Page 155 of The Assignment: Room 3

“Yeah, that’s not happening. He’ll have to come chat with me while I clean my gun.” She starts laughing with that sweet, melodic giggle, and it’s exactly what I need to bring some levity to the moment.

“Oh, I’m going to enjoy watching you be an overprotective daddy.”

“Just you wait. When we have a boy, and you’re complaining that no girl will ever be good enough for your son, I’ll be the one chuckling.”

“You see us having kids?”

“You don’t? I want Gracie to have brothers and sisters.”

“Me too.” I lean in, capturing her lips with mine. The gravity of what I’m about to do settles in, and every nerve ending in my bodyvibrates, needing a way to dispel the excess adrenaline coursing through my veins.

“The ‘N’s start here.” My heart lurches up into my throat when I see my mom’s name. My pulse is racing, my breaths ragged as I run my palm over her name. And then there is Uncle Emilio, sandwiched between my mom and dad. It makes me smile because I know he would make all kinds of jokes about it to get my dad all riled up. They were always playing around, making each other laugh like Dalton and me.

“I love that they are all next to each other.” Helena’s voice brings me back to the moment. Handing me the long-stem roses, I set one next to their names, making sure my mom gets the prettiest bloom of the three.

“It’s weird. Being here, after all this time. I feel closer to them somehow. Is that dumb? Maybe it’s because I only just listened to their final words of advice for me—like it all happened when it was supposed to. You were always going to come into my life and play those messages when I needed them most.” I’m rambling. That’s not what I had planned for today.

“I hope they sent me to you, Flex.” I can see she’s visibly affected, her eyes welling with tears.

“My mom would’ve loved you. She was feisty, always keeping my dad on his toes. They weren’t just husband and wife, they were best friends.”

“I’m sure I would’ve loved her too.”

I take Helena’s hands in mine. “I never thought I’d find my other half. I don’t think I even believed it was possible to have a soulmate. The thought of one person in the world that is meant for you seemed fanciful, until we started hanging out.”

“Is that what we’re calling that arrangement we agreed to in the beginning?”

“It wasn’t the sex. I mean, that is completely mind-blowing, but it was the texting and phone calls, talking about anything and everything. I knew then that you were important to me. Then, you let me get to know Gracie, and it solidified everything for me. I know you were afraid it would push me away, but it had the opposite effect.Here was this beautiful siren of a woman in my club, and then you answered the door as a kind, caring mother. You are the whole package, Helena, and you’ve already given me the greatest gift I could ever ask for… a daughter. She may not have my blood running in her veins, but she ismylittle girl, and I will always protect and love her with the same ferocity I would for you.”

“I know, and I love you for it. You took a bullet for me, Flex. I will spend the rest of my life striving to be worthy of your love.”

It’s now or never.

I drop down on one knee before reaching into my pocket and pulling out the box that has been burning a hole in it since we left the apartment today.

“I don’t always have the right words, and maybe this isn’t how you pictured this moment, but here, in the reverence of the people who taught me how to love, I wanted to ask you… Helena Maxwell, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?” Fuck, I thought I’d have smoother moves when the time came, but I’m nervous as hell.

“Yes!” Her hand is shaking as I put the ring on her finger.

“I have one other question for you.”

“Anything.” Her smile could light the night sky, stealing my breath away as I fight past the lump in my throat.

“Would you consider letting me adopt Gracie? She’s mine in every way that matters, but I want to make it official. I want her to feel secure in the knowledge that she’s my daughter and always will be.”

Helena lifts her hand to cover her mouth, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Oh my God. Yes, Flex. I want that more than anything, and I know Gracie does too.” I jump to my feet, my lips crashing down on Helena’s as I pull her into my arms and spin her around. She’s just made me the happiest man alive.

“I love you, Helena, until my dying breath.”

“I have one condition,” she says with a wicked grin.

“Name it.”

“Take me to our playroom and dominate me, Master Navarro.”

“That I can do for the future Mrs. Navarro.”

“Congratulations!” Everyone we love is at Venom—well, almost everyone. I couldn’t exactly have Gracie and Helena’s mom come to this celebration, but tonight is all about my girl. She might have asked to go to our playroom, but I know what she needs, and it’s been way too long.

---