Page 88 of Traitorous Lies
She’d learned the truth about her biology and was grappling with blame that wasn't hers to shoulder. She’d also taken a life, and while none of them could fault her for doing it, that didn't mean it wasn't going to have a lasting impact.
“Just did what I had to do to make sure this is really over and we’re all safe now,” Cassandra said. Casting an anxious glance at Monique, she fidgeted. “You're not angry with me for killing your dad?”
Instead of offering gentle, soothing words of reassurance, Monique rolled her eyes. “Pretty sure I already told you I wasn't at least two dozen times now. Stop asking, little sister. He might have been my father, but he was never a dad to me. And he would have killed me when I was just a toddler, let me believe my mom didn't want me, and planned to kill both of us yesterday. I'm glad he can't hurt anyone else.”
The answer seemed to satisfy Cassandra, at least for now, and her smile became a little more genuine when Lion pulled the car to a stop outside the mansion, and the front door immediately opened. The family spilled out, bright smiles, chattering voices, and lots of love as the women he thought of as his sisters ran into the arms of his brothers.
Cade swung Essie up into the air, tossing her and catching her, making the little girl squeal in delight. Then he set her down, curled a hand around the back of Gabriella’s neck, and kissed her hard on the lips. Releasing his fiancée, he dropped to his knees before her and touched a tender kiss to her stomach, where their baby was still growing. Gabriella’s smile was so warm as she ran her fingers through Cade’s hair, the love she felt for him and his daughter evident on her face.
Jake ruffled Alannah’s hair affectionately when sheapproached, earning him a good-natured punch to the shoulder. Those two were the newest relationship, and after spending almost thirty years as friends, they were still adjusting to being a couple. Whatever Alannah said made Jake laugh, and he lifted her off the ground and kissed her.
Cooper went down on one knee before Willow, who gasped, her hands flying to cover her mouth, her eyes wide as saucers. He pulled a small black velvet box none of them knew he’d had from his pocket, and opened it up. The diamond inside caught the light, sparkling like a rainbow sun.
“Willow, I know this is fast, but from the moment you bravely told me you’d wait in that underground prison until I could come back for you, trusting me not to leave you behind, and putting your life on the line to protect mine, I knew I wanted you. The more I’ve gotten to know you, the harder I've fallen. I love you, Willow Purcell, and I don’t want to live without you by my side. Will you marry me?” Cooper asked.
A sob broke free from Willow, even as she was nodding. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, a million yesses. After my dad’s death, I shut myself off. It was too painful to let people get close, but nothing could have stopped me from falling for you, Cooper Charleston. I would be honored to be your wife.”
Everyone cheered as Cooper slipped the ring onto Willow’s finger, then stood and pulled her up against him so he could kiss her.
Jax was pretty sure that wasn't going to be the only proposal over the next couple of weeks and months. Hell, maybe they’d all be engaged by Christmas. Then they could have a big family wedding, kind of like the Bravo Team guys had done earlier in the year.
Becca tugged on Connor’s arm, and when he dipped his head to hear whatever she had to say, he whooped out a laugh, then picked her up and spun her around.
“We’re having a baby,” he yelled at the top of his lungs, making all of them smile. If anyone deserved a second chance at parenthood, it was Connor and Becca after what had happened to them when she’d gotten pregnant while they were both in college.
“Of course the twins have to do everything together. If one is taking a huge life step, the other one has to as well,” Cole teased his brothers.
“Soon as I get a ring, I'm proposing,” Connor told Becca as he set her back down on her feet and rested a hand on her stomach.
“Guess that means we have to get you knocked up,” Cooper told Willow, who laughed and batted at his hand.
“One thing at a time,” Willow told her new fiancé.
“Cade is engaged and having a kid, Connor is having a kid, Cooper is engaged, we gotta step up our game, sprinkles,” Cole told Susanna as he hauled her into his arms and dotted kisses to her face.
“I’m ready when you are,” Susanna told him.
Cole’s eyes about bugged out of his head. “Really?”
“The moment you told me you believed me, I was ready to commit my future to you,” Susanna told him.
“Yeah, baby girl, let’s start planning that future we both want,” Cole said as he planted another kiss on her lips.
“They all look so happy, don’t they?” Monique said as she leaned into his side.
“What about you, princess?” Jax asked as he turned her so they were facing each other. “Are you happy?”
The smile she gifted him made him feel like he’d just won the lottery, it was so warm, sweet, and directed at him. “I'm happy, Jax. You make me happy, and while we still have some trust to rebuild, I'm sure by the time you're ready to propose, I’ll be more than ready to say yes.”
“Be careful with your words, princess,” he warned as he touched a kiss to the tip of her nose. One of his hands gripped her hip, anchoring her against him, while the other brushed across the bite mark on her breast that was covered by her sweater, making a breathy moan tumble from her lips. “I might be ready to propose sooner than you think, just to make sure you can never leave me.”
Monique giggled and pushed up onto her tiptoes to touch a kiss to his stubbled jaw. “I think I could handle that.”
“Get a room, lovebirds,” Cassandra teased from beside them.
When he looked over at his little sister, he noticed that her gaze kept darting between their siblings and the Delta Team guys who were all hanging around looking distinctly uncomfortable with all the emotional displays.
Well, Cassandra was looking at one Delta guy in particular.
