Page 41 of Silver Sanctuary
Gunner’s eyes went wide. “You need to back the fuck up. Did you actually decide to marry a woman without even asking her if that was what she wanted?”
Nash closed his eyes and ran his hand down his face. Fuck.Yeah, he had. “She needs my protection—all of our protection. Embrie too. If they were home last night… that fire…” He swallowed against the emotion that painfully coated his throat.
“Whoa. You think it’s all connected?”
“Fuck yeah, I do. I think someone beat the fucking hell out of her and then thought she’d be home, unable to escape the fire because she was hurt so badly.”
“Look, Wings, I get it. I get wanting to protect her?—”
“Don’t you dare say ‘but.’ She’s a single mom whose business is fucking struggling because of a crime her mom committed nearly two decades ago. This whole town is taking their hatred of her mom out on her, and Lacy and Embrie are suffering. So excuse me if I want to step up and make sure she’s fucking okay. I know Lily survived something awful in that cabin—I was there. But you weren’t there last night when I found Lacy on the side of the road. You didn’t hear the way she cried. The way the doctor said she was lucky that her ribs were only deeply bruised, not broken. She needs someone to step up for her. Embrie needs someone, too. And I’m going to be there for them. I’m going to keep them safe. You can either get on board with that, or I can fucking move them back home to Montana with me and sell out my share of the business.”
“Fuck. It’s that serious to you? She’s worth throwing away everything you have here with your brothers?”
“I won’t say it twice, Reap.”
Gunner nodded, his jaw cracking loud enough for Nash to hear as he shifted it back and forth. “Okay. I’ll back you on this with the guys. What else do you need?”
Before Nash could reply, Lily walked into the kitchen. She must have seen the questions that immediately flooded his mind as she walked into Gunner’s open arms, because she smiled at Nash and nodded.
“Lacy is still sleeping. Mae and I peeked in on her justbefore I left. There’s three casserole-type dinners in the fridge with instructions on how to reheat them right on the foil. And I left you a crock pot full of homemade chicken noodle soup for tonight.”
As much as Nash enjoyed cooking, it was a relief to know he didn't need to worry about it for the next few days. “Thank you again, for all your help.”
She nodded, pulling away from her husband. “Wait… why do you have your grumpy face on? What’s wrong?”
“Nash is getting married,” Gunner said, and Lily gasped, her eyes going wide. “Tomorrow afternoon.”
Half a heartbeat passed before she broke out in a giant smile and opened her arms to wrap Nash in a hug.
“Congratulations. Oh, I knew it the first time I saw you and Lacy together.” That’s when her eyes landed back on Gunner. “Wait. Is everything okay?”
“Gunner doesn’t want me to marry her,” Nash admitted, knowing Lily was likely to be on his side, and he’d get a point up on the grumpy bastard.
“Well, it’s a good thing he doesn’t get a say in the end now, isn’t it?”
“Lily Kate!” Gunner grumbled.
“Don’t you dare middle name me.” Her hands landed on her hips and Nash stifled a laugh as she pressed her finger into her husband’s chest. “How many days had you been back home before you were demanding that I marry you? All of a day and a half.”
“That’s different. I’m not… I get why Nash wants to, so I’ll support it. But he hasn’t even asked her if it’s what she wants.”
“Nash!” Lily laughed. “What are we going to do with you boys? Gage is the only sane one so far.”
“It worked out great for you and Gunner,” Nash pointed out.
“And I’m sure it’s going to work out great for you andLacy, too. Just maybe make sure you ask her first before you tell everyone.” She patted him on the shoulder. “Come on, husband. Gage and Sloane offered to watch Sage this afternoon, and now that I know Lacy is going to be just fine, we have business to attend to.”
Nash chuckled as Gunner wrapped his arms around Lily and scooped her up, all but running toward the elevators. Lily was right. He needed to ask Lacy before he told anyone else. The small box in his left pocket felt like it held the weight of every decision he’d made in life to get to that moment. And he really fucking hoped she’d say yes.
Thirteen
Warmth slowly infiltrated her dreamless sleep. Embrie must have brought a book into bed with them, because she normally never let Lacy sleep in unless she was lost to her reading. Something dipped on the mattress, next to her hip. She reached behind her back, to try and feel Embrie, but she wasn’t there…
“Lacy? It’s time to wake up. I’ve got your pain medicine here.”
“No, no medicine.” She yawned, trying to place the gruff voice. Lacy let her arms drift above her head, stretching out her sides.Oh fuck!Lightening hot pain blazed up her body, stealing her breath. She’d completely forgotten how sore she was.
“Yeah, that’s not an option. The doctor told you to take it as prescribed to make sure your body could heal, so that’s what you’re going to do.”
