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She shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut as a sob burst from her lips. I lurched forward, pulling her into my arms.
At first, she fought me, but her body finally let go and she crumbled, fisting my club cut in her hands as she tried to stay standing. “I miss her.”
My soul ached, desperate to get out of my body and wrap itself around her in a protective cocoon. I’d seen Carly at her weakest and at her strongest, but I’d never seen her broken.
I heard footsteps behind me disappear inside the clubhouse and I knew my president and my woman were giving us this moment. A moment we both knew, mourning for a woman we both loved more than the earth itself. No matter how much she fought me, I wouldn’t let her go through this life alone.
After Carly and Meyah had left, I watched Ham pull out of the compound behind them. Even though it was clear that Meyah wasn’t ready to deal with club life, he was still determined to watch over her and that gave me some comfort.
Opening the door to my bedroom, I found my woman sitting on our bed, waiting patiently for me.
“I’m sorry,” she gulped, twisting the blanket beneath her in her hands.
I raised my brow at her as I pushed the door behind me closed and began to remove my cut, hanging it on the back of the door. “Why?”
She sighed. “I really fought to have Meyah around more. With me helping her study and the problems she was having at school, I thought it would be good to see that she had the club at her back. This place, it gives people strength… reminds them that they aren’t alone.”
My heart soared.
My woman understood.
“And that’s exactly what she needed,” I agreed. “I’ve seen that girl grow in so many ways since she’s been coming around the club. Her confidence is stronger. Her smile is brighter and I know Carly see’s that, too. I just wish we’d seen it all sooner.”
Hadley had a way about her. A sweetness that was beautiful and also crippling. While she loved fierce, she also fell hard. She took everything to heart, she let it eat away at her and fill her with guilt over things she could never change. Sometimes I was afraid she didn’t see what real strength lay inside her.
Her confidence to stand up for herself and what she believed in was obvious, and she did it with pride. She made herself prepared, ready to fight and protect the people she cared about like a lioness protecting her cubs. However, when it came to failure, when people got hurt, it dragged her underneath and she had to fight her way back to the surface to breathe.
But that’s where I came in.
I stood at the end of the bed and crossed my arms across my chest, making sure I had her full attention before I spoke. “I fucking love you.” The small smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth encouraged me to continue, “You’re passionate, sweet, and ferocious. You give a shit about not just me, but my daughter, my brothers and our families. I know you take things to heart, and they make you feel like you failed or that you should have controlled the situation better. But I’m telling you now, you’re wrong.”
She chewed on her lip, it was almost amusing to see her so nervous.
“I’ve learned over the last few months that there’s more to you. Your quirks, your insecurities, your ability to make people smile and unwavering loyalty to the people you love. Every day my love for you grows, and I’m the kind of man who doesn’t wait when he sees something he wants.” My voice was scratchy and as I reached into my pocket, I looked over at the photo of Kim that sat proudly on Macy’s nightstand.
I knew in my heart that this was what she would want for me.
Happiness.
A gasp left Hadley’s lips and her hand flew up to cover her mouth.
I smirked. “This was meant to be your Christmas present, but I can’t wait for that shit any longer. I’ll get you something else.” With a deep breath, I kneeled down on the floor. Hadley scurried forward to the edge of the bed, tears shining in her eyes but a beautiful bright smile on her face. “I fucking love you, Hadley. Will you marry me?”
I soon found myself laying on my back on the floor as my woman gripped my face and pressed her lips to mine in a kiss I could only describe as heaven. She pulled back, breathing heavily. Then I heard the words I knew I would cherish forever.
“Yes.”
“You gonna be mine?” I asked nervously, as though I hadn’t heard her right.
“Yours, Leo. Always yours.”
