by Meghan March
Noble broke the silence. “Valentina, have you met—” He paused when she ran to me and threw herself into my arms.
I wrapped them around her. Thank fuck. So good.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Noble murmured.
Tears wet my shirt, and I pulled back to see her dark eyes shining with them. Using my thumbs, I wiped them away.
“No more tears, duchess. It guts me to see you cry.”
She sucked in a breath. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have gone outside. I thought it was you. I’m such an idiot. It was all my fault.”
Her words didn’t make sense. “What are you talking about?”
“The Escalade. It stopped in front of the house. I thought it was you. I went outside. You told me not to, but I didn’t listen.”
That answered the question of how they’d nabbed her, but I didn’t care anymore. Not when she was back where she needed to be. “Doesn’t matter.”
But she kept going. “And I’m sorry. I—I let them break me. I lost my grip, but I don’t want to lose you.”
“Shhh, duchess. You can’t lose me. I’m here. No matter what. And they didn’t break you. No one can break you. You’re the strongest woman I know.”
“But I walked away from you.”
I shook my head. “You threw yourself into my arms just now. Does that sound like you walked away from me?”
“I love you,” she whispered. “Don’t ever let me go.”
“Never.”
“Does someone want to explain what’s going on here?” Noble asked, his confusion obvious.
Valentina’s mother tugged at his arm. “I think it’s obvious, dear.”
I PRESSED PLAY ON THE voice mail for the fourth time.
“I’m gonna get you home safe. Stay strong, duchess. I love you. Just hold on, and I’ll be there. I’m coming for you.”
Squeezing my phone tight, I blinked back tears. Happy tears this time.
He loves me.
I’d finally said the words to him at the hospital, but he hadn’t said them back. I’d been in the shower when that realization had struck. I’d been drying my hair, robe wrapped around my waist, when I’d seen my phone on the dresser next to my purse. The voice mail icon had lit the screen when I touched it.
Rix pushed open the bedroom door, a white take-out bag in one hand. “You feeling better now that you’re cleaned up?”
I did. There was something cathartic about watching the remnants of dried blood wash down the drain. I might have cried a few more tears, but with the rush of the water, you couldn’t ever tell.
I nodded. And then my words came out quietly, colored with wonder. “You love me.”
Rix eyed me, confusion on his face. “Of course I fucking love you, duchess. I would’ve taken every bullet fired in that house today if it meant they never would’ve touched you.”
“But . . . you never said it.”
He lowered the take-out bag on the dresser and walked toward me. “I’ve been living it. Feeling it with every breath I take. Always on my mind. In every beat of my heart in my chest.”
I bit my lip as his words washed over me. “We should probably send a thank-you to D-Rock.”
Rix huffed out a laugh, shaking his head. “I’ll pass. That punk isn’t coming around your girl again.” He pressed a knee to the bed and leaned forward until his lips brushed mine. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
One less thing to worry about was certainly welcome. But what about the rest of it?
“And you being undercover? What happens next with that?”
Rix pulled away and stared down at me. “NOPD crushed the FND ring. I’ll stay under long enough to wrap up anything else I need to, and then I’m out. Done.”
“How does that work? Is it safe? Do you . . . have to leave town?”
I thought of the gallery and everything I’d have to leave behind to follow him. I would. I pictured living on a beach somewhere, a paintbrush in my hand as I stared out over the sparkling water of some tropical vista. I could do that.
He didn’t answer me immediately. “Depends on what you want. I’m not walking away from you. I can stay with the department. I got an offer to head up the gang task force when I’m ready for it.”
I can have it all.
“Do you want to stay?”
“I want to be where you are. If that’s NOLA, then I’ll stay under until the enemies I’ve made are off the streets and you’re not gonna be in danger.”
“How long will that take?” I couldn’t help but wonder if we were talking weeks, or months, or years.
A smile curled the corner of Rix’s mouth. “I got a hell of an incentive to wrap it up pretty fucking fast.”
“And then?”
“And then we start the next chapter. You and me. Out of the shadows and into the light.”
“That sounds perfect to me.”
“Good. Because it’s happening, duchess. You’re mine. Not giving you up for anything.”
“I’m not giving you up either.”
He leaned down and pressed another kiss to my lips. “I love you, Valentina.”
The words glued back together my remaining cracked pieces. “I love you too. Rix or Beau, or whoever you are.”
“Yours. That’s who I am.”
One week later
I LAID MY BADGE AND gun on the deputy chief’s desk, and it took only seconds for me to feel wrong without them. I’d only ever wanted to be a cop, and now I didn’t know what the fuck I was going to do with my life. But one thing was certain—I couldn’t stay with the NOPD.
“Don’t think I need to explain why I’m doing this.”
The truth about what my father had done had made it up the chain of command, and an investigation had already been launched. My mom was shattered, and there was no way my dad wouldn’t end up in prison.
The deputy chief’s face was solemn. “No, I don’t need an explanation, but you don’t have to do this.”
A harsh laugh scraped its way out of my throat. “We both know that’s bullshit. I’m done.”
He nodded. “Then I accept your resignation. Best of luck to you, Hennessy.”
I turned and left his office, the entire precinct seeming to go silent as I grabbed the box on my desk and walked out the door for the last time.
To protect and serve. It was all I knew. But that life was over.
STANDING IN THE BACK HALLWAY of the courthouse, I fought the edge of nerves moving in.
He won’t say no.
Harold Noble had made it clear in our passing conversations that he was waiting for this visit.
The opinions of other men had rarely mattered to me, but Valentina’s father was a different story. He would give his blessing, but it went deeper than that.
Acceptance. Family. The things I’d never really had before. The Nobles had let me into theirs, and now I wanted to make it official.
I knew I wasn’t good enough for Valentina the first day she showed up on my porch, looking fine as hell in her skirt and blouse and fancy heels. But for some reason, she didn’t care. Not then and not now.
But her father should. Any father should.
The door to Harold Noble’s chambers opened, and he met me with a smile and an outstretched hand.
“It’s about time you showed up here, son.”
Son. I’d never had that, and this man gave it to me.
“Good to see you, sir.”
We shook hands, and he motioned me into his chambers before he shut the door.
“Have a seat.”
I did, and he settled into the large leather chair behind a wide desk.
Not wasting a beat on small talk, he said, “I think we both know exactly why you’re here.”
I nodded. “Yes, sir. I’m going to marry your daughter.”
“Not asking for permission?” He raised a bushy brow.
“Stating my intentions. I don’t believe in asking permission, but I sure would like your blessing.”
He narrowed his gaze on me. I fought the urge to shift in my leather club chair. I was probably going about this all wrong, but I was doing it the only way I knew how.
“And if I don’t give my blessing?” he asked, crossing his arms.
“I’m marrying her either way. She’s the best part of my life, and no man will ever love her more than I do. I’d take a bullet for her. Die for her.”
“How much of this has to do with the fact that she’s carrying your baby?”
I wasn’t surprised he knew. I figured Jo had caught on when Valentina had stepped away twice during dinner last week, because the smell of beef was setting off her nausea lately.
I met his gaze, much like Valentina’s dark one. “Not a damn thing. She’s been mine since the day I first saw her. The baby is just one more miracle I didn’t think I deserved in my life.”
“I worried about you when she first told us. Worried that you’d been under too long and too deep to be able to surface. That lifestyle becomes ingrained in you. You don’t just play along, you live it every day.” He uncrossed his arms and leaned forward, elbows on the desk. “Do you miss it? The rush?”
I didn’t answer right away. Did I miss it? Life as the king of my own empire? Power, money, and everything that came with it?
“I’d give it all up again to be with her. If you don’t think I know how rare a woman your daughter is, you’re wrong. She’s worth everything.”
He nodded. “I can’t disagree with that. I just worry about you getting bored trying to live the civilized life. A wife, kid, house in the Garden District.”
I leaned forward and rested my forearms on the edge of his desk and met his gaze. “A woman who loves me, a kid I never thought I’d have, and a home? That’s the kind of life I would never even let myself dream of before, and now it’s mine. You think I’d ever fuck that up?”
Noble didn’t answer as he rose, hand outstretched. “Welcome to the family, son. You set the date and I’ll officiate. Glad she picked a man worthy of her.”
Worthy of her. That was my hope. I’d do my damnedest to prove it.
I clasped his hand. “Thank you, sir.”
When I turned to leave, I paused at the door. “You and Jo going to pretend to be surprised when we tell you about the baby?”
Noble’s smile transformed into a grin. “My first grandbaby? Damn right we’ll pretend to be surprised.”
“Good man.”
I walked out of the courthouse, the weight of my task off my shoulders and approval of Valentina’s father lightening my every step.
Damn, but life was sweet. Now to pick up the ring and get to the gallery for Valentina’s big night.
The crowd in Noble Art quieted as Valentina made her way to the center of the room. Her royal-blue dress hugged her curves and reminded me of the shirt she’d worn the night I’d taken her to the club. That had been six months ago.
Six long months of me continuing to sneak in through the back way, and no one being the wiser about our relationship except for a very select few close friends. Not Hennessy, though. He’d disappeared without a word after he resigned from the NOPD.
Sorting shit out and bringing the existence of the NODOs to an end had taken longer than I’d expected, but my woman hadn’t complained. As long as I found my way into her bed every night, that was all she’d cared about.
The delay had grated on me, though. A woman like Valentina wasn’t meant to be kept in the shadows. She was destined to be standing in the middle of an elegant gallery, surrounded by friends and family, a champagne flute in her hand and a smile on her face that came straight from the heart.
She was meant for nights like tonight, and I would make sure she had hundreds of them.
“Thank you all for coming.”
That smile of hers was wide and easy, hiding the trace of her nerves from everyone but me. I could see them in her, but I was proud as hell that she was doing this.
“Tonight is very special to me for several reasons. First, the gathering of friends and family is always a reason to celebrate. Second, tonight is a night I never thought I’d have the courage to see through. And finally, because tonight is about giving back to the community that I love.”
She reached for a cord attached to a black drape that separated the original gallery space from the newly remodeled other half of the building she’d taken over when the antique store had given up its lease a few months back. She’d waited months, refusing to take this step and host this event without me being able to be present. I’d protested, but there were certain arguments a man had to know were pointless to keep pushing.
“So without further ado, I give you Noble Art’s newest collection, Beauty and the City, offered for sale by me and Trinity Rodgers.”
With a tug of the cord, the drape slid to the floor, revealing a room with two distinct styles of artwork hanging on the wall. The crowd began to murmur in approval.
“All profits from the sale of these pieces will benefit the Teach Life Through Art program, offered to the children of this city at no cost by the New Orleans Museum of Art.”
The crowd clapped loudly, shrill whistles filling the air. I glanced toward the sound, and Elle Snyder had two fingers in her mouth as she blew. Her man, Lord, laughed and tugged her into his side, interrupting the whistle.
“Cheers to Valentina and Trinity,” I said, raising my glass high. “An amazing project to support an amazing cause, which is nothing less than I’d expect from such an amazing woman.” Glasses lifted in hands all across the room.
“To Valentina and Trinity,” everyone echoed.
Trinity held her glass of sparkling white grape juice in the air as well, then curtsied.
Remy gathered the blue curtain up from the floor as people crossed the room into the new section to view the pieces.
A hand clamped over my shoulder.
“You’ve significantly added to the courthouse docket, son.” When I turned to see Harold Noble standing beside me, he added, “Proud of your work, and congratulations on the promotion.”
Seeing approval in Valentina’s father’s eyes meant more to me than I could explain. She was close with both her parents, and being inducted as an honorary part of their family was something I hadn’t expected. Family. It was something I hadn’t had in years.
“Thank you, sir. I’m definitely excited for the next challenge.”
I’d accepted the position as head of the gang task force, which put all of the knowledge I’d gathered undercover to work in a more direct way. Being able to think like a gangbanger made it easier to take them down tactically, which put fewer officers at risk. It was still strange to be cleaning up the streets in such an overt fashion, but I didn’t miss living in the shadows.
My gaze wandered to Valentina. Especially not when it meant that I could see my duchess in all her glory.
Elle and Lord joined me and Judge Noble near the edge of the room.
“So, when are you going to make an honest woman out of her?” Elle asked.
Noble and I exchanged a sideways glance before he adopted an amused expression. “That’s an excellent question.”
Jo smacked his arm. “Shush, Harry. These kids will get around to it when the time is right.” She smiled at me. “You don’t listen to anything he has to say. He thinks that everyone should propose within weeks of meeting, and that when it’s right, you just know.” When I just smiled, she winked at me knowingly before adding, “I’m excited for a few grandbabies, though.”
I wasn’t confirming or denying that fact. Tonight was about Valentina and Trinity’s art.
But the reality of it still hit me hard as I watched her work the room. No bump visible yet, but still . . . A kid. A perfect combination of me and Valentina that would probably raise hell regardless of whether it was wearing pink or blue. Not only had I escaped the shadows to step into the light, I’d gotten more than I could have ever imagined.
Hours later I lay in bed, Valentina’s head on
my chest and her fingertips tracing the ink on my pecs. The picture I stole from her all those months ago hung on the wall.
“Proud of you, duchess. Really fucking proud.”
She curled into me closer, and squeezed. “It felt good to see them all on the wall. And Trinity, you’d think she’d won the lottery.”
“Did good with that girl. You’re gonna be a hell of a mom.”
“I hope so.”
“No doubt about it.”
“When should we tell my parents?” she asked.
I slid a hand through her hair and met her gaze. “I think they already know, but maybe hold off until you tell them we’re getting married.”
Her chin jerked up as her hand stilled. “Are you proposing?”
I shook my head. “No, because that would make it a question, and there’s no doubt that it’s happening.”
Valentina’s laugh met my ears. “So you don’t want to hear me say yes?”
I rolled out from under her and pinned her to the bed. “The day we walk down the aisle is good enough for me. You want your pops to give you away and officiate?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Yes. I always wanted that. Exactly that.”
“It’s my job to give you everything you always wanted, duchess.” I lowered my lips to hers, stealing a kiss. “Since you’ve given it all to me.”
“You already have,” she whispered.
“Not yet, but I will.”
Her arms wound around my neck and squeezed. “I love you.”
“Always, duchess. Love you always.”
The End
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