Page 115 of Swan

“Hey,” I called. When the two hens looked to me, I added, “Don’t pester. If Swan doesn’t want to share, listen, yeah?”

The women grinned and nodded, though Deanna threw in a snort. My dad and Griz tipped their chin up at me before they went back to talking. I winked at Swan, loving the red on her cheeks, and then I finished climbing the stairs to reach Nicky. He took me down the hall to his room.

Walking in, I took a seat at his desk as he shut the door, leaning against it with his arms crossed over his chest.

“What’s up?”

“I respect you. Look up to you.”

I cocked a brow, confused yet glad he felt that way. I smiled. “Thanks, Nicky.”

He nodded, jaw clenching as he looked away from me. “But my sister has been through a lot.” He glanced back, and I caught his misty gaze before he moved it to the floor. “The pain she’s been in over the past year…. I wasn’t sure she’d find who she used to be before what happened. Yeah, she’s always been shy, but she used to be happy. Smiling. Teasing. Loving. That went away.” His jaw clenched. “I don’t want it to go again. Not when I see she’s getting back to how she was. I know you’ve helped, but I’m worried you can break her again and?—”

Standing, I clipped, “Not happenin’.” I made my way over to him, stopping just in front to grip his shoulder. “You can trust me to take care of your sister. If I had the power to make sure she never goes through somethin’ like that again, I’d use it. She’s suffered enough, and I’ll do everythin’ I can to make sure that if anythin’ crushin’ happens again, I’ll be there to support her in every damn way.” I squeezed his shoulder as his bottom lip trembled, but he thinned them. “She’s it for me, Nickolas. She’s the one I want to marry. I won’t hurt her. I’ll look after her. Promise you that.”

He wiped his nose with the back of his hand as he cleared his throat. “Yeah. Okay. Just make sure you do take care of her.”

“I will. Now you gotta promise me that you’ll keep that information to yourself. Your sister and me are just startin’ out. I ain’t lookin’ to rush anythin’ until I’ve made sure she feels strongly about me.”

He nodded. “I won’t say anythin’.”

“Thanks.” I tugged him into a quick hug and told him, “Good to see you’ve got your sister’s back.” Reminded me of myself when it came to Ruby.

When I stepped back, he shrugged. “I didn’t know what Dad had already said to you, but… after what happened to her, I felt I needed to have my say too.”

“Glad you did, Nicky.”

His jaw clenched again. “Can you call me Nick instead?”

“Yeah, course. I’ll spread the word with the brothers.”

“That’d be good, Dragon.”

“You ever need anythin’, you can come to me. If you wanna shoot the shit about school, girls, and stuff you don’t want to share with your parents, you reach out. I’m always willin’ to listen.”

“Okay, Dragon.”

“Grab your phone and put my number in.”

He nodded and went to his desk to pick up his phone. I rattled off my number for him to add.

We made our way back downstairs, and when I reached the bottom step, I smiled over at Swan, who was nodding at something her mum whispered.

Dad showed me his phone. “Rain’s comin’ in, and it’s gonna be heavy. You need to get your ride locked up.”

Shit. I wasn’t ready to leave. But I fucking hated riding in the rain.

“Will do,” I told Dad since the risk wasn’t only about my ride; my tattoo equipment was strapped to it too. Turning to Swan, I said, “Birdy, walk me out?”

As I said goodbye to everyone, Swan waited for me. I took her hand as soon as I was close and opened the front door.

Outside, I glanced up at the night sky as lightning flashed off in the distance. Swan sneezed, and it was the cutest one I’d heard.

“Bless you.”

“Thanks. And thank you for staying for dinner. I was sure Mum and Zara were close to pulling out a notepad to take notes on how we acted towards each other.”

Chuckling, I released her hand to straighten my bike before I threw my leg over my ride. I grabbed her hand to tug her close. “They’ll get used to seein’ us together.”

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