The MC President's Forsaken Wife (Zara and Knox) novel Chapter 348

Chapter 170-2

Chapter 170-2

25 Ponte

You’re right on time,” Locke says, his eyes instantly flicking down to the large shopping bags I’m

carrying.

“So are you,” I say, sliding my bags deep under the table near my feet, completely out of sight.

“What’s in your bags, handsome?”

I point toward the two sleek black shopping bags sitting on the bench right beside him, meticulously wrapped so nothing is visible.

Locke smirks, leaning his broad forearms on the table, his eyes sparkling with playful mischief. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“C’mon, Locke,” I say, leaning across the table, trying to catch a glimpse of a logo or a box shape:

“Give me a hint…”

“It’s none of your business until Christmas morning, baby,” Locke chuckles softly, reaching across the table to capture my hand, his big fingers lacing through mine. “You’re going to have to wait.”

“Did you get the sharpening stone for Dad?”

“Got the sharpening stone, and got Jade’s scarf,” Locke nods, leaning back against the wooden bench, looking relaxed and content. “Jade’s going to strut around the clubhouse like she owns the place. Cobra’s going to pretend he doesn’t care about the damn stone, and then spend three hours in his shed polishing every blade he owns.”

“That’s a successful shopping trip.”

The waitress comes over, setting down two steaming bowls of noodles with beef, veggies and a mild chili paste. The heat from the food rises up between us, rich and comforting after being out in

the cold.

We eat in happy, comfortable conversation, sharing noodles from each other’s bowls and laughing about the club. Locke tells me a hilarious story about Bear trying to fix the dishwasher and flooding the entire kitchen with soap suds, and I tell him about my plan to buy a tube of pink glitter for Mayhem’s plush alpaca after all, just to make sure the memory stays fresh.

“You’re evil, Zara,” Locke says.

“I’m creative,” I say, dabbing a napkin against my lips. “There’s a difference.”

As we finish our food, the quiet warmth of the restaurant settles over us. Locke rests his elbow on the table, his hand propping up his chin as he looks at me. The soft orange glow of the lantern above catches the planes of his cheekbones, throwing them into sexy relief.

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Chapter 170 2

“What’s up?” I ask.

25 Point

Just thinking about where you were last year,” Locke says. “Last Christmas, you were miserable, trapped, and forced to act like everything was fine with a goddamn coward who didn’t deserve to

breathe the same air as you.”

My heart gives a heavy thud at the mention of Knox, but the cold despair and hurt and anger

doesn’t take hold like it used to. I look at Locke’s broad shoulders, his heavy tattooed arms, and the

fierce devotion in his face.

“I was, and it was awful. I thought that was just going to be my whole life, forever.”

“You walked away from him, Zara. You had the guts to pack up, break those chains, and walk out of

that hell all on your own. Most people break under that kind of pressure. But you? You survived him, and then you left him in the fucking dirt where he belongs.”

“I walked away,” I say, leaning across the table toward him. “And it brought me straight to you.”

“Think about where we started,” Locke says, a small smile breaking through his serious expression.

“Back when I was trying to act like a cold MC member… and the whole time my chest was practically caving in every time you looked at me.”

“And then you came to my little shoebox apartment when I called you for help,” I say softly. “I remember opening the door, and you just looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that

mattered. You gave me your protection, your whole heart… before I even knew how to ask for it.”

“You didn’t have to ask,” Locke says. “It was always yours. From the second you let me in, it was

yours, and look at us now. Living together, you taking over the bathroom shelves, sleepovers in

front of the fire…”

“And I’m carrying our baby. Look how far we came, Locke.”

Locke doesn’t say anything for a long moment, then he takes some cash out of his wallet and

leaves it in the bill presenter. I can see that he’s left a generous tip, and I hope that our waitress gets herself an incredible Christmas present with it.

“Let’s get these bags home,” Locke says, getting to his feet. He reaches down, grabbing his black shopping bags in one hand, and picking up mine with the other before I can even reach for them.

“I can carry my own bags, handsome,” I say, sliding out of the booth.

“Not while I’m breathing, baby,” Locke tells me as we walk out into the crisp, cold evening air. “You can carry stuff, but you don’t have to. That’s my job now.”

“Okay, but no peeking at your present,” I say sternly. “None.”

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Chapter 170-2

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“No?”

+25 Point

“Not a chance.” He grins down at me. “I don’t usually like surprises, but I’m fond of yours. In fact, I like ’em just fine.”

“Good to know,” I say, nudging my shoulder against his arm as we reach his truck. “Because now that you’ve said that, I might just have to pull out a few more.”

Locke stops by the passenger side, setting the bags securely into the cab. He turns back to me resting one heavy hand on the frame of the open door, trapping me comfortably against his chest

as he leans in.

“Is that a promise, Zara?” His eyes flash with that slow, wicked spark. “Huh, baby?”

“More like an offer,” I murmur, looking up at him. “Once we get back to the apartment and put these away… maybe I’ll have a real surprise waiting for you behind closed doors. If you play your cards right, I mean.”

Locke lets out a low, rough chuckle, his hand dropping to my waist to pull me closer, the cold air disappearing between us.

“Baby, I’m playing whatever cards I have to to get us home faster,” he says, leaning down to brush his lips softly against mine, quick and full of heat. “Now, get that cute little ass into the truck before I decide to get my first surprise right here in this parking lot.”

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