Page 31 of Sniper

She needs to lean on me, while I will lean on her in other ways.

We’re a partnership; we share everything, or well, we will when I finally tell her the truth, and when she finally lets me in on her past, a past I’m getting fed up not knowing about.

I think I’m going to have to speak to Tech….

Aurora pops her head around the corner, her eyes done with mascara and eyeliner, her hair up in a fancy twist, and my heart skips.

She grins at me, making me smile back as she states, “You love me even with my lateness.”

I nod and admit, “With everything I am…” making her grin soften and her eyes sparkle.

She scrunches her nose at me, obviously not happy that I made her emotional, which makes me chuckle, and she disappears into Autumn’s room again.

My grin fades, and panic hits.

“Fuck, what am I doing getting married when she doesn’t know…” I mumble.

I feel like we’re starting a marriage on a lie. She doesn’t know I’m in an MC, and every time I try to bring the brotherhood up, she shuts me the fuck down, and then there’s the fact that I have no idea about her past.

Yet if I don’t marry her, there’s a chance I’ll lose her, lose Autumn, and I can’t…they are my fucking world.

Autumn squeals, “Daddy…” and I look her way, grinning as she runs to me, her puffy white dress swishing with her movements.

I catch her and throw her in the air.

She looks fucking adorable with her thick, white headband, keeping those curly red locks out of her face.

Today, I don’t just marry the love of my life, my heart, but I also make this girl my daughter, and I can’t fucking wait.

We looked into the process, and because her biological father isn’t on the birth certificate and has not been involved, the judge has granted permission to complete the adoption process at the same time we get married.

We get to become a real family—all three of us.

Autumn lays her head on my shoulder, and I smile in contentment. Finally, I hear the click of heels on the wooden floor. My eyes go to the mouth of the small hallway, and suddenly, I feel like I’ve swallowed my tongue.

Aurora slowly walks my way, wearing a white skater dress, with thin straps, and holding white and red roses.

She’s wearing white wedges, making her a little taller.

She smiles at me and whispers, “You look handsome.”

I swallow hard and nod, rasping, “I’m, God, Rory, I’m speechless. You look beautiful….”

Her cheeks redden, and my eyes eat her up.

I’ve never seen her in a dress. She’s always wearing sweaters, jeans, and overalls.

“You ready to make me your wife, Theodore?” she asks, making me look up at her.

I grin wide and walk toward her. When I’m close, I place my arm around her waist, hold her against me, and whisper, “Of course, I am, Firecracker. Now, the question is…are you ready to become Mrs. Taylor?”

Her eyes glisten, her smile wide, and she croaks, “More than anything. You’re my world, Theo.”

I nod. “As you are mine, Rory.”

Autumn butts in, “You mine…” and we both look at her, chuckling.

Aurora sniffles and coos, “You’re mine, too, baby girl….”

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