by Eden Winters
At least she didn’t say she’d catch a ride with Jimmy. Lucky had been looking forward to picking them up at the hospital.
The first of many calls from the gate sounded at noon. Oh, great. Here they came.
All bearing gifts. As Rett said, “We missed giving y’all a baby shower.”
Bo’s aunt and uncle arrived first on their Harleys, his brother Drew in tow, followed by Lucky’s mother and father—still not speaking much, but at least riding in the same car. Todd arrived from Clemson with a girlfriend. Chelsea showed up a few minutes later, and the brothers’ girlfriends launched into a giggle fest two minutes after meeting.
While the family hung out in the living room, Lucky wrested Andro away from his pouting mother. “Richmond, I’m his grandma, I can put him down for a nap.”
Lucky patted his mother’s shoulder. “Why don’t you stay out here and socialize, since you don’t get to see Bo’s folks much.” He grabbed his son, hiding a grimace. Like hell would he tell his mother he’d been shot, and have her make an even bigger fuss. Instead, he retreated to the nursery. His chest still ached, but he’d no intention of not holding his boy because of a little pain.
Besides, taking Andro gave him an excuse to escape so many people. He let out a relieved breath and sat in the rocking chair, even knowing that Bo’s aunt and his mother were going to swap Little Lucky and Little Bo stories. While he loved everyone in the room out there—with the exception of the nephews’ girlfriends, who he didn’t know well, he could only take so much chitchat before feeling the need to retreat.
A chorus of “Hey, Bo!” sounded from the living room. Double hallelujah. Now Bo could navigate the socializing.
Ten minutes later, Bo found Lucky holding a sleeping baby in his lap. He bent and gave Lucky a kiss. “Hey, Lucky. What ‘cha doing hiding out in here?”
“Rocking Andro to sleep.”
One side of Bo’s mouth quirked up. “Looks like he’s good and asleep to me.”
“Well, he could always wake up. You know how cranky he is if he doesn’t finish his nap.” Or how cranky Papa got with too many people around.
Bo drew back in mock horror, waving his hands in front of him. “Oh no! Not that!” He chuckled and kissed Lucky again.
“You’re in a good mood.”
The smile fell. “Only because I insist on leaving work at work. Today is for family. Our family. Our friends. We can deal with everything else tomorrow.”
“What happened?”
“Put him down and we’ll talk in the bedroom. Just the highlights though. I’m not going to spoil today.”
“Okay.”
Lucky tucked Andro into his crib and joined Bo on the bed in their room. “What’s up?”
“It’s a mess. Southwestern, Southeastern, and even Northeastern, who we don’t deal with much, all were part of this conspiracy. Forsyth Pharmaceuticals is also under investigation, as well as some other pharma companies. Like you thought, part of the plan involved bringing in cheap raw materials and counterfeit drugs from Mexico.” Bo ran a hand over his face and flopped back on the bed. “I’m afraid it’ll be months before we see the end of this. On the plus side, the ties with Mexico make this case international, so the burden doesn’t fall completely on us.”
“O’Donoghue?”
“His arraignment is tomorrow.”
“Diaz?”
“Will be extradited back to Texas. His accomplices at Southwestern are being rounded up as we speak.”
More greetings sounded from the living room.
Bo yawned and stretched. “There’s even an investigation into the top echelons of the National Narcotics Bureau. Walter still plans to retire, but might get lured back into consulting until things straighten out. I can’t believe how far up this thing went.”
Lucky could. Money corrupted. “Not enough oversight?”
“To put things mildly. But, hey, let’s forget that for now. Today’s a big day. Let’s not spoil it with work.” Bo brought Lucky’s damaged hand to his lips and brushed a kiss across the knuckles.
Lucky lay back on the bed, rolling his head to the side to see eye to eye with Bo. “I guess we can’t hide out in here forever, can we?”
“Uncle Lucky! Uncle Bo! Get out here!” Ty hollered from the living room.
Bo and Lucky both shuddered. “Calm before the storm.” Bo dropped a kiss on Lucky’s nose, rose, and offered a hand up. “Easy now. I know you must be hurting still. You’ve got some pretty bad bruising.”
With a groan, Lucky allowed Bo to help him to his feet. Together they trudged to the living room. So many people! The Smiths, Rett and her son, Lisa and her husband, and a few people Lucky didn’t know.
“Friends of Charlotte’s, I think,” Bo said.
The doorbell rang and Ty darted across the room as quickly as possible, given the crowd, and skidded to a stop in front of Lucky. “Credit card?”
“I already paid,” Bo said. “Tip too.”
Ty trotted around them and threw open the front door. “Yo! Todd! A little help?” He and his brother carried pizzas into the kitchen and returned with dining room chairs to seat the masses in the living room.
Would anyone notice if Lucky slipped out again? After all, they weren’t here to see him. His phone chimed and he checked the text. Hot damn. “They’re ready for us.”
“Good, let’s go.” Bo jingled his keys. “Andro’s sleeping. Can we get a volunteer to watch him until we get back?” At least eight hands rose into the air. “Thanks. Ty knows where we keep everything. We’ll be back in a bit with the star of the show.”
Lucky escaped the house to the sound of cheers.
The ride to the hospital didn’t go by nearly fast enough. So many thoughts raced through Lucky’s head. Bo always wanted kids. Lucky wanted kids with Bo.
Now they had two.
They pulled up to the hospital as a smiling Charlotte exited in a wheelchair, pushed by Jimmy. An orderly followed with a cart, flowers on top and other items on the bottom.
Lucky hopped out and opened the back door. Bo rounded the SUV, his grin showing The Dimple, Cousin of The Dimple, and about to spawn more dimples.
Lucky stooped and hugged Charlotte and the tiny bundle in her arms. Charlotte’s grin matched Bo’s. If Lucky died right now, they’d never get the smile off his face. He nodded toward the man he might as well accept. “Jimmy.”
“Lucky. Bo.” Lucky’s former trainee took his hands off the wheelchair to shake with them both.
“Ready?” Bo asked.
Charlotte nodded and handed Jenny to Lucky. He stared down into that sweet face, memorizing the moment, the first time he held his daughter in his arms.
Bo lifted his cell phone, taking a few pictures.
“Bo Schollenberger! Don’t you dare take my picture looking like this,” Charlotte scolded.
Lucky offered Bo the baby. “Wanna hold her?”
Bo traded his phone for Jenny and tucked her into the crook of his arm. This time Lucky took pictures, both on Bo’s phone, and his own.
“She is so beautiful.” Bo sniffed and wiped shiny eyes. “Thank you, Charlotte,” he whispered. “Thank you so much.”
Charlotte smiled, reaching up to take Jimmy’s hand. Did she regret giving up the little girl?
Bo strapped Jenny into her car seat in the back of his SUV. Lucky loaded the contents of the cart into the back, rounded the truck, and got in beside the baby.
“Charlotte?” Bo gestured toward the open front passenger door.
She looked up at Jimmy. “Y’all go on. We’ll be right behind you.”
What?
Lucky opened his mouth, but a quelling glance from Bo stopped the words he’d been about to say. Bo closed the back door and took his place behind the wheel.
“Bo…”
Bo cut him off. “Lucky, put yourself in Charlotte’s place. She’s carried that baby girl for nearly nine months, and in the end, handed her over to us.” He met Lucky’s eyes in the rearview mirr
or. “She’s handling it in her own way.”
Lucky’s heart fell. He hadn’t thought of it that way. While he and Bo welcomed their daughter, how did Charlotte really feel? “She’ll see Jenny every day. She lives with us.”
“Yes, but right now she’s making the transition from mother to aunt.”
Had they made a mistake?
Then Jenny yawned and stretched, and Lucky found himself captivated by the miracle of tiny fingers and a button nose. Such an awesome little person. Their daughter.
The street around their house resembled a used car lot. Cars, trucks, Harleys, and one empty spot right in front where Bo normally parked.
The moment they pulled into the yard the front door flew open, expelling a steady stream of people.
Jimmy pulled in behind them.
Lucky’s mother got the honor of carrying Jenny, with Ty and Todd lugging the flowers and other things from the hospital.
Bo held Lucky back while everyone else disappeared into the house, Charlotte and Jimmy bringing up the rear.
“Are you okay?” Bo asked.
“Yeah. Why?”
Bo brushed his lips over Lucky’s. “I saw your face in the car when we talked about Charlotte. You’re worried about her.”
“Of course. She’s my sister.”
“Don’t be. She and I talked. She’s happy to do this for us. Just remember to let her deal with this in her way. We’ll be there for her, but it might still be hard.”
Lucky’d let her down so many times, in so many ways. Never again.
He and Bo strolled hand in hand into pandemonium.
Also known as family.
Ty, Todd, and their girlfriends moved the last of the baby gifts to the nursery, while Lucky, Bo, and Rett cleaned up the aftermath of the baby shower/bringing baby home event. Lucky’s parents and Bo’s family retreated to a local hotel to avoid the “who gets to stay” argument.
Jimmy nearly drove Charlotte crazy with his “Can I get you anything?” and “How are you feeling?” every five minutes, so she sent him home—with a smile and a kiss.
The star of the show napped. Being fawned over was, apparently, hard work.
The day wound down, leaving just Ty, Bo, Lucky, and Charlotte. Ty went to bed since he had school in the morning, and Bo set about unboxing presents and loading wrapping paper and cardboard into the recycling bin.
Finally, Lucky sat with Charlotte in the living room. “I love our family,” she said, “but I’m glad to finally get a breather. What a day.”
What a day, indeed. “How are you fee—”
Charlotte raised a hand, cutting off his words. “If I hear ‘How are you feeling?’ one more time, I’ll scream.”
Words. Lucky’d never been good with words. He needed them now. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough, you know.”
“Lucky, please don’t start. I’m not some selfless martyr like people are trying to make me out to be. I’m just a woman who loves her brother and was able to help him in a way few get to.” She gave him a tired smile.
“But it doesn’t bother you to hand her over to us?”
She met Lucky’s gaze. “No, it doesn’t. You and Bo are great parents. I see that with Alejandro.”
“But…”
“No ‘buts’, Lucky. I love that little girl, like I love Andro. I’m her aunt. In my mind, I’ve always been her aunt, not her mother. She’s yours and Bo’s.”
How did she do that? Then again, Yolanda didn’t even know them and gave them Alejandro. Not because she didn’t love her son, but because she wanted him to have a better life than what she felt she could provide. A life Bo and Lucky could give him.
He said the only thing that came to mind that she might not object to. “I love you, Char.”
“I love you too.” Her smile grew, taking on a mischievous air. “I can’t wait to see that little girl tie you around her pinky finger. Watch you learn to fix her hair for school, and deal with teenaged drama.” Her laugh came out bittersweet. “Just do me one favor.”
“Anything.”
“Be the best father you can be.”
Without a doubt. “I will.”
The silence between them was comfortable, words not needed. Cat Lucky deigned to come out of wherever he’d hidden from guests and crawled into Lucky’s lap. People in the next county likely heard his purring.
Moose rose from his place by the sliding glass door, wandered over by Charlotte’s chair, and flumped down.
Quiet. Lucky at home with his family. Immediate threat gone.
He’d enjoy peace while it lasted.
Twin cries echoed from the back of the house. Lucky rose to his feet.
Duty called.
CHAPTER 26
Monday mornings. Lucky hated Monday mornings. He leaned against the back of the elevator on his way up from the parking garage to the SNB offices. With any luck, he’d get through work and get out of here before anyone realized what today was. All the excitement from the weekend might provide a diversion.
“Mr. Harrison?” Receptionist Lisa called out to him the moment he stepped off the elevator. Lucky winced. No, no, no, no, no. Please let her not…
“Mr. Schollenberger would like to see you in Mr. Smith’s office. Um, I meant, his office.”
Mr. Schollenberger. Would Lucky ever get used to hearing that? He exhaled a pent-up breath. Months might pass before he stopped thinking of the office as Walter’s though.
“Yes, ma’am.” He took two steps away from the reception area. One bullet dodged.
“Lucky?”
Then again, maybe not. He swiveled his head to the right to find Lisa staring at him.
“I wanted to say congratulations again. I’m happy for you and Bo… I mean, Mr. Schollenberger.” Her eyes went wide. “Oh, God! Did I just call you Lucky at work?”
Poor thing hadn’t looked so put out since Keith invaded her house when he wanted to arrange a meeting with Lucky. He took pity. “It’s okay. You can call me Lucky.” He darted his gaze right and left. Good. No one. “Just not around other people. Wouldn’t want the rookies to get ideas, ya know?”
She giggled and relaxed. “Thanks, Mr… Lucky.”
“That’s better.” Lisa had earned the right to call him that.
He sauntered down the hallway and dropped his laptop case onto his desk. The desk on the other side of the cube sat empty again. Waiting for its new owner.
“Bring it around! Careful!” someone barked from the conference room. A sheet of plate glass waited on a cart outside the door. The SNB wasted no time repairing the damage O’Donoghue caused.
O’Donoghue. Fucker.
Lucky didn’t have enough fucks to give to use one on the asshole.
A cleaning service specializing in special cases paid a visit yesterday, removing all traces of Landry’s death. Still, it would be a while before Lucky could be comfortable in the room again.
Enough dwelling on bad thoughts. He’d been summoned. Best not keep the boss waiting.
Oh wait. Surely Bo wasn’t calling him in there to wish him happy birthday. Sometimes, the entire department lured him in there for cake.
Lucky listened at the door. Nothing from within. Voices from a few nearby cubes meant not everyone could be gathered inside the office. He tapped on the same door he’d tapped on a million times before and went inside. After over a dozen years, no one really expected him to wait to be invited inside. Hell, half the time he didn’t even knock. The boss asked him here, right?
Bo. The boss.
“Wuzzup, boss man?”
Weird seeing Walter in a chair by the window instead of behind the desk. Not a single paper or file marred the desktop. Wow! Who knew the blasted thing was actually wood under the former layer of debris?
Now, Bo’s laptop sat on the desk, his tablet computer resting to the side, along with his cellphone. Electronics everywhere.
He’d moved in. Walter sat to the side. The new normal.
Lucky planted his as
s in his favorite chair. “Lisa said you wanted to see me?”
Bo leaned forward, joining his hands on the desk in front of him. “Walter and I are attending Jameson O’Donoghue’s arraignment today. We know what he put you and the family through. You’re welcome to join us if you like.”
O’Donoghue’s arraignment. One step in the process of putting him behind bars for good. But go? Witness? Lucky’s mind went back to his own arraignment all those years ago. Bad memories flooded back. No wonder Bo gave him the option of saying no.
Did he want to go? See the man get what he deserved? Well, no. Not for the arraignment. For the trial itself if it went before a jury, which it likely wouldn’t. Just try keeping him away. How would O’Donoghue plead? Not guilty would go to trial. What if he plea bargained? What if he was given bail? A flight risk if ever Lucky knew one.
So not how Lucky planned to spend his birthday.
Yeah. Lucky should be there. “I’ll go.”
Bo lowered his voice. “Are you sure?”
No need to think twice. “Yes.”
“Good. We’ll need to leave within the next ten minutes. It’s Monday, so they’ll likely have a packed courtroom.”
The better for Lucky to fade into the woodwork.
He sat in the back of Walter’s Suburban, sipping from a Starbucks cup, with Bo at the wheel. Reminded Lucky of the day he’d met a wet-behind-the-ears rookie who’d gotten on his last nerve.
Then, they’d all worn suits to meet with a pharma company’s executives. Today, they’d witness justice for betrayal.
Maybe. A whole lot could still go wrong.
Crowds forced them to park away from the courthouse and walk. Nice day, though. Of course, even a stormy day would have been a nice day to see O’Donoghue get his comeuppance.
At least two dozen people gathered on the courthouse steps. Out of habit, Lucky trailed Walter. With his towering height and the determined look on his face, folks cleared a path. Lucky rode along in the man’s wake, followed by Bo.