Page 57 of The Book of Wrath

“No, but Ally right now is not the time to talk about it,” I said, my fists balled so tightly they were shaking, I couldn’t punch my car, and the wall was brick. I would either break the wall or break my fist. Neither of which sounded appealing at the moment.

“Look, I can take Megan home and you can rage out with the guys. I don’t know what’s going on just that Tony is not doing so hot either. If you two need to go do something to chill the fuck out, just go do it,” she snapped at me. For a moment I almost forgot who she was. What kind of person she was. She could kill me if she really wanted to.

“The man who murdered my sister is getting out of jail tomorrow on parole. He was supposed to be in for life, so pardon me if I am in a bad mood,” I growled looking over at her. “As for Tony, she broke up with him to date the asshole who killed her.”

Ally looked back at Tony, her eyes glistening in the moonlight. “I didn’t know,” she sobbed out.

“Don’t worry about it. Tony doesn’t talk about Sabrina and nor do I. After catching Mark, we thought that was the end of things. Clearly it wasn’t. If he is about to get out of prison. Tony and I are probably going to have to deal with him on our own terms. I just hope you’re okay with it,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Whatever you two need, I got your back. Megan will too, so don’t ice her out okay. She’s got her own set of skills that she could use to help you,” Ally said, pulling me into a hug. I didn’t realize how badly I needed that. I hugged her back, hopefully Tony won’t lose his shit on me later for it.

“Thank you,” I said, letting her go. Roark carried Megan over to the car and put her in the back seat.

“She is out cold. How the hell did she manage to stay awake all night?” Roark asked, leaving it open for me to talk about whenever I want.

“Adrenaline. Honestly I think that’s the only way she’s survived the last week,” I said. “You heard Tony right?” Roark nodded his head.

“Whatever you need. You already know we all got you covered,” he said, resting his hand on my shoulder. “I have to get Lexi home, apparently she doesn’t feel safe going home alone tonight.”

“Don’t do anything stupid,” I commented. I could only imagine what ideas Roark has in his head.

“Hell, no dude. This is literally just me taking her home and checking her house to make sure she is safe. Nothing more than that,” he said nonchalantly as he walked back over to where Lexi was standing. He walked her to his car and got her in, then took off.

Tony and Ally were already moving into his car after Ally locked up once the cleaning staff left. Everyone was tired. None of us had slept in days. It’s no wonder the adrenaline rush finally wore off and Megan crashed like she did.

It’s time to go home. I’ll deal with Mark Addler later. Tonight, it’s all about her. I got into the car, adjusted the mirror and saw her peek up at me. “Go back to sleep. I’ll wake you up when we get home.”

She smiled at me and the world faded around us. I wanted to do things differently, but I don’t want to waste another moment.

Chapter 47

Megan

His breath mingled with mine and it was the most delicious thing I had tasted. My brain was going to shut down if he kept kissing me like this. Soon he would be mine for the rest of our lives. Despite the bullshit. Despite me not knowing which way is up and which way is down at the point, he seems to be in the right direction for me. I will follow him until the end of our days. I will follow him until the sun stops shining and the stars are all that’s left.

“Megan Monroe, are you daydreaming while I’m kissing you?” he teased me, voice still dripping like silk and sin. My cheeks flushed as I stared into the ocean blue eyes.

“Maybe, what are you going to do about it?” I teased back. His answering laugh and grin were all I needed to know that I was about to be in for either a torturous treat or something far more exciting.

He pushed me back onto the bed and pushed my legs apart, settling between them. He looked down at me and smiled. His eyes shined like the sun on the ocean waves as he took in the sight of being beneath him.

“I have a confession to make,” he said, derailing my thought process from its current course of pleasure. I propped myself up on my elbows and leaned in to press a gentle kiss on his lips. A subtle acknowledgment for him to continue. “I am hiding a bit of a secret from you.” A pit formed in my stomach. Great, secret family? Kids? A wife? Am I a mistress?!

“If that’s the case you might want to get off of me so we can talk,” I replied like cold water had been doused all over me. He cocked his head at me and smirked.

“Get whatever crazy ass thoughts that are in that head of yours out,” he said as he nipped at my lower lip. He leaned over and opened the drawer on the bedside table. “I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while now, but my brain keeps telling me that I will just scare you away. I don’t want to ruin what we have.” He sat up and put something behind his back, pulling me onto his lap.

“I had a much better idea of how this would go but after the last 72 hours. Fuck it,” he said shyly. He wrapped my legs around his waist and sat me on his lap. My mind racing at what he could be about to do. He grabbed both of my hands, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my left hand. “I never would’ve thought that I’d meet the love of my life the way I met you. I couldn’t get you out of my head from the moment I laid eyes on you stumbling through the station lot. I never want to see you looking like that ever again, and I never plan to either,” he paused, drawing in a shaky breath. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you Megan Monroe. Will you marry me?”

He popped open a small black velvet box with a beautiful black diamond ring, set in a tiny silver band. I couldn’t breathe, he wanted to marry me?! “YES!” I shouted, wrapping my arms around him, half knocking us off the bed. He laughed and pulled me into a kiss. I was always told I was never wife material. That no one would want someone like me yet, here this man was asking me to be his wife. Megan Carter, wife of Officer Maxwell Carter. I guess it’s no longer a joke between us.

He broke our kiss long enough to slide the ring onto my finger. It fit like a glove. I wonder how he knew the exact ring I wanted. I never told him what I liked, we never really had a chance to talk about a future or what either of us liked. “How did you—” I asked, slightly suspicious.

“Your sister went with me when I was looking. The one ring I thought you would love, she said you would find clunky and too big and that I needed to look smaller not extravagant,” he huffed out that last bit.

“Alice does know me pretty well. I mean she better, she’s known me her whole life,” I laughed. Everything was falling into place, and I was blessed to be with this man. Max never made me feel anything but loved. I’m glad he is safe and I’m glad he is mine.

My eyes traced his strong jaw, the light dusting of stubble on his cheeks from not shaving this morning. His light chestnut colored hair made a mess from me running my hands through his hair. I could wake up like this every morning and never get used to it. Never get used to someone wanting me for me and not for what they can get out of me. It meant more than anything. He let out a small chuckle.

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