Her smile is back and I see her hands relax as she turns to me.
“I just wanted to buy some more time for Roman and whatever he has going on right now.”
“I know that, baby. And I also know that being proxy, especially when Lynn hits town, is going to be incredibly difficult for you. But I have a plan. I just need to tweak it after I tell the brothers about Roman and what we have so far.”
I don’t tell her that I have the worst feeling in my gut about how deep Roman is or that asshole I saw in that backroom, because I do not want her knowing that there are men alive who scare even the monsters that she is terrified of.
That would set off her anxiety and I swore to myself on that hilltop that I would do everything in my power from here on out to keep her life as calm and stress free as humanly possible with what’s going on right now.
She’s still proxy, though, and as much as I hate it and the added strain it’s causing her, I am grateful for the move she made. It was quick thinking under extreme duress, and I love her all the more for being intelligent enough to catch that right off the bat and do it anyway.
With the vote still in her hands, Jerry either has to kill her, something I’m not sure he wants to do because it would throw their organization into turmoil, or he has to find a way to off Cleo without incurring the wrath of the other council members.
From what I heard and from what Paulie has explained to me, the council is very pedantic about the laws set out for them. If a vote has been passed, you stick to it to the letter or you’re in danger of being offed yourself.
Whoever is running the Patriots in Lynn and Cleo’s stead is not likely to be too impressed if he finds out Jerry has gone against the laws that keep order in their midst.
For that reason alone, I feel confident that we’ll be okay for the time being. Instead of freaking out like I want to, I sit back and allow myself to watch my woman as I think of all the things I’m going to do to make this all up to her.
“You know, Paulie Hayes, Vegas is just a hop, skip, and a jump away right now. We could definitely make it there by nightfall and be married by the time the sun comes up,” I point out, loving the way her lips twitch before she sighs and shakes her head.
“Your mom would throw a fit worthy of a tyrant. Nah, I say you give that judge another call when we get home and I’ll wear that gorgeous dress Mama got for me. Just think, Sugar Bear, we’d be at home and in our own bed for that elusive wedding night you’ve been promising me.”
I love that about her—the fact that she’s so against making plans that will negatively affect our family. She’s always thinking of others and I can’t wait to see her caring for our children, because she is going to be a great mother.
She’s a natural with Josh already and it tickles me pink that the kid seems to love her as much as he doesn’t want to because he seems to have picked up a jealous streak a mile wide where I’m concerned.
He adores Paulie and will play and giggle with her freely. Till I walk in the room. Then he’s on me like a vine and scowling like a trooper if my Cupcake so much as sniffs near us. Thank God Paulie finds it so amusing because I could never choose one over the other. And besides, she says it gives her a clear picture of the kind of father I’d be and she approves. A lot if that dreamy expression is right.
Except for the cookies and the way I spoil him when Miah’s not looking.
Yeah, I can’t wait for the day I get a kid in my Cupcake.
My answering smile slips when she flicks on the indicator and takes a left turn, letting me know without words that we’ve arrived at our destination.
Chapter Thirteen
Paulette
By the time the bomb went off, I’m happy to say that we were well away from the gas station and speeding down a dirt road behind the old gas station that got us back on the highway without incident.
I heard the blast, am pretty sure that people in the next state over heard it, too, and it breaks my greedy heart to think of that perfectly fine Aston being blown to kingdom come so easily.
I actually shed a tear and had to confess to Jared that it hurt me, hurting that perfect car. He and the boys laughed so hard after that statement, I swear I heard one of them snort like a pig before they all settled down and each offered to buy me a car.
I’m looking forward to three identical cars in different colours in the next few weeks, so I’m feeling peachy right now and sliding away from the panic attack with a relieved sigh when my trembling finally stops not two hours out from home.
“You feeling better, Cupcake?” he asks, kissing my hair for the hundredth time since he got me in the back seat and Case burned rubber.