Rubbing her hands up his chest and along the smooth column of his neck, she met his eyes as her fingers played with the soft scruff on his face. “You, Sergeant Risley, are one of the most amazing men I’ve ever met, and I can’t begin to explain how proud I am that you chose me to be yours. I’m humbled that you never gave up on me. Most of all, Casey, I love you with everything I am.”
Leaning forward she placed not a kiss but a promise on his lips. A promise to be everything he would need her to be. A promise to live up to all the sacrifices he had made. A promise to be his forever.
Evelyn’s declaration to him the day before had Casey an emotional basket case for the rest of the day. He might have seemed sulky and withdrawn to Dom and a few of the men that had needed his help when in truth, he was happier than he’d ever been.
He wanted Ev to be comfortable around his home, to be a part of it. A fixture. They were quickly becoming one unit, and he couldn’t be happier. She had spoken to him at breakfast that morning about finding a different line of work, too. On the inside, he’d been cheering like the Orioles won the World Series, remaining calm on the outside had been the struggle.
He hated that she danced—no, he hated that she danced for other men. That they were close enough to touch her, smell her. He hated it all. However, he would support anything she chose to do, whether it be scrubbing toilets or running for President. He would always be at her side.
She was currently inside making him dinner. Her insistence on being domestic was adorable, but he just wanted her naked. Anything else could wait as far as he was concerned. He figured that while she cooked, he would continue his search for her sister. He found it odd but relieving that she hadn’t popped up on some sort of system since leaving Ev.
Case knew she worried about her nephew more than Lacey. She cried over how callous she’d sounded because Lacey hadn’t been the nicest to her, but Andy was a good kid and deserved a real chance at life. After spending nearly four years around Jax, he was inclined to agree.
His ringing phone had him breaking from his search. “Hello,” he answered.
“Casey? Casey Risley?” a wobbly voice asked.
It took him a moment to recognize the caller but recognize he did. Shock muted any response he might have had.
“Is this Sergeant Casey John Risley of Baltimore, Maryland?” her voice wobbled.
“Yeah, Ma, it’s me.” He had no idea what to say.
“Oh, Casey,” she cried into the receiver.
Standing, he paced the porch. Unsure about the reason for her call, nervous energy ran through him. He remained silent until her tears dried up.
“What’s up, Ma?” he asked her lamely.
Clearing her throat, he heard her blow her nose before answering. “I…uh…We…we would like to see you, Casey.” She kept saying his name almost as though she wasn’t sure he was real.
“We who?” he asked cautiously. The last time he’d seen his parents, his father had called him a cripple and said no son of theirs could be a gimp. The words had stung and made him far angrier than he’d ever been.
Hesitation was evident in her voice. “Your father and I. We want to see you.”
“We or you? You and I both know he wanted nothing to do with me.” All the old anger bubbled to the surface, and he didn’t think he could stop it.
“Please, Casey,” she begged. “There’s so much we have to say. That you have to know.”
Anger clouded his judgment. He wanted to say no. To scream that they’d hurt him deeply. That he’d turned into a whoring drunk because of what they’d done. He was about to, too, if only smooth hands hadn’t slid up his back. If a kiss wasn’t placed in the middle of his spine. If the woman he loved didn’t soothe the burn running through his veins. She was his kryptonite.
“Fuck,” he cursed feeling the turmoil evaporate from his body.
“Casey,” Ev reprimanded. Turning to her, he kissed her forehead, telling his mother, “Yeah Ma, you guys can come.”
“Would tonight be too soon?” She seemed impatient to see him. If she were honest in her want, then he might understand. It had been ten years since they’d seen or spoken to one another, so he wasn’t sure.
“Tonight’s fine, Ma.”
“Thank you, Casey.” Hanging up, he met Ev’s questioning eyes.
“Your parents are coming?” Her words were guarded, anger burned a small flame in their sapphire depths.
“Put your claws away, Kitten. I won’t let them disrespect you.” He chuckled to cover his nerves.
“You think I’m worried about me?” A humorless laugh burst free from her luscious lips. “Casey, they hurt you deeply. I won’t let them do that again.”
He…