the necklace which probably saved her life. She then thought all her friends needed one."

I let that sink in for a second.

"And she and the women wanted me to have one?"

My heart broke a bit that she was questioning anything but I knew Lake hadn't had it easy throughout school and the only person she was truly close to was me. The one person who left her alone. She didn't trust easily but I had seen the changes and she had let the women in. One day she'd completely get it.

"You're their friend so of course they wanted you to have one. So you are safe. Are you okay with that?" I looked deep into her eyes. "It means me and the others will be able to track you, but it's not to invade your privacy."

Looking deep into my eyes, she asked, "Do you want me to have it?"

Breathing in through my nose and blowing it out, I ran my free hand through the strands of her silky, brown hair. "More than anything. As much as I hate to think about the things that have happened, I'm concerned and it makes me feel like it could keep you safe."

My hand came around to rest on the side of her neck.

"I lost you once because of my insanity, but I can't lose you now when we just found each other again."

She took the necklace from the box and held it out to me. "Then put it on."

Dropping my hand, I took the item from her and had her turn so I could do as she asked. When I was done she turned back around and she fingered the heart at her neck.

"I will have to thank the ladies but I want to thank you too."

Confused, I asked, "Thank me for what, baby?"

"For caring so much," she whispered in reply.

Leaning in, I gave her a quick, featherlight kiss. "You don't ever have to thank me for that. I love you, Lake."

Her smile was radiant as she sighed.

"I love you too."

Those words would never get old coming from her.

"What do you say we put the flowers in water and get on with our date?"

"Sounds perfect," she answered.

It felt odd not to see Stormi and say goodnight but Ruby had already picked her up. Once again, my little muffin had many options to choose from as far as where she could stay for the evening.

She was making her rounds at the houses, wanting time with everyone but she decided it was time with Autumn. And with Autumn, she got to see not only Patience, her boy, Ruby, Lyric, their son, but Gramps too. Everyone adored that man.

"Ready," Lake announced as she placed the vase of flowers on the entry table by the door.

I pulled her close and she melted into me right away.

"How about one more kiss for the road?" I waggled my brows.

Lake giggled. "Sounds like the best plan ever."

I planned to kiss her every chance I got throughout the night.