Page 44 of Unlocked

Amonth later, we have determined that all threats from the Brotherhood have been eliminated. Luke and Marley have decided to host a belated wedding reception for our most valuable clients to celebrate their marriage. It’s all a waste of time and money, if you ask me, but Luke felt some of our clients who have been with him from the beginning or those with high paying contracts might feel slighted that they hadn’t been invited to the private beachside ceremony. Therefore we’ve all gathered at a convention center for a very public celebration.

Shelby is still here. I’d feared once the wedding was over, she’d leave me to return to Maryland, but instead, she has decided to move in with me. She can work from anywhere, since she’s primarily been working from home anyway, in recent years, only going into the office for a few hours every couple of weeks. Her boss has said she can have Zoom meetings with him and other staff whenever needed.

I scan the large room, looking for my girl. She and Marley had taken off for the restroom, the moment we arrived. Both women’s faces had been flushed, and Marley had a drug store bag in hand. I have to admit I’m curious as to what they are upto, but I’ll just have to wait. Marley must have gotten them new lipstick or something to try.

My eyes make another sweep when someone moving swiftly in my direction catches my attention. Mrs. Cruise, the woman I’d been bodyguard for shortly after Shelby arrived is making her way in my direction. The tall, thin blonde is gliding through the crowd, turning a lot of heads as she goes. By my old standards, she ticks all the boxes: vain, shallow, supermodel thin. I shake my head not understanding how I ever got hard enough to fuck someone like her.

“Bo,” Mrs. Cruise purrs my name when she reaches my side next to the open bar. “I’ve been looking for you.” Her sickeningly-sweet perfume tickles my nose. I can’t keep the disgust at the scent off my face, but I have to be polite. Luke will kick my ass, wheelchair or not, if I piss off a high paying client.

“Mrs. Cruise,” I acknowledge with a dip of my head but keep my eyes trained on the women’s bathroom door. I haven’t spotted my girl or Marley in the crowd so they must still be in there. Worry begins to creep in over how things turned out the last time they stayed too long in a bathroom.

“Bo,” Mrs. Cruise whines, placing her hand on my arm, drawing my attention back to her. I jerk my arm away from her touch that burns like fire, not the fire of desire that Shelby’s touch brings, but an uncomfortable, vile burn. One I want nothing to do with. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.” I grit my teeth in an effort not to tell this woman where to go. She steps closer to me. I side step, needing to keep my distance from her. From the first time I met her, she gave me the creeps, but she’s a client, and I have to be nice. I don’t, however, have to let her touch me.

Shelby’s floral scent drifts in to overpower Mrs. Cruise’s. I turn my head to see my sweet girl and Marley walking up. “Excuse me,” I say to Mrs. Cruise not taking my eyes ofShelby. Shelby’s eyes are bouncing back and forth between me and the woman in front of me. It occurs to me she might be misunderstanding the situation. I step around the offending woman to take Shelby in my arms. “I missed you,” I whisper in her ear, making her shiver. I press a kiss to her lips. My girl is trembling. I pull back to see uncertainty on her face. “Sweet girl, what’s troubling you?”

She doesn’t get the chance to answer before Mrs. Cruise grasps my arm. “Bo, what are you doing with that?” Disdain clear in her voice as she points at Shelby. I see red. No one, not even a well-paying client is going to disrespect my girl. “I can’t believe you turned me down. Was it because of her?” Shelby tries to remove herself from my arms, but I’m not letting her go anywhere. I know her insecurities are bubbling up. I need to focus on my girl. I’ll deal with the bitch once I know Shelby is okay.

“Sweet girl, look at me,” I command. Shelby’s tear-filled eyes take forever to reach mine. The hurt and the pain I see in them guts me. “Don’t listen to that bitch. You are ten times the woman she can never be. I love you, Shelby. You are the only woman for me.” Tears fall from her eyes, but I can see that she believes me. A sniff next to us draws my attention. Marley is crying, too. She’s gazing at us with a tender look. I turn back to my girl, pulling her into my arms and kiss her like I mean it. I swipe my tongue against her lips. Thankfully she opens to me, letting me explore her mouth to my full delight.

“Ugh! Disgusting,” Mrs. Cruise scoffs behind us. I ignore her, continuing to enjoy my girl’s taste. Shelby continues to tremble in my arms, and I don’t like it. At all. I know she isn’t trembling from desire like she did last night when I fucked her to exhaustion.

I end the kiss, pressing my forehead to hers. “Talk to me, my sweet, sweet girl.” I lift my head and lean back to peer intoher eyes. She bites her lip, indecision marring her beautiful face. “Shelby,” I scold. “Talk to me sweet girl. What has you so upset? If it’s what that woman said, ignore her.”

“Bo,” Marley intervenes. I drag my eyes away from Shelby to see what my sister-in-law is wanting. “This isn’t a conversation you need to have in public,” Marley continues cryptically. I frown not getting her meaning. I turn back to see Shelby’s face is pale with a wary expression.

“Just tell me,” I demand, more forcefully that I intend. She flinches as if she thinks I’ll hit her. I cringe because that’s the last thing I’d want her to think, but I know it’s an instinct she can’t control. “Please, sweet girl?” I ask in a much calmer, kinder tone. Shelby swallows nervously. Her eyes drifting to Marley. I take her chin forcing her to look at me. Determination suddenly shines in her whole demeanor.

“I’m pregnant.” I blink. Drawing back a little, my face pinches. I’m trying to process her words. She’s pregnant? Shelby’s face falls, tears welling in her eyes. Shelby is pregnant. She’s carrying my child. I can feel my whole countenance light up. My face hurts with how big I’m smiling.

“You’re having my baby?” I crush her to me, bursting with happiness. We rock back and forth. Marley is crying happy tears next to us. Luke and my brothers are here now. Mrs. Cruise is stomping off through the crowd a forgotten nuisance.

“What’s happened?” Luke questions, looking at Shelby, Marley, and myself. I can’t speak around the emotion in me. Marley breaks the silence that’s descended.

“Shelby and I have some news,” Marley says, making eye contact with each of us before settling on Luke. My curiosity is piqued. Shelby gave me her news. How is it Marley’s, too? “We are pregnant.”

“What?” Luke asks, incredulously.

“This isn’t how I’d planned to tell you,” Marley says. “But I’m pregnant and Shelby is, too.” Marley straightens her spine, dipping her head once, in a determined stance. I burst out laughing, realizing I’m going to be a father and an uncle very soon. Marley is falling onto Luke’s lap, and he’s kissing her deeply. I release the tight grip I’ve had on Shelby since she told me. I need to see how she’s feeling about this.

“Hello, little momma,” I say with a grin. She looks up expectantly.

“You’re not upset?” Shelby asks with astonishment in her voice. I shake my head.

“I’m fucking ecstatic,” I tell her, pulling her back into my arms. “How could I not be? You’re carrying our son.” Amusement colors her face. She peers up at me with a coy smile.

“Your son?” She raises an eyebrow. “What if it’s your daughter?” I can feel the color draining from my face. I don’t know what to do with a girl! Then I can picture Shelby holding an infant with her mother’s hair and expressive eyes. I smile at the thought. I suddenly hope the baby growing inside her is a girl.

“Then we will have to try again,” I smirk. Her face blooming a lovely shade of pink. I chuckle along with my brothers who have been listening in, though in their defense, we haven’t been trying to keep it private. I look over to where Luke has Marley in his lap, kissing her senseless. My brother is having a baby.I’mhaving a baby. Taking Shelby by the hand, I pull her toward the front of the room. I take a champagne glass from a passing server and a serving spoon from a nearby tray. I tap the spoon against my glass to gain the room’s attention. All eyes turn to us.

“Thank you all for gathering to celebrate my brother’s marriage to the love of his life,” I begin. I can see Rosco and Enos exchanging amused looks, but I don’t let them deter me from my mission. “Welcome to the family, Marley. Luke couldn’t havefound a more perfect woman to complete him. I’m so thankful he found you.” Marley and Luke join Shelby and I at the front of the room. Marley hugs me affectionately. I kiss her cheek. “If he hadn’t found you, I’d never have found my sweet girl. My Shelby.” I turn to the woman who’s stolen my heart. Train’s,Marry Mebegins to play in the background. I glance over my shoulder at Luke who’s grinning at us. “Sorry to steal some of your thunder, brother, but after the news we just got, I need to do this, now rather than later.” Luke nods, already knowing what’s coming. I’d asked his advice days ago, but he had been uncharacteristically unhelpful. So I’m winging it.

I kneel in front of her, pulling the velvet box, which has been burning a hole in my pocket for days, from the inner pocket of my suit coat. Shelby’s face is pale, and tears are in her eyes. “Shelby Beatrice Brooks, my love, my life, mother of my child. Will you make me the happiest man alive and agree to be my wife?” I hang in limbo, not breathing, my heart not beating as I wait her answer. I’m afraid it’s too much too soon for her, but after finding out she’s carrying our child, I can’t wait another second to know her answer.

“Yes,” she whispers, softly, then louder, bobbing her head up and down with happy tears. “Yes, I’ll marry you!” I’m on my feet to thunderous applause, taking my girl in my arms, lifting her off her feet, kissing her deeply, the ring box still clutched in my hand. We finally come up for air. I take the ring from the box to slip it onto the fourth digit of her left hand, kissing her knuckles. My eyes never leave hers. I drink in all the love and contentment I see in their depths. It’s what I feel reflected back at me.

Rosco and Enos pounding on my back in congratulations breaks us apart. Marley rushes over to admire the ring. Even Kristen, who’s been hanging next to Enos the entire evening, steps over to take a look. My brothers drag me away from the women. I’m not ready to leave Shelby’s side, but it seems mybrothers have other plans. Luke looks up at me with a goofy grin on his face.

“It seems we are about to be fathers,” he comments, giving me an assessing look. I nod.

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