Bonus Chapter 6
Colton
We pull up outside the bar, and I don’t even have to look at my brothers to know they’re just as anxious—no, scared shitless—as I am.
What we’re about to do will change everything.
We graduate in two weeks, and we all agreed this had to happen before then.
The plan is solid, every detail accounted for.
But first, we need Rico’s blessing. By far the hardest thing we’ll ever have to do.
“It’s now or never,” Zander finally says, exhaling sharply.
“What if he says no?” Braxton mutters, gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white from how tightly he’s holding it.
“He won’t,” I reassure him, though my own nerves threaten to strangle my voice.
“He knows how much we love her.” I glance at each of them, my brothers; though Braxton is by blood, I choose Zander by heart.
“We’ve been with Sierra for over four years.
I know, without a doubt, this is what I want.
And I know the two of you feel the same. Right?”
“Yes,” Braxton whispers.
“Without a doubt. I don’t want to imagine my life without her,” Zander adds.
I may have been the last to confess my love for Sierra, but my love for her grows stronger with each passing day.
It’s still one of the biggest mistakes of my life—believing others over her.
I hate that I doubted her, that I hurt her.
But she forgave me, and every time regret claws at my throat, she’s there, chasing it away with her love.
“Let’s go,” Braxton says, opening his door.
Sierra is busy with her sisters today. Vee flew in to surprise her and to keep her distracted while we handled this with Rico.
She’s one of only two people who knows what we’re planning, and she’s vowed to keep it a secret.
Sierra was shocked to find out she had not only a sister, but a brother.
We asked Luca last week when he came up to see Sierra at college and he said yes.
Being able to witness the growing sibling bond between the three of them has been amazing.
It makes me happy that Sierra and Sam have so many people in their corner now.
Even Mrs. Butler is still there by her side.
The moment we step inside the club, the weight of its history settles over me.
This is the place where Sierra worked tirelessly to take care of herself and Sam.
The place that tested her strength time and time again.
Our eyes scan the dimly lit bar until we spot Rico and Cyrus at the counter.
Cyrus got here earlier, both to talk to Rico about another subject and to keep him occupied until we arrived.
“Hey, guys!” Cyrus calls, waving us over.
How the hell does he look so calm? We’re about to ask the scariest man we know a life-altering question, and he’s cool as a cucumber.
Rico turns on his stool, arms crossing over his chest as he gives us that knowing smirk. “Okay, boys, what’s so urgent that you needed to talk to me today?”
Does he know?
Silence stretches between us. We exchange nervous glances, but no one speaks. Of all of us, Cyrus is the most comfortable with Rico, yet even he hesitates. He clears his throat, about to speak, when I step forward.
“No, Cy, let me.” My voice is steady, but my heart is pounding. It should be me. I was the shittiest to Sierra. If Rico is going to shut this down, it’s only fair I take the heat, not them.
“We came here today, the four of us, because we have an important question,” I start.
Rico leans back against the bar, expression unreadable. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”
I take a breath, my hands nervously shaking by my side. “We love Sierra. With all our hearts. We want to spend the rest of our lives making her happy. We—we want your blessing to make her our wife.”
Silence.
Rico doesn’t react. He just watches us, his sharp gaze flicking from one of us to the next, lingering only a moment before moving on.
“We know we can’t all legally marry her,” I continue, forcing myself to push through.
“But we’ve talked about it, and we all feel that it should be Cyrus.
He’s already working, already established.
It’s not that his love for her is greater, but…
he knew her first. He was there when we weren’t.
When we should have been.” I swallow hard.
“We all want to have a commitment ceremony. A way to pledge our love and bond us as a family. To us, it won’t be any less than a legal marriage. ”
We wait.
Silence. Soul shattering silence.
This is it. He’s going to say no. He doesn’t think we’re good enough for his niece.
Rico’s gaze moves between us once more before he finally speaks. “This is what you all want?”
“Yes,” we answer in unison.
He exhales, shaking his head slightly. “I could tell you how hard it’s going to be. How society is going to look at you. But that would be pointless—you’ve been dealing with it for a while.”
“We don’t care what anyone thinks,” Cyrus says firmly. “This is our life. And we all want Sierra. We’re a family—blood or not. And we want her to be our wife, and in time, the mother of our children.”
Rico stands, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on. Then, to our shock, he nods. “I couldn’t think of four finer men to care for my niece.”
Relief floods through me, my knees nearly buckling. Braxton takes hold of my shoulders, holding me steady as the weight of Rico’s approval washes over me.
Rico smirks. “I just have one question.”
“What is it?” Cyrus asks.
Rico’s lips twitch. “Let me see the ring. I know you have it on you. You have to.”
The tension shatters as laughter bursts from all of us. Grinning, I reach into my pocket and pull out the small black velvet box. Rico shakes his head, a rare, genuine smile tugging at his lips as I open it and show him what’s inside.
“Damn. She’s gonna love that. It’s simple and perfect, just like her.”