Harder Than Words

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  “Like I said before, this case should never have been brought before me.” She held up her hand as Richard’s lawyer tried to speak. “You’re lucky I don’t look back into the divorce proceedings and previous custodial rights agreements too hard. I’m not going back and changing what was already written and agreed upon. Mrs. Montgomery-Warren will retain full custodial rights. Mr. Warren had the previously agreed upon visitation. However, in light of the fact that he hasn’t visited the children once in the past year this has been in place, I’m adding that his visitations will be supervised visitation only.” The judge turned and addressed Richard directly. “Mr. Warren, you’ve not once visited your children in all this time. If you had, perhaps things would have gone differently for you. I am dismissing this case with prejudice. Should you attempt another end-run, Mr. Warren, I assure you it will go hard on you. Court is adjourned.” The judge got up and left without so much as a glance at those in the room.

  Meghan blinked, unsure of what she’d just witnessed. She’d won? She could keep her babies?

  How…how had that happened so quickly? Her lawyer came up to her and said congratulations. Meghan could only nod, not able to comprehend much of anything else at the moment.

  Luc pulled her up, and she walked on shaky legs out of the room, leaning heavily on his large body.

  “What just happened?” she whispered.

  “I think you won,” Luc whispered back, his body shaking much like hers.

  It didn’t make sense. Everything had happened so fast she wasn’t sure what she was doing. She sucked in a breath, knowing she needed to leave the building before she did something stupid like throw herself at the judge and thank her.

  Instead, she wrapped her arms around Luc’s middle and beamed up at him. “I can’t believe it.”

  “It hasn’t settled in yet.”

  She shook her head and rested her cheek on his chest. His heart beat against her ear, and she smiled. Of course, her smile only lasted a moment when she caught the look in Richard’s eye. The bastard didn’t sneer like usual. No, this was something far more dangerous.

  The man seethed.

  Ambrosia flounced by him, and he snarled something before turning away from Meghan and Luc. She let out a sigh then sucked in a breath as Luc’s arms tightened around her.

  “I don’t like that man.”

  “I don’t either,” she whispered, knowing the walls had ears. “Let’s go home to the kids.”

  Home.

  It didn’t escape either of them that she’d said it as if they were a family in more ways than one. One thing at a time, but damn if it didn’t sound right to say home with Luc in the same sentence.

  He kissed her head, and she smiled.

  Yes, things would be all right.

  Finally.

  ****

  Luc ran a hand over Meghan’s shoulder as they sat on the couch, watching Cliff and Sasha play knight and dragon on the living room floor with Boomer playing guard. The sound of children’s laughter and the sweet tinkle of Meghan joining in calmed him. He hadn’t had any idea of what to expect walking into those chambers that morning, but now that it was over, all he could do was breathe out in relief. He had the woman he loved in his arms and the children he loved as his own playing in front of him. He couldn’t ask for more.

  Of course, he could ask for a lot more, and he knew that would come. Meghan loved him, and the kids looked to him for advice and genuinely liked him being around. That was a hell of a lot more progress than he’d ever thought possible when he gave Meghan a ride to the project site all those months ago.

  There was only one thing left that needed to be taken care of, though, before they could take the next step.

  “Hey, Cliff, can you come here a minute.”

  Meghan leaned up and gave him a questioning look, but he shook his head.

  Cliff frowned but came toward them until he stood in front of the couch. Sasha, curious as ever, bounced until she sat next to Luc, leaning on him and smelling like little girl and jam. Seriously, the kid was always sticky and tended to have damn jam hands, but he loved her.

  “What is it?” Cliff asked, his voice low and a little scared.

  “You know your mom and I had a meeting with the judge today, right?” Luc asked.

  Meghan sat up straight and put her hand on his knee. After they got home, they’d told the kids some of what had happened. They explained that they wouldn’t have to leave and that Meghan would always be there. Both kids had looked relieved, but there was still something off with Cliff.

  It was far past time for them to deal with that.

  “Yeah,” Cliff said softly.

  “Now that you know you’re here with us always, why don’t you tell your mom and me what’s been bothering you?” He had a feeling he knew, but Cliff had to be the one to say it. It had gone on for far too long, and Meghan hurt every day because of it.

  “I…” The little boy shuffled from foot to foot.

  Damn it. Well, maybe Luc had to be the one to say it after all. Or at least get the ball going.

  He leaned forward, moving so both of his arms rested on his thighs. This put him at Cliff’s eye level. “You know your dad left because that was his problem, right?”

  Meghan sucked in a breath, and Sasha burrowed into his side. “Luc,” Meghan whispered.

  He didn’t respond to her, his eyes on Cliff’s alone. “He left because he had problems of his own. He did not leave because of you. He did not leave because of something you did. Or because of something Sasha did. Or because of something your mom did.” He swallowed hard, Meghan’s fingernails digging into his side. “What happened was not your fault. Not. Your. Fault.”

  Cliff’s eyes filled with tears, and he shook his head. “Dad said I was bad. He said I was too loud and not nice to Sasha. That’s why he left.”

  “Oh, baby,” Meghan said, pulling her son into her arms. She soothed his back as he cried and she murmured to him.

  Luc turned and brought a crying Sasha into his arms. She curled up, and he leaned into Meghan, knowing all four of them needed each other now more than ever. Boomer jumped onto the couch, though he wasn’t supposed to, and leaned on Meghan’s other side.

  “Your dad left because of his own issues,” he repeated once Cliff and Sasha settled down. He cleared his throat. “Your mom is never going to leave you. I am never going to leave you.”

  Meghan met his gaze, her eyes wide, and she nodded. “We’re here to stay, Cliff. Your dad said things that hurt all of us, but no matter what, he can’t hurt us again. The four of us are here together, and we’re going to stay that way.” She cupped Cliff’s face and kissed his forehead. “I’m sorry I didn’t know what was wrong before. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it better.”

  “I’m sorry I was a brat.”

  Meghan hiccupped a laugh, and Luc shook his head. “You weren’t a brat.”

  “You might have been a little bit of a brat,” Luc deadpanned, and Meghan shushed him. “I know what your dad did sucked, and he was wrong. But you don’t have to keep it all inside, Cliff. We’re here, and we’re not leaving. Okay?”

  Cliff nodded, his tears finally subsiding. “Okay,” he whispered.

  Sasha patted Luc on the chest, and he looked down at the little bundle in his arms. “I love you, Luc.”

  His throat caught, and he swore his eyes filled with tears. “I love you too, Sasha baby.”

  He kissed her on the cheek, and she snuggled close. He turned to Cliff and patted him on the knee. “Love you too, kiddo.”

  Cliff smiled every so slightly, and it was as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. “Love you, Luc.”

  Meghan hiccupped a sob and waved her hand. “Don’t mind me. I’m just crying because I’m happy.”

  Cliff leaned forward and whispered loudly to Luc, “She does that a lot, but that’s because she loves us.”

  Luc threw his head back and laughed then wrapped his arm around Meghan, pulling her and Cliff clo
se. “That she does, Cliff, that she does.” They were a family right then. Maybe not something legal on paper, but that would come.

  He wanted to marry Meghan and adopt her children. That was something he couldn’t deny, and he didn’t want to wait much longer.

  Soon, he told himself. Soon.

  They leaned on each other a bit more before the doorbell rang. He frowned at Meghan then stood up, setting Sasha on the couch in his vacant space.

  “You expecting anybody?”

  She shook her head. “No, the family usually texts before they stop by.”

  Something off settled over him, and he ran a hand over the back of his head. “I’ll get it then. Maybe it’s just a salesmen.”

  “In this neighborhood?” she asked. She wiggled out from under Cliff but remained on the couch by the kids and Boomer.

  Yeah, they’d have to talk about her neighborhood soon. He had more than enough room for everyone at his place. That, however, would be something they discussed later—after he dealt with whoever had come to Meghan’s house.

  He looked through the peephole and cursed. “Meghan, get the kids and Boomer to the back.”

  She stood up, her eyes wide. “Who is it?”

  He looked at the kids then back at her. “Who do you think?” He didn’t want to alarm them any more than he already had, but he had a bad feeling about this.

  Meghan closed her eyes for a moment then took the kids to the back of the house with Boomer.

  Luc had his phone in one hand, ready to call the cops if needed, then opened the door. If he didn’t, then Richard would stand out there all night making a scene. That was the kind of bastard Meghan’s ex-husband was.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing answering Meghan’s door?” Richard demanded.

  This was going to shit fast.

  What are you doing here?” he asked, not bothering to answer Richard’s question.

  “I’m here to talk to Meghan about what she has done.”

  “Excuse me?” Meghan asked, squeezing between Luc and the door.

  Luc held back a curse and pushed her back so she could still see Richard but wouldn’t get hurt if the other man lashed out.

  “You heard me,” Richard snarled, spittle forming at the corner of his mouth. “Ambrosia left me because you fucked everything up for me. I always knew you were a selfish bitch, but fuck you.”

  Luc took a deep breath. Killing this man on Meghan’s front porch wouldn’t help anyone, even if it would make him feel slightly better.

  “You need to go,” Luc said, his voice low.

  “You don’t own this property. You can’t tell me to go.”

  “No, but I can tell you to go. I don’t care if your wife left you. That’s not my fault. Nothing you think I’ve ever done to you is my fault. You’ve deluded yourself into thinking that and emotionally bruised me until you got your way. But no more. Now go away.”

  Richard clenched his jaw and turned ever so slightly to face Meghan.

  “It is your fault, Meghan. It is always your fault.”

  Richard moved so fast Luc almost missed the reflection of the streetlight off the barrel of the gun. He pushed Meghan back, knowing even the small glimpse Richard got of her would make her the target.

  Only he wasn’t fast enough to protect himself.

  It didn’t matter.

  Only Meghan mattered.

  The burn arced across the right side of his chest, and he let out a grunt. Time moved slowly at that point, his knees going out from under him, Meghan’s screams piercing his ears.

  Boomer barked from somewhere in the back, and he prayed the kids wouldn’t see him bleed, wouldn’t see him die.

  He blinked up at the ceiling, knowing somehow he’d landed on his back, or maybe Meghan had pushed him there. Blood pooled in his mouth, and he tried to reach out, tried to force Meghan to duck.

  He didn’t know if Richard was still around, still aiming at her.

  He had to protect her.

  He had to save her

  But he was too late.

  The darkness came, and the pain went away.

  His last thought was of Meghan and her touch. He loved her touch. Too bad he’d never feel it again.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Death came in many shades, many scents, many dreams, but today was not the day she’d let the man she loved die. Meghan held a throw blanket to Luc’s chest, her hands shaking. Blood seeped around the towel, her fingers looking as if she’d dipped them in rust. Only his chest moved—everything else was stock-still. But at least he breathed.

  The kids had run out into the entryway, but she’d screamed at them to go up to their room. She’d heard them sob on their way back to the room, taking Boomer with them. They shouldn’t have to see this. Shouldn’t have to see the man who was more of a father to them than the man responsible for their blood look like this. She could focus only on Luc, and yet she knew she needed to worry about her children and Boomer, too. It was all too much. Richard had run away as soon as he’d fired the shot, but she couldn’t tell what would happen next. What if he came back? What if she couldn’t get Luc to safety? What if she wasn’t enough?

  Damn it. No. That was not who Meghan was anymore.

  She kept one hand on the wound and reached out for the phone Luc dropped when he hit the ground.

  “I’m on the phone with the ambulance now,” a woman said, her voice oddly calm.

  Where did she come from? “I…I can’t stop the bleeding.”

  Meghan saw the woman nod out of the corner of her eye. She knew this woman. Crap. From where? Yes! She was the one who’d gotten a tattoo from her brother. Odd that these were the facts Meghan chose to focus on rather than the man she loved bleeding out under her hands.

  “I’m Autumn. Your new neighbor. Weird coincidence.” The other woman took a deep breath. “It’ll be okay,” she said softly.

  “How can you know that?” Meghan snapped then immediately regretted it. “How…how are you here?”

  Autumn put her hands over Meghan’s, helping with more pressure. Meghan looked down at the blood coating her hands, and bile rose in her throat.

  “I live next door, remember?” she replied, her voice calm, as if trying to talk to a child. “I heard the shot and came right over.”

  Meghan would wonder about that later—what kind of woman would run toward a gunshot rather than away. However, she couldn’t think about any of that right then.

  “You can’t die, Luc Dodd. You can’t leave us. I love you. Please. Please don’t die.”

  She said that over and over again, her words blurring until someone pulled her off him. She fought to go back, but Autumn whispered in her ear that she had to let the paramedics take care of him.

  “I’ll take care of the children,” she was saying once Meghan snapped out of it. “Let me wash my hands, and I’ll take the kids. I’ll call whoever you need me to. Go with your man in the ambulance and talk to the police when you can. I’ll help your babies.”

  Meghan stood up on shaky legs. “I…I need to see them before I go.”

  Autumn shook her head. “You don’t have time, and you have blood on your shirt and pants. You’ll only scare them. I’ll call your family. Promise.”

  Still numb, she nodded then followed the paramedic and got into the ambulance, answering questions when she could. Luc was not allowed to die today. He’d healed her in more ways than she thought possible. If only she could heal him too.

  Three hours later, she couldn’t think. The waiting room seemed impossibly small, and no one had told her anything. Autumn had come through, having called Meghan’s parents from the number Meghan had on her fridge. From there, her parents had called all of her siblings, as well as Luc’s family. Someone had brought her an extra set of clothes so she didn’t have to see Luc’s blood anymore.

  Now everyone sat or paced in the small waiting room, eager for any news about Luc. Not everyone, she thought. Alex was still in rehab, and Austin and
Sierra had stayed home with their children, as well as Sasha and Cliff. Autumn and Callie were with Sierra, helping keep everyone as calm as possible.

  She owed Autumn more than she’d ever be able to repay.

  Only she needed to know Luc was safe and alive before she could think too hard about that.

  “Baby, sit down,” Maggie said as she patted the seat beside her. “The doctors will come soon.”

  Meghan did as she was told and took Maggie’s hand. Marie moved from where she sat next to Meghan’s father and sat on the other side of Meghan. Placed between the two matriarchs of the families in the room, Meghan held on for dear life, praying and trying not to think too hard about what could happen.

  “Are the police done questioning you?” Decker asked, his voice deep, solemn.

  Meghan blinked then nodded, grateful to speak about anything other than her fear for Luc. “Yes. Richard dropped the gun before he fled, so they’ll have that evidence, too. They said they’d find me once they caught him.”

  Miranda leaned into her husband, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m glad Austin and everyone are at his house with the children.”

  Meghan let out a shaky breath. “Me, too. The police don’t think Richard would try to find…” She couldn’t finish the words, not with her chest squeezing so tight.

  “The children are safe,” Storm whispered as he came to kneel before her. He held onto her knees, and she nodded. “Austin won’t let any harm come to those in his care. If you want, Wes and I can head over there to help.”

  She blinked at her brother, her lower lip wobbling. She would not cry. Not until they knew Luc was safe. She was only barely keeping it together as it was.

  “We can do that, Meghan,” Wes said, his hands in his pockets. “Give us something to do. Tabby’ll come with, right?”

  The Montgomery Inc. admin nodded, her long red hair in a messy bun on her head. She’d come in with Wes and Storm. She wasn’t family, but she was part of the crew and Luc’s friend. “Of course. We’ll check in with the children and the others, then bring food if you need it. How about that?”