His words swirl around inside my brain, but they don’t compute. It’s Lainey’s gasp, then her cry, that makes me jump, and realization slams into me. He’s dead. “Jeffrey is dead?” I ask.
“Killed himself in the jail cell. Didn’t want to face the life of a pedo in prison, I guess. Can’t say I blame him, but I’d hoped he’d at least make it to Hogg’s cell block so he could deal with him.”
I know that Hogg is one of the Vicious Reapers who is in prison for life for murder. I don’t know much about the case. I was in middle school when he went to trial and was sent away.
My uncle represented him, of course, and the loss was a big blow to the club. My uncle couldn’t believe he lost. He thought it was going to go a completely different way. Everyone did. It was devastating for the club, but even more for my uncle, who felt like he had failed everyone.
“I can’t believe he’s dead. It’s over?” I ask.
“It’s over,” Trent murmurs.
We stare at one another for a long moment. Lainey walks away. I can hear her feet pad toward her bedroom, but I can’t see anything, anyone, but Trent. Tears fill my eyes. I can’t believe this is real. That it’s happening.
He closes the distance between us again and rests his forehead against mine, closing his eyes. I do the same, exhaling a breath. “Marry me, Cidney. This shit is done. The club is handled. Marry me.”
He could ask me today, tomorrow, or next week, and my answer would be the same.
“Yes,” I breathe.
“Now,” he demands.
Taking a step backward, I stare up at him in shock. “Now?” I ask, unsure that I heard him correctly, even though I know I did.
“Let’s go to Nashville and do the damn thing.”
I open my mouth to tell him that I’m not ready, at least when it comes to consummation. I am eager to be his wife, to be Mrs. Trent Fairfax, and to love him. But I don’t know when I’ll be ready tobe his wife.
“I meant it when I said that sex will come only when you’re ready, but I can’t wait to have you by my side. Walking away from you was the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever done. I want there to be no mistake. You’re mine, and I’m yours. You want a wedding later with the dress and the whole thing, it’s yours. Whatever it takes, Cidney. Whatever it fucking takes.”
CHAPTER FORTY
GOOSE
We fillout the application online, and then Cidney packs a bag. A small one. Lainey watches us during this process with sleepy yet wide eyes. She parts her lips when we have everything ready and starts to speak.
“Are you going to attempt to dissuade us?” I ask
Lainey shakes her head, her gaze staying focused on mine as she moves closer to me. She reaches out and takes my hands in hers, squeezing them gently. “I just want everyone to be happy. I know this will make you both happy, but what about Ivy and the club? I’m worried.”
“You’re sweet,” I murmur. “But I got this.”
Cidney makes her move toward us, stopping just beside me. Sliding my arm around her waist, I bring her close to my side, turning and touching my lips to the top of her head. She sinks against my side, melting into me.
“I love him, Lainey. Justin knows that, even if it’s his wishful thinking I will somehow fall out of love with Trent. I know in myheart that I won’t. He is who I want, who I am in love with, and Justin will accept it. He won’t have a choice.”
“Then you must marry him,” she whispers.
“We’ll be back in two days. Nobody will ask, but if they do, have them call me,” Cidney says.
She looks to me, her eyes wide, her lips parted. “I don’t want anyone to lie for me,” she murmurs.
Fuck me. But yeah, this is my wife.
CIDNEY
Climbing onto the back of Trent’s bike, I press my body against his as he starts the engine. Closing my eyes, I let out a sigh as the bike begins to move. The cool air slides past my skin, and that sense of freedom becomes almost overwhelming.
It’s perfection.
