Page 26 of Signed For Him

"Does everyone else know now?" I wonder as I watch him watch me.

His eyes are so intense. It feels like he's trying to read between the lines, read my mind, and figure me out all at once, and although the intrusion would usually bother me, with him, I find that maybe I don't mind. Crow has seen so much of me, I don't think he'd run no matter what he saw or found in my mind’s depths.

"Yeah, everyone knows. My lot were the ones that helped us get in contact with Liam. It's the only reason I haven't bloody shot him down myself because he helped. I don't trust him, but I dunno, maybe he's not that bad."

I follow suit when Crow sits on the floor with my bag between us.

"Are they the mafia?" I ask, realising after speaking that I categorised a them vs us mentality without meaning too. I also note that I didn't ask if Crow was, but rather they as if he wasn't a part of them but rather a part of us when I suppose he isn't at all.

It makes sense, far more sense than I'd like for it to. Crow's laughter and banterful side makes him seem so at ease but when he's angry, frustrated or even in his own bubble with his thoughts, I've seen how deadly and meticulous he can be.

“Yeah. It's not as bad as it sounds though. I mean, it is," he starts, "but probably not like what you think. My family is normal, they're just like the Cobras, it's just a different brand of Club and bad I guess."

"What do they do? What does it mean to be in the mafia?" I ask, unsure of how any of it works aside from what I've read in books or seen on TV, which I have no doubt is incredibly inaccurate.

He laughs, a hearty laugh as he lets his head fall back, his skin lighting up from the sun's streaming through the cloud and trees.

"It doesn't feel any different being an O'banian in the mafia than it does being a part of the Cobras to be honest, Char. We protect what's ours, do what we need to do, and keep going. That's it." Like it's that simple. I doubt it is as simple as he's making it seem but then again, if he's grown up his entire life living inside of that, then it probably doesn't seem all that strange to him.

"So, what were you doing here?" I'm pretty sure I know the answer. I remember spying, or attempting to spy on my dad’s meeting a while ago and hearing that the O'banians usually place a spy in the ranks of any base they planned to merge with.

"My family sent me to see what the Cobras were like, where their values and morals lie, what they could offer us in return for what we could offer them." He offers me the truth, which I appreciate now more than ever.

"So now what? What did you report back?" I ask curiously as I turn to watch him.

"I told them that we're merging," he says with a laugh, as if it's the funniest thing in the world.

"You told them? You have that much power over what happens?" I'm not sure why it seems so shocking that he does. If he's the son of some mafia god then he's bound to have sway.

I attempt to look at Crow as I did the first time I saw him. I remember thinking about how intimidating he was, how large his personality and presence was. I remember noticing so many people cowering under his stare. His personality as I got to know him has allowed me to see him as the teddy bear he really is, but I'm certain he could be just as deadly as any other when needed.

"I didn't really give them a choice to be honest, babe. I've grown to love the Cobras nearly as much as I do you," he says softly as he takes my hand in his and uses his free hand to run his fingers across my palm.

"OK."

"OK? You don't have any more questions?"

"Well, I mean, I'm sure I will at some point but right now I'm just going with the flow, so OK." I nod at him, enjoying his hands in mine.

He gifts me with a small smile that sends my stomach somersaulting.

"I got you something. It's nothing exciting, but I saw it and it made me think of you. Do you want it now?" he asks as he pulls his hands away from mine and goes in his pocket, pulling out a small black box.

"If that's a proposal coming, the answer is no. I'm still pissed at you, at least wait until after you've made me hash browns." I laugh.

"I think you've had plenty of marriage arrangements for a while. I'm not in a rush." He chuckles, holding his hand out for me to take the box.

I take it hesitantly, watching as his eyes show me the nervousness that he's emitting.

"Is it going to make me cry? Because I've cried enough for a while too," I tell him as I feel the smooth box in my hand.

"I hope not, I never know what to do when girls cry. Just open it," he tells me eagerly as he shifts closer to me, moving the bag between us out of the way.

I open the box up slowly, not wanting to rattle or accidentally break whatever is inside. There's a small section of black paper that I move to reveal a necklace. On a black chain with a silver pendant is a necklace with paper inside. Paper covered in words - a segment out of my favourite book that only Crow would know about.

A bright smile takes over as I touch the pendant delicately, lapping up the thoughts of how caring and sweet Crow can be. I've never seen anything like this before, but of course Crow of all people would somehow find something so small and yet meaningful to gift me.

"Do you like it?" he asks nervously as he peers in my direction, his neck craning down to see my face.

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