“It was a gift from me,” Cecelia’s announcement makes my jaw drop.
“You?” I look down at the tiny woman who has hated me all her life. “I swear, if you are trying to frame me fo?—”
“Relax, Jack. I’m simply ensuring that the men who were members of that club get what they deserve. I’ve heard, over the years, that you're quite efficient.” Her lips curl into another one of those smiles that I’m not used to seeing.
“Now come, we'd better go see what staff survived this visit and call the police.” She steps over the bodies and leads us out of the room, taking full control of the situation, while Gracie and I stare at each other, wondering what the hell just happened.
“I killed Lord Linchford today,” I confess to Gracie after she’s laid our son down in his Moses basket and settled herself beside me. The house is finally quiet; the police and coroners have left, and now seems like the perfect time to be completely honest with my girl.
“Lord Linchford was on the list?” She seems surprised. “But he and Cecelia…you saw them kiss.”
“I guess she was keeping her enemies close.” I shrug, not having a clue how that woman's brain works. Gracie tells me that if it hadn’t been for her, she and Benjamin would be dead. I guess I have to, at least, start liking her for that.
“Or putting her victims right under your nose and hoping you would strike,” Gracie suggests. “Cecelia’s a very clever woman. I don’t know how I feel about her using you to kill those men.”
“I’m doing what needs to be done, Gracie.” I need to be very clear on that, and I won’t make her false promises. “I’m making things right, and I’m doing it my way. I swear, once those men are dead, I’ll never ask you to accept this part of me again, but?—”
“I don’t want to change you, Jack. I never have.” She slides her hand up to rest on my cheek, and her soft smile makes me feel like the luckiest man in the world
“All I want to do is raise him right.” I look down at Benjamin, feeling like I could burst with pride. I refuse to let him down in this life. “I can’t believe I killed my own sister.” I’ve spent all afternoon with those blank eyes haunting me. Gracie tells me she’s the girl Thomas and Kaleb raped all those years ago, and I fail to see how I didn’t recognise her. I remember so much from that night; how did I forget her face?
“You protected us. Sophia was crazy. She was so messed up from what happened, who can blame her?” Gracie points out, though none of it makes me feel any better.
“She should have come to me, told me who she was. I never asked for any of this. I never imagined I’d be a fucking duke, one day.” I suddenly feel so angry for all the lies and the things my father never prepared me for.
“But youarea duke, and you're going to be an excellent one; just like you are a dad.” She smiles that dreamy smile as she looks over me into our son’s Moses basket.
“How about a husband?” I check, still having tiny doubts that the reason she’s stuck around is solely for our child. I find it impossible to believe that a woman like Gracie could be in love with me.
“You are an excellent husband. ” She giggles, then her face turns sad again, reminding me she’s just lost one of her friends.
“I’m sorry.” I take her hand and kiss it.
“Don’t be sorry for saving our son's life. I would have done the same in a heartbeat.”
“I’m sorry you had to lie to Selena and Polly earlier; that can’t have been easy.” I hold her a little tighter.
“I don’t want them to remember Sophia the way I have to. She was a good person, she just went through too much and lost herself.” Gracie starts to cry, and I kiss the top of her head, having no idea how to make her pain go away.
“I love you,” I whisper into her freshly-washed hair. Hoping it brings her a little comfort.
“And I love you.” She pulls back so she can look up at me. “I love you so much, Jack. I love him. I love the idea of our future together. I never, ever thought this would happen tome.” She looks so beautiful when she’s overcome with emotion.
“You came here for an eight-million-pound necklace and got yourself a husband and a son instead,” I laugh, deciding that we don’t have to be sad tonight, we’ve both suffered enough of it. We can leave all sadness behind us and feel grateful to still have each other.
“Technically, I got the necklace, too.” She shifts herself onto my lap and wraps her arms around my neck.
“Say it again,” I ask, needing to hear the words from her lips at least one more time.
“Say what?”
“Tell me you're mine, for keeps.” I stroke my thumb over her bottom lip.
“I’m yours, for keeps,” she promises, smiling so bright it’s hard to believe my wife has ever seen a dull day.
JACK
“Holy fuck, Gracie.” I hold her tits in my hands as if I’m weighing them. “They’re even bigger than last time.
