Fuck. He’s right and yet so damn wrong. And Cannon was never a good fucking choice.
But in the end, it doesn’t matter. “Sounds like your wish was still granted. She’s my old lady and with it she’s protected. I would say you can have some form of contact, but she’s pretty pissed and hardheaded. You blew your chance of gaining her trust and maintaining a connection.”
“Cannon seemed like the right choice: he’s always wanted her,” Rowen repeats and rubs the back of his neck and sighs.
“Always wanted to rape her you mean.” I whisper the words low enough for only his ears.
His eyes flame with hatred. “What?” he snaps.
“Didn’t know that little fact, huh? Not to mention, the fucker was the one who led those two idiots right to her a few weeks ago. She could have died that day when they came at us with guns blazing. My sister was there too and her old man. That’s the kind of fuck-up you wanted for your sister? Your sister who has every reason to say her brother wanted to whore her out to one of his brothers. Did you ever fucking put yourself in her shoes, asshole?” My chest is heaving and it’s fucked-up because I can always contain my emotions but I seem to fail when anger surges through me at the thought of what my woman had to endure.
Rowen nods. He looks defeated and deep in thoughts.
I should walk away but I surprise myself when I tell him, “I have your number. I’ll be sure to text you pictures when our first kid is born and any others after that. Do you understand? She’s mine. For-fucking-ever. No one will harm her or so much as make her feel like an object needing to be tossed around to be displayed since it would fit somewhere else better. For fuck’s sake, man. What the hell were you thinking?”
I don’t wait for an answer. I couldn’t care less. But I probably shouldn’t have risked one final glance at his eyes because they are filled with pain.
“Take care of her.” His words trail behind me.
I raise my hand and give him a one finger salute. “A million times better than you did, that’s for damn sure.”
I would like to add the fact that this woman is mine to damn treasure, something no money in the world can buy. And when you realize you actually love someone it’s then you understand the value of having something precious in your life.
But it leaves a bad taste in my damn mouth about the fact Rowen accepted the deal. Meaning he took the money and the property I told Weston to offer him in exchange for Deranged Hounds to fuck off and leave Kadence alone. Weston mentioned there was a slight change in the deal and I’m itching to find out what the change was.
First, I need my woman in my arms so I can breathe her in to obtain some sense of calmness. Stalking into the main room, I quickly scan my surroundings and see Kadence sitting at a table along with some of the women and Joaquin. With determination I close the distance and drag her into my arms to kiss the fuck out of her.
When the both of us come up for air, I nuzzle her neck and murmur, “You good?”
“Yeah,” she sighs in contentment.
A little thrill flows through me and I pull back to cup her face and lock our eyes. “Stay with your friends, I’ll be right back. I need to have a word with Weston, okay?”
Thank fuck the smile is back on her face and she rejoins the women. I turn to head for church but my sister is right in my face. I expect her to blow up about the fact I took her friend and withheld information–leaving her to worry about Kadence–but instead she launches herself at me to hug me close.
“Thank you so much,” she gushes.
I wrap my arms around Mayven and hug her tight. I’m not much of a hugger and she knows it too. Add the fact I expected her to blow up and rip my head off, I’ll take the hug any time of day.
I place a kiss on the top of her head. “You’re welcome. Now go plan a wedding or something, I need to talk to Prez.”
“You’re getting married?” Mayven squeaks, making all heads turn our way.
I shoot her a grin and simply say, “I ain’t letting her go, sis. Not ever. So, we might as well get hitched since she’s already my old lady. And I’m set to knock her up some time soon.”
“You’re horrible,” she grumbles, her eyes going to Kadence who is staring at us in shock. “You should have proposed in a normal way instead of throwing it out as if it’s another thing to tick off your to-do list.”
“Fuck normal,” I mutter and head for church.
“Asshole,” Mayven bellows.
“Ah, there’s the anger I was expecting when I walked in here, sis. Good to know you don’t disappoint.”
She grumbles a string of curses but I’m already closing the door behind me. Alfie, Garrett, Ledger, and Roper are sitting at the table. The door behind me opens and Weston stalks inside.
“What a fucked-up situation,” Weston says as he takes a seat.
“What part of the deal was changed?” I ask, needing to know every damn detail.
Roper throws a file on the table in front of me. “He didn’t want the property you offered.”
“Dammit. Why? They are about to be evicted, why turn down the property that could be a potential clubhouse?” I wonder out loud.
“Something about the location and space. They have issues with another MC and the property is close to a bar some of those fuckers hang out at. Rowen doesn’t need the extra pressure. But Alfie gave him another option and he gladly accepted. They will sign the papers tomorrow, bright and early.”
I nod in understanding of what Weston just explained.
“Rowen needs to pay that fucking dollar,” Alfie snaps. “And you owe me, man.”
“He’s buying the property for a dollar?” I question.
Alfie shrugs. “We have it in black and white his MC will back off, and gave the well wishes to the happy couple and shit. Shit. We should have asked for him to make a video when he tells Cannon the joyful news.”
“I hope he fucking chokes on it,” I mutter.
Weston’s face turns grim. “He might have mentioned Cannon wouldn’t back away easily. But Rowen would handle it. Even if it meant killing the fucker. He was honorable, Colt. Once we told him what was going on between you and his sister. Rowen respects Kadence’s choice and would have accepted if he knew, without the damn money offer but we put that shit on the table before we mentioned you claimed his sister as his old lady. So, the fucker got the money as a bonus.”
“I don’t care about the fucking money. Rowen should have killed the fucker the second he wanted my woman. He was blind not to see what kind of fucking idiot Cannon is,” I snap.
“Calm down, Colt. Everything is handled for now, okay?” Roper shoots me a look of warning.
I hold my hands up. “Hey, I’m done. If you guys say it’s handled, it’s handled. We can move forward, no danger and shit.”
“Why the hell did you need to jinx us with the ‘no danger and shit?’ You should never voice such things, asshole,” Garrett grumbles. “Rowen still needs to bring the news to his club and control Cannon.”
I merely shrug and glance at Alfie. “Let me know what you paid for the property you’re selling to Rowen for one dollar. I’ll make sure you’ll get it in the next few days.”