“Except what?” she asked, waiting for the three little words to leave my lips.
“I love you, Lacey,” I said, and it felt so strange coming out of my mouth, but I never believed in anything more than I did that single sentence. I watched her face light up the minute she heard it, and that was all she needed to believe that we were in it for the long run.
“I love you too, Moves,” she replied, and I took her into my arms, squeezing her tightly while I pressed my lips into hers, kissing her passionately to remind her that we were in this together.
I couldn’t describe the feeling that had begun to well up inside me, the true pleasure that I got from hearing her tell me that she loved me, because I genuinely wanted to spend the rest of my days with her. Now, I couldn’t imagine my life without her, and I was so glad that we had managed to power through the worst of this together, because it brought us closer.
We were well on our way to discovering the best parts about each other, to understand what it means to be in love. That was all I could ever ask for, and I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything in the world.
Thirty-Two
Lacey
It was the morning that we’d all been waiting for. The Outlaw Souls were all gathered at the Blue Dog, waiting to hear what the mayor had to say about the evidence against the DA, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. There was no telling how this conversation was going to go, or if he was even going to agree to see me at all, but I had to try. After everything that Mona put herself through to get this information, it had to be brought to light, and the DA had to pay for his crimes. I couldn’t wait to see the LPPD drop the charges against Chalupa, to see that he could finally return to a sense of normalcy while they start to round up the real criminals. That’s all I truly needed, because that alone was going to bring me joy.
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, while I pulled my hair back into a low bun, threw on a blazer I would normally wear to work, and looked back at the sleeping Moves on my bed, so calm and peaceful. It was the first time he wasn’t tossing and turning in his sleep, and I knew he could finally rest easy knowing that this would soon be over for good.
All Moves had ever wanted was to give the Outlaw Souls their freedom back, to show them that they could roam about without the LPPD hot on their trail because they weren’t doing the kind of disgusting things that El Diablo had built his empire on.
They weren’t the kind of people that would ever stand for that sort of behavior, and that was why I wanted to do more for them. In such a short amount of time, the Outlaw Souls had become family to me. They’d shown me that there was much more to life than chasing a job that I didn’t even like, just so I could have something to give me a little purpose in life.
Now I knew that I could do more, that I had more power than I had ever had before, and I was going to use that to benefit the people who had done nothing but look out for me. I wanted to show them that I was grateful they came into my life when they did, because I’d truly changed because of them.
Moves had taught me to live again, he’d shown me how to let loose and be myself without the worry that I was going to get too caught up in my work to have a real, balanced personal life.
Now, he’d seen me in action, and I wondered what would happen to the DA’s office once this evidence was brought to light, but I could only imagine that I wouldn’t have much of a problem sticking around once he was booted out of his own office. I worried that he was going to try to enact his revenge, because I couldn’t imagine that El Diablo was his only criminal contact, but I knew I was going to feel safer once he was finally behind bars.
I didn’t have to worry too much or continue to watch my back because I knew that I had people looking out for me. I remembered what it was like walking into the Blue Dog for the first time and being terrified that I was about to get wrapped up in something I truly couldn’t handle, but now I couldn’t imagine my life without the Outlaw Souls.
I felt like I belonged with them, and before I met Moves, I’d struggled to feel like I belonged anywhere. I knew that this was going to open up a lot more doors for me, that I was going to be able to do the kind of good that I’d always wanted to do, now that I had people to fight for and protect.
I promised myself that I was going to do everything in my power to keep each and every member of the Outlaw Souls safe, because that is what they deserved. They’d been wrongfully accused one too many times, and their rivals almost got the upper hand, crumbling them for good, but we managed to take them down.
I couldn’t describe the pleasure that coursed through me knowing that the real criminals were going to serve jail time for every nasty thing they’d ever done and every person they’d hurt along the way. It brought me the kind of satisfaction that made this job feel like such a blessing, because I remembered a time when all I ever did was resent it.
I gathered my things, leaning over Moves while he slept, planting a soft kiss on his lips to let him know I was heading out, and I watched his eyes flutter open so he could get a good look at me, smiling while he tried so hard to wake up.
“I didn’t mean to wake you, I just couldn’t leave without a kiss,” I said, and he pulled me in, kissing me hard. He started to get out of bed, but I pushed him back down.
“Oh, no. I can handle this one, Moves. You and Hawk both have been going through so much trying to protect everyone around you, and you need to rest. I will be fine, and I promise that I will call you the minute this is all finally over. Please, get some rest,” I begged, and he smiled, wanting nothing more than to join me, but he knew that I had a point.
“I’m going to come running the minute I get your call. I love you, Lacey,” he said, and I kissed him again.
“I love you too, Moves. I will see you soon,” I replied, heading toward the door and smiling to myself. I got into my car, starting up the engine while I pulled out of the driveway, making my way to the mayor’s office, hoping that the receptionist wasn’t going to give me too much trouble about not having an appointment, but I knew exactly what I needed to say to get my way.
My stomach was turning at the thought of how this conversation was about to go down, but I kept myself completely focused on the task at hand as I went through the metal detector and past the security guards. Soon this would be over and I could return home to Moves to tell him the good news.
“I’m from the DA’s office,” I told the receptionist when I arrived at the office, “and I have a matter I need to discuss with the mayor privately. It is something that I cannot discuss with you,” I said, showing her my credentials. She called in to the mayor and got permission for me to enter before leading me to the double doors of his office. As she opened them for me, I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears, almost as if my heart was about to rip straight through my chest.
I had never done anything quite as nerve-wracking as this in all my years at the DA’s office. I was overcome with joy and fear all at the same time, and the only thing I wanted was to show the mayor what I had in the hopes that he would believe the evidence and have the DA arrested.
“Hello. Lacey, is it? What brings you down here today?” The mayor motioned for me to sit, and I obliged, putting my briefcase down on the chair beside mine.
I took a deep breath and clenched my shaking hands together in my lap. “I don’t know how else to tell you this, sir,” I began, “but I was put on a case a few weeks ago by the DA himself where he had me checking out an auto shop on the suspicions that it was chopping up cars and selling the parts illegally. A man was arrested in regard to a stolen vehicle. The DA thought he and his club were linked to the auto thefts, but it turned out that the DA was just trying to lead me on a wild goose chase. I need to show you this video and play this recording for you, because you might be aware of a motorcycle gang by the name of Las Balas? Well, the DA had quite the meeting with their leader, and this is what he had to say.” I handed him my phone, letting him watch the blurry video first so he could see that something was indeed exchanged between the DA’s hands and El Diablo’s.
He watched it over a few times before I recounted what had happened at the strip club and played him the recording of El Diablo and Mona’s conversation. When it was over, he removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose in utter frustration, trying to find the words to describe how terribly shocked and disappointed he was.
“I admire you for sticking up for the rights of the people of La Playa,” he said finally, leaning back in his chair and regarding me thoughtfully. “They should not have a man like this be in charge of their safety when all he wants is a cash grab. I have to thank you for being so diligent, for fighting against the odds, and bringing the truth to light because I can only imagine that it wasn’t easy getting this confession out of this El Diablo. I can assure you that the DA will be removed from his office, and we will have him arrested while we look further into this. I know it must be difficult to see a man that you once trusted get involved with something like this, but I have to say it’s not my first time seeing it happen. I’m just glad that there are people out there like you who are willing to do whatever it takes to get the truth. I commend you, Lacey, and I can assure you that it will all be handed from here.”
