Chapter 13 #2
I look around the property to see where the foundation markers are all standing and ready for the pad to be poured.
The house that I want our family to grow in is getting started.
I never got a chance to tell her what my plans are, but between this and the ring I bought a couple of months ago, I’m ready to make forever with her.
When I pull up to the house, the block is full of cars I recognize. My dad is sitting next to me in the truck, and he looks down the street too.
“That’s a lot of people for a one-year-old.” He chuckles.
“She’s special.”
I step out and reach into the bed of the truck for my gift for her.
I went a bit overboard getting her a custom pink ride-on push car replica of a Mercedes Benz.
I know she’ll love it. I check that the big red bow on the hood didn’t get messed up on the drive over and carry the car in my hands toward the front door.
My brother Zeus and his son, Hot Head, meet up with us. Behind them is my youngest brother, Hades. The door swings open, and Lydia is standing there laughing.
“Hello, stranger.” She leans in to give me a hug.
“Hello, Lydia. You remember my dad, Troy. I don’t think you’ve got to meet my brother Hades.” I introduce them, and my father hugs Lydia, but the other guys just nod. They’ve all witnessed Whitlock around her and know he’d kill them for touching her.
The house has people moving through it, but everyone is mostly in the backyard. I see her as soon as she moves.
She’s in a simple flowered spaghetti strapped dress.
Her breasts aren’t as full as they used to be now that she’s not nursing anymore.
At first, I wonder if she’s braless under that dress, and I want to storm over to cover her up, but then I want to carry her to her room and take those sweet nipples in my mouth until she screams my name.
She must feel me undressing her with my eyes because she turns and takes me in. I watch as her body trembles slightly, and I make my way through the house and directly to her.
I set the car down and pull her into my arms, not caring who’s watching or that everyone is there.
My lips land on hers, and she opens instantly for me.
My tongue slips into her mouth and moves against her tongue.
She moans, and I pull her in tighter to my body, where she molds against me. She’s everything.
I hear a throat clear, and I pull away. Her lips are swollen, her delicate skin abraded from my whiskers.
“Missed you, spitfire.” I drop a kiss on her nose.
“Dada. Dada.” A sweet voice causes everything in me to lock up.
I turn as I feel a pull on my jeans leg. I look down, and Mari is holding her arms up to me. With my heart in my throat, I lean down and pick her up while still holding Sydney with my other arm.
“Dada. Dada,” she says again.
My whole world is in my arms. No one is saying anything. Everything went silent when she called me Dada.
“How’s my little marshmallow?” I kiss her cheek as she clutches at me. “Come see what I got you.”
I let go of Sydney, who has her hand to her mouth and tears shining in her eyes. We never discussed what Mari would call me, but it feels right for her to call me that. I also know it’s a sound that most young kids make, but the fact she is sure it’s my title is perfect.
I set her in the car and make sure she’s secured as I push her across the yard, playing with her.
Seeing Mari struggle to keep her little eyes open, her plump little cheeks flushed under her tawny skin, showing how tired she is, brings a smile to my face. She is in Sydney’s arms as she talks to Autumn and Wrenn, who is holding her son.
“You can claim her publicly like that, but you better lock her down.” Jayden stands next to me with Aries.
“As soon as everyone is out of here, I’m going to have a talk with her.”
“What did Hawkeye come up with?” Aries asks, and I turn toward him.
“He didn’t have it yet. He said something came up.
His guy Timothy is having to get their other hacker to do a search.
Something about Sydney’s past being buried.
Titan is having the same issue, but he identified the man from lunch.
I don’t understand the connection yet. Cronus said he wants to check into some things too. ”
“Well shit, that’s not good.”
“Nope. So, I don’t want to confront her yet. I want her to tell me.”
“She should be the one telling you about her past, not some hacker,” Jayden says, and I nod at him. “There is no going back now, that little girl has laid her claim on you.”
“I don’t want to go back. I only want them. I’ve always thought of Marinda as mine.”
As everyone starts to leave, my father says he’ll catch a ride with my brother, and I stand in the back, waiting until I can talk to her. She moves around the kitchen, cleaning up the little mess left from everyone.
“I know you’re waiting for me to say something.” Her voice quivers slightly. but she doesn’t turn around to face me.
“I’m waiting here for you.”
I can’t take this final step until she gives me something. Anything.