“Ma.”
“Oh hush, Jared, let me get some love to my daughter before you get all territorial on me. Oh, Paulie, honey I was so worried! How was it? Was that idiot Jerry really there? See, George, I told you that worm wasn’t worth trusting! When I get my hands on that man he’s going to hurt. Come along, Mama has your plates in the warmer and I made chocolate cupcakes!”
I’m exhausted and in need of some alone time with my guy, but as he grabs my hand and we follow everyone inside, I already see him silently communicating with his brothers and I know that he’ll be in that room of his before my eyes close.
We all eat and Jace starts telling them everything—the PG version to spare poor Jude’s feelings—and we all discuss it for another few minutes before I see Jared and Miah share a look.
“Go on and go talk to your brothers. I’ll be here with mama talking wedding stuff. I’ll be up later,” I say, giving him a quick kiss as he smiles gratefully and follows a scowling Miah out of the kitchen.
“Those boys are riding a fine line these days and I don’t like it one bit,” Pop says, scrubbing tiredly at his face.
“Oh, Georgie Bear, they’ll be just fine, baby. They know what they’re doing and with the way you’ve been moving the Conrads and Lanes around recently, they have some very good space now.”
“Yeah, Pop, from what Jared and Jace were saying, they not only have eyes on Lynn but they’ve identified key players. All we have to do now is wait and hope that Roman gets to the elusive top dog that everyone’s been searching for,” I say, finishing off the herbal tea Mama made me and yawning widely. “I’m off to bed.”
“But the wedding!”
“Mama, I have every faith that whatever you come up with will be just as perfect as the last failed attempt,” I say kindly, leaning in to kiss her cheek before leaving them alone and heading for my bedroom.
I can’t wait to wash the stress off and fall into bed for a marathon sleep. Whatever happens now is up to Jared and his brothers.
My part, what little I could play in this, is done. All I want now is to get married and maybe try for one of those kids Jared seems to want just as much as I do.
***
Jared
I end the meeting, or rather yelling fest, with Miah and the others around dawn and throw them all out to get some sleep beside my baby. I feel more than exhausted right now, and I’d like nothing more than to just go to sleep beside her and pretend that nothing is messing with us anymore.
I kinda miss the days when my only worry was going on missions in foreign locales and making bets with my teammates about silly shit like which bad guy would die first.
Those were the good old days when I followed orders and dragged my ass home after a job well done. Low stress, good pay, and the knowledge that my private life was not in any way mixed up with this stuff.
Now, thanks to Miah and his overconfident ideas, I’m neck deep in this cesspool and trying to hold my woman over my shoulders to keep the filth from touching her.
Not exactly the way I’d hoped to start my life with my soul mate, but I guess I’m just grateful that we’re together at last and that we’re both alive and relatively unscathed thus far.
“Hmm, hey,” she mumbles, snuggling close and throwing her leg over my hips when I strip to my skin and slide in beside her, relishing her sleep-warm skin and the softness of her curves snuggled against me.
“Hey, Cupcake. No, shh, sleep,” I murmur softly, kissing her gently before lying back and closing my eyes wearily.
She hums beneath her breath and settles back down, and soon I hear her gentle snores against my ear as I lie awake and go over everything one last time, just to be sure I haven’t missed anything.
After tomorrow I am on my honeymoon, and I told Miah that in no uncertain terms. I’m marrying my girl and taking a few days to just be with her, the same way I gave all of them time to just enjoy their wives while Case and I busted our asses trying to keep it all together.
Miah is annoyed and running on fumes right now, thanks to Roman’s mess, but that’s his cross to bear for the moment and he knows it. I’m done being the eyes and ears and getting nothing in return while they love their woman and play at getting shit wrapped up.
Paulie deserves better than the constant worry that I’ll be hurt by one of the sickos watching us all, and I want her to have a few days of peace while the others do their Goddamned jobs for once and leave me the hell alone.
“Talk to me, Sugar Bear,” I hear when an hour passes and I still can’t sleep.
I look down and frown when her golden eyes blink up at me and her brow furrows in worry.