I stomp my foot. “His name is Kooper, not Dixon. He’s a brother, and he deserves the respect of the name given to him.”
“That right?” Casper gives me a look of childish disbelief. “And who might you be?”
“Peaches,” Kooper says before I do. He comes up to me and pulls me back to him.
“You sure about this? I’ve got no problem living as Dixon for you,” he says into my ear before I turn in his arms.
“I want you to be happy.”
“I’m happy with you.”
Fucking asshole keeps saying sweet things, and I’m going to cry. Which I really hate doing, no matter how many times the baby forces me to.
“You can have both. All of it, whatever you want. But we both know I’m going to piss you off. You’re going to need to vent to someone. So join your little club. Talk your little talk. And come home to me each night.”
The boys around us chuckle, and I get close, blocking them out as I hold my hand to the side of his face. “I don’t need a knight to fight my dragons. I just need you. If that means I get a Hound in leather with chrome for a steed, I’ll take it.”
“Deal,” he growls a second before he kisses me soundly as the entire place erupts with cheers.
“About damn time. Bulldog, go get Kooper’s vest off my desk. And get the one that says ‘Peaches’ with it.”
I break my kiss and turn to Casper, who grins. “Welcome to the family.”
Family. I had one growing up. Thought I lost it. But then I found it again. With Kooper.
Because I became his.
As if reading my mind, he pulls me close and sings in my ear, pulling a giggle from my lips and joy from my heart.
“Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Peaches, Ilove you.”
Chapter 44—Natalie
The beeping of the hospital machines brings me out of my sleep. Every time I fall asleep with it, I swear I won’t get more than an hour. But the sun is shining through the blinds, and I know I must have slept for a solid eight hours, if not more.
The doctors keep giving me things to help me sleep. They say I have night terrors and wake up and start moving. But that’s the issue. I can’t move. I’ve got a broken leg, so I keep causing more damage to myself.
I feel like I’ve been in here for years, but I’m told it’s been closer to a month. I just hope I get out soon.
“Hey, Nat.”
I look left and feel my face light up. Ruby. She hasn’t come to see me at all, but I didn’t blame her for it. Shit went down for us. I don’t want her to see me and think ill will. Being kidnapped is no joke. Everyone processes it differently.
Still, I wouldn’t have minded if she’d showed a little earlier. I can only take so much daytime television. At least there was a nice volunteer nurse who came in a while back and showed me how to crochet. I suck at it, but it keeps my mind focused on something other than living in that damn cell.
And even though I have a hospital bed to sleep in and fresh food every day, I still feel like I’m in that that room.
“Hi! How are you?”
She moves closer to my bed but doesn’t meet my hand when I reach out for her.
My gut sinks at her reaction to me. Something is off, and I just feel the need to cry.
“Wh-what’s wrong?” I stumble over my lips as I lick them to keep the dryness at bay.
“You have a visitor.”
I tilt my head in confusion. Maybe she’s more messed up than me, because as far as I’m concerned,she’smy visitor.
