LUCI (The Naughty Ones Book 2) Read Online Free

have to feel guilty.”
    “I don’t—”
    “And that’s good, because you know what? It’s made me think about myself and what I want. Thanks, Cage, I finally understand what I need to do.”
    I’m not sure what she means because she rises almost immediately after that statement and walks away, leaving the waiting room. I do know that the feeling of dread that consumes me is completely real.
    I’ve lost Luci, my sandy-blond, green-eyed sprite.
    I went and fucking broke rule two without even knowing it, and screwed it all up before it even began.

Chapter Four
    A Jack by Any Other Name…
    Luci
    We’re all crammed into chairs, contorted like pretzels or stretched to the point of falling to the floor seven hours later when a harried Jack comes running into the room and just starts yelling at the top of his lungs like a madman.
    “Oh my God. He’s, he’s a she. It’s a girl!”
    My heart squeezes and I feel myself start tearing up as we all stand as one and try to converge on the poor man. His black hair is standing up all over the place and he looks like he’s been through a war with those clothes and the dark circles beneath his eyes, but I have never in my life seen anyone, man or woman, this radiantly beautiful with happiness.
    Jack is, at this moment, one of the hottest men alive as far as I’m concerned. He continues to babble proudly and tell anyone who’ll listen what a fucking perfect angel his kid is, how she’s the best thing that’s happened to the world.
    Woody starts laughing and slapping him in a man hug when Jack won’t quit crowing, and I look up in time to see Freddie grinning broadly and pulling Jack into a hug that’s all tears and emotion.
    That makes me sad and happy and freaking painfully aware of what I can’t have. The ache in me is so deep in that second, I honestly don’t know how it’s possible that my heart keeps beating.
    He’ll never run into a waiting room and crow over our little girl or brag about me the way Jack’s bragging about his little warrior, Callie, for doing this amazing, miraculous thing.
    The sad truth is that he’s too fucked up to love and allow himself this joy. The more fucked-up thing is that I know that I will never have it because I swore to myself years ago I would never settle. If it won’t be him sharing that moment with me, it won’t be anyone.
    “You should have seen it all. Callie was a Goddamn rock star. It was just…”
    “Gross.”
    “Disgusting.”
    “Gruesome.”
    “Gory?” Dot asks.
    “A miracle,” I say, my throat closing and choking me as I smile at Jack and he smiles right back with so much gratitude and love that I feel humbled.
    He walks over and pulls me in for a tight embrace.
    “I’m so happy for you and Callie,” I whisper into his shirt, holding back a stream of tears as I try to reign myself in. “You two are so good together and you deserve all the happiness you can create together. Congratulations, Jack. May God bless you and the family you created.”
    “Thanks, sweetheart. Don’t give up, Luce. Don’t give up on him and what can be,” he whispers softly as he gives me one last squeeze that I almost don’t hear it. “He needs love more than anyone I’ve ever met, and you’re so full of it that it spills out even when you’re being an asshole.”
    That makes my hiccup turn into a giggle and I push him away with a huff.
    “Classy, Levin. Real classy. Now where’s the little cutie pie? She got a big head like you or is she perfect like Mama?”
    Everyone’s laughing as he blushes. I see Freddie glance at me from the corner of my eye.
    “You shush, little gabber, or I’ll slap your pate right well and good. Everyone knows a Landry girl is perfection personified. Now, where’s my great grandbaby?” Gruffy yells like a battle cry, making even Indie and her unflappable attitude take a nosedive.
    Jack, I notice, narrows his eyes at the Landry quip but chooses, wisely, to just shake his head and ignore