Chapter 21 – Cannon Nash
Cannon Nash
R iley and the girls called it an early night.
She didn't let them out of her sight all day.
We have two Thanksgiving get-togethers to attend tomorrow.
She told me it was just her and her brother most of the time growing up.
Her mom was an addict who popped in and out and her uncle was even worse from the little she said.
Riley has no idea what she's in for. My parent's pack is dying to meet her.
I know they're going to eat her up. I haven't brought a woman around since college.
Granted, she met my mom and one of my brothers, but it's a holiday so it's going to be a full house.
Then for dinner we hit Killian's parent's pack.
Riley seemed excited, but nervous at the prospect of so many people.
Killian stomps circles around the kitchen island.
Sunderland sits on the counter top looking half destroyed.
Jasper stretches out in his chair at the table.
My back rests against the counter as I puzzle through the advice my father gave us.
We just got off the phone and his advice was good if not concerning.
I'm not sure how Riley will take any of it.
"Let's just hire a hitman," Jasper says, with a shrug.
Sunde stabs a tattooed finger in his direction. "I second that motion."
"No, thanks. I'm gonna do it with my bare hands," Kills says, cracking his knuckles. "Need to see that fucker bleed out."
"It was a dream, not an actual threat," Jasper says, scoffing. "Save that type of up close and personal murder vibe for when the fucker makes an actual threat."
"You truly don't believe he's said something of that nature in the past?" Sunde raises an eyebrow. "Made threats to set her on edge? Threatened her where he knew it would hurt the worst? She'd never even been on a date until I took her to the lighthouse."
"What?" Jasper chokes a cough.
"You're not understanding the full scope of the situation," I tell him. We've hinted around it, spoken about the basics, but not the explicit details. Starting from the day I met her at Nash's, we fill Jasper in.
"Right, so back to the hitman, assassin, murderer for hire," Jasper says, leaning forward in his chair as Kills finishes the story about when Cove had an accident.
"Again, I second." Sunde claps like it's a done deal.
"That's the other big concern," I say, shaking my head. "We don't know what his family might do. And no. I'm not even taking your suggestion seriously," I tell Jasper. "But if by a stroke of luck something happened to that fucker, then his family could still try to gain custody or visitation."
"She was underage when he bedded her," Sunde growls. "Excuse me, coerced, raped, assaulted any of those words are far more accurate."
"Jesus fucking Christ," Jasper hisses, swiping a hand over his face.
"She's barely twenty-one and she told me they were together for close to four years," Killian rumbles, still pacing.
"Riley was eighteen when she gave birth to Cove," I agree. "She was pregnant before she was legal and he's older than Kills."
"Would that change his family's ability to gain custody?" Jasper asks, looking more disgusted by the second.
Sunde shrugs. "Can't be sure. Courts have ruled in different ways. A lot of it has to do with money and standing in the community which unfortunately they have. I need a last name."
"We need to get Riley to sign the papers immediately," Killian rumbles. "Anyone is better than risking them going to that bastard."
"Agreed," Sunde says, nodding. "I believe she'll trust Felicity. That gives us a bit of time to ease her into joining our pack."
"That only protects the girls, if God forbid something happens to Riley," I point out, frowning. "Until she's claimed…"
"That's right," Jasper says, sighing. He looks to Killian and Sunde. "One of you needs to bite her. Make that shit happen."
Killian snorts, shaking his head.
Sunde grins, it's a viciously cutting smile. "And she thinks you're friends? Sending her to the sacrificial altar already?"
"Oh fuck off," Jasper says, swiping a hand through the air. "Killian, do you have plans to let the omega escape?"
Killian snarls.
Jasper smirks. "My point exactly. Speed along the process and give Riles some fucking comfort that she's safe with her kids."
" You bite her then," Sunde says, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'll sink my teeth into her as soon as she's as sure about me as I am about her. But I'll not ruin our future by acting rashly."
"She trusts you two," Jasper says, shaking his head. "She's going to have a heat eventually…"
"Enough," Kills rumbles.
"I wasn't trying to be an offensive dick," Jasper says, frowning.
"It's just your natural state of being," I agree with a nod.
I've known Jasper a long time. Longer than the other two. He's not being a dick, he's just fucking clueless when it comes to reality.
"Your dad is going to talk to her tomorrow?" Sunde asks me.
I nod.
"Right then. I'm off to climb into bed next to my sweet darling," Sunde says, jumping down and heading off.
"We'll figure this out," I tell Killian. He grunts, swiping a hand through the air and he's off too.
* * *
"Talk it over with Felicity," my dad, Benjamin Nash, tells Riley. "These are pretty basic, but if you can get them signed they'd still hold up until I can get with Hawthorne personally."
Of course my dad knows Riley's lawyer. He actually blew out a relieved breath when he heard it was someone he respects and has a good working relationship with.
"I will," Riley says, taking the manilla folder my dad holds out. "Thank you, I really appreciate it."
“Make sure Hawthorne knows I'll be in contact," my dad says, patting Riley's shoulder. "We'll get this all figured out. Don't stress. I'm headed back out, but take a few minutes and relax. I'm sure you couldn't pry those girls away from my omega at the moment if you tried."
I laugh, pulling Riley into my side. "Told ya she's a baby hog."
My dad closes his office door and I pull her to sit in my lap. She kneels over me and buries her face in my neck.
"I think my heat is creeping up," she whispers. "I've got the strongest urge to nest."
"Do you need us to head home?" I ask. My heart races at that sentence. She hasn't fully accepted it yet, but it's our home.
"No, I can't skip Thanksgiving dinner at Fefe's. I just need a snuggle," she says. She burrows even closer and my arms wrap tightly around her back. One hand cups her head pulling her face into my neck.
"Snuggle away, pretty girl," I say.
My heart tries to beat out of my goddamn chest. I haven't even been inside her yet, but she's already burrowed her way deep inside my heart.
* * *
"This seems very serious," Felicity says, brushing off her hands on her pants.
"Sit down, Mom," Kills says, nodding to the already cleared table.
Felicity stuffed us full of Thanksgiving food. Thank God we had lunch at my parent's pack. I could not have eaten two dinners, not even to be polite.
Jasper is sitting on the couch with Cove on his stomach, she's got her head back against his chest. He's drinking a beer and watching a cartoon Christmas movie. Cove's drinking milk out of a weird bottle-cup-thing that Felicity got to get her off the toddler cups.
I yank out my phone, zooming in. Jasper has one hand on Cove's stomach and the other he's tipping his beer to his mouth. Gonna need to prove to Clayton Cleary this shit actually happened, because Jasper's grandpa will never take my word for it.
Pics or it didn't happen has never been more true. I've got the pics. Cove's small hand brushes over Jasper's and it's actually quite a tender moment.
"Someone speak, you're freaking my omega out," Mason says, drawing my attention back to the table. He's Killian's biological father and it's pretty clear when you see the two of them side by side.
Riley stretches a hand across the table, squeezing Felicity's hand. She swallows thickly and Killian grunts. He gives up pacing and picks Riley up, settling her on his lap.
"And they say omegas are sensitive to stress," Sunde says, chuckling. He's rocking Lily and feeding her a bottle. I tried to arm wrestle the baby away from him, but he said I was being a 'bloody baby hog' and put a quick end to that.
Riley leans forward and grabs the folder my dad gave us earlier. "I have no family," Riley says, shaking her head. "And that's okay, for the most part I made peace with that when my brother died. Or it was until…"
"We need you to sign these," Kills says, shoving the folder toward Felicity. Mason and Paul frame her chair. Her other two alphas are lounging in the living room with Jasper and Cove.
"Okay," Felicity says, opening the folder.
"See, easy," Killian grumbles.
"What is it?" Paul asks, leaning over. His face softens when he gets a look at the papers.
"I'm young. It's just a precaution. If worst case something happened to me. Killian says you wanted more kids, but you can say no. I just have no one else I'd trust." Riley finally takes a breath.
"It'll stand until Riley's claimed and she's got pack protection for the girls," Killian says.
Felicity flies around the table, tossing herself at Riley. "Of course," she whispers. "Ohmigod, of course."
"What is it?" Mason grunts.
"I believe it'll grant custody to us if something were to happen to Riley," Paul says, glancing over the documents. He looks at me and I nod.
Mason nods, pats Felicity on the shoulder, and heads for the living room.
"We would help," Killian tells his mom. He's on edge. He hates every part of this conversation and it's plain to see.
"Of course," Felicity says, wiping at her face. She's stuck on repeat. I think this scrambled her brain, but in a good way. "And you've got family now too. Remember what I said about family not always being blood."
At that Riley bursts into tears and Killian finally releases her. She hops up hugging Felicity tightly.
"Right then." Sunde grins down at the baby. "This child is rotten and I call not it." He stands bringing her over to me. "Here you are." He hands Lily to me and I get a whiff of her absolutely rancid smell.
"Good God," I groan. "No, you wanted the fun job. Time to step up and take the dirty diapers too."
Sunde spins away, dramatically ducking into the living room.
Felicity and Riley grin.
"This is why you're my favorite," Jasper stage whispers to Cove. She's sleepy, curled up into his side. She grins up at him, beaming at the praise. I'd scowl if I didn't know he's joking.
Life is more fulfilling with Riley and the kids around. Never realized how much I had been coasting through life without really living.
Despite the stinky child in my arms, I've got a warmth in my chest I can't ignore.
I've missed Jasper. He was a good friend until the bullshit he pulled in college.
He can be a great guy when he's not stuck trying to be the life of the party.
He's a couple years younger than I am… Here's hoping he's finally ready to settle down and grow up.
If he's not? Then he can see himself right the fuck out when his house is no longer flooded.