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A Perfect Love

Page 16

by Becca Lee


  Mace nodded in understanding. “Okay, but I will find him tonight. I promise you.”

  Not knowing exactly how he planned to do that since nobody had heard a single thing from him, not even a sighting over the last few months, was beyond me, but the fierce determination of his words made me believe him.

  When the ambulance arrived, along with the police, Mace took off with one of the officers while Liam led me to the paramedics. My legs were finally working.

  “Ella and Preston are meeting us at the hospital. I’ll travel with you and then I’m going with Mace. He’ll pick me up from there.”

  My eyes met his, challenging me to argue with him. I knew this was something he had to do. “Okay,” I agreed in defeat.

  He released a sigh of relief. “Your parents should be there, too.”

  “Okay,” I repeated. I needed my parents if Liam was not there. I still had yet to feel my baby, but I refused to think the worst. With a pounding head and achy limbs, I climbed into the waiting ambulance after refusing to be strapped to the stretcher outside of the ambulance, and then finally lay down while the paramedic started taking my vitals and asking questions.

  A rapid beating of a heartbeat filled the ambulance as soon as my stomach was strapped up to their machine. Tears of relief escaped, trickling down my face as I looked at the monitor. Liam took hold of my hand and kissed it, his own gaze facing down. When I turned and looked at him, his eyes shined, mirroring my own relief. Tilting my lips into a genuine smile, he returned it and placed his lips against mine.

  “I love you, baby.” He pulled away, but remained just inches away from my face. “You see, everything is going to be fine.”

  I nodded, finally believing it. We were all safe. All I needed was the news of David behind bars and all my worry could evaporate. While I still wished I had the will and the means to pound the crap out of the sick bastard, I would have to leave that to my fantasies.

  I was not that person.

  Once in one of the curtained-off emergency rooms, Liam sat at my side while a doctor cleaned away the blood on him. A smack of his head on the side window was hard enough to break the glass and cut him. After a couple of small stitches, Liam smiled at me and kissed me goodbye as soon as my frantic parents arrived with Preston and Ella in tow.

  Through all of the craziness, it took me a while to work out why Ella was wearing a cute fifties-style dress, before I remembered it was her birthday party.

  “Surprise,” I half-heartedly smiled before my tears took over.

  I was engulfed in my parents’ arms immediately, one on either side of the bed. I could only imagine what I looked like. Having hit my own head hard, I was aware of the egg-sized bump on my temple, and the blood on my own face and clothes from Liam.

  “My God, baby girl,” Mum whispered behind her tears.

  Taking control of my sobs, I answered, “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

  “The baby?” my dad was brave enough to ask.

  “She’s fine.”

  “He’s fine,” Liam added. My parents pulling away from me, we looked toward him at the door. I thought he had left already. He smiled and winked, attempting to make me feel better. It did, but also brought back my tears. “I’ll be back soon. I promise.” He turned to Ella, who threw herself in his arms and hugged him tightly before Preston gave him a man-hug, patting his back. “Look after her,” he instructed Preston. “Call me if she needs me.”

  Preston nodded. “Will do.”

  Throwing me one last look, he gave me a tight-lipped smile, his eyes filled with warmth and love. “Love you.”

  I bobbed my head, ignoring the pain it caused. “Love you, too.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Liam

  Even though every fibre of my being urged me to pummel the shit out of David once we found him, Jo’s words remained a mantra in my head. There was nothing I wanted more in the world but for David to die. I had desperately hoped he had OD’d already, and that was the reason no one could find him.

  When Jo’s yell urged me to look back at the road, the horror unfolded in slow motion. A figure had stepped in front of our travelling car, just a few metres ahead. As I slammed my foot on the brake and fought to correct the car, David’s face was the only thing I saw with the blur of movement. A smile lit up his features, his eyes piercing mine.

  I had no idea where he’d appeared from, how he’d known we would be there, or anything concrete, but there were a couple of things I was sure of. He’d intended for us to hit him and wanted to cause damage in the process. It was multiple shades of screwed-up.

  My bike was waiting for me when I exited the hospital. Kid handed over my helmet and jacket before he got in a waiting car driven by Jackson. I nodded in thanks. “Where to?” I asked Mace.

  “Alain’s first.”

  Bobbing my head in agreement, I started my bike and followed Mace out of the parking lot. It didn’t take us long until we pulled up outside of Alain’s overgrown yard. Kid and Jackson remained in the car, while Mace and I headed for the front door. We didn’t even have to knock before Alain answered. “He’s not here,” he said quickly.

  I looked at Mace who lifted a brow. “But he was. You been holding out on us, Alain?”

  Shaking his head frantically, Alain denied it. “Honest, Mace, he turned up today. It was the first time I’d seen him in months. I thought he was dead. He was all sorts of messed-up, though. He was off his face, so goddamn high. He didn’t tell me where he’s been, either.”

  “How long ago?” I asked.

  “That was about two hours ago.”

  “Did he say what he was up to?” Mace picked up the questioning.

  Alain gulped and looked between the two of us, sighing in defeat. “He said some shit about making you boys pay and finally having the backing to do it. I ignored him, thought he was full of shit. It didn’t seem to be meth he was on, either. He was too edgy.”

  Mace nodded and walked away. I remained standing for a moment, wondering where the hell he was going. Alain took that as his cue to retreat, closing and locking the door behind him. “Hey,” I called out to Mace. “What are you thinking?”

  Astride his bike, Mace was fierce. “McKenny.”

  “What the hell do you mean? We haven’t heard from him in weeks. Nothing’s been going on.” I threw on my helmet and started my engine.

  “Call it a hunch.”

  “Shit!” I revved my bike and dipped the clutch, following Mace as he rode to a different part of town.

  He wasn’t heading where I expected him to go. I assumed we would be showing up at McKenny’s house. Instead, we pulled up outside a small rundown warehouse, right on the outskirts of town. Hopping off my bike, I removed my helmet, placing it on the seat. “What is this place?”

  Mace turned toward me, his gaze intense. “One of McKenny’s. It’s an all-purpose place of squaller.” I looked at the building and agreed immediately.

  It was a shit hole.

  We headed to the front and were greeted by a stench of putrid vomit. I had to control the gag that sat at the base of my throat. “Fuck.”

  There were bodies strewn across the place—alive, I assumed, from the occasional fluttering of eyelids, but all were completely out of it. We headed further into the building, pacing a few shady looking guys, who took one look at us and drifted into the shadows. We finally reached a closed door.

  Mace turned to me. “You ready?”

  It was obvious he was convinced David was in the back room. I had no idea how he knew it, but my faith in my big brother was true. Closing my eyes briefly, I nodded and prepared myself for what we would find.

  It was a makeshift bedroom, with a swag mattress on the floor, and a small table lined with papers and needles. The stink in the room wasn’t any better than the rest of the building. Taking in the room after adjusting my eyes to the dim light, my focus landed on David. He was pacing the room, talking to himself, delirious.

  Mace hesitated a moment bef
ore looking back at Kid and instructing, “Make the call.” I glanced back at Kid’s retreating form as he held his phone to his ear, looking at Mace in question. “Police.” He shrugged.

  I knew he felt exactly as I did, a bittersweet regret that he wouldn’t suffer as he should, but sometimes it was necessary to keep hold of one’s sanity by not overstepping the shady areas of grey. Right or wrong, despite our own desires to see this piece-of-shit dead, we’d made the right call.

  Stepping into the room, David stopped and his head snapped in our direction.

  “Boys.” He grinned, the look of a psychopath on the edge. Images of Jack Nicholson popped into my head and I swept them away, knowing I was on the precipice of losing my cool as it was.

  David twitched, no longer in full control of his nervous system. “Good night?”

  I was surprised he showed some semblance of being lucid.

  “How’s that sweet bitch of a wife of yours?”

  “Fuck you!” I spat out. “You could have killed her, you bastard.” I stepped forward, but was caught on the arm by Mace.

  David looked between the two of us and grinned. “The baby die?”

  I lunged at him and roared, “You bastard.” My punches landed true, not giving him enough time to defend himself; not that I thought he could anyway. As soon as he hit the ground, I landed a solid kick to his gut before Mace pulled me back. I twisted to face him, adrenaline pulsing through my veins, needing to go back and finish the shithead off.

  “No.”

  I closed my eyes in defeat and acceptance at Mace’s one word, but it was more than that. His understanding nearly had me coming undone. Jo, our baby—my life was with them. I nodded, jaw clenched, knuckles throbbing with a sensation, which felt surprisingly good. Stepping back, I leaned against the wall as I watched Mace crouch down before him.

  “Where have you been this whole time? I know you haven’t been here.”

  Delirious laughter escaped from David as he lay on the ground. Blood covered his already-swollen face, one eye closed tightly. “Just waiting for the time to see that bitch of his pay for putting me behind bars.”

  It took all my will not to finish the job and beat the life out of him, but I bit my tongue and breathed out my rage.

  “Looks like you failed at that,” Mace said, his voice low. “Now, where have you been? I know someone must have been helping you lay low. There’s no chance you could pull that off by yourself.”

  David lost his vicious smirk. “Maybe so. It’s a shame. Taking the two of them out, plus the bastard of a child, with me would have been the way to do it.”

  “Mace, shut him up. I swear to God—”

  “I’ve got it.” His focus was solely on David. “Jo is the only reason you’re alive right now. Quite appropriate since you want an easy way out. I didn’t pull in any favours last time you went down. My mistake. It won’t happen again.”

  His words sent a thrill through me. David would pay once on the inside. I closed my eyes in relief.

  “Now, who was helping you?”

  David’s sardonic grin was back. “Seems like you’ve made some enemies. Started when you were a pig. He’s gunning for you.”

  “McKenny?”

  “Yes.”

  I had no idea why David was giving him what we wanted, or what that meant for Mace. Noise from the open doorway interrupted us. Mace stood and backed away as four officers and a detective stepped into the room. It was Enfield. He headed toward Mace and shook his hand.

  “Your handiwork?” he asked.

  I stepped forward to speak when Mace answered, “Yes. He tried to stab me with one of his junkie needles.” He indicated to the ground where a needle lay close by. “He’s breathing and sort of lucid, though.”

  David groaned as two of the officers picked him up and cuffed him. As they dragged him past me, I stared into his glazed eyes. I didn’t have anything to say to him. It was over. The fucker would be going down for a long time, and this time Mace would make good on his word and make sure there’d be no early release.

  “Okay,” Enfield started. “I’ll need your statements. Someone is already at the hospital taking your wife’s,” he said to me. I nodded and he looked down at my hands. I tucked them away in my back pockets out of sight, knowing they were cut, swollen and bloodied. He stared hard between the two of us and appeared to have made his decision to let it play out as Mace said it did.

  We followed him out, Mace at my side. I glanced at Mace, who looked at me. I nodded in thanks and gave a tight smile. He returned my nod and smacked his hand on my shoulder as we walked, giving me a reassuring squeeze.

  Thankful it was all really over, I wanted nothing more than to get back to Jo. We could finally get on with our lives and enjoy the last couple of months of her pregnancy. I would find the time to talk to Mace about McKenny, but that time wasn’t then. He’d be reluctant to talk to me, especially after all we’d been through, but I’d make sure he opened up and I would help in any way I could.

  He was my brother. He’d proved time and time again how important that connection was, and I’d be damned if he pushed me away when it was clear some crap was about to be laid at his door.

  Even if she hadn’t have been lying in the hospital bed, my eyes would have found her immediately, our connection raw and palpable. Tears sprung to her eyes as soon as they landed on me. Ease and calm passed over her face and a sweet smile lifted her lips. Ella was at her side. When she saw me, she stood, kissed Jo on the cheek and brushed past me with a light squeeze on my arm. The whole time, mine and Jo’s eyes never left each other’s.

  By her side a moment later, she took my hands and brushed her fingers lightly over my knuckles. Her gaze immediately dropped to them. A frown marred her features before she seemed to regroup and lifted my hands to her mouth. Kissing my knuckles, one of her tears landed on my hand. Tears, which I did not want to spill, filled my own eyes, relief that she was well and the relief that she understood at the centre of my emotion. I loved the woman before me so much it brought me to my knees. Literally.

  Slamming down, I pressed my head to her hands on mine and breathed deeply, forcing my emotions back.

  “Hey.” Her voice was a light whisper. “Look at me.” She moved her hands to get my attention. Lifting my head and gaze, she smiled. “Kiss me.”

  That I could do. Raising myself to her level so she wouldn’t have to bend, I kissed her. That time, I allowed my emotions to pour into her, showing her how much she was loved. She was my life, my family. Breaking away, my lips just an inch from hers, I whispered, “Love you, babe.”

  “I know.” She grinned.

  I laughed in response and touched my lips to hers, our mouths moulding in perfect sync.

  “I love you, too,” she breathed out as she pulled back slightly. “Quick, feel.” She grabbed hold of my hand and laid it on her belly.

  My hand shifted immediately under the movement of our child. Lightness and rightness filled my heart and a grin sat on my face. I kissed her stomach. “I love you, too,” I said to our baby. Jo’s fingers brushed through my hair as we remained in silence for some time, revelling in the comfort of the life she was growing. Listening to the rhythm of our child’s heartbeat from the machine connected to Jo’s stomach, I knew with a surety I had never felt before that the battle scars we wore made us that much stronger, leading to this exact moment in time.

  “Can you look at breaking us out of here?” Jo asked, interrupting our quiet. I glanced up at her and stretched. “If I don’t cram ice cream, chocolate and vegemite down my throat soon, I’m liable to do someone some serious harm.”

  I grimaced. “Not together, as in at the same time, right?” There was nothing of the picture she had painted, that was mildly appetising.

  “Maybe,” she said around a smile. “I’m getting pretty desperate. Plus, if you don’t make it happen, I’ll be sure you eat the same.”

  That drove me into action as I headed to find out how to organise he
r discharge. Jo’s laughter followed me out of her room, making me smile in contentment. What we had was far from perfect, but our love, our connection was exactly that. And there was nothing I wouldn’t do to ensure it remained that way. She was, without a doubt, my perfect love.

  Epilogue

  Mace

  I arrived as soon as I received Liam’s frantic call. He’d been on the verge of a meltdown, which I’d tried to smooth over and reassure, before I hopped on my bike and broke the speeding laws to get there on time.

  Once I arrived, I was pacing. I’d been greeted by Ella with a hug and a handshake from Preston, while Jo’s mum had grinned and sobbed in my arms. Women. They cried at the slightest thing, something I never quite understood.

  After another pace of the waiting room, the doors burst open. It was Liam, a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. Any wider and I was sure his face would split or some shit. “It’s a girl!” he shouted. Jo’s mum footie-tackled him almost to the ground, making me laugh, and a huge eruption of cheers, hugs and cries were passed around.

  Liam was then before me, and I watched as he gulped back emotion. Shit, I could not handle my brother’s emotion. “Mace,” he managed to get out before his eyes filled with tears.

  Fuck.

  I grabbed him close and took him in my arms. Pansy dick he was, crying over his new baby. He sobbed against my shoulder before I felt him fight for control. I knew above all else exactly where this emotion came from. We had nothing but each other as kids. No parents who gave us love; hell, they barely remembered to feed us. His reaction was that of a promise not to screw up, to be better, the best parent he could be.

 

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