Aubert pointed to the body on the floor, the watch Jackson had described confirming his identity as the owner and jeweler, as if there was any doubt. “He said it was you.”
“It’s me,” Damien said.
“I can’t thank you enough. They were—”
Ryan’s unique ringtone interrupted Aubert, and Damien pulled out his phone as he held up a finger in apology. “What’s the status?”
“The team got them. The vault was open, and they started to fire, but they took them down. Paramedics on their way and a team searching the building for more perps.”
“Glad to hear it. We’re secure here.” He ended the call, then turned to Aubert. “The two in the vault have been apprehended. They—”
He stumbled over his words as the realization hit him, then wanted to kick himself for reacting. Because Aubert saw the reaction, and in that moment he knew.
And even as Damien lifted the Glock again, Aubert pulled his own weapon, hidden beneath his jacket. He aimed, and as Damien fired, Aubert did, too.
Only Aubert was firing at Nikki, the bullet grazing the shoulder of Red, the bartender who had leaped on top of her and slammed her to the ground.
“Nikki!” Damien’s voice filled the room, overpowering even the explosive sound of the bullets. He kicked Aubert’s gun away from where the jeweler had fallen, then slid to Nikki’s side.
“She’s okay,” Red said as Damien pulled her into his arms.
“I’m fine,” she affirmed. “Damien, I’m fine.”
His heart pounded in his ears as he looked to Red, who’d moved to Aubert and was securing the injured man. “Your shoulder.”
Red shook his head. “Had worse, believe me. Worked SWAT before I gave up police work. But seriously, man. What the fuck? Aubert had a gun? How did you know?”
“The vault. Jackson—this place’s architect—told me that Aubert had a failsafe combination that would drop another wall. Lock them in. And if he was nervous and gave the real code, he could use his watch to drop the wall.”
“He was in on it,” Nikki said, catching on. “Hired someone to steal the stone, collect the insurance money, and a cut of the money from the buyer.”
“That’s about it,” Damien agreed, then held out a hand for her as Ryan and Liam entered the bar.
“Take care of these folks,” Damien said. “I need a moment with my wife.”
Ryan nodded, and Damien led Nikki to the back corner of the bar. She paused on the way, grabbing her purse from where a pile of them had been collected on a table.
“I was so scared,” she admitted, sliding into his arms. “I believed we’d be okay—I believed in you—but I was still so damn scared. Especially when—Oh, God, for a while I thought you were dead. I told myself you couldn’t be, but—”
A sob escaped her, and he kissed her forehead, then simply held her. “I know,” he said. “Baby, believe me. I know.”
After a moment, he felt her draw a breath. She leaned back, her smile soft as she said, “I have something for you. I wanted to give it to you earlier. I wish I had. I would have liked you to know all of it.”
“All of it?”
Her smile warmed his heart. “All of what you were fighting to protect.”
He frowned, confused. Then even more confused when she put a small, rectangular package in his hand. He unwrapped it, then opened the box to reveal a pregnancy test—positive—with a blue ribbon around it.
His heart fluttered, and he looked at his wife, afraid he was misunderstanding. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded, her smile so wide she was practically glowing. “Three months now. Safe,” she added, as if he didn’t already know what three months meant for them.
He swallowed. “And the ribbon? Are you saying it’s a boy?”
He wouldn’t have thought it possible, but her smile brightened.
“I am,” she said, sliding into his arms.
“Oh, baby.” Joy washed through him. Another child. Another little person joining their family. A baby brother for his girls. A son for him and Nikki. Dear God. What had he ever done to deserve to be so damn lucky?
“I thought this would be the best Christmas present,” she said. “I didn’t think it would be competing against keeping us alive.”
He had to laugh. Then he kissed her head, his entire being buzzing with happiness. “Yippee-ki-yay,” he said, then kissed the woman he loved.
Chapter Fourteen
“Daddy, Daddy! Can we see the big tree again? Please?”
“Please,” Anne adds, backing up her big sister.
“Soon,” Damien promises. “Our guests just arrived.”
We’re in the penthouse suite at the