Page 24 of Swan

“I did not,” Swan said with a sigh. She moved over to us and placed another box down, flipping the lid back. “In this one are egg and bacon brekky burgers. The other box has pastries in it if you wanted something sweet.”

“Yes, please,” Nicky said, grabbing out a chocolate croissant. As soon as he bit into it, crumbs fluttered down onto the front of him and the floor.

“Grab some plates, kid,” Griz ordered.

Nickolas nodded and walked to the cabinet to grab some out.

While Griz was looking into the boxes, Swan touched my arm. When I looked up, she mouthed, “Okay?”

Smiling, I nodded.

Her shoulders relaxed, and she grinned back.

Her beauty was even more breathtaking this morning. I never wanted to look away, but it’d be a bit creepy if I glued my gaze to her constantly.

Would Griz cut off my fingers if I ran my hand through her long, soft waves?

“Boy, go get your mum and?—”

“Mum!” Nickolas bellowed.

“You shithead,” Griz barked, and his harsh tone didn’t faze his son even a bit. Nickolas just grinned around another bite of his food.

Swan handed me a plate that Nickolas had put on the table. I bumped my shoulder into her hip. “Thanks.” I smiled down at the table when she blushed.

Reaching over, I grabbed an egg and bacon roll and a cinnamon scroll as Swan took a seat next to me.

When her mum entered, she said, “Good to see you’re still alive and in one piece, Lockland.” She took a croissant out of the box and took a bite as she rested her hand onto Griz’s shoulder. He munched on his egg and bacon roll while glaring at me.

“Yep, no blood was spilt.”

Nickolas rolled his eyes, sitting down. “Boring. I thought you would have beat him up a little, Dad.”

“The thought crossed my mind,” Griz admitted.

Snorting, I nodded. “I could tell.”

Griz huffed.

Mrs Daniels bent and kissed Griz on the cheek. “He’s a big teddy bear, really.”

I was sure to her, and maybe most of the women in the club, he did seem like that. But I was positive if anyone crossed him in any way, he’d switch in an instant.

I hoped I never changed his attitude.

For now, I believed we were on good terms.

CHAPTER SIX

SWAN

There was a storm of giddiness inside me as I watched Lockland talking with my parents and brother. Yes, he knew them when we were young, but this, now, was on a different level. He made Nicky laugh about something, but I wasn’t really listening. I was just focused on watching him here in my home.

I worried I’d wake from a dream and none of this would be real.

That Lockland wasn’t really in my house.

That he hadn’t been excited to see me.

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