Page 44 of Denial

“Killer is right about the baby bein’ spoiled. We’re all gonna spoil him or her because this will be our first grandbaby,” my dad adds in as my grandpa sits forward in his seat next to Killer.

“He or she might not be my first great grandchild, but Shy and I are gonna spoil the hell out of them like everyone else. You two are gonna have so much shit you won’t know where to put it all. Now, what are you gonna do about the house? When are you gonna move in there with Hope?” my grandpa asks me as King and Fox look on, giving us their full attention.

“Not yet. Killer, I don’t just want to claim Hope as my ol’ lady. Despite certain things bein’ rushed between us, I don’t want to move her into the house until we’re married. I love Hope as I’ve said and I refuse to keep her in the clubhouse on a permanent basis. She deserves to have a home and a space that’s all her own. I have that here. However, I know that we shouldn’t live together in a home until we’re husband and wife. Killer, can I please have your blessin’ to ask Hope to marry me?” I ask Hope’s dad, not sure how to put into words everything I truly feel for my Sweet Girl.

“Carson, you have given me no reason to believe you’re ever gonna hurt my daughter. I know you love her and have had to work through your own issues about bein’ with her. You’ve done that and I see how much you truly love her when you look in her direction. It would be my honor to have you as a son-in-law. Yes, you have my blessin’ to marry Hope,” he says as he stands from his seat and walks over to me.

Killer pulls me from my seat and into a hug. This is a rare side of him that no one gets to see and I’m one of the lucky ones who see him when he’s vulnerable and not in Enforcer mode for the club or protective mode for his girls. It doesn’t take long before he releases me and we both take our seats again. They ask me about the date I have planned for Hope and I tell them all about the picnic I’ve planned for her. Killer thinks it’s the best date night he’s ever heard of because it’s simple and not over the top like most guys would do when it comes to Hope. I’ve known her long enough to understand that she doesn’t like fancy restaurants and would love to have something simple in the field of wildflowers instead of anything more. Hell, I could take out one of the trucks, put some mattresses in the back and just watch the stars come out to fill the sky and Hope would be excited over that kind of date.

Our date last night went better than I ever thought it would. Hope was over the moon with the picnic as we watched the sun set and the stars come out to blanket the sky with their twinkling lights. There was a breeze just gentle enough that we didn’t need to have blankets or anything to cover up with. Though I did have some in the back of the golf cart. With everyone knowing where our date was, I knew they weren’t going to bother us. Hope and I celebrated our baby and engagement under the stars as we worshiped one another for hours. By the time we finally walked back in the clubhouse, most everyone had already gone to bed. It was quiet with just the Prospects and a few of the members sitting up drinking. They left us alone after a nod in greeting to head upstairs so we could go to bed.

“Carson, what do you want for our wedding?” Hope asks me as she walks out of the bathroom after our shower.

“I don’t care, Sweet Girl. All I know is I’ll be standin’ at the end of the aisle watchin’ you walk down to me on your Dad’s arm. This can be your dream weddin’ and I’ll accept anythin’ you wanna have. I don’t want to rush and get married in a week or anythin’ like that though,” I tell her as she sits down on the edge of the bed and I join her.

“I want to get married in a month. That gives us enough time to do everything we need to. Are you gonna be mad or upset if I want the guys in tuxedos? And to get married in a church?” she questions me, looking up through her lashes to wait on my response.

“No, I’m not gonna be mad or upset, Sweet Girl. If that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do. No one's gonna bitch about it. They might joke that the church will spit them back out for the sins they’ve committed over the years, but that’s about it. I can tell you now that I’m only gonna have Devil and King stand up with me. King will be my best man and Devil will be at our side because he’s my twin and has always had my back. I don’t want more than those two,” I answer her as she smiles and starts laughing.

“That’s perfect. I only want my sister, Jemma, and Paige to stand up with me. Do you think Kaden or someone would want to stand up with you?” she asks, her voice filled with worry as she adds another person to the wedding party.

“I have a better idea. What if I ask Raptor to stand up with me. He’s Devil’s best friend and I’ve spent years with him at the house and everythin’ else. If I’m askin’ anyone else, it would be him,” I tell her, a smile forming on my face because I know it would mean a lot for him to be part of our wedding party after everything that’s happened. “How are you feelin’ today, Sweet Girl? Is our boy makin’ you feel sick or anythin’?”

“How do you know it’s gonna be a boy, Carson? We won’t know for a few months,” she asks, the largest smile on her face as she leans into my side. “And I feel great. Well, I’m still tired as hell and feel as if I didn’t sleep last night. I guess that’s to be expected during the first trimester though.”

“I feel it in my gut that it’s gonna be a boy. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have a daughter who looks just like her mama. We just need to have a boy first because I won’t be around her all the time and she’ll need to be protected at all costs. Especially when the boys start to notice her. Her brother can help me protect her and keep the assholes away in ways I can’t,” I tell her, serious about every word I speak.

“We’ll see if you’re right,” she responds, getting off the bed and heading for the closet to pull out her clothes for the day.

She’s still not ready to go back to Phantom Auto and I don’t blame her at all. Vault has already said he’ll find her somewhere else to work because he’s not going to force her to stay at a place where she was shot. I don’t know where she’ll go to work, but if she wants to help at The Den, I’m not gonna stop her at all. I’d love to work with my fiancé so I can keep a close eye on her. My only concern would be if any fights break out and she’s too close. I won’t be stopped if someone hurts her because they’re fucking drunk.

I help my girl get dressed and brush her hair before we leave our room for the day. Killer and I will be going down with the guys to finish dealing with the hitman Becker hired. We’ve left him alone since the last time we were in there with him. None of us are going to torture him because he gave up the answers we were looking for and because of him we know every asshole from the organization has been eliminated. They were all killed at the warehouse before it was lit on fire and burned to the ground. The hitman will get a quick death and I’ll be the one to pull the trigger.

“I gotta head down to the basement. Today we eliminate the last fucker who thought he could touch you. If you need me, I’m here and someone can grab me in a second,” I promise her as I lean down and press a kiss to her lips before standing back up and sliding my cut on over my shoulders.

“I’ll be fine, Carson. I’m just gonna hang out with my mom, Faith, Aunt Kim, and your mom. I think we’re gonna start planning the wedding,” she assures me as she stands from the bed and I lace our fingers together so we can head to the common room where I know the guys will be waiting to go down to the basement.

I walk Hope down the stairs slowly so she doesn’t fall. I’m so worried she’s gonna get hurt doing the simplest tasks that I don’t want to leave her side. Part of me feels as if I’m not there to protect her then the worse shit will happen and we have so much to lose now. Hope gives me a soft smile as I lead her over to the table our family members are sitting at. Killer, my dad, King, and Devil get out of their seats and step back as I help Hope into a chair between her mom and aunt. With one more kiss, I leave her alone to be fussed over by the women and talk all about the wedding.

“You ready for this?” my dad asks, stepping next to me as we head for the basement.

“I’ve been ready. He’s the last fucker who put his hands on my girl. Once he’s gone, I know she’ll feel even better than she does already,” I answer him honestly as King opens the basement door and lets us all go down before him.

“She’s not havin’ nightmares or anythin’?” Killer asks, concern filling his voice as he thinks about Hope hurting in ways we can’t do anything about.

“Nope. She hasn’t had a single one since we got her out of the warehouse. I’m surprised and relieved at the same time because I don’t want her to continue livin’ the shit she’s been through. She knows she can talk to any of us if this shit starts to bring her down,” I tell Killer knowing he wants to take all the pain and trauma away from his girls and this is one thing Hope has to work through on her own before she can bring the rest of us in.

“Good. If that changes, I want to know. I don’t care if I’m back in Benton Falls. Keep me updated,” he orders me as we both slide our cuts off and hang them on the hook outside the cell the hitman’s been held in all this time.

“I will.”

Entering the cell, I take in the asshole who almost stole my fiancé from me. He looks like shit and smells even worse. He’s pissed and shit himself, hasn’t been given more than a piece of bread and some water twice a day, and has been left alone for the most part. When we walk in, he looks up and doesn’t say a word. Resignation fills his eyes and I know he’s prepared to die for the crimes he’s committed. With a nod of his head, he lifts it high and holds his back as straight as he can.

“Just know I’m sorry for everythin’. I was tryin’ to earn some money to take care of my family. Becker doesn’t pay the best but a man like me isn’t qualified to do much more than be a hired gun. It was never anythin’ personal, but I’m still sorry that I believed all of Becker’s lies and thought I was doin’ the right thing. Believe it or not, I do have a conscious and have made plenty of calls where my target disappeared but I can assure you that they’re still breathin’ and livin’ their best life,” the hitman states with remorse and guilt filling his eyes as he nods that he’s ready to go. “Tell my wife and kids I will always love them and that I’m watchin’ over them.”

My grandpa hands me a gun that will never be connected back to us after I slide on a pair of gloves so no prints are left behind. After aiming the gun, I pull the trigger and place a bullet right between his eyes. No matter how much he chose to apologize and try to atone for his sins, this man wouldn’t stop. He’d still come after Hope because hitmen don’t leave witnesses or targets alive for any reason. Yeah, I know he said he’s essentially helped some start over with new lives, but I don’t see that happening to Hope. She saw too much of him and I know she won’t hesitate to put him in his place and take him out if she ever saw him again. Plus, she doesn’t need the stress of knowing he’s still out there, walking the same streets and breathing the same air as her.

“Deegan and Bronx are gonna handle clean-up. Get up with your girl and listen to all the plans they’re comin’ up with for the weddin’,” Killer says as he claps me on the shoulder and watches me walk from the cell where the hitman’s been held for so long without a single complaint.

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