Page 23 of From Angel to Rogue (Four Foxes #6)

LAN

I couldn’t contain my smile but forced myself to maintain an impassive face.

I was putting on an act; I all but jumped out of my bed when she called me this morning. But I didn’t show just how excited I was.

Because Katy needed to realize by herself that she wanted me in her life rather than using me as an excuse to feed off her purpose.

I wanted my Katy to want me, knowing I wanted nothing but her in return.

When the time was right, I wanted her to trust me enough to come to me as just her, and I’d hold her in my arms forever without letting go.

But till then, I was keeping my distance.

Katy and I still had a long way to go.

And I had all the time in the fucking world.

My eyes were glued to the side mirror, watching her golden hair fly in the sky. A happy smile danced on her lips as if she was experiencing life in a long time. Her pale green eyes were glowing with so much trust as she held on to me for dear life.

In all my years, Katy had never gotten on my bike, and I was sure she would find a way to fight it, but damn did she surprise me.

The absence of her engagement ring didn’t slip by me. A diamond that told the world she was mine. She was wearing it even in New Orleans. It made me wonder, did she take it off because she no longer wanted to be my wife or no longer wanted to keep up the facade to our friends that we were together?

Knowing Katy, I wouldn’t get the answer to that anytime soon.

But we were at least getting somewhere. What good did a ring do in our relationship anyway?

It wasn’t long before we slowed down as we entered Iona. I’ve never been to this town, but I knew Matty volunteered here at a local home teaching kids how to play drums. Knowing she spent the last two weeks at his place, I was sure that was how Katy met Luka.

I was skeptical about her sudden decision. Adopting a child wasn’t an easy task. I knew if Katy said I would like him, I definitely would, and I knew we could give him everything.

But what worried me was her.

Katy’s coping mechanism was to take on projects and work her way through them, and I didn’t want her to do this for all the wrong reasons.

“Right up there, Lan.” Katy gestured to the old stone buildings lined with potted plants dying to welcome winter.

I nodded, clutching to the first gear as I braked us to a stop by the curb. “Careful,” I muttered as I got her off.

She mumbled a thanks, drawing her chunky cardigan closer. I was thankful today was a rare sunny day, or else knowing Katy, a bike ride on a fall day would’ve frozen her to the bone.

I followed Katy as she led me through a side door that opened to a small but decent reception area which had no one in sight.

“I think they must be through there,” she muttered and took a tentative step toward the office door to the right.

I waited as she spoke in hushed tones to someone before gesturing for me.

I closed my distance to her and entered the small office with a tiny wooden desk and two chairs in the front.

“This is Landon,” Katy introduced me to a lady with blue eyes, wearing a long dress and a beaded rosary around her neck. “Lan, this is Lucia. She and her husband, Peter, run this place.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said, shaking the hand she held.

Lucia smiled, her eyes creasing. “I must say this is a nice surprise. I wasn’t expecting you both today. Mr. Evans didn’t tell me anything.”

“Hmm,” Katy said, hesitantly. “We actually decided to come out here on our own. Lan and I…” Her eyes darted to me. “We were hoping we could see Luka today.”

“Luka would be in his classes now, but I can arrange for you to see him,” Lucia said, her eyes laced with question. “But may I ask why?”

“We were thinking that, umm.” Katy swallowed, twirling her finger on the side of her dress. “That maybe…”

I slid an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to me. “We were thinking if Luka could come live with us, only if that’s something that he’s okay with, something you’re okay with. And if he does, we’d like to adopt him as our own.”

Lucia’s smile widened. “Of course, adoption is very rare here at St. Mary’s, but we love it when our children can find the home they deserve. We need to speak with his social worker to make anything happen. Why don’t you meet him first? And we’ll go through the process later?”

“Of course,” I said.

“Please take a seat, or would you like to wait by the garden outside, and I will bring him out?”

“We can wait outside if you don’t mind,” I replied.

“It’s right where we brought the kids out last time Katy. I hope you know where it is.” Lucia eyed Katy.

“Yes.” Katy flashed her a smile, and Lucia nodded before disappearing down the long corridor.

Katy and I exited through the same door we came in and ventured to the path around the back, which led to a neatly kept open space that had a lawn with autumn trees on one side and a sandbox playground on the other.

“I hope you like him,” Katy whispered while we waited, our eyes trained on the back door of the building which burst open seconds later. Lucia came out holding a little boy’s hand who had his brows pinched in an adorable frown.

One look at him and I knew why Katy wanted him to be ours.

I felt it—the need to protect him, the need to give him everything before I even spoke a word to him.

He was so tiny for his age, wearing a black jumper that swallowed his frame over his uniform. His brown eyes, almost the same shade as mine, held the kind of emptiness that made my heart tug. I suddenly felt an immense rush of anger to destroy every single person who put that look in his eyes.

Lucia crouched lower and whispered something to him, which made Luka look in our direction, and my breath hitched when his lips spread into a wide smile.

“Katiew,” he shouted before running toward her, and Katy caught him in her arms, her eyes brimming with love and adoration as she held him tight.

Looking at them both, something painfully hopeful filled my chest.

It was then that I knew Luka would be our son.

No matter what.

“Luka, baby, let me see you,” Katy said, holding him by his shoulders. “Wow, is it just me, or did you grow up since the last time I saw you?”

“You only saw me thrwee days ago, Katiew,” he said quietly, but the emptiness in his eyes vanished at the sight of her.

Only my angel could do that.

“More like five,” she whispered, rubbing a soft thumb over his cheek. “But I missed you so much.”

“I did too,” he replied. “Is Mr. Matty with you? Why did you ask me to come? Did you bring me a chocolate milkshake?”

“No baby, sorry,” Katy mumbled, pointing toward me. “I brought someone to meet you.”

“Who?” His lips pouted in question as he lifted his eyes to me.

A smile pulled my lips as I crouched beside Katy. “Hey, buddy. I’m Lan, or you can call me Landon.”

His eyes squinted as he thought for a long moment. “Lawndon? I have never heard that name before.”

“That’s because only strong boys get to have that name,” I said in a serious tone. “Do you want to know another name they give to strong boys?”

“No.” His eyes widened as he shook his head.

I leaned closer to his ear. “Luka,” I whispered, cupping a hand over my mouth.

“Really?” His eyes shone with excitement. “That’s my name.”

“Let me see your muscles then.”

He proudly showed off his biceps.

I poked my finger on his tiny arm. “Wow,” I said in a shocked whisper. “You’re definitely strong.”

“Does that mean we get to be superheroes, Mr. Lawndon?”

“Yes, but only when you’re a grown-up.”

“So you’re like a superhero?” he asked in a hushed tone while Katy watched us with a grin.

“Yes, buddy.”

“Lawndon, is Mr. Matty a superhero too? Because Mr. Matty is big and tall.”

“No, buddy. Only Landons and Lukas get to be superheroes.”

“Okay.” He nodded. “Can you teach me? I really, really want to be a superhero when I grow older.”

“Of course, buddy.” I held my fist out to him, and his tiny one met mine with a fierce force.

We borrowed Luka till lunch break to spend some time with him and took him to the local park, arms full of chocolate milkshake and fries.

We also made sure to get shakes and fries delivered to all the kids as a treat. It was the least we could do.

We spent the next hour having the most serious non-serious conversation with Luka while I explained about superheroes and evil people which seemed to intrigue him for some reason.

“Lawndon, do you think…” Luka asked, picking on a blade of grass. “When I grow older, I can save people from other evil people? Because I screawmed for help, but there was no superhero to save me. But maybe… maybe I could save someone else, and they wouldn’t be hurt like me.”

My heart tugged, and I met Katy’s eyes, which welled with unshed tears.

“Of course buddy.” My voice laced with emotion as I dragged a finger across his soft cheek. “But no one ever is going to hurt you after this, okay? I’m not going to let them,” I promised.

“Really?” He blinked.

“Yes, baby,” Katy answered before I could as she hugged him tightly. “No one is ever going to hurt you.”

“Okay,” he mumbled, a faint smile whispering on his lips.

“Do you like spending time with Lan and me?” Katy asked him with a shaky smile.

“Yes, I do.” He nodded. “It’s the most fun I have.”

“How about?” Katy swallowed, her eyes bouncing between us.

“How would you like to come live with Lan and me in the city? We could play, have chocolate milkshakes, and do anything you like. Of course, school is still important, but you’ll be going to a different school and making new friends. Would that be something you like?”

His brows furrowed. “With you and Mr. Lawndon? I don’t have to live with Lucia and Peter, and my friends anymore?”

“Yes, you can come live with us, like a family, and we’ll take care of you and keep you safe,” I told him. “And of course, do all the fun things, and you’ll even have your own room, and we can see Matty and Sierra every day. We would still come here to visit your friends and Lucia and Peter.”

He thought for a long second before he nodded. “Okay.” He smiled. “I think I like that. I’ve never had my own room before.”

“Good,” I replied, ruffling his hair. Katy hugged him tighter, mumbling she loved him already.

Luka’s eyes still had the same bright look when we dropped him back at St. Mary’s, where Lucia informed us that Luka’s social worker would be in touch with us soon.

“That went well, right?” Katy asked, her eyes glinting with motherly love as we watched Luka disappear back into the building. “I love him already, Lan. Isn’t he the sweetest?”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “He’s a good kid.”

“Do you umm…” Her hesitant eyes flew to me. “Do you like him? I don’t want you to do this just for me. I know how big of a responsibility it is to bring a kid home, and if that’s something you don’t want to do, I can figure something…”

I gave her a sharp look that stopped her mid-sentence. “Luka is ours , Katy. We do this together or not at all.”

She nodded, her eyes softening.