Cooper

“I guess you’re right,” she says reverently. “Maybe one day, but for now, we’re having too much fun practicing.” She winks at me and pushes the door to the salon open wide. “Hey, everyone! Guess who’s engaged!” she screams at the top of her voice.

My face instantly heats, but I laugh right along with her when every one of our friends pounces. My hand is pulled in a million directions. Congratulations are squealed and screamed. By the time all the girls have stopped gawking at my beautiful ring, I look up and see Sway—hands on his hips and his eyebrow raised.

“You better get that fine ass over here, mama!” he sasses.

I excuse myself from his receptionist’s grasp and walk over to where he’s standing. Like normal, he’s dressed loudly.

“You look good, Sway. How much weight have you lost now?” I implore, hoping that he won’t make a big deal about this.

“Don’t you try and distract me now, honey. I know I look good. Between Davey helping me work out at the gym and at home, oh Lordy Lou, you would think I would have those sexy six-pack abs all of you girls’ fine men have. But enough about me and how fabulous I am.” He moves one heavily braceleted arm to his hip, sticking his other hand in my direction and waving it as if I’m supposed to magically know what he’s demanding. “Don’t make me wait all day, you vixen. Give me that hand!”

I laugh and bring my left hand up. He oh-so-delicately jerks me forward and pulls my hand closer. I can hear him humming and awwing as he gazes at it in rapture. I try to put myself in his shoes—his very tall-heeled shoes—and look at my ring from his eyes. Asher went slightly overboard, but I can’t help but smile every time I look at it.

The large, round diamond is set high on a triple band of diamonds. It’s relatively simple—if you can overlook the obnoxious size of diamond sitting on those stunning, thin bands. He explained to me that he knew right away when he saw the ring that it was the one. He wanted something special, something I could look at and remember how much he loves me, but also something that would represent our son and what brought us together—Coop. So he clarified that each band stood for the men in my life. One for him, Zac, and Coop. By the time he finished telling me that story, I was crying hysterically. He just laughed and pulled me closer.

“Your arm is going to kill you carrying that big diamond around, but holy Mr. Bojangles, it is stunning!” Sway drops my hand and spins in a circle on his heels. His blouse bellows around him as he twirls, and when it lifts in the back, I notice—with jealousy—how tight his ass looks.

“Did you just say Mr. Bojangles?” Izzy laughs from behind me.

“Don’t you make fun of me, you sassy woman you.”

“You just make it so easy,” Dee giggles.

“Hmph. I do not,” he smiles.

We spend the next five hours gossiping, getting pampered within an inch of our lives, and watching all of the men come and go from the Corps Security offices—not a single one is one of our boys. And by the time Dee drops me off at home, my stomach hurts from how often I laughed.

Chapter 31 – Asher

It’s killing me knowing that Chelcie is just next door and I’m not able to go see her. With all of the red tape we’ve been trying to fight through and meeting after meeting to brief each tactical team on everything I know, I feel like my mind is about to explode.

We have finally finished all of our meetings today. Dominic Murphy will be going down and there isn’t a damn thing that can stop it now. He has so much shit piled on the scales against him—all of the evidence I’m responsible for bringing to light. I expected to feel upset over losing my chance at vengeance, but I know that Chelcie is right. Coop would hate this, and what’s important is that I’m around for my family. If something would have gone wrong and I was taken from Chelcie—just the thought kills me.

After the last handshake from the suit from the FBI, I wait until he leaves my office—my official office—and breathe a sigh of relief.

It’s over.

In two short days, Dominic will go down. Even though Coop’s murder is my motivation in this, it feels good to know that someone as disgusting as him will be taken off the streets. The sense of pride that fills me when I think about how—or rather by whom—all of this was set in motion is all consuming.

I’m not even upset that I won’t be a part of the takedown. I don’t need to be there. I don’t need anything but the verification that he’s behind bars when it’s over. I’ve done my part, and in turning all my intel over, I’ve also guaranteed Chelcie’s and Zac’s safety.

There hasn’t been anything else threatening since that one letter. I instantly pulled back and stopped being so reckless in my hunt of Dom. I used the Internet to silently weave in and out of his life. Thank God, because his being clueless means that Chelcie is no long in danger.

It’s time to live our lives for the future we’re building, and I can’t wait.

“You getting ready to head out?”

I look up and take in Maddox’s casual stance. “I was thinking about it. Did you see the girls leave yet?”

“Yeah. Headed out about five minutes ago.”

“All right, so tell me why you’re standing there keeping me from getting home to my woman.”

One thing about Maddox is that, when he speaks, you listen, so I know he wouldn’t be here if he didn’t think this was worth it. He’s a man of few words, and I can respect that. And I owe him for waking my ass up when I’d needed it. I’m not sure if I would be where I am right now had it not been for him.

He walks into the room and shuts the door behind him. He takes a few slow steps before sitting in the chair across from me. Once he’s settled in, his arms rest against each armrest, his fingers laced in front of him. He doesn’t say anything for the longest time, just observes me in an eerie silence.

“I’m proud of you, brother,” he finally says.

“Thanks, Maddox. I owe it to you, you know. I’m not sure anyone could have knocked some sense into me quite like you did. You made me see the hell I was letting myself become consumed with.” I look away, getting ahold of my emotions. “I wouldn’t have any of this if you hadn’t reminded me that there were still things worth living for. I wouldn’t have one hell of a woman who is about to become my wife. A son on the way. And most importantly—with this shit we just finished up here this week—I wouldn’t have peace with Coop’s death.”