Page 37 of Wicked Vengeance

“I still don’t understand any of this,” she shakes her head with a ghost of a smile tilting her lips. “All I know is the only thing I could think about while King had me was getting back to my family. My daughter– and you three. You’re my family now.”

“You’re ours, too. We’re not going anywhere. You’re stuck with us now, Angel. That means we protect you.”

“Yes, we do,” Maddox adds. “It also means we worry. No one hurts you and gets away with it. No one gets to take you away from us and live, which reminds me. We’ve got a present waiting for you when you feel up to it.”

“Who is it?”

“Ah-ah, it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you. You’ll have to wait and see,” Raena swats Maddox’s shoulder playfully.

“Alright, you two. Let’s not worry about that right now. Let’s just get you fixed up and call our little girl,” Royal says,

“Our little girl, huh?” Raena questions him. Doubt infiltrates her voice, battling with the hope glossing over her eyes.

“Well, I just assume you come as a package deal. And since you’re our woman… She's our little girl, too.” Tears spill over her bloodstained cheeks at Royal’s declaration. Maddox and I nod in agreement. “We already love her, and that’s not going to change. The only thing it changes is her last name.”

“Her last name?” Confusion clouds her face for a moment before Royal lays it out for her.

“Well…when we marry her mother, she’ll want her last name to match. We can’t have her feeling left out. She’s our daughter.”

“You want to… marry me? All of you?” Raena asks, whispering with disbelief. Oh, there will be none of that. We haven’t discussed this at all, but we all know there is no going back. When you know, you know. And when that happens, the bullshit of life fades into the background. This is the beginning of our forever– our happily ever after.

“Baby Girl, we would marry you today if you’d agree to it,” I tell her, tilting her chin up to meet my eyes.

“You’re it for us. Our Queen. Of course we want to tie ourselves to you every way possible. You’re ours… forever, Cherry.” Maddox sits up and kisses her forehead, resting it there and breathing her presence in.

“Angel, we’re not going anywhere. You’ve had us locked down since the minute you stabbed Maddox, and I pulled you out of Grimm River. We didn’t even know your name, but the one thing we did know was that you were ours. There’s no need to try to explain it or define it. You. Are. Ours. Then and Now. Forever and Always.” Royal cups her cheek, his burning gaze searing into hers.

I can tell she’s going to need more reassurance than we can offer her in this single moment and that’s okay. We will tell her everyday just what she means to us if she needs it.

“Just so you know, this is not your official proposal. We are gentlemen, after all. You deserve so much more than this,” I add. She deserves the biggest, most romantic grand gesture we can give her.

“I’ll hold you to that.” Her sweet smile contradicts the serial killer bathed-in-blood look she’s still sporting right now.

“Good. I’m glad that’s settled,” I smile back at her. She’s at ease now so we might as well get this over with. No matter how uncomfortable it’s going to be for us all, most of all her. “How about we take a look at your injuries now, Baby Girl?”

“Oh–that. Um… yes. Let’s get this over with.”

I’m sure if she wasn’t covered in blood, I’d be able to see the pink flush on her cheeks and down her neck. Her breath starts to rush out in short bursts.

“Don’t be nervous, Angel. We’ve got you,” Royal assures her. “Take your time. When you’re ready, tell us exactly what hurts, and we’ll take care of it.”

“Okay.” She takes a steady inhale and lets it go slowly. “I’m ready.”

Chapter 27

Raena

Steam billows around me as the scalding blast of the shower runs red rivulets down my body. After the guys looked at my more…intimate injuries, Royal and Maddox went to check in on the others and make sure everyone made it back.

I think they needed a minute to process everything, and I don’t blame them. They handled that really well. Fortunately, they said I didn’t need any stitches… uh, back there, and most of the wounds on my body are superficial. I’m sore, very exhausted, and drained from the drugs, but I’m alive. Nothing is life threatening. Considering my past, I’ll call that a win.

Alek squeezes body wash on a loofa, lathering it up until foamy white bubbles run down his forearms. He’s stripped down to just his boxers that do nothing to hide what he’s packing inside them. His face is solemn, the extent of King's damage on my body weighs heavy on him.

“Hey. I’m okay. I’m alive. He didn’t win.” His golden eyes light up when they meet mine, reverence shining bright in them.

“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met, Baby Girl. Not many people survive King once, let alone twice.”

“I don’t feel strong,” I whisper, ashamed to even admit it. “It would be easier to be weak. To lay down and submit to the shit show life seems to think is mine. But I won’t– I can’t. I’m strong because I have to be– for my daughter. For you. Our family.”

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