Lead Me Home (Fight for Me #3)(66)

A sad, slow sickness rolled through me. My grandma was sick, and I wasn’t sure how to deal with that.

My mama was worn out.

And my sister . . .

I tucked the thoughts down and focused on what Ollie was saying. “I don’t know.”

Contemplation rode heavily on the exhale from his nose. “He said your uncle was selling off some stuff . . . they needed money quick.”

Unease slithered through my consciousness.

Ollie’s voice hardened. “Tried to get in touch with you to make sure it was legit. Needed to know this kid wasn’t trying to pull some shit over on us. Bought it either way. Too many memories in that heap for it to go anywhere else.”

Heat bloomed at the center of me, a welling of memories. “I’m glad you did.”

He caressed his thumb beneath the hollow of my eye. “Yeah . . . me, too.”

My head shook. “I’m not sure exactly what’s goin’ on over at my grandma’s. What I know is things . . . aren’t good. They could very well be selling stuff off, although I’m not sure how Caleb got involved.”

Sorrow took over that confession.

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

“I know . . . it’s really hard.” I paused for a beat before I continued, “I’ll go over there this week and find out the details of what they’re planning. All’s I know is after my grandpa passed, Grandma went through what was left of their savings pretty fast. Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re needing to get rid of a few of her things to pay for some of the expenses. Mama said it’s been a struggle. But I’ll find out. You don’t need to worry about that. I doubt it’s a big deal.”

“Everything’s a big deal when it comes to you, Nikki. I’m sorry if I ever made it seem like it wasn’t. Like I didn’t care.”

I forced a grin onto my mouth. “Oh, I knew you cared. No mistaking it when a big, overbearing brute constantly puts his nose in your business.”

He grunted like he was exactly that.

A beast.

“That’s because you are my business.”

I traced my fingertips along the swishes of color written across his chest. “Thank you so much for being there tonight. For being there for Brenna and Kyle. Being there for me.”

“I promised you that I’d always take care of you. Right?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

I was okay with that.

He tugged me all the way on top of him.

On all things holy, he was not helping things. A tiny moan escaped my throat at the feel of his bare body beneath mine. Strength bristling as our hearts mended.

Going back to not being able to touch him was just plain cruel.

Pretending again.

But this man was worth the wait.

He deserved patience.

Understanding.

He deserved me.

And God, every part of me knew I deserved him.





20





Ollie





I woke with a start.

Un-fucking-prepared to find the girl nestled in my arms.

Unprepared for the way my heart took off racing, drumming with satisfaction.

Unprepared for that voice inside me that shouted that this was the way it was supposed to be.

Hell, only a moron would think waking up next to Nikki Walters was anything less than paradise.

Didn’t mean I wasn’t assaulted with a ton of images flying through my brain.

Sydney.

Sydney.

Sydney.

The weight of my debt.

The truth of what we’d done.

I blew it out on a harsh breath and strained to listen to the voices that filtered through the walls.

Brenna was quietly talking to her son, who was blabbering back.

So damned cute.

My insides twisted with a swell of protection.

I jerked with the shrill sound of my phone ringing from my nightstand. Reaching behind me, I swatted for it, trying to silence it before it woke up Nikki, considering we’d gotten all of three hours’ sleep.

The second I saw who it was, I peeled myself away from Nikki’s body and sat up on the edge of the bed. “Seth.”

“Hey, man, I’ve got good news.”

Relief gusted from me. “Yeah?”

“Caleb was in front of the judge this morning for his intake hearing. He willingly accepted the offer to go to inhouse rehab for ninety days, plus anger management and parenting classes. In exchange, the restraining order violation charges will be dropped. We still don’t have proof of the break-in, so none of that was taken into consideration.”

My guts curled.

That little fucker was getting off.

Still couldn’t stomach the idea that he’d been in Nikki’s apartment. Trashing it. Following her and putting notes on her car.

That he might hurt Brenna and Kyle again.

“Is that supposed to be good news?” It was close to a growl.

Seth chuckled like he was fully expecting what I was going to say. “A whole ton better than him hitting the streets this morning, don’t you think?”

I scrubbed a palm over my face, glancing back at Nikki, who’d rolled over in my bed, looking like the fucking best thing when her eyes fluttered open.

She smiled at me.