Jauhnna

We'd been home for a week. Our time on the ship seemed like a bad dream. I wasn't remorseful at all for what we did to those eight, not even my brother. They didn't deserve my pity. The person I was concerned about was Diablo. The way he'd been after he finished them off had scared me. Then, to have him break down and cry had torn my heart. All because he was terrified I would hate him and no longer love or want him. Since our return, we have been kept updated by the Patriots' leaders on what was happening to Janus and Galway's two mini kingdoms. They were being torn apart, and those who were at the top or were key members were systematically disappearing or arrested.

We were all gathered in the clubhouse this evening. Torch, Brooklyn, and the kids had come for a visit. They planned to stay the week and spend Thanksgiving with us. I was excited. She and I had a whole feast planned for the club. They'd gotten here several hours ago. We'd spent time at the house, just the six of us, before coming over to hang out with the club.

I was enjoying watching Thane running around the room and having a ball. Brooklyn and I were sitting together. Torch was talking to some of the guys with a sleeping Jai in his arms over at the bar. Diablo had excused himself a couple of minutes ago to go take care of something. He told me he'd be back in a few minutes.

I was laughing at Brooklyn's story about how she met Torch when Diablo returned to the table. I glanced up, smiling at him. It quickly turned into a gasp as he hit the floor. He was down on one knee, and in his hand was a ring. There was no doubt, seeing it, that it was an engagement ring. My mouth dropped open.

"Jauhnna, my Serenity, my love, I can't wait any longer. Our whole family is here. Will you do me the greatest honor of saying yes to becoming my wife? I will love you until the end of my days and beyond," he said sweetly.

I was speechless. His words and the ring took my breath away. It was a heart-shaped diamond with alternating blue sapphires and white diamonds along the band. There were intricate borders made of tiny beads of metal. The gems were set in silver. Blinking back tears, I whispered the one thing that would prevent me from saying yes.

"We can't get married. I'm still married to Galway, and it'll take seven years for him to be declared legally dead," I moaned. Even dead, the bastard was still messing up my life.

"Is that your only reason for not letting me put this ring on your finger?"

"Of course it is! I love you. I want nothing more than to marry you."

His smile took me by surprise. Then he slid the ring on my finger. It was so beautiful. I loved it. "But—"

"But nothing. I have a way to make it happen."

He rose to his feet and held up my hand. The guys all began cheering along with Brooklyn. Thane cheered, although he had no idea why. He made me laugh. Diablo sat back next to me. We received everyone's congratulations. Brooklyn admired the ring before it got quiet enough for him to explain how we could possibly pull this off.

"We can be married as soon as you want."

"How?"

"Well, we have Micro and Smoke to thank for that. It seems they didn't want us to have to wait seven years. They knew I'd want to make you my wife, so they worked their combined computer magic. Lo-and-behold, we have official paperwork filed in Nevada, it seems, signed by Galway Radigan, dated three months ago. It seems he filed for divorce, and since you didn't contest it, it was finally reviewed by a judge, and he signed off on it three days ago. You're no longer Joanne Radigan. At the same time, the judge authorized your name change request. Joanne Radigan nor Joanne Vierra exist anymore. You're legally Jauhnna Carter, soon-to-be Tate."

I squealed, then launched myself into his arms. He chuckled as I kissed him. He slipped his tongue into my mouth and kissed me deeply. We kept going until Brooklyn made us break apart laughing.

"Ewww, come on, Dad, stop kissing Mom and giving her tongue. My poor eyes," she said with a crinkled-up nose and laughing eyes.

"Keep that up, and you'll be sent to your room, young lady," I teased back. I then thanked Micro, who waved it off as if it was nothing. Everyone was talking and teasing when Diablo held up his hand. They got quiet.

"I've got an engagement present for you. Well, it's actually for both of us. I can't claim sole responsibility for it either. Again, Smoke and Micro and probably Everly had a hand in this, too. Here," he handed me an envelope.

"Honey, I don't need anything else," I protested.

"You'll want this," Micro said with a grin.

Opening it, I read the paper inside. My heart leaped, and I had a hard time catching my breath. As the words sank in, I dropped the paper and lifted a shaky hand to my mouth. I stared at Diablo in utter disbelief.

"Is this for real? Are you sure?" I whispered.

"It's very real, and I'm one hundred percent sure."

"Well, what did he give you?" Brooklyn asked impatiently.

"A child," I said hoarsely.

"A what?" she asked.

"A child. Remember I told you about Jaycee, the little deaf girl at the Halloween party? This says that official paperwork has been submitted to adopt her. It was backdated to six months ago. How? There's no way they'll do this."

"Actually, they will. According to their records, you and I have completed all the required background checks and other requirements. Having a judge sign off on it is the final thing. As long as we're married before the final paperwork is filed, it's a done deal. It seems the Patriots have connections. And if that doesn't seal the deal, I've been told the O'Sheerans have some judges who owe them favors as well. In the meantime, since we've also been approved as foster parents, Jaycee can be brought home with us as early as tomorrow if we want. She should be with her family for Thanksgiving," Diablo told us softly.

As Brooklyn began to scream excitedly about finally having a sibling and the guys were congratulating us a second time, I burst into tears and fell into my man's arms. Never in a million years had I thought I'd be this happy or have everything I dreamed of.