“Yay! I love the sound of that. You deserve it, bae.”
“You deserve it too. I was thinking we could take a vacation and then plan a family trip. Maybe Denver or Aspen when it snows?”
“Ooh yes, that would be so much fun! Now I’m even more excited for you to be released.”
“That’s all you’re excited about?” Caden asked, shifting her onto his lap, but she immediately made her way back to his side.
“Un uh. No, sir. Not gonna happen.”
“It’s been a whole week, beautiful. I need that.”
Her eyes rolled as she snickered. “You’re gonna have to wait a little longer, K. That should literally be the last thing on your mind.”
Caden sucked his teeth, but before he could try and convince her otherwise, his nurse came in to check on him. That was another reason he was ready to go. As much as he enjoyed his people showing up for him in the hospital, the bright lights, constant noise, and steady check-ins made it hard for him to really get some sleep unless it was right after he took his pain pills.
Once he assured the nurse that he was okay, Caden returned his attention to pleading for pussy unsuccessfully. Dru didn’t budge, and as much as he wanted to feel the warmth of her walls, he accepted that he’d have to wait until he was healed a bit more.
He still couldn’t believe how things had played out.
The betrayal, eating Galloway’s bullets, killing him and Tina.
Tina.
The menace was finally gone, and her daughters were at peace because of it.
The first time he saw Dru, Caden had no idea how things would play out between them, but there was one thing he knew for sure: Dru Mallory Peterson was his, and he would do whatever to whoever to protect her and make sure she stayed happy, healthy, and his.
A While Later
Though temporary emergency guardianship was granted to Marilyn after Tina was shot, she’d finally gotten permanent custody. Tina’s and Galloway’s murders were considered self-defense killings, and there would be no investigation or trial.
Without his right hand, Galloway’s faction of The Syndicate had already started to crumble without a leader, and Caden couldn’t care less. For a while, he considered a hostile takeover, but the last thing he wanted to do was add more men to his team that couldn’t be trusted. If he’d learned nothing over the last year, it was that money or fear made what appeared to be even the most solid men move, and not in a good way. While Caden knew betrayal was a part of the game, it hit different when it actually happened.
“She’s gonna love that, sweetheart,” Caden complimented, staring at the painting Dru was working on for Dreya’s bedroom. Now that she was officially living with her grandmother until college, she and Marilyn decided it was a good idea for her to redecorate her room.
“I hope so.”
“I know so.”
The painting was a portrait from a picture when the sisters were younger. Dreya looked like she was around five or six. They were outside in the backyard, ice cream cones in hand, making a pinky promise about something Dru couldn’t remember. Even back then, Dru held all the love in her heart and her eyes for her sister. She looked like a young mother to a child who looked just like her. And if Caden could be honest with himself, he’d admit her devotion to her sister made him want to make her a mother to their child.
“You’re always so sweet to me,” Dru said, pulling him down to her lips for a kiss by his neck. “I know you really came downhere to see if I was almost done for the day so we could go though.”
Caden couldn’t help but laugh because that was certainly the truth. When Dru was in her art room or book cove, he wouldn’t hear from her for hours. They were supposed to be going to his parents’ place for dinner before meeting up with their friends for drinks.
“Now that you mention it, can I get an ETA for your pretty ass to come upstairs and start getting ready?”
With a soft giggle, Dru’s head tilted as she looked the painting over. “Hmm. I think this is a good place for me to stop.”
“Good, because I’m hungry and ready to go.”
Dru set her brush down and stood, looking high on life and love alone. “Okay, greedy. We can get ready to go. I told Mama I’d stop by early enough to bake some cookies for dinner anyway.”
Mama.
That was different too.
Mama and Daddy Spencer had turned into Mama and Daddy about two months ago, and every time she said it, Candace would grin.
