Chapter 55 Cash
FIFTY-FIVE
CASH
It was late afternoon as I balanced the tray and kept my footsteps light as I eased up to the door on the second floor of River and Charleigh’s house. Heart living in my throat as I paused to peer inside.
Soft, glittery light floated through the air, rippling over the bed and glinting over the cinnamon locks of Daisy’s hair that were spread out around her on the pillow.
Her breaths soft and her spirit strong.
This fierce, brave girl who had faced down death and fought with all she had.
I bit back the rage that wanted to surface. The old fury that I had forever been prisoner to.
It was strange, not having to feel it anymore.
I started to back away to let her sleep when she stirred, a long groan rolling out of her as she sat up.
“Baby, don’t get up,” I attempted, but she shook her head, that sweet smile rising to her gorgeous face. “No, I want to.”
She rested against the headboard while I moved to the left side of the bed. I set the tray on the nightstand before I sank onto the edge of the mattress. I twisted so I was facing her. My hand reaching out so I could trace my fingertips gingerly across her jaw. Her jaw that was bruised and swollen.
That motherfucker was lucky I didn’t have time to end him the way he deserved.
Slow and mercilessly.
Her injuries were all superficial, including the bullet that had grazed her shoulder, but that didn’t make it any less severe. That monster’s intentions so sickening I still couldn’t wrap my head around it.
“I’m so fuckin’ sorry,” I murmured.
Her head barely shook as she leaned deeper into my palm. “If any of us are sorry, it’s me.”
I brushed the pad of my thumb along her cheek. “You don’t have anything to be sorry about. You were so fucking strong, fighting him the way you did.”
“But I brought him here. Brought Hadley here.” With the mention of her sister, Daisy’s voice hitched in grief.
My chest felt like it would cave with the mention of her. Fact that I’d been so complacent. Thinking she was dead for all these years. Thinking I’d been responsible for it. Once I developed my hacking skills, I never even checked.
Had missed all the connections. The fact that Jaimie was Ethan’s stepbrother. Last names different, and with all the passing of time, I never had dug the way I should have.
If I had, I would have found that Ethan was the ringleader of it all. That he was the one who’d given the command for my brother to be killed.
Had I searched, I would have discovered Hadley had been living homeless for all these years. Hiding from Ethan, in fear of her life over what had happened with Jaimie, until the day Ethan hunted her down and convinced her he would protect her if she helped him uncover me.
“All of this was on me. Because of my anger. I thought I killed her, Daisy. I thought…” I choked off.
Last night, I confessed to Daisy everything that had happened that morning after I left the hospital, and I still kept waiting on her to tell me she didn’t want me in her life.
She lifted her sweet hand and settled it on the side of my face, cornflower eyes so intense.
“You carried that guilt for all these years, even knowing my sister was involved in what happened to your family. Yes, I’m sure she was stuck.
Tied to dangerous people without a way out.
But she was still there, Cash. She didn’t warn us.
And I know you never intended to hurt her. ”
“Still makes me sick that it happened. Sick that I walked. Sick that I ran away from you when I should have run to you. Sick that I left you alone for Ethan to manipulate as a means to get to me. Sick that I buried my head thinking I was respecting your privacy.”
That unforgettable gaze wandered over me. “And we can’t regret our lives, Cash. Can’t regret that my children came from it or that you found this incredible family.”
“Just wish I’d done it differently.”
“I know. I…” She trailed off, wetting her lips before she muttered, “I’m so sorry about the cabin.”
“Don’t give a fuck about the cabin, Daisy. Only thing that matters is that all of you made it out. That this family is whole. Was so fuckin’ scared we were too late.”
“You saved us. All of you.”
“Would have given it all. All of us for any one of you.”
“Because you are incredible, amazing men. Through and through. And I’m honored to be a part of this world. Of who you are. Now, we can only make sure that from here on out it’s you and me together.”
“Is that what you want?” The words went deep. “You and me together?”
“Pretty sure this ring on my finger confirms that.” Soggy affection filled her voice as she brought attention to my mother’s ring.
My spirit both moaned and danced.
Knew the joy it would bring my mother. Knowing I was with Daisy. That we’d come to this after so much tragedy had been strewn between us.
“That’s good because I’m pretty sure if you tried to leave me, I’d only chase after you.”
“Hmm…kind of makes me want to run just to see what that might look like once you caught up to me.” She’d gone coy. Purely a tease.
A low growl worked its way free, though still, it was laden with affection. “Don’t test me, woman.”
Daisy giggled. “Don’t worry. If I’m running, it’ll just be to our room.”
“Now I like the sound of that.”
“What, me whimpering your name?” Loved when she got bold. When my Little Wallflower knew she didn’t need to be shy.
“That’s right. Way it was always supposed to be.” I paused to find the right words. “I was so scared of what you asked me to do, Daisy. So scared of the thought of caring for your kids. Terrified of it. Now it’s the only thing I want to do. Together, with you.”
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, then a tender smile filled her face when Colin’s voice rose from downstairs, where he and the rest of the kids were playing with Nolan.
Charleigh and River offering Raven’s old room for us to stay in while Daisy recuperated and we figured out a new place to stay.
“I love them, Daisy, and I love you, and I promise I’m going to spend the rest of my life protecting that.”
“Together,” she whispered.
“That’s right. Together.”
I leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on her lips, the word rumbling between us as I moaned, “Bliss. Being with you is nothing but bliss, Daisy Cunningham.”
And we were no longer on the brink of it.
It was here.
Whole and thriving between us.
She held me by both sides of the face, making that kiss go on forever.
Then she pulled away and glanced at the tray I brought up. She hooked me a coy grin.
“Now are you going to share those with me or what?”
A chuckle got free as I reached for the tray and settled it on her lap.
A steaming cup of tea and a box of Red Vines.
I ripped it open and pulled one out, holding it up to her lips. “You are the only person I’ve ever wanted to share these with. Only person I ever wanted to share my life with. Everything I have and everything I am is yours, Little Wallflower.”
She reached out and settled her palm over the thunder at the center of my chest. “No more broken hearts.”
I grabbed her fingers and kissed across the tips. “No more broken hearts.”