Page 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

M y heart hammered into my ribs. Lockland and I were on our first official date before we headed off to Melbourne that afternoon.

I still couldn’t believe we were on a date.

A date.

As in, Lockland and I were dating now.

Together.

I would forever be grateful to Maya for getting me to that meet and greet for Lockland. If I hadn’t, we’d never be where we were.

On a date.

I bit my bottom lip and smiled around it. Dad hadn’t been happy about me going to Melbourne, but Mum eventually talked him around. Though I think Dad only gave up when he learned Lockland would always have guards with us and that Lockland would allow Ruin and Wolf to be my personal protection in the city.

Lockland turned the car engine off and pulled his peaked cap low as he glanced out the rearview mirror to the car his security was in. They’d be waiting outside in their vehicle until we were done. “You ready?” he asked when he turned to me with a smile.

“Definitely.”

He hoped that with wearing the hat, no one would recognise him; he wanted this moment between just the two of us. We’d also picked a smaller restaurant for that reason.

Once out of the car, we met at the front, where Lockland took my hand before moving quickly into the restaurant.

A waiter, who was just inside the doorway, nodded and smiled. “Welcome to Jackson’s. Do you have a reservation?”

“We do, under Swan Daniels,” I said.

The man looked to his digital device. “Yes, right this way.” He led us through the place that was nearly full of patrons. Some looked our way, but they turned back to their own party just as fast, which was good.

When we stopped at a table in the back, which was more secluded than others, the waiter said, “Please take a seat. Can I start with drinks?”

“I’ll just have water,” I told him.

“Do you have Carlton Draught?”

“Yes. I’ll be back shortly.” He walked away, and I took a quick glance around.

“I think we’re in the clear.”

Lockland took my hand and smiled, brushing his thumb over my skin. “That’s what I love about country towns. The people seem to be less in your face. Even if they did notice me, they’re respectful and wait until I look approachable.”

“Cities are different?”

“Very. And don’t get me wrong, I still have my moments in country towns, but it’s a lot less.”

“Do you have a favourite place to visit?”

“Here. With you.”

Heat hit my cheeks. “That’s very sweet, but is there another?”

“I got to go to Antarctica once. I’ve always wanted to go back. The place is magical. One year I’d love to take you.”

“I’d like that,” I said softly.

“Swan, when I asked you about Japan, I don’t want you to feel you have to go. We could do long distance for a while.”

I shook my head. “I’ve already made up my mind, though.”

Even with all the time that had passed, I could still tell what he was feeling, and right then, he looked hopeful but played it casual, saying, “Oh?”

“I would love to travel with you, Lockland.” A new blush rose from just thinking of my next words. “I don’t want to have any more days without you in them.”

“Angel,” he whispered and swallowed. He brought my hand up to his lips and pressed a kiss there.

A shiver raced down my spine.

“Japan will be the last tour I want to do. The sooner we can get back here, the better.”

“Do you really want to live in Ballarat again?”

“I wouldn’t take you away from this place and your family. Plus, it’s always felt like home to me.”

I gave him a watery smile. “I worry you’ll do all this for me and regret?—”

He stood and knelt beside me, cupping my cheek. “I’ll never regret anything that involves you, Swan. I know we’ve missed a lot with each other, but you’re my sanctuary. That will never change.”

I sniffed. “Lockland.”

He grinned before he pressed his lips to mine, making flutters come to life inside me.

A throat cleared just as our drinks were placed down. “Sorry to interrupt, but are you both ready to order?”

Lockland chuckled as he stood and took his seat again. “I’ll have the steak with mash, gravy, and vegetables.”

“And I’ll have the gnocchi, please.” We handed him our menus before he took off to put our order in.

Lockland shifted his chair closer to mine, and we shared a smile.

Would it ever sink in that Lockland was really mine?

I doubted it.

But maybe with time.

“I have an important question, Swan.”

“What?”

“What kind of music do you listen to?”

Laughing, I rolled my eyes. “To tell you the truth, I haven’t missed an album from you. You’ll always be my favourite.”

His eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yes. Which songs of yours do you love the most?”

His whole face lit up before he started telling me about the music that really meant something to him. I loved hearing him talk, watching his hands move around when he played the invisible guitar.

He really did love his job.

While he said he hated the spotlight and just needed to create and sing without all the other business, I needed to make sure that was what he really wanted.

The waiter arrived with our food, and while we ate, he asked me about working at the library.

It was my turn to tell him all the things I loved doing there. Especially when I ran Kids’ Corner every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. That was where I got to read to the babies and children under the age of four.

If I had to read aloud in front of anyone else, I wouldn’t be able to do it. But with the kids, I loved seeing how rapt they were with the stories I picked.

I placed my fork in the empty bowl and smiled. “Sorry, I tend to ramble.”

He winked. “Never apologise, Swanny. I love listening to you. Besides, you heard me going on and on about music.”

“I’ve always liked your voice,” I admitted to the table.

When his hand settled over mine, I looked up and caught him staring down at our hands. He met my stare. “I like this.”

“What?”

“That I can touch you in a way a boyfriend would with his girlfriend.” He leaned towards me. “And I can kiss you now, too, right?”

I nodded. “Anytime,” I breathed.

Our lips touched just when someone said, “Sorry to interrupt.”

My phone rang in that moment too. I pulled it out to glance at the screen.

“It’s Dad,” I said. I stood and took a step back. “I’ll see what he needs.”

Lockland smiled and nodded, turning his attention to the waiter.

There were two sharp bangs from outside. I looked out the windows and saw people running and screaming.

What in the world?

Confused, I drew my brows down as I answered, “Hi, Dad, what’s?—”

“Tell me you’re not at Jackson’s with Lockland,” he ordered, seeming almost out of breath. I heard voices in the background and car doors being slammed.

“Why?” I asked on a whisper as the fear slammed into me.

“Get out the back now .”

“Dad?”

Screams started inside the restaurant, and people scrambled to their feet.

Lockland stood, looking towards the door and back to me over and over.

“Swan, what’s going on?” Dad demanded.

“Anyone move and I start shooting,” a woman screamed.

People froze.

“Swan?” Dad’s panicked voice came through the phone. “Sweetheart, tell me what’s going on.”

I couldn’t tell him anything.

Not when my heart was lodged in my throat.

Not when the woman’s eyes were locked onto Lockland.

“You were supposed to love me!” she yelled.

“Who are you?” Lockland asked.

She snarled at him with a crazed scream. “I heard the song. I knew it was meant for me. It was supposed to be me!” Her gaze swung to me. “Until she showed. There was a photo online of you hugging her at the meet and greet. You didn’t hug anyone else but that… thing . Then I saw the comments. People saying you know her. People saying you love her.”

Into the phone, I heard, “Hold on, kid. Hold on, Swan. We’re close. The club is comin’. Put me on speaker, sweetheart. Put me on speaker so I can hear as I record it and drop the phone to your side. You don’t want to anger her.”

I wanted to throw up. My body was tight with fear, but I did what he said as I also registered sirens off in the distance outside.

The woman let out a frustrated growl and waved the gun around when she said, “It made me sick seeing you with other women in America. But I could deal. I had to. I wasn’t over there with you. Now you’re here. You’re here , and you didn’t even look into my eyes like you said you would in our song.”

Someone moved off to the side. In an instant, she aimed the gun there. “Move again and I’ll shoot you.”

Lockland took a step back towards me.

The woman snapped her attention to him.

Lockland’s hands went up in front of him. “I’m sorry I didn’t treat you right. But it doesn’t stop us from getting to know each other now. How about we let everyone leave, and we can have a meal together? Talk.”

She threw her head back and cackled.

My stomach churned and heart pounded.

Lockland took another step towards me.

There was a door not far from where I stood. We could make a run for it.

She stamped her foot twice, aiming the gun at Lockland. “Don’t move. Don’t move. Don’t fucking move.”

“Okay. I hear you…. What’s your name?”

Tears welled in her crazed eyes and fell to her cheeks. “You don’t remember my name?”

“I’m sorry. I-I met a lot of people that day.”

“I’m not special. I’m not memorable. I’m nothing. To you, to my family, to anyone!”

“You are. I want to get to know you. Let everyone go and we’ll talk.”

She shook her head. “I’m not special. I thought we had a connection yesterday. We talked about the song. We laughed and smiled. We had something. But you didn’t look into my eyes!”

“Mary,” Lockland said, moving another step back to me.

Her eyes widened. “You do remember.”

“I do, honey. I remember you.” He nodded, taking another step closer to me. “We both love the song ‘Written for You.’”

We have to run. We have to get out of here.

She sniffed and wiped at her nose with the back of her free hand. The one that still held the gun up shook. “Our song.”

“That’s right. It’s our song. How about they all leave so we can talk about it more?”

She stared at him, then shook her head. “I can see what you’re doing.” She moved to the side to stare at me. “You just want to save her. You do love her. You do care for her. More than me.” Another scream ripped from her as she swung the gun and aimed at me.

“Mary. She’s a friend I knew in high school. We were just getting lunch together.”

“No. No, no, no.” She pulled at her hair and sneered at me. “He loves you. He won’t love me. He won’t be mine.”

“I can be,” Lockland said quickly. “If you listen to me, I’ll be yours.”

“Lies,” she screeched.

My eyes widened when I saw behind Mary a woman trying to hold a man with her back, but he brushed her off and started to creep up on Mary.

She must have sensed him, felt him. Mary spun and fired; the man cried out and fell to his arse with blood pooling around his shoulder.

“No!” Lockland yelled.

I whimpered and slapped a hand over my mouth.

“Don’t move. Don’t move,” Mary screamed.

We weren’t getting out of here.

If she was willing to shoot someone, she would know there’d be no going back from that.

Where were the police?

Where was my family?

Someone had to stop this.

“Lockland,” I said. He glanced back, and I waved a hand to the door.

He nodded and mouthed, “You go.”

“What are you doing?” Mary screamed. She came towards us, waving the gun around. My phone slipped from my hand and dropped to the floor.

People crouched, sobbed, and held onto one another.

“You don’t talk to him. Don’t look at him,” Mary snarled at me.

“Mary, look at me.” Lockland tried for her attention, but she wasn’t looking away from me.

Was this how I was going to die?

“Mary, please. Look at me, darling.”

“You can’t have him,” she told me.

“I don’t want her, Mary.”

“He’s mine,” she spat. “They said he’ll be mine.”

Who said?

“Mary. I told you I can be yours.”

Tears filled her eyes and fell. “But he loves you. He won’t love me until you’re gone.”

“Mary, please, just look at me.”

“I see it now. I can hear his fear when it’s for you.” She nodded. “He loves you.” She smiled. “But he’ll love me when you’re gone.”

The door to the side swung open, and Dad stood in the doorway.

His eyes widened.

A gun fired.

Wetness sprayed my face as I closed my eyes.

Where was the pain?

Wasn’t there supposed to be pain when shot?

There was a groan.

I opened my eyes to Lockland standing in front of me.

My tears welled.

Red coated his chest.

“No!” I screamed, my heart cracking wide open.

Lockland smiled down at me. Blood dripped from his mouth as he choked over the words, “Love you, Swan.”

Another scream tore out of me as his body dropped to the floor. My throat felt ripped open; I closed a hand around it, whimpering.

No, no, no. No!

Blood. There was too much.

I wanted to reach out, to touch and shake him awake, but all I could do was stare.

Blood.

Everywhere.

His eyes were closed. No breaths. No movements.

Warm hands wrapped around my arms, whispered words in my ear.

Dad.

Another whimper escaped me.

But I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t look away from him.

Lockland.

Blood. Everywhere. As much as I tried to blink the image away, it stayed inked in my brain.

Not him. Not Lockland. Please, please, not him.

Take me.

Take me instead.

Take me!

My feet moved, butt to seat, but I couldn’t stop staring at the man I loved.

A cloth covered him. Blood soaked through.

So much blood.

Too much.

“Swan, breathe, sweetheart. Come on. For me, baby girl.”

Dad.

“That’s it, in and out. Keep going.”

In and out.

All I could do was focus on my lungs, the air thick and cloying, as I numbly stared down at the man who had my heart.