Page 99 of The Sentinel

I stood by the railing of the deck, Izzy beside me, both of us watching the chaos unfold.

She nudged me with her shoulder. “We’re really in it now, huh?”

I smiled, shaking my head. “Yeah. I guess we are.”

She was right.

This wasn’t just Marcus and me. This was all of them. The brothers. The fights. The loyalty that ran deeper than blood. We weren’t just guests here. We were part of it now.

Family.

Marcus caught my eye from where he stood near the grill, talking to Ryker. His gaze never lingered far from me.

The possessiveness in it sent a shiver down my spine. The love in it wrecked me.

And suddenly, I knew.

I couldn’t wait.

I turned, plucked a beer bottle off the table, and climbed onto one of the deck chairs, clearing my throat.

“Can I have everyone’s attention for a second?”

Marcus’s brow furrowed, but the conversation died around me. Six Dane brothers. One Isabel. And me. Everyone was here but Atlas.

My family.

I swallowed hard, feeling my pulse race, then lifted my chin.

“I’m doing this before one of you tries to claim it first,” I announced, my voice steady but my heart hammering. “Because let’s be real, Marcus Dane would probably make a big show of it, and this big city girl doesn’t have the patience for all that.”

A slow, dangerous smirk curled on Marcus’s lips. His eyes darkened.

The others were watching now, curiosity sparking.

I took a breath. “Marcus, I love you.”

The smirk vanished. Something flickered across his face—shock, awe, something unguarded, completely open.

“I love you,” I said again, my voice softer now. “And I already live in your house, so I figured we might as well make it official.”

I tossed him the beer bottle cap, my makeshift engagement ring.

A stunned silence stretched.

Then Ryker barked out a laugh. “Holy shit. Should we make it a double wedding?”

Charlie whistled. Silas grinned. Isabel was already crying.

Marcus … Marcus just stared at me.

I swallowed. “You don’t have to say yes. But I?—”

I didn’t get to finish.

Marcus grabbed me, pulled me off the chair, and kissed me so hard I forgot my own damn name.

Laughter and cheers erupted around us, but all I could feel was him.

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