She nodded, her eyes searching mine for something I knew she wouldn’t ask. I kept the details on what would happen next vague, refusing to let the darker edges of this situation touch her any more than they already had.
Hannah let out a slow breath and leaned into my chest. She had complete faith that I’d keep her and Isa safe. Her trust meant everything to me. More than she could possibly understand.
I cupped her chin, tilted her head up, and kissed her. Claiming her, reassuring her, and letting her feel the possessiveness that never faded. “I love you.”
Hannah’s face lit up, and she went on her toes to brush her lips sweetly across mine. “I love you, too.”
I took her mouth one more time, then sighed. “I need to make a call. I have to talk to my parents about this. But I need to do it alone.”
Her eyes softened immediately, understanding flooding her expression. She knew how hard this would be for me, how much I’d tried to shield them from Gavin’s constant betrayals and fuckups.
“Of course,” she whispered, her hand resting gently on my chest. “I’m here if you need me.”
“Fuck, Hannah,” I growled, my fingers tightening in her hair as I held her close, breathing in the sweet scent of her shampoo and savoring the feel of her curves against me. “How the hell did I get this fucking lucky?”
She laughed softly, the sound sweet and soothing, washing over me like balm. “It’s mutual.”
I smirked, my thumb brushing along her cheek, and my eyes locked onto hers. “Just a heads-up, sweetheart. Once they hear about you and Isa, my parents will be here sooner rather than later. They’ll want to meet their soon-to-be daughter-in-law and grandbaby.”
Hannah’s eyes widened, excitement and nerves mingling in her expression, making her cheeks flush. My pulse spiked at the sight, desire surging. I kissed her again before stepping back with a reluctant growl and heading into my home office.
Closing the door behind me, I sat down at my desk, my shoulders tightening with tension I couldn’t shake. I dialed my dad’s number, rubbing a hand over my jaw as the phone rang. When he answered, the ache in my chest intensified. We exchanged a few brief words of greeting, and then I cleared my throat roughly.
“Get Mom, Dad. Need to talk to both of you together,” I muttered, my voice tight, bracing for what I was about to unleash.
A moment later, my mother’s voice came on the line, soft and trembling with fear. “It’s about Gavin, isn’t it?”
I cursed inwardly, hearing the pain. “Yeah, Mom. It is.”
My dad cleared his throat. “Is he?—?”
“He’s alive,” I assured them.
For now.
Quickly, I started explaining, not holding anything back—Rea, Isa, Gavin’s involvement with Division Nine, the threats against Hannah and Isa, and the plan to make him disappear for his own safety. Every word felt heavy, jagged with emotion, but I forced myself through it, giving them the truth because they deserved nothing less.
Silence stretched for several long seconds when I finished, the quiet filled with unspoken grief and worry.
Finally, my dad spoke, his voice gruff but steady. “We understand, son. We appreciate everything you and your brothers are doing for Gavin. And for your family.”
My mom’s voice trembled, thick with tears. “Please thank King and the others for giving Gavin a chance to start over despite everything.”
I nodded even though they couldn’t see it, swallowing past the tightness in my throat. “I will.”
Then my dad cleared his throat again, a faint note of hope creeping into his voice. “Let us know when we can come visit. But don’t wait too long, or we’ll just show up on your doorstep. Your mother and I want to meet our grandbaby…and the woman who’s finally managed to settle our boy down.”
A smile pulled at my lips despite the heaviness in my chest. “Figured as much.”
Their laughter eased some of the tension inside me, and when we hung up, I sat back in the chair, letting out a slow breath.
Then I stood and went in search of my old lady and our precious baby girl. Until I got the call that Gavin had arrived, I was going to distract myself with the peace and joy only they could bring me.
My phone buzzed late in the afternoon, and I carefully shifted Isa, who was asleep on my chest, so I could reach out and pick it up off the coffee table. Seeing Blaze’s name flash on the screen instantly sharpened my focus.
“It’s done?” I asked as soon as I picked up, keeping my voice pitched low so I would disturb my daughter.
“Boys have Gavin. Headed back to the clubhouse. ETA around two hours. Bringing him in quiet so Division Nine is none the wiser. I’ll let you know when they’re ten minutes out.”
