Wanting Shaw (Rockers' Legacy Book 5)

“My bail was set at fifty thousand,” he said with a shrug. “After I was done at the hospital, I was arraigned, and Ma got me out.”

I began to sway, and Dad caught me around the waist before I could fall. “Y-you were arrested?”

Suddenly, Jagger was right in front of me. Dad released me as Jagger pulled me in with his good arm and kissed the top of my head. “It was worth it, baby. That fucker deserved everything he got. Not only were those pictures of you still on his camera, but he had pictures of other girls on there too. Ma notified your client about what was going on, and they are pressing their own charges against him. But she also got Barrick and Mieke to help my lawyer look for some of the other victims to press charges against the fucker, and it turns out at least two of them are underage. Eric is going away for a long, long time.”

“I don’t care about Eric!” I cried. “I care about you fucking up your life.”

“Don’t worry about the boy,” Mom said. “His lawyer is a barracuda. Jagger isn’t going to do any time. Trust me.”

“Have you two eaten?” Dad asked. When I glanced at him, his face was set in hard lines, but he gave me a tight smile. “I’ll make you some dinner.”

“I’m not hungry,” Jagger muttered. “Actually, the world is a little spinny right now. Those pain pills they wrote me a prescription for are finally kicking in, and I’m about to crash.”

“Shaw, take the boy up to your room,” Dad instructed. “You two need a good night’s sleep. We’ll talk about all of this in the morning when everyone is more clearheaded.”

The goofy grin that spread across Jagger’s lips told me he was high as a kite. “Hey, Dimples. I finally get to sleep in your bed. Think Cannon will try to kick my ass?”

Fighting tears, I shook my head at him. “Come on, criminal. You need to sleep it off.”

With my arm around him, I guided him to the stairs. But when I started to climb them, he grabbed the banister and refused to take another step. I looked up at him, but his face was oddly clear now. “Jags?”

He thrust his uninjured hand into his pants pocket, but whatever he pulled out was in his fist, hidden from my eyes. “I’ve been carrying this damn thing around in my pocket for months,” he muttered. “Those idiots at the police station took it when they processed me and laughed when they gave it back to me. Asked me why the fuck I had a rock this size in my pocket. It’s crazy, because I’ve been trying to figure out how to do this right. But something keeps stopping me. First, Luca beat the hell out of Cannon at the Christmas Eve party, and then Remington died while we were in freaking Paris.”

I didn’t understand what he was saying, and I was worried about him. “Jags, come to bed. That pain medication is making you talk nonsense.”

“Tonight, I realized it doesn’t matter. They all said it wouldn’t matter in the first place, but I didn’t believe them. I fucking should have, Dimples. Then my ring would have been on your finger, and that motherfucker Eric might not have pulled this shit.” He dropped to his knees in front of me and I gasped, but when I started to bend to help him up, he thrust his fisted hand at me and slowly unfolded his fingers, revealing the biggest diamond solitaire ring I’d ever set eyes on.

Tears spilled down my face at the sight of the ring. “Wait. Are you saying you’ve had this ring since…Christmas?”

He nodded. “Our moms and Mia helped me design it. I wanted it to be perfect for you. The diamond is just over eighteen carats, and the inside of the band has our names engraved on it.”

“Oh my God,” I whispered, unable to take my eyes off that ring. “You tried to ask me to marry you?”

“It was planned. But something kept getting in the way. Not that I’m mad Remington died and stopped me that last time. I’m sorry he’s gone, and I hate that Vi is hurting right now. But baby, I need this ring on your finger before I lose my fucking mind.”

With his casted hand, he took my left hand and lifted my fingers to his mouth. He kissed the fingertip of my ring finger and then slid the engagement ring into place. “Shaw, I love you so damn much. The thought of spending even a day without you sounds like the worst kind of hell.” He frowned, then blinked a few times. “Fuck, what was I going to say? I had it all planned out.”

Swallowing a sob, I bent so we were eye level. “I don’t care what you were going to say. This… This is perfect, Jags. I love you so much. Yes, of course, I’ll marry you.”

“Really?” Tears filled his pale-blue eyes. “You mean that?”

“Absolutely.” I cupped his jaw. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“No Vegas wedding!” Mom and Dad yelled, causing

us both to laugh, and I looked over Jagger’s shoulder to find them both crying.

Dad had his arm around Mom, and she was clinging to him. “This is one of the best moments of my life,” she sobbed, turning her face into Dad’s chest. “Ax, our little baby is getting married.”

“Not tonight, she’s not, hotness.” He kissed the top of her head. “Both of you, in bed. Now. Mom and I need a good cry without you watching us.”

Jagger jumped to his feet. “I’d carry you, baby, but I’m scared I’ll drop you right now.”

I laughed and pulled his arm around my shoulders. “I think I can make it to my old room all on my own, babe.”

Epilogue

Shaw