“Keep an eye on his bungalow. If he exits, call Mex and Vender to grab him and lock him up too. Otherwise, we’ll deal with him when the sun rises.”
“Copy that,” Lewy says, nodding our way.
“Do you ever sleep?” Abbey asks, and Lewy offers her one of his rare smiles.
“Sometimes during the day. Otherwise, me and caffeine are best friends.”
She giggles, and we leave, fucking slowly since I can’t seem to hide my hobble now.
Jesus Christ, I’m too old for this shit.
We make our way back across the yard and down the path to the bungalow. I’m dog fucking tired, and I can see my Angel is now too, so I’m surprised when she stops at the bottom of the steps to my bungalow, looking like the weight of the world is on her shoulders.
“Angel?” I ask, and she sighs, tipping her head back to look up at the black sky of nothingness since the clouds hide all the stars.
“I don’t know how to make this work.”
Shit. My fucking heart sinks.
Is this it? Is she going to leave my old arse now?
“You want out?” I ask, hating how my voice cracks.
I told her before we got married that she could end it when all of this was over. I don’t want her to, but I’ll never force her into something again.
Those doe eyes blink up at me, the faint glow of the porch light showing me her flushed cheeks, and I brace myself for the worst.
“I don’t want out, Cam. I love you. I just never pictured having to raise Bobbi and Tahli here on a compound. I kinda thought we’d live with your mum and sisters on your property.” She shrugs as disappointment washes over her. “And now that you’re the President… if I’m at your property and not here with you, it’s only a matter of time until you find yourself an old lady.”
Her lower lip wobbles as she says old lady, and I reach out, cupping her cheek.
“Angel, no. Never. You areitfor me. My wife. My old lady. My missus. My girl. MyAngel,” I remind her, stepping up closer and pressing my forehead to hers. “I don’t know how to make this work either, but wherever I am, you are, got it?”
“But Bobbi… Tahli…”
“Angel, let me ease your worries. When I sayyou, I mean them, too. We are afamily, and I know it’s all so new and messed up now that I’m the President, but we will navigate it together.” I press my lips to the apple of her cheek before I continue. “I want to be Bobbi’s dad and a big brother to Tahli. I feel like Hope brought you all to me to fill the hole she left. I needyou, Abs. I don’t think I can do this without you.”
Pulling back, her eyes dance between mine, her hands coming up to fist the front of my cut.
“If even one of the Doxies comes on to you and tries to steal you from me, I’ll fuck them up.” She stabs a sharp finger to the centre of my chest. “And I’ll fuck you up, too. I’ll—”
“Shhhh,” I chuckle, pressing my finger to her lips to get her to stop spitting venom at me. “Theonlywoman I want is you until the day I die. I’myours, Abs. You ownme,not the other way around.”
She pouts, and it’s fucking adorable.
“You own me too,” she whispers, rising on her toes to press her lips to mine.
For a minute, I forget that I’m covered in cuts, or that I’m sporting two deep fucking gashes. I just feel her, taste her, smell her, and know, without a doubt, that I’ll love no one on this Earth more than her. Ever.
When we slip quietly back inside the bungalow, Jols and JD are still sound asleep. I hold my fucking breath, trying not to make a soundevery time I twist the wrong fucking way, feeling the burn of my hip and gut. My wife can see the pain I’m in, and helps me back into bed, and once she joins me, I finally relax again.
I’m out like a fucking light in no time, but a loud bang has me gasping awake, who knows how long later as I jerk up in pain and blindly search for my gun.
“Shhh, it’s okay.” Abbey’s soothing voice fans against my ear, and I blink a few times to clear the haze from my eyes. “Someone is banging on the door.”
“Who the fuck is disturbing my beauty sleep?!” JD yells, dragging his naked arse out of bed, not even fucking concerned that he’s flashing my wife.
The fucker swings the door open, early morning light flowing in around him as one hand scratches his head, and the other scratches his fucking arse cheek.
