They still needed time to settle into life together, though there was no doubt she loved him like crazy and wanted to be his forever.
One thing at a time, even if she wanted it all at once. With him.
Today was about letting go of the past and exposing all the secrets that had kept Lucky afraid and Desiree in control too long.
“I’m sorry for the reason we’re here, but I’m so happy to see you again.” Lyric pulled out of the hug. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. Even if I can’t get Desiree to confess to trying to kill me, we have enough evidence of her blackmail scheme to put her in jail. At least that’s something.”
Mason put his hand on her shoulder, and she was proud of herself for not flinching.
Mason squeezed, letting her know he was offering comfort. “With the information Jase sent me yesterday, I was able to secure warrants for Desiree’s devices. I’m betting there’s even more incriminating evidence on them.”
Lucky felt even surer that Desiree would pay for her crimes and treachery. “Thank you for helping with this.”
“My pleasure. You’re family. And besides, she has a judge, the DA, and who knows how many others in law enforcement in her pocket. You need federal help, since the locals are compromised.”
“Do you think the plan will work?”
“Since I don’t spend a lot of time here, and the family doesn’t talk about me or my job, she won’t know I’m FBI unless someone tells her. All you have to do is goad her into bragging about how she did it and got away with it.”
“I think she really hates me and wants me to know everything she’s done that makes her smarter and better than me.”
“Sometimes the people we let close turn out to be the people who hurt us the worst. She’s resentful, jealous, and has a sense that you have what she wants. Instead of being happy for you, she wants to knock you down so that she feels better about herself.”
“There’s nothing I have that she can’t have herself.”
“Really?” Lyric asked. “Because you have a really great guy who loves you. She doesn’t have that. In fact, she tried to steal that from you with Neil, but instead of him loving her more, he doubled down that he’d never stop loving you.”
“I think that’s what sent her over the edge and why she killed my family.”
Mason’s eyes filled with sympathy. “I’m surprised she didn’t kill Neil that night, too.”
Lucky hadn’t considered that. “I think she really cared about him. At least enough to let him live, even if she did make sure he went to prison.”
“Right. But not for killing your family,” Lyric pointed out. “She wanted him to get out. Maybe she hoped they’d finally be a family with their little girl.”
“She refused to let him see her.”
“Maybe she’s been waiting for him to make a move on her, to prove he’s not just there for their child, but her, too.”
Lucky didn’t know what was in Desiree’s twisted mind anymore.
Hawk came out of the bedroom looking yummy in a pair of worn black jeans, a black tee stretched across his shoulders and biceps, and a smile for her and their company. His hair was still damp, his feet bare. He had big, manly feet to match his hands, the nails clipped short.
Like always, he kissed her with a sweet brush of his lips against hers. “You doing okay?”
“I’m fine,” Lucky assured him again. “I’m ready for anything today.”
He cupped her cheek. “I know you are. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.”
“Nothing in my life has been easy. Except you.”
“That’s because he wants to be your sex slave,” Mason teased.
Lucky laughed when Hawk glared at his cousin, then looked at her like she was his everything and nodded his agreement. She reassured him, “You’re more than that to me and you know it.”
“I’ll be whatever you need me to be.” He kissed her again like no one was watching, right in front of his family.
