Page 28 of Inside the Maelstrom: Part Two
Chapter16
Sampson
Tobias had managed to get Hendrick’s conservatorship hearing expedited, which was great since we were all going slowly mad inside the apartment. There was only so much Playstation I could stand before I wanted to throw the controller out the window and onto the crowd of photographers loitering on the sidewalk below.
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my cufflinks. We were dressed for intimidation today, and my suit cost more than most people’s monthly paychecks. I’d arranged for a barber to come to the apartment yesterday, so we no longer looked like bedraggled backpackers. Instead, we looked like the future elite of this fucking country.
I grabbed my jacket and slipped it on, completing the armor I’d need to slay the monster that haunted our steps. A knock on my door had me turning, and my breath stilled as Aviva stepped into the room. She was wearing black slacks and a white blouse with a velvet ribbon tie at the throat, as well as a black blazer, and I knew I was looking at future Aviva. She looked confident and sexy as hell.
“You look nice, Good Girl.”
A smile lit up her face, which made my heart clench in my chest. “So do you.”
She stepped closer, fiddling with my collar even though it was already perfect. I didn’t protest though, because this close I could smell the flowery scent of her perfume, and feel the warmth of her breath on my cheek.
“Do you think today will go okay?” She didn’t look up as she asked, instead pretending to straighten my lapels.
I put my finger under her chin and tilted her head back to look at me. “Tobias doesn’t leave much to chance, Aviva. It isn’t going to be over quickly, but we will win. I won’t accept any other outcome.”
Her shoulders curled in on themselves. “I imagine that’s what Senator Kenley is thinking right now too.” Probably, but that old fuck didn’t stand a chance. He thought he held all the cards, but he had no idea.
“He’d be wrong.” I kissed the top of her head. “Come on, we don’t want to be late.”
She clutched my jacket once more, holding me still and undoing all the work she’d just done to straighten it. “Sampson… we’re okay, aren’t we?”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding now. I’d been waiting, agonizing over this moment. Was now the right time? Probably not.
Was I about to do something stupid anyway? Yes.
I gently pulled away from her and walked over to my desk. Opening the drawer, I took out the box inside. When I turned around, her face was crumpled in defeat, and as if in slow motion, it pulled into a frown of confusion, then shock.
When I was back in front of her, I went down on one knee. “This is probably a little bit of a surprise, and normally I would have done this… better. But you need to know that when you walk into that courthouse today, you’re mine as well as Hendrick’s. You’re Otto’s and Evan’s. You'reours, Aviva Robinson, and I don’t ever intend to let anything come between us again. I love you, and all this other crap doesn’t matter, because we’re a fucking family.”
Tears filled her eyes, the beautiful blue depths sparkling so brightly that they looked like gems. “But what about—”
I shook my head, cutting her off. “Doesn’t matter. Not Nemo, not your family, not the press or the company or anything. Nothing will change what I feel about you. Good Girl, will you marry me?”
She blinked back tears rapidly, and I could see the thoughts turning over in her brain. All the doubts, the unworthiness that permeated her soul, everything.
But finally… “Yes.”
I grinned so wide my cheeks hurt, and I pulled the ring from the box, sliding it on her finger. I’d purposefully gotten the engagement ring designed to match Hendrick’s wedding band. The guys all knew I was going to do this, knew I needed this connection in the same way Hendrick did. Otto was entwined in the two of them so deeply that it was hard to know where he started and the others ended. But I was forever going to be on the periphery unless I convinced her I was all in—just as committed to her, and to us as a whole.
Evan had been quiet, but supportive. I had a feeling he’d take it a little slower with her, but I didn’t want to go slow.
I stood up and kissed her like I’d been dying to since she’d reappeared in my hotel room. It was possessive and consuming, and I wanted nothing more than to lay her down and show her exactly how much I wanted her. How much I’d always want her.
But old habits die hard, and those ingrained in trauma die the hardest.
I dragged my lips away, keeping her tightly pressed to my body since it was too hard to let her go completely. “We have to go. We can’t be late for the hearing.” She let out a loaded sigh, and I kissed her once more. “It’ll be fine. Trust me.”
“I do.”
I sincerely regretted opting for a good view instead of underground parking. However, since we never drove ourselves, I’d thought—foolishly—that it would be fine. The car service would just collect us from the front of the building.
However, I hadn’t accounted for the need to securely exit and enter the building during a media shitstorm. Short-sighted of me. Someone must have leaked that the hearing was today, because the paparazzi were more intense than ever. Evan had brought in extra security, not that it helped much.
“Hendrick, is it true you’re married?”
