“Do you need help packing?” he asked, as we made our way upstairs to the main hallway.

“I’m good, Joe.” I smiled, heading into my room. He followed me and leaned against the doorframe watching me.

“Things are a little complicated with Eva. I need to heal first before I go to get her,” he explained hesitantly. I knew there was so much more he was hiding.

“I can’t imagine Joe.” I rolled my eyes.

“I can’t give you specifics, Vick, because it’s classified,” he said.

My hand flew to my mouth. “You want to tell me that Eva is somehow connected to the drug trade?” I asked, feeling sick and flabbergasted.

“It’s complicated,” he shrugged his shoulders while his hands stayed in his dress pant pockets.

“To say the least,” I shook my head from side to side. “Come and stay with me in New York, until you are feeling better. I feel like it would be good for us to use this time together, and you can pretty much have the place to yourself. Nessa is there but I spend my time at Luc’s, he’s one floor above me. It wouldn’t cost you rent and it would be awesome.”

He stared at me blankly then shrugged his shoulders. “Okay.”

“Okay?” I shrieked.

“Yes, relax yourself, okay.” He smiled and I threw my arms around his neck and gave him a big hug.

“Thanks, Joe.”

“I’m going to pack, I will leave with you. I wouldn’t mind seeing your father’s jet.” He smirked, but I could tell that saying the word ‘father’ hurt him. He had accepted Bryce and he liked him but it didn’t dissolve the pain we both felt over Papa.

I continued to pack in my room. I suddenly felt like I couldn’t get back to New York fast enough. I hadn’t been in touch with Nessa all week, she must be worried sick and I had come to like the routine I fell into in the short time I was there.

***

Luc

I stayed in the kitchen to talk with Bryce a bit. We hadn’t had a chance to discuss what happened at the motel.

“How are you holding up, Luc?” Bryce asked.

“I’m good.” I nodded. He continued to look at me square in the eye, like he knew something was eating away at me. None of us that were at the motel that night mentioned anything to the cops, but after Joe shot my father, I intentionally shot him one more time and aimed for his heart. No matter how bad my father had been to me growing up, and no matter how much he may have deserved his end, it didn’t help the guilt that sat heavy on my chest. I ended his life intentionally. I did it to protect my new family, because I knew with him alive, they would never be safe. I wasn’t charged for shooting my father, it was considered self-defense, but it didn’t ease the guilt.

“Luc, Joe told me,” he said assertively. He knew what I did. Shit! What he must think of me.

“I didn’t have a choice, Bryce. He shot Vicky in the leg, and I couldn’t tell where she was shot. I only saw her blood and I lost it. I knew in that moment he would have to die, or else he would keep on coming after us. When Joe shot him, I knew he didn’t aim to kill, he just managed to get him away from Vicky. In my mind it was a temporary fix so I made sure I ended it. I fucked up, but in that moment I didn’t think I had another choice. I knew Vicky was pregnant. I couldn’t have my father in this world with a child of mine roaming around, my child would have never been safe.”

“Luc, if you would give me a minute to say something.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. I stopped my rambling. I didn’t know how to make this okay. I wanted to marry his daughter. I didn’t want him to think I was a monster. I took a deep breath.

“I’m trying to say thank you, Luc. Thank you for taking care of Vicky and thank you for making that ultimate sacrifice for her. I agree with you. As long as she was with you, she wouldn’t be safe and neither would my grandbaby. You did what you had to do to keep your family safe. You did good, son,” he said, extending his hand to shake mine. I extended my hand and Bryce grasped me in a hug. My eyes began to tear. His acceptance meant everything to me and made the burden of guilt I carried a little easier.

“I have to ask you something.” I smiled to him. He blinked at me knowingly. “May I have your daughter’s hand in marriage?” I had been raised with traditional values. Even though my father didn’t respect the sanctity of marriage, I did.

“It would be my honor, Luc,” Bryce replied, giving my shoulder a squeeze. I stood up from the kitchen table.

“I have something to do.” I smiled widely. I don’t remember the last time I had this kind of smile plastered on my face. I had lived a sad decrepit life until Vicky came along. Now I hoped she was going to make me the happiest man on the planet. I climbed the stairs, two at a time, I couldn’t get to her fast enough. My heart fluttered as I made my way to her room.

“Hey,” I said softly, as I watched her packing up her things.

“Hey yourself,” she replied softly. I came up behind her and took her in my good arm. The other arm was still in a sling. Then I ran my hand over her belly and she placed her hand on mine. I hadn’t even asked her yet, and I knew she was mine. I turned her around and held on to her face. Her perfect face.

“Vicky, you came into my life when I least expected it, and you completely shifted the world around me. I had put myself in a fortress and convinced myself that my life was good, but I didn’t know and I couldn’t understand what love was until I found you. You have accepted every broken part of me, and you didn’t try to change me. I knew from the start that you wanted me, and that you grew to love me, even when you were too stubborn to admit it. You are the only woman for me. I feel so blessed that you will be giving me this child and the family I have always wanted, but I am a traditional man and I need to make you mine. Will you marry me?”

Vicky

I nodded my head, unable to speak. A few months ago I was a complete train wreck, lost and alone. Now I had everything that the old Vicky had always dreamed of before disease and death took the better part of me.

“Will you say something?” Luc urged me on nervously.

I laughed out loud. “Yes, Luc, yes, I will marry you.” I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him intensely.

Then he pulled his head back. “I’m sorry if this was inappropriate for a day like today, but I couldn’t get the idea of marrying you out of my head. I hope I have not disrespected this day for you. I know you are sad and grieving.”

“I am sad, Luc, but you make things better for me. You give me strength I thought I never had. My mama and papa were very traditional people too. They would want me to get married and give this child a family. You’ve filled an empty void in my life, and you’ve made me feel a part of you when I was lost. I thank you for accepting me for all my flaws,” I said wiping a tear away from my eye.

“You are not flawed, you are perfect. Perfect for me,” he sighed. “Your parents raised you to be the incredible woman you are today.”

As he said those words, I couldn’t stop the flow of tears from my eyes. He knew exactly what to say to make me feel better. I had been holding onto this anger inside me where my papa was concerned, because of how he dealt with Mama’s sickness and basically checked out on life. With Luc’s kind words, I realized that there was so much more to him than the pain of the last few years. Mama’s death had broken a part of all of us. It was something I would never get back because she would never see me as a bride or meet her grandbaby. I took comfort knowing that I had Luc in my life and a family to look forward to, and I was overwhelmed with joy to have Joe and Bryce too.