Page 83 of Brooks

“Are you…breaking up with me?” she whispered.

“Fuck, no. I’m trying to ask you to marry me.”

“Marry you?”

I was such a dumbass. I’d ruined everything I had planned. I’d spent hours silently rehearsing what I wanted to say. I wanted this to be perfect for her.

“Yeah, I want—”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you.”

“I had this whole speech prepared. I was going to get down on my knee and everything.”

“I don’t need you to get down on one knee. I don’t need a speech. I already know. I don’t need words from you, Brooks. You show me every day how much you love me. So, yes, I want to marry you.”

My lips twitched at the vehemence of her statement. I was happy she knew how much I loved her. I’d spend the rest of my life making sure she never forgot. “Would you even like the ring? Or is that not necessary, either?”

“Oh, I want the ring.” She smiled.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the jewelry box. The guys had helped me pick it out. When I opened the box, I heard her swift intake of breath.

“Oh my God, Brooks, it’s perfect.”

I contemplated going bigger, but knowing Tatiana, this was pushing what she’d wear.

“The guys helped,” I admitted, pulling the ring from the box. I reached for her left hand and started to slide it down her finger. “The center diamond is us, me and you. But there are four sapphires surrounding us. Our team. They’ve promised to have our back. Through thick and thin, they’ll be there. Always watching.”

“I love it. All of it.”

I heard the clapping and shook my head. They just couldn’t stay away. I should’ve known better.

“Congrats,” Declan started.

“Damn, lucky man,” Max said.

Kyle patted my back and Thad pulled Tatiana in for a hug. I should’ve been irritated I hadn’t even had the chance to kiss my soon-to-be-wife before the guys interrupted. But I wasn’t. These were my brothers. They’d been there for every important event in my life. It was only fitting they were here for this, too.

“Do you like your ring? I picked it out,” Thad told her.

“No, you didn’t, asshole. I found it,” Max corrected.

“It was my idea in the first place,” Kyle put in.

I gave zero fucks the guys were all taking credit for what was my idea. Not when she was standing in the middle of four men who had taken her in and loved her damn near as much as I did. I knew how they all felt about her. Declan had breathed life into her. Thad and Kyle had all given their blood to save her. She was a part of all of us.

“I thought that was you.” I heard a male voice from behind me.

I didn’t bother to turn, Tatiana’s face said it all. She was red-hot pissed. I debated whether or not I should pull her behind me and tell the dickwad to get lost or if I should let her. She squared her shoulders and set her jaw.

Alrighty then, she’d handle it.

“James. How nice to see you.” The sarcasm couldn’t be missed.

I finally turned and there was James Monroe. He had a pretty blonde girl who had on far too much makeup standing next to him. He was holding her hand and smiling like he’d won some sort of prize.