Cobra (Blue Angel Security Book 1), page 44
“About time you two showed up,” Jaycee cheekily sasses them as she leans against the French doors when we walk in.
“Aw, you love us. Besides, we had to drop off our luggage and then that meant—”
“Figures. Is that all you two think about?”
“Isn’t that all newlyweds think about? Clayton teases her as I wait for the moment it registers.
“Newlyweds?” she asks, popping off the doors, walking over to them.
“Yes, as of three days ago.”
“But, I thought, we were going to plan your wedding this together?” she asks, clearly upset.
“Ah, sweetheart. We didn’t do this to exclude you. We did it this way because it’s how we visioned our wedding. Please, don’t be upset with us.”
“I’m not. I’m just a little disappointed. I’ll get over it. Besides, what’s important is that you and Clayton are happy.”
“And cake,” Clayton announces.
“Of course, Clayton. Cake matters, too. Congratulations, both of you,” she says, walking back out to the porch.
“How much more cake do you think she can eat?” I ask Jaycee as we all watch Emma eat her third piece of cake.
“If Raelyn would have just given her a normal sized slice of cake, she probably would’ve eaten only one,” I laugh as she attempts to take care of the cake.
“Here, let me, baby. I’ll clear this and then be right back.”
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Jackal says as soon as I walk back onto the porch. I secretly pray he’s not about to make an ass out of himself. God, I hate wedding toasts. They suck.
“Oh, I can hear all your murmurs in my head. Would it be something along these lines? Oh, please, he’s not going to make one of those cliche wedding speeches. For the record, no, I’m not. Although, congrats to both of you. What I am doing is hoping I really am not about to embarrass myself. So, over the last few months, my boss, Gannon, as I’m sure you’ve heard Jaycee talk about from time to time, has been asking me what I thought about increasing BA’s security force to one more man. He’s hoping at some point he’ll return to the warehouse permanently and when he does, he wants all three teams to be mobile. Cobra and Shadow are team one. Eagle and Griffin are team two, and I’m hoping that Clayton, you’ll join Phoenix in becoming team three. We’re not military. We really don’t care what you do in your private life and at least with you, we can be absolutely positive you won’t break Gannon’s rule and become involved with a client. I don’t think your husband would be too happy if you did.”
“I’d cut a bitch,” Liam growls.
“Calm it, Liam. It took us long enough to be official. I’m not screwing that up. Besides, I’m pretty sure your mama would fillet me,” Clayton says, shifting his focus from Liam back to Jackal. “Your offer sounds like it’s something right up my alley. Though, I’d like to meet you sometime next week to hammer out all the details, so Liam and I can make an informed decision together. I won’t do anything without his input. For too many years, he was at the military’s mercy for where we lived or where my assignments took me. I won’t do that to him again.”
“Sounds reasonable. Let me know when you want to meet up. I really do hope you consider our offer to join BA’s.
“Will do.”
“Now if all the announcements are done, how about we move this to the backyard patio? I really love my new swing,” Jaycee says, without really waiting for an answer from the rest of us. At this point, she knows we’ll all follow her.
“This is perfect,” Jaycee says, kicking her feet as usual up onto my lap. “Never in a million years did I think I’d be this happy again. Not after everything I lost. But I am, because of you all.”
“I bet a pitcher of sweet tea would make this afternoon even better!” Shadow hollers from the grass where Emma is attempting to dog pile on him.
“You know he’s right, Tiger. I’m going to get us some sweet tea. I’ll be right back,” I say, nodding at Shadow on my way in. Quickly, I run upstairs and retrieve the item I’ve been holding onto for what seems forever now. With my heart racing, I stand in front of the mirror once again and give myself another pep talk. I can do this. I can do this. Fuck me, did I really just quote a line from a children’s storybook? Okay, enough. I murmur to myself. Suck it up, man. Tons of men have proposed and lived to talk about it, I will too. That’s if I can keep my anxiety away long enough to ask. Damn her for teasing me with if I say yes. I’ve always been overconfident in nearly everything, but damn, that one word is scaring the shit out of me. Finally, I go back downstairs and grab the pitcher of tea, along with a stack of tumblers and make my way outside.
“I was fixing to come get you,” Jaycee teases me. “I thought you might have gotten lost along the way.”
“You’re a brat. I had to make a pit stop first.”
“You had to pee, Uncle Luca? That’s what Daddy says when he has to pee.” I shake my head as Jefferson grumbles.
“Out of the mouths of babes,” Raelyn laughs.
“Babes? She’s more like a brat,” he says, smiling at Emma.
“Hush, it could have been worse, and you know it.” Jefferson hesitates for just a beat before he nods.
“You’re right. I’ll be thankful that’s all she said,” he says as I notice Jaycee wiping away a tear.
“Hey, what’s with the tears? I ask, kneeling in front of her.
“Nothing, just praying that’ll be us someday,” she says, looking down at Emma nestled now on Jefferson’s lap. “Luca, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Me too, and usually I’m all for being the gentleman and letting you go first, but I’m literally dying here. Please, let me go first?” I ask, wiping my hands down my jeans for what must be the tenth time since I placed her ring in my pocket. She nods in response, and I take her hand pulling her up to me. Confused, she follows me to the back corner of our yard. This corner is our special corner. My mama’s favorite flowers are planted in raised boxes surrounded by a half-circle concrete bench. Jaycee and I have spent many special evenings out here, and this afternoon, I’m hoping to add one more to our growing list. She lowers herself to the concrete bench, I had placed here when we bought her swing, expecting me to join her, but I don’t.
Slowly, I lower myself to a single knee as tears fill her eyes. I can only hope this moment is as unreal for her as it is for me. Like her, I never imagined finding someone I’d be willing to bare my soul to. Suddenly, my throat tightens as the magnitude of this moment settles into us both. A gentle laugh can be heard from behind us, as I hear Raelyn quieting Emma. Clearing my throat, I take her hand into mine and finally voice the words I’ve been holding back for months.
“Tiger, months ago you turned my world upside down when you came storming in like a category five hurricane, and my life hasn’t been the same since. With your fierce attitude and sassy mouth, I was hooked. And then you rolled up across the street from me driving a Harley and I knew right then and there, you were meant to be mine. A little over a year ago, I told you how much I loved you and couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Do you remember that conversation?” I ask her as she nods, not trusting her voice through her tears. With her agreement, I continue.
“In that conversation, you told me to tell you in a year if I felt the same way. Well, I missed that deadline, but now more than a year later, I can answer your question. Sadly, I don’t. If someone had told me then, the love I had for you would pale in comparison to the love I hold in my heart today, I would’ve checked them into the nearest hospital. There was no way I could possibly love you more than I did then, but I was wrong. Because today, I love you more than I did yesterday, more than I did last week, and definitely more than I did a year ago. Our lives together haven’t been easy. We’ve endured and survived so much to get here, and yet, I can’t imagine my life being any more perfect than it currently is, other than for one small thing,” I say, removing the ring from my pocket and present it to her.
“Josslyn Cadence Storm, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” Silent tears track down her face, and shocked gasps sound from behind us as I realize I just unintentionally slipped her real name out. Slowly, she nods, extending her fingers.
“I need your words, baby. Will you marry me?” I ask again as I wait on pins and needles for the answer I’ve been waiting for so long to hear.
“Yes, Luca, I’ll marry you.”
Choruses of congratulations and laughter can be heard erupting all around us as I slip her simple, but elegant, ring on. Finally, I pull her up into my arms and claim her mouth in a not so friendly kiss. As I release her, I exhale, grinning from ear to ear. “See, I told you, when I asked you to marry me, you’d say yes.”
“You were hopeful,” she teases.
“No, he wasn’t. He was terrified. He asked me to marry him this morning. You should be thankful I turned down his proposal, or we’d be fighting now, Shortstack,” Shadow laughs.
“Nah, I never would have given you the ring,” I razz Shadow. “She,” I say, tilting her lips to mine again, “Already possesses the biggest piece of me, my heart.” With tears still sliding down her face, I kiss her tenderly. As I break the kiss, she beams up at me.
“Well, I currently have something else of yours, too,” she says, biting her lip.
“Is that so? And what may that be?” I ask as I wipe away her tears.
“Your baby. Luca, in about five months we’re going to be parents,” she tells me as the full impact hits me. I swing her into my arms, smiling and laughing.
“We’re going to be parents?” I ask her, still not setting her down on her feet.
“Yes, Luca.”
“Oh shit. I didn’t hurt you, did I? The baby?” I panic, thinking I may have already injured or did something careless. “Great, the baby’s not even here yet and I’m already messing this up,” I criticize myself up.
“Luca, our baby is fine. I’m fine. Actually, no, I’m not fine. I’m wonderful. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I say, dropping to both my knees and kiss her barely there baby bump. “I love you, too, my little jellybean. I can’t wait to meet you.” Jaycee laughs as my five o’clock shadow tickles her stomach.
“I’m surprised you never said anything,” she whispers as I stand up holding her again. “I didn’t put it together until yesterday. I kind of thought it was time to hold off on all the snack cakes. My sweet tooth was getting out of hand,” she laughs into my chest.
“Baby, I may not be the smartest man ever, but even a jackass moron like Jackal, knows enough to never comment on a woman’s weight or size. And besides, I didn’t notice because I’m usually a bit lower,” I whisper into her ear causing her to blush wildly.
“And the first one bites the dust,” Jackal snorts.
“He’s whipped,” Griffin laughs.
“For sure,” Eagle heckles.
“Looks pretty perfect to me,” Phoenix replies. I quirk my brow as I stand up and follow his gaze. As I assumed, he’s looking straight at Kylee, who, of course, is completely oblivious.
“Being in love is amazing,” Liam says, holding Clayton’s hand.
“It is,” I declare, kissing her again.
“Alright, enough with the kissy faces. What do we get to plan first? A wedding or a baby shower?” Rayne asks as both Jaycee and I answer the question differently.
“A wedding.”
“A baby shower,” she counters. Suddenly, the thought of Jaycee bringing our child into this world without my name attached to them both irritates me.
“No, I want you wearing my ring and sharing my last name before our baby arrives. You know, just like the song, first comes marriage, then comes the baby,” I tease her.
“Luca, answer me this. When have we ever done anything in the right order or according to tradition? Remember, you’re the one that had me in your arms, kissing me before you even knew my name?”
“Speaking of which, Josslyn, I think you owe us all an explanation,” Kylee teases as I answer Jaycee without skipping a beat.
“And I’d do it all over again, just to be with you.”
“She won this battle,” Raelyn announces. Good enough for me. Ladies, come on, we’ve got a baby shower to plan!”
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
Jaycee
The wheels have barely touched down as I quickly remember why I love California so much. Even after all these years of being away, the heat immediately hits me as if an old friend is welcoming me home.
“Damn, girl,” Kylee groans from the row of seats across from me, Luca, and Colton, or CJ, as he’s most often called. “And you really thought coming here this time of year was a good idea?”
“California stays warm pretty much all year. They may have a cold spell here or there, but for the most part it’s beautiful year-round. None of that freezing rain and snow crap.”
“No, they just have earthquakes,” Luca grumbles beside me, unfastening CJ’s car seat.
“Oh, please. They’re generally not that bad. Come on, let’s go get our bags. I want to get checked into the rooms. Besides, I know little man wasn’t happy with his last feeding.”
“Definitely not. He’d rather have it right from the source,” Luca smarts off.
“Hey, I tried. He’s the one that kept kicking his blanket off and refused to latch. So stubborn boy got a bottle instead of mommy. Maybe he’ll be a good boy at the hotel and just eat,” I laugh as we head to the luggage carousel.
“I know if you gave me the option of just eating, I would,” Luca whispers in my ear as my face turns purple.
“And that right there is why I have my own room,” Kylee says, fanning herself. “Your man is nothing but trouble.”
“He is,” I say, owning it. “But lucky for me, it’s usually the best kind of trouble.”
“You corrupted my best friend,” she teasingly glares at Luca.
“I know and I couldn’t be happier,” he says as we head outside to our waiting driver. “Now, like my girl said, let’s get to the hotel. It’s already late and Jaycee has a big day tomorrow.”
“She does,” Kylee sighs. “Are you sure you want to do this? We could always skip seeing Damon and Bryant all together. I don’t care what your therapist suggested, you don’t have to do this.”
“I know, I don’t have to. I want to. I need to look into his soulless eyes and tell him exactly what he did to me. To them.”
“I’m really trying my best to understand this, Jaycee. But after everything they put you through, I don’t think I’d want to see them ever again. It’s not like they can hurt you again. Bryant got sentenced once again to life with no parole and Damon is facing at least twenty years for his part in Dalton’s escape and the two subsequent murders that took place because of it. Not to mention, courtesy of another pissed off inmate, he’ll never walk again, so really what do you have to gain from this?” Kylee asks, irritated once again.
“Because, like I’ve been telling you for weeks, as much as I love you all, I need to do this. For me. I’m sorry, Kylee—”
“Woah, hold back a hot ass minute. Jaycee, I don’t want you to apologize to me for needing this. I just don’t like it. I hate knowing you’re going to put yourself right back in hell to close this door permanently. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I say, wiping my tears away. It seems like over the last few days that’s all we’ve done is cry. Rayne, Elle, and Raelyn weren’t any happier about my decision to do this, but in the end they all agreed if I was doing this, then Kylee was coming with me. Not only for support but also so Luca could stay by my side while Kylee took care of CJ.
“Alright, ladies, we’re here. Let’s get checked in and I’ll order up room service. We all need to get a good night’s sleep.
“Jaycee, are you sure you don’t want me to keep CJ in my room? I bet a full night’s rest would be heavenly right now,” Kylee asks as we step onto the elevator, heading up to our rooms.
“No, he’ll be better being close to us. I swear he can’t sleep unless he hears his daddy’s snoring at night.”
“I only snore because a certain tiger wears me out at night.”
“Lalala,” Kylee singsongs as Luca opens our door. “On that note just slide my dinner under the door,” she laughs. “I’ll see you all in the morning.”
The next morning, we all wake after a restless sleep. Even CJ didn’t sleep that well. Right about now, I’m going to agree with Raelyn when she says babies can sense our tension. Luckily, he fell back asleep early this morning and when he did, Luca took full advantage of trying to distract me. It worked for a while, but unfortunately, as soon as our fun time was over, my mind went right back to the task at hand.
“Baby, why don’t you go take a shower while I bring CJ to Kylee? After you’re dressed and ready to go, we’ll grab breakfast.”
“I’m not really hungry.”
“I know, but please just a little something? I’m not trying to guilt you or anything but our son, still depends on his mommy for most of his meals and you barely ate two bites last night.”
“I’ll try,” I say, knowing I’ll be lucky to eat a bagel.
Before I know it, the early morning has passed and we’re walking into a place I never thought I’d want to see the inside of. The halls echo with each footstep I make closer to the registration counter, drawing my heart beats out faster. I have no doubt that wherever Bryant and Damon are behind these walls, they most likely can hear my pounding heart.
Exactly why did I want to do this again?
Because I have a right to unleash my fury at him. His selfishness profusely changed the direction of all our lives.
“Ms. Storm and Mr. Quartez? An older guard approaches me. “Bryant and Damon have been moved into the visiting room and are ready. If you’ll follow me, please?”
“Yes, sir,” I say, following with Luca behind me with his hand on the small of my back. His constant touch is reassuring as we approach the final set of steel doors that separates me from my past.
