Dauntless (The LockDown Series Book 2) (38 page)

Melissa was put to bed over an hour ago and by the sounds of the monitor, is sleeping peacefully. Today has been out of this world amazing, everything I anticipated and more.

I love my wife with raw ferocity, I love my daughter and son more than my own life and I love my life and everyone in it.

I breathe out a contented sigh as my reception quietens down. “I still can’t believe it; Mr Leighton Lock is married with kids. It’s something I thought I’d never see, especially after Josie,” Antonio says as he throws an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into a side hug.

“I know mate, never thought I’d see the day either. But Abbi, god man, she is just my absolute everything,” I admit to him, being a soppy old bastard.

“I know how you feel bro,” he tells me and I turn my head quickly to him.

“You feel that strong about George?” I ask him, because to put it simply, this is orgy, casual fuck, Antonio.

“Yes, mate, I do. I wanted to ask you something and I hope you’ll let me?” he says and I haven’t any idea of what he wants.

“Go on?” I look quizzically at him, having to turn my head up a little.

“I wanted to ask your permission to ask Georgia to be my wife?” He blushes all over, his tanned skin turning scarlet.

“No fucking way!” I say happily, not angrily. “Abso-fucking-lutely,” I tell him, turning fully to hug him properly. “You best ask Brandon as well though, mate. I know I am the eldest, but it will be important to both Georgia and Brandon if you ask him also. ”

“Don’t worry I will. Thanks Leigh. Thanks for everything. For letting me have Abbi for a while, for our time together, for letting me be an uncle to Melissa and Joe, for being my brother and for blessing me with your sister. I love you man.” I am going to miss the guy and everything about him.

“I love you too, Ant. Now, you best go get your lady.” I slap his back and watch as he rushes off and picks my sister up, swirling her in his arms before laying a kiss on her lips.

I take a sip from my scotch and relish in the fact I don’t need anything else. This is the start to a magnificent journey that I can’t wait to take.

I can’t wait to get my wife upstairs and in bed, to strip that delicate lace from her exquisite body and bear witness to her flawless form.

I watch as Abbi walks across the room, her dress glowing in the disco ball lights. Her hips sashaying sexily and her face is vibrant with an intoxicating smile.

She reaches me and holds me around my neck as she kisses me. “The party is nearly over, I’m real tired. I’ve said goodbye. I’m going to go check on Mel and Joe and then go to bed. I love you baby, I’ll see you upstairs soon okay.” She kisses me once more and I stroke her arse as she walks past me, grabbing the baby monitor and leaving the room.

“You are one lucky man, Leighton,” Scott says as he stands beside me and joins me in a scotch he really doesn’t need. He is already well over cut, stumbling and mumbling his words. This is going to end in a mega hang over for him.

“Only you to go now, mate,” I tell him. Everyone in our family now taken, yet he is still alone and I know it is affecting him no matter how hard of an exterior he puts on.

“I’ll be okay mate. I’m just me,” he replies sadly as he downs the rest of his scotch, places the tumbler down and walks outside to the patio.

Today has been the best day in my entire life. Everything is complete now, everything is whole and I am a hundred percent alive again. I look down at my wedding band as I walk through the downstairs of my home, on my way to kiss my princess goodnight and then spend my wedding night the way it should be spent.

Joseph is still asleep downstairs, ready for his dad to take him to bed. I love him so much already, intrigued by his genius brain and powerful heart.

Tied to the bedposts, my back red-striped from my favourite flogger and thoroughly fucked at the end of it. Sure, it isn’t the conventional way to spend your marital night, but to me and to Leighton it is goddamn perfect. I want to be already naked and waiting for him, but I know I will only end up with a very sore arse for taking my dress off without him.

I know he is going to enjoy what I have on underneath, he is a sucker for sexy lingerie and me, well I am a sucker for him. I’ll do anything to please him.

I take the huge staircase, holding my dress up so I don’t tread on the beautiful delicate lace that fringes it. It looks amazing on, and felt like a dream earlier, during the ceremony and most of the reception, but now having had it on pretty much all day, I need to let my torso breathe. The lace ribbons at the back are pulled tight to my body, clinging to my curvaceous hips and slim waist.

I suddenly feel awful for those women who lived through the Victorian era, having to wear boned corsets day in day out. I can imagine the pain they inflicted on their bodies just to pull a tiny bit of soft stomach in.

I reach the top landing, twirling around as if I am a magical princess, my arms out to my sides. I feel refreshed as I take the hallway to Melissa’s room. I push the door open and walk to my daughter’s cot, her little mobile hanging and lighting the otherwise dark room.

She is peacefully sleeping, her little chest rising and falling with every breath she takes. Her head is still full of a mop of dark blonde hair, her eyes the same green as her father’s. She is perfect by anybody’s standards.

“Goodnight princess,” I say quietly as I kiss her soft head. “Mummy loves you millions.” I stroke her soft hair and then cover her back up with her blanket.

I smile brightly as I leave the room, walking to my bedroom. I need the bathroom bad, and with this dress on it is a nightmare. I manoeuvre myself onto the toilet, praying to God I don’t accidently pee on the beautiful ivory lace.

“Ahhhhhhh,” I sigh, relieved to feel this kind of comfort. I flush the chain, wash my hands, and flatten the lace back down. It has been a very long day, waking up at the crack of dawn to get me and my bridesmaid’s looking as beautiful as we were. Dealing with, once again, a breakdown from Maria about the size she is. It was a tight squeeze into her dress as she has ballooned once again. The poor woman is bound to explode if a pin’s put to her stomach.

I collect candles from the bathroom and lace our master suite with them, every surface covered, glowing and flickering as I light each wick.

I smile brightly as I look to my watch and count how long I have been gone. Leighton is sure to be joining me soon, and I want to be outside the room when he comes, so he can carry me over the threshold. I know I’ll only hurt his feelings if I don’t give him that.

I breathe out heavily as I smooth my dress down once more, making sure I look perfect for our first night as a married couple.

I walk into the hallway, pacing the corridor trying to settle my nerves. Why I am nervous I have no clue, we have been together hundreds of times, but for some reason I feel under pressure to be the best I can ever be tonight. To prove to him, marrying me wasn’t a mistake.

My head flicks around as I hear soft little moans coming from my daughter’s room, I have clearly disturbed her with my frantic nerves.

I push her door open and walk inside. As I near her cot the door slams closed behind me. It makes me jump and I throw my body round to see what has caused the door to shut so fast and hard.

I scream a little as I see the reason. “Dad?” I ask frightened and confused.

I panic, and break inside when I see Melissa in his arms, her little face full of tears and screams coming from her mouth. She is pushing herself from him, trying her hardest to get to me. Her arms are out-stretched begging for my help.

Tears rush from my eyes as my hand finds its way to my mouth in shock.

“Melissa.” I walk fast towards him, ready to snatch my baby from his arms if needed.

I stumble back as he lifts a gun and points it straight at my head. “Hi, Abbi, good to see you, I must say, she’s a pretty little thing isn’t she?” he says to me as he bounces my girl in his arms. I want to be sick, expelling everything I have eaten today, on the floor.

“Please, give her back to me?” I beg, crying my eyes out.

“Well, I don’t think it’s really fair if her mum gets to live and yours didn’t. So, I suggest you be quiet and let me leave without a word,” he instructs me, still aiming the gun at me as he turns to walk from the room.

“NOOO!” I shout, following him. It is stupid, I know how crazy my father is and I know that he will use the gun in his hand if he feels it necessary or not.

I have to fight for her, give everything I have to try and get her back.

“Please, Dad, don’t take her?” I scream, almost dropping to my knees as sobs break through me, my heart cracking into a million pieces.

“She is mine now Abigail, MINE! You do not get to see her; you do not get to think of her, she will not know who you are. I will do as I please.”

“NO DAD. No! Please, I’ll do anything. Please.” Oh, god, god please, I feel numb and sick. I need my baby.

Why is he even here? He is meant to be in prison, for at least another seven years.

“No,” he replies harshly.

“Please,” I beg again, crying and screaming for help, but nobody is able to hear in the large expanse of this goddamn house.

“I SUGGEST YOU SHUT IT, ABIGAIL,” he tells me, taking the gun from my head and pointing it to my baby’s tiny little chest, her hands wrapping around the barrel as though it were a toy.

“GOD, NO! Please leave her alone. Take me. Please take me.” I try to bargain with him, my life for hers. I am more than willing to die for her.

“You think I want you, now? You’re an adult now Abigail. I do not want you nor desire to have you. This little one on the other hand, now that’s a different story.” I feel ill, violently ill. I will rip him limb from limb if he lays a single finger on her.

“NO. You are not taking her,” I shout at him.

“Goodbye,
Abigail Lock
,” he tells me simply and sadistically as he turns, aims the gun at my chest and shoots.

A heat penetrates through me, stabbing into my heart.

Blackness is all I feel, numb, dark, lonely BLACKNESS.

I AM DEAD.

~~TO BE CONTINUED~~

Shannon is a twenty something, crazy, bubbly girl from Essex in the UK. Essex has been her home for her entire life, living in the same house from birth. She loves ink, piercings and being individual and unique. She loves to go bowling, watch movies and playing Dungeons and Dragons is one of her favourite pastimes.

She began writing in 2013 with her debut novel released in march 2014. She has been a creative writer since a child, writing poems, short stories and books from the young age of 3.

She has four brother, one who has passed, and one sister, who is her best friend.

She has the most supportive father and a mother who was a massive fan of her writing. Shannon lost her mum in March 2016.

Connect with me online

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER

For updates

With a £5 gift card up for grabs every month to newsletter signups