Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
CARTER
Bella takes the baby from Heather and declares it's time to go swimming after she puts her to bed.
“Wanna see something, Carter?”
She doesn’t give me a chance to answer, but it would’ve been a resounding yes.
She pulls her shirt off and then lowers her shorts to the ground. I know she’s showing me the branding that I can no longer see, but I’m nearly salivating at her gorgeous body in the bikini Kill bought her.
Wrapping my arm around her waist I pull her to me.
“I told you, Little Heathen. Seeing the mark on your body—it bothered me because it bothered you. It never changed my desire for you. If it makes you more secure covering it, then I'm glad you can. There is nothing anyone could ever do to make me not want you. You’re gorgeous without it, but what that fucker did doesn’t change a goddamn thing between us.
If you cover it up, temporarily or permanently, you do it for yourself. No one else. Understood?”
She sighs softly as she presses her face against my chest.
“Yes.”
Tilting her head back, her eyes connect with mine as she runs her fingers through my hair.
“Thank you.”
“For?”
Her lips pull up into a soft smile, and my heart pounds in my chest.
“For being you. I don’t know how I’d get through this without you.”
I kiss her on the forehead and release her reluctantly.
“We better get out there before they form a search party.”
“Her father is hiding. Benji doesn’t have a clue where he is.” Bones says, and it’s not exactly news.
“But,” he continues as we all keep our eyes on our women, “we do know where the family is. Someone must know where he is.”
Knox takes a gulp of his whiskey and says, “I doubt they will volunteer information regarding his whereabouts.”
Bones raises an eyebrow at Knox’s comments and shrugs.
“I find when I break their bones one at a time they are quite forthcoming by the second or third break. You’re right, they won’t just give up what we want, but torture makes people talk. If it weren’t effective, I wouldn’t waste my time, but it is.”
Killian is quiet as he strokes his fingers across his jaw, deep in thought.
“Maybe start with the priest. He’s still alive, right?”
Bones shakes his head as a low chuckle escapes from his throat, as if the question is ridiculous.
“He’s alive. If my men didn’t do as they were ordered, he probably wouldn’t be. The constant bitching and moaning is getting on their nerves. Apparently, two meals a day is cruel and unusual punishment.”
Killian joins him in laughter.
“Just wait until Heather gets her hands on him.”
I watch her standing at the far end of the pool with Athena and Bella. All three of them are laughing and then our girl turns her head, smiling at me, and my heart fucking aches looking at her.
She’s happy.
I still haven’t decided if I want to work with Bones.
We have always been content running a chop shop, and after we left I assumed we’d set up shop somewhere else.
Seeing Heather like this makes me wonder if these women are people she needs in her life regularly.
She has made references previously about Bianca being her only friend.
I’ve always had my brothers, so I’ve never needed a plethora of friends.
She doesn’t have any family other than us.
Maybe this is important to her. My decision has to be for all of us, not just me.
Knox walks over to me echoing my own thoughts.
“That fucking smile.”
I nod my agreement. This woman has a smile that lights up the room. And I know I’ll do anything to keep it on her face. Even if I fucking hate New York. And I do. That city is a goddamn cesspool, but if she’ll be happy there, I’ll deal with it.
“What are you thinking?”
I shrug my shoulders because it should be obvious to Knox.
“I guess we are moving to New York.”
I glance around the yard, taking in the way my family has grown. It was only the three of us until Heather. And now, there’s so many more of us. I’ve always felt like I didn’t fit, even with my own family and now I’m not only accepted into this bigger family—I’m wanted.
Bones and Reaper grill the steaks while arguing about the correct grilling method. Psycho rolls his eyes.
“Those two bicker like an old married couple.”
The women step out of the pool and I rush over to Heather with a towel and her cover up. I know they’re all married, but I don’t want them looking at her body anyway.
She smirks at me and then giggles.
“I don’t think you need to worry about them.”
Once she has the cover up on, I tie it up and kiss her on the cheek.
“You’re ours, Little Heathen. Other men are not to look at you. End of discussion.”
We walk over to the large patio table, and I pull her chair out for her and she takes a seat. I sit on one side of her and Killian sits on her other side. Knox sits beside Kill as Bones chuckles.
“Three is too many. There’s always an odd man out.”
“Not always”, I say, holding up three fingers which earns me a smack in the chest from Heather.
“Oh my God, Carter. Really?”
I trail soft kisses up the side of her neck until I make it to her ear.
“When you blush, it makes my cock hard as a rock. While you sit through dinner, I hope you think about me fucking you. That's all I’ll be thinking about.”
The rest of our dinner is spent with pleasant conversation but every once in a while Heather glances my way and I see it written all over her face.
She’s thinking about it. I love the effect I have on her.
I think we all do. I’m not really thinking about fucking her right now though.
I’m thinking about marrying her. It’s something I think about constantly.
I want her in every possible way. She’s my life and I want to be hers too. For eternity.