Page 62 of No Second Chances

I don’t ask her to marry me. Not for the length of a heartbeat, or twenty. I have to work up the courage, and that will be a secret I keep until the day I die.

“Will you…” I pause to clear my throat. “Will you marry me?”

“Linc.” Her eyes are beaming with happiness, but her mouth is set in a grim line. “I love you, and I want to marry you. But there’s something I have to do. And if you don’t want to marry me after I tell you, I’ll understand.” She kneels down next to me right there, pressing her lips to mine. “My answer is yes. I’m just not going to hold you to it until after I show you what’s here. Until you know what I’m asking of you. It might be impossible.”

I slide my ring on her finger. “I don’t give a fuck what’s in the file, Kennedy. You’re mine, and nothing’s going to change that. I’ll make any promise I have to, as long as you’re on the other side of it.”

“Damn,” Cole says with a whistle. “The man knows how to propose.”

“Don’t worry, Cole.” Casper laughs gently, trying not to wake up her sleeping twins. “Your proposal was equally beautiful, even if it happened in a hospital room.”

“My proposal had Linc’s balls in it, so I win,” Remy announces. “Good luck topping that, suckers.”

“Well, now that you’re engaged, Kennedy Marie, why don’t you tell us why you called a family summit through Linc.” Veronica smiles at her daughter, and her father holds out his arms for her.

Kennedy hugs her parents and then stands at the only empty spot at the table. I watch her hand tremble as she puts the manila folder on the table, surprised to see the Penobscot County logo, rather than the Birch County logo that it should have.

“What’s in that file, Kennedy, and how did you get it?” Her father’s voice grows stern, like he is dealing with one of his officers and not his daughter.

We all watch as Kennedy takes a deep breath. “You’re gonna want to put the boys in their bassinet, Casper.” She lowers her eyes and then closes them. “And you’re all going to want to take a deep breath.”

“What’s in the file?” Veronica’s voice trembles. “This isn’t from when you were nineteen, is it?” Panic, the likes of which I’ve never heard from her, fills the air.

“No,” Kennedy reassures her. “This is worse.”

Veronica doesn’t even have to see the inside of the folder, and she starts to cry.

“Kennedy,” Chief Townsend bites out. “Show us.”

Kennedy stands tall, her spine stiff, and she looks down at the diamond I’ve just placed on her hand. “First,” she says quietly, “you have to promise not to do anything.”

“No.” Every voice in the room rings out. Every single one. Parker, Casper, and Veronica included.

“You have to.” Kennedy stands her ground. “This isn’t about anyone else but me. This is mine. My secret. My future. Mine.” She looks up and her eyes lock with mine. “I told you. This is going to be impossible for you. But if you can’t do it, there’s nothing here for us.”

“Holy shit,” Parker says like Kennedy isn’t standing right there. “She’s not kidding.” She shoves her husband out of the way and steps up to Kennedy’s side. “Hey.” Kennedy looks from me to her friend. “I can’t promise that I won’t get pissed. That I won’t cry. But if what you need from me is for me not to act… I won’t.”

“Same,” comes from Remy. “It’s not like I’d have a choice, anyway. Parker wouldn’t hesitate to cut out my liver.”

“I can’t promise that,” Casper whispers brokenly. She has tears streaming down her cheeks, and Cole has her wrapped in his arms protectively. “We already lost Cassie. I’m not going to let you do anything that might mean I lose you too.”

“What she said,” Cole agrees with his wife. “If it’s going to cost us you, we won’t do it.”

“Damn it,” Remy snaps. “I’m changing my answer.”

“I’m not.” Parker glares at her husband. “You’re on your own. I made my choice.”

“Kennedy.” Her father reaches forward and puts his hand on hers. “We love you. If what’s in this file is something that you can handle, that you feel confident that you can take care of, none of us will interfere.”

“Fucking right,” I mutter under my breath.

I will rot in Hell before I ever let Kennedy face anything alone. There is a reason I put my ring on her finger. I’ll kill for her. I’ll sure as fuck die for her. And if it means that I have to stand silently behind her while she fights her demons, I will.

“Now that we’ve settled that debate.” Remy leans forward and taps the folder. “Maybe you can tell us what’s in the file.”

Kennedy looks up at me, once again ignoring everyone else. “Don’t freak out.”

I know in that instant that it has to do with Royal. Her hand is on top of the file, so I put mine over hers. “I promised you. No matter what. On the other side of this, I’m not going anywhere.”

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