Book 2 Chapter 23

Colton

*Benjamin and I pulled up to my father’s house and he looked to me confused. “What the hell are we doing here?”

“I have something here I need to pick up. I’m—I’m going to propose to Jenna.”

“You are?”

“I am going to make her my wife.”

“What if she says no?”

“Then, I’ll wait for her. I’ll wait until she’s ready.”

“If you already have a ring, you’ve been—”

“Holding it for the right time. Four years to be exact.”

“Seriously?”

“I never joke about these kind of things. I was going to propose the night I got locked up. I was supposed to go back to her house that night. That was the night everything fell apart. Now that I’m out, I’m not wasting another minute.”*

***

When Benjamin and I pulled back into his driveway, I glanced to him and asked. “What do we tell the girls?”

“We tell them the truth. We tell them Axel Davenport can no longer hurt anyone… not anymore.”

“What if they ask if he’s dead?”

“We can never tell them about what went down today. Angelo lives by a code. A code of silence—Omerta. Whatever happened in Angelo’s presence has to remain secret. We have to take it to our grave.”

“He’s not a businessman, is he?” I knew what Omerta was. Angelo was Mafia.

“No. I think you know exactly what he is.”

“Mafia.” I whispered to myself.

I glanced out the window and sighed. Chloe and Jenna were sitting on the porch giggling to each other. I made my way to Jenna and spotted the notebook in her lap. She met my gaze, wide eyes as if she was embarrassed. She breathed out as she closed the notebook. “Colton, you’re back.”

“Come with me, Jenna. I want to talk to you.” I offered her my hand, which she gladly took. She held the notebook to her chest as I led her to the backyard.

“Where are we going?"

“To be alone. I need to talk to you."

Leading her to the picnic table, I helped her sit down and whispered. “He can’t hurt you anymore. He can’t hurt anyone anymore. I’m free baby—we’re free.”

She laid the book down and ran her fingers through my hair. “Colton, what are you saying?”

“My father—he can’t hurt anyone. Not you. Not Chloe. Nobody.”

“Are you okay?” Jenna asked, burying her face into my neck. She brushed her lips against my neck, making me suck in a breath.

“I’m more than okay, babe. I’ve got my sunflower here with me. I couldn’t ask for more.”

“Colton, take me to the bed.”

“There’s one more thing I want to do.” I said, kissing her lips.

I stood up and twisted her body to face me. I took her hands and sunk down on one knee. “Jenna, baby, the mother of my child, you mean the world to me. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve lost myself. It was you that brought me back to the light when all I could see was darkness. You’re my angel, my savior and I love you. I love you so much.”

“Colton—”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring I’d been holding for four years. I kept it hidden until the right time. “Let me finish, sweetheart. Jenna Bradley, will you marry me? Be mine.”

She nodded, crashing her lips against mine and whispered. “Yes. Yes, Colton, I’ll marry you. What took you so long?”

I slid the ring on her finger and murmured. “Baby, this ring has been burning a hole in my dresser for four years. I was going to propose the night everything went to shit. I’ve always loved you. I’ve loved you since the day I laid eyes on you.”

I cupped Jenna’s face and pressed my lips against hers as she wrapped her arms around my neck. When I pulled away she had tears streaming down her face. “Please, don’t cry.”

“No, these are happy tears. I love you, Colton. I love you so much.” Jenna pulled away and grabbed both of my wrists and placed them on her belly. “We both do.”

“Sorry to interrupt this moment, but I needed to speak to both of you. I received a call from the prison, Colton. Your father was found in his cell earlier. He’s dead.”

*Good one, Benjamin.

Nice cover story.*

I raised my head and met his gaze, a smile ghosting my face. “That’s unfortunate.”

“Colton?” Jenna whispered.

“I told you baby, he’s never hurting anyone again. And, if you’re wondering, no I didn’t kill him. He was still alive when we left him.”

“Thank you, Colton.”

“For what?”

“For doing the right thing. For being the man I needed you to be.”

Benjamin glanced at the ring on Jenna’s finger and smiled. “Now, we’re family.”

“Family.” Jenna and I whispered together and pressed our lips against each other.

Family doesn’t have to be blood. You don’t choose you’re blood family. They can be deceitful and conniving. Betray you without batting an eye. With this family though, we all chose each other. We’re loyal to one another. Take care of each other. Just because you’re blood doesn’t make you family, you have to earn that. The famous words of “Supernatural’s” Dean Winchester have so much truth in each word.

“Loyalty. Respect. That’s what makes a family.”

“So, when’s the wedding. Chloe and I already have our date. Now, it’s up to you to pick yours out.”

“I—” Jenna trailed off.

“One day at a time. Ain’t that right, baby?” I finished for her.

“One day at a time.” She replied.