Ink (Hounds of Hellfire MC #6)

Chapter 13

13

ANNIKA

W hen Matteo returned, there was an uncertain gleam in his eyes that made me uneasy. The breath I was holding blew out in a relieved sigh when he said, “You don’t need to worry anymore. He won’t be an issue for you. It’s done.”

There was a finality to his words. I assumed that it was better if I didn’t ask too many questions about why my uncle would no longer be a problem for me. I’d given my heart to Matteo, so I felt as though I needed to trust him without any reservation.

I smiled up at him and whispered, “Good.”

He must’ve been worried about how I’d react because the tension eased from his muscular frame, and he returned my grin. “The guy he sent after you has been taken care of by The Family, too.”

My smile widened. “I’d love to thank them for the help, but I’m guessing that’s a subject I should avoid if I ever meet them.”

“There’s no ‘ever’ about it, dolcezza . My mamma will be chomping at the bit to have you over for Sunday dinner, as soon as I tell her about you.”

My eyes widened, but before I could ask him about it, King approached us. I flashed him a grateful smile. “Saying thank you doesn’t seem like nearly enough with everything your club has done for me.”

“No gratitude needed,” King muttered. “We only did for you what we would for any woman a Hound has claimed. You’re part of the family now, and we take care of our own.”

If only my uncle—my own flesh in blood—had felt the same. Except then I might not have ended up with Matteo. Although, I liked to think that we still would have wound up together if my uncle’s mess hadn’t forced him to bring me to the compound. Our forced proximity might’ve sped up our relationship, but I was pretty sure that Matteo would’ve asked me out anyway after he finished my tattoo. Especially since he had stolen me away from Onyx that day.

“But if you want to thank us with cobbler, I wouldn’t turn it down,” Onyx joked.

King shook his head and walked away while Matteo pulled me against his side and turned us toward his friend.

“I could eat some cobbler,” I agreed with a smile. “Seems like the perfect way to celebrate since my uncle hated all sweets.”

“I like how you think.” Onyx smiled. “No tattoo memorializing him, either.”

I shook my head with a soft laugh. “Yeah, unlike the one you have for your mom or the ink Matteo owes me, I’m definitely not going to do anything to honor Uncle Alec’s memory. Not after he tried to end my life over money I would’ve happily figured out a way to give him if I had known he needed it that badly.”

“Too damn sweet,” Matteo muttered before his brows drew together. “Hold up…how do you know about Onyx’s tattoo?”

His club brother smirked at him. “Showed it to her when she came into Hellbound and told me what she wanted.”

“You motherfucker,” Matteo growled, his right fist clenched at his side while he pulled me closer with his other arm.

“This finally came in, and not a moment too soon, it seems.” King tossed a brown paper bag at Matteo. “I’d like to say that getting your name on her back will help ease some of that possessiveness, but I’d only be lying.”

“Took long enough.” Matteo dug inside and pulled a smaller version of his leather vest out and turned it so I could see the patch on the back.

I traced over the stitching and whispered, “Property of Ink.”

“Need to see you wearin’ this, baby. Want to show the world that you’re my old lady.”

“I’d love that,” I quickly agreed, turning so he could help put the vest on me.

Smoothing the front lapels over my breasts, he murmured, “Fucking perfect. Just like you.”

“Perfect for you.”

“Damn straight.” His lips curved down slightly at the edges. “Except that you’ll be leaving for college soon. Promise me you’ll wear this every day while you’re there?”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“What the hell?” he growled, his gorgeous blue eyes narrowing.

There weren’t any barriers to me heading off for my freshman year anymore, but I found myself in a quandary. “I can promise you that I’ll wear it, but not at school.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because I don’t want to go.” I took a deep breath and added, “I was doing it because I wanted to get away from Riverstone and my uncle, but now he’s not an issue. And you’re here. Why should I run off to get a degree I don’t even want in a subject I haven’t picked yet when I can stay here. With you.”

“You don’t have to twist my arm to talk me into it.” Matteo lifted me off my feet and spun around in a circle before setting me back down again. “We can start looking for a place tomorrow.”

“Or you could just move in with me?” I suggested. “Help me build new happy memories in the home that used to be full of them?”

He searched my expression for any hint of doubt. “That’s what you really want?”

“Absolutely.” I couldn’t wait to start building a life with him there. “But if you want to live somewhere else, we totally can. I just want to be with you.”

“So damn sweet,” he murmured. “Which is why I couldn’t help falling in love with you so quickly.”

Hearing those three little words from him made butterflies swirl in my belly. “I love you, too.”

“Thank fuck.” He gave me a quick but hard kiss. “We’ll toss our shit into the back of your Jeep and my truck so we can get a head start on moving into your place.”

“Damn, Ink.” Onyx clapped him on the back. “You’re a kept man now.”

King slapped Onyx on the back of his head, but Matteo ignored him. “You’re gonna meet my mamma sooner than expected.”

“How come?” I asked.

“Even with him gone for so many years, she still loves my father as much as the day she married him.” He reached for my left hand, brushing his over my ring finger. “The ring he gave her means the world to my mamma , but she’s always said that the day I bring the woman I’m gonna make my wife to meet her is when she’ll pass it along to her new daughter.”

Happy tears spilled from my eyes. “Did you just ask me to marry you in the sweetest way possible, even though it was completely unplanned and spur of the moment?”

“Nope,” he whispered against my lips before claiming a deep kiss. “That was me telling you that you’re going to be my wife. And soon.”

Less than an hour later, his mom did exactly what he said. And then she helped us plan one of the quickest weddings in history. I walked down the aisle to him surrounded by my newly found family—the Hounds of Hellfire and the DeLucas—with King at my side and my best friend only a few feet in front of me.