Hellion (Southern Rebels MC)

“I haven’t actually,” she answered, staring at me intently. “I’m Sloan.” She stuck her hand out and I took it, impressed by the strength of her handshake. “Though not for lack of trying.” She leaned toward me, her voice dropping, “Are you really on the run from a mobster?” She almost squeaked out the last word and I nodded, fighting back a smile. It was odd, but I felt a strange kinship with her. “I’m so glad you came.”

“She’s not staying,” Johnny said flatly. “She’s going to work it out with Noah.”

“I am, am I?” I replied dryly.

“Yes.” It wasn’t Johnny who answered though. “Because I’m not giving up, walking away, or making this easy on you.”

“You know the nature of a hurricane is to blow through, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake,” I reminded Noah.

“Hurricanes shake things up, show how strong a foundation can be so things can be rebuilt better,” he replied.

“I’m not angry with you,” I told him softly.

“You should be,” he countered and I stared at him in surprise. “I shouldn’t have let my mom spring that on you. I should have done something about my uncle years ago. You have every right to blame me.”

“I don’t blame you,” I retorted, holding up a finger when it looked like he was going to argue. “I mean it. I’m glad your mom found the purse. As much as it hurts….” I inhaled, holding the air in my lungs until they burned, then exhaled on a long sigh. “I’m glad to know what happened.” I looked at him and saw the hurt he carried for me. “That chapter of my life can be closed now.” I reached up, curving my hand along his jaw. “Let’s go home. I’m ready to start a new chapter.”

I felt his smile under the palm of my hand. “Can we make this new chapter official?” My forehead wrinkled, then smoothed when he dropped to one knee. There was rustling behind us and Noah’s smile widened. “I have witnesses.”

I glanced behind me and saw all the Hayes boys and their ladies, Johnny and, “Leroy?” He nodded sheepishly, and Nico flapped his wings, riding on Leroy’s shoulder.

I turned to face Noah once again and in his hand was a beautiful sapphire ring. “Cadence Lee Morgan, will you marry me?”

I swallowed hard, trying to speak, and finally nodded instead. He reached for my hand, sliding the ring on my trembling finger, then stood up, his gaze searching my face.

“Kiss the girl! Kiss the girl,” Nico squawked.

Noah leaned in, murmuring against my lips, “If he starts singing Under the Sea, I’m done.” A laugh bubbled up, quickly stifled by the press of his lips, and I curled my arms around his neck as clapping filled the room.

“Okay, that’s enough. That’s enough,” Leroy griped, wedging himself between us. “Let me see.” He looked at the ring then Noah. “I’m impressed. I didn’t even need to squint to see it.” He looked back at me. “You should come stay with me now. It’s only proper.”

“You mean she should stay with me….her father,” Johnny interjected and I rolled my eyes.

“We should go and let them sort this out,” I told Noah and he nodded. “It might be awhile.”

We walked to the door, Nico sailing over to land on Noah’s shoulder. Creed pointed at the bickering men. “You’re going to take them with you.”

We shook our heads, grinning as we escaped out the door. I wiggled my finger, the setting sun glinting off the stone and making it sparkle. “You had to make a thing out of it.”

“Hell, yeah.” He stopped walking, grabbing me by the waist. “I love you, Cadence, and I don’t think forever will be long enough, but I’m willing to see.”

“You met my daddy,” I questioned with a smile.

“I met your daddy.”

“And my granddaddy.”

“And your granddaddy.”

“And you’re sure you still want me forever?”

“Absolutely positive,” he answered without a shred of hesitation. “You’re the kind of trouble a man will dig a dozen graves for and not think twice.”

“I think just one will do,” I replied, wincing as I remembered the whale in the room. “Roy Demarcus still has to be dealt with.”

“And he will be,” Noah assured me. “Just not tonight.”

***

“It’s been a week,” I fretted, bouncing in the seat as Noah drove us into town. “And you’re sure he hasn’t heard anything?”

“Not yet, but they have feelers out.”

“I hate waiting,” I grumbled and Noah shot me an amused glance.

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

“I just want Roy gone,” I exclaimed. “It’s like this huge avalanche waiting to come down and crush us all.”

“That’s a reassuring way to look at it,” Noah replied wryly. “When he shows up, he’ll be dealt with…Johnny says he has a plan.”

“One he won’t share,” I added sourly.

“That’s Johnny,” Noah stated, like that explained everything.