“That’s what I thought.” She nods at our silence. “Now, cowboy up and fix this shit. Good men don’t make a woman cry.”
I wince, imagining Alena crying all night, hating this for her. So does Nash. He swallows, yielding. “Loch can marry her.”
“Hewillmarry her.” Axel double-downs. “Now.”
Mom arches a brow. “Does someone care to ask Alena what she wants, or shall we just dust off the golden key to her chastity belt and call it done?”
Fucking Grant and Sire choke on their chuckles. It’s only funny to them because they’re not in Mom’s line of fire.
“Give them time.” Jace quells their humor, helping me fight for my love. “Sometimes you need patience.” Sounds like he’s fighting for his too.
“Loch’s known her his whole life,” Axel debates. “And heknows better. He knew what he was doing, making her fall in love with him. Fuck patience: he’ll pay the price.”
“Don’t act like loving Alena is my punishment,” I bark back. “It’s myhonorto love her.”
“If you really loved her, you’d walk away,” Nash scolds. “You’d think about her safety first. She’s been a target her whole life, remember?”
The kidnapping attempt.
I remember while Grant reminds us, “We still don’t know who that was.”
“Who gives a fuck?” Nash is fuming. “He came aftermydaughter.Mybaby. You all will see what it’s like when you have kids. It’s not rational. It’s your instinct to protect them.”
Sire coughs, but Nash keeps going. “Every threat is serious. And now, Alena’s not only a target as mydaughter, she’ll also be one as Loch’swife. That’s two contracts on her head.”
Nick shakes his head, confused. “But you know Loch will protect her more than anyone. He’s trained,andhe loves her.”
“Yes, we face threats,” Sire interjects. “So why are you saying Lochcanmarry her if you think he’s a risk to her?”
Nash points at me. “Because I’ll kill him if he breaks her heart.”
I shake my head. “Your lie will break her heart, not my love.”
“We don’t lie; we live,” Axel litigates. “It’s how we’ve survived this long. So, you’ll marry Alena next month, and we’ll hire more protection for her.”
Nash nods. “You’ll put a ring on her finger the next time you see her.”
I glance at Mom, and given all her might, she’s wise. She doesn’t micro-manage. She lets us be men and doesn’t say a word, knowing this is my love, my marriage, my future with Alena.
No one else’s.
And all I can see are her sparkling chestnut eyes when I rub her feet every night. When I tell her she’s beautiful, and she’s finally starting to believe me.
“No.” I stand up, not able to breathe. Not just from broken ribs, but with a heart breaking for Alena. From losing her mom, then her self-esteem, to that bully who tried to take her dignity. She’s fought to get it back, and I want to give her more. “I’ll ask Alena to marry me when the time is right.”
Nash sucks his teeth. “Tomorrow.”
“No.” I don’t back down. “Alena’s never had a boyfriend and deserves the best one. So, I’ll take my time. I’ll give her every greeting card moment and holiday dream, like one of those romance novels, and make her swoon and shit. I’ll hold her hand in the mall while she shops for a purse, and?—”
“Alena hates purses.” Axel has to debate me.
“You know what I fucking mean.” I snap at him, tired of following orders. “She’s my bae, and I’m her boo, and it ain’t got shit to do with you.”
“Aw, man, that’s poetry.” Grant beams. “Delphine would be so proud.”
“You know what he means,” Sire echoes me. “Let him take his time with Alena.”
“You’ll use my ring.” Mom turns our heads her way. A dusty black velvet ring box sits on her desk. Where she hid it; don’t ask me. “I understand you bought her one yesterday?”
