Chapter Twenty-Seven

Cade

I watch January until she makes it to the car, and then I turn back to Titan's grave. Seeing the headstone with his name on it damn near broke me, but my girl was there to hold me together, just like she's been doing for most of my life.

"Hey man," I whisper to Titan and then clear my throat. "When I put a ring on her finger before, I never asked for your permission. I was pissed off and stubborn as hell, so I put that ring on her finger and didn't give a damn if I had your blessing or not. But I'm asking for it now." My gaze drifts from his grave to Jana's. "I promise you that I will be by her side until I take my last breath. No one will ever love her more than I do or cherish her more than I will. I won't let you down again. I won't disappoint you this time. I'll watch over our girl and keep her safe so you can rest easy, brother."

I rake a hand through my hair and exhale. "So if you're cool with me marrying your sister, I could use a sign or something. I'm not really sure how this works. Just don't show up in my bedroom and rattle the doorknobs or some stupid shit like that in the middle of the night, okay? You'd just freak her the fuck out and probably see her naked. No disrespect because you're her brother, but I'll fuck you up if you see her naked…and I don't know how the fuck to fight a ghost, so you're just going to have to give me this one, okay?

"Send me a rainbow or something, I guess? Fuck." I huff out a breath. "I don't even know what the fuck I'm saying. Just…I want to marry your sister, and I need to know you're good with it. And I need you to know that I'll never leave her side. I'll never disappoint you again. I will never hurt her again." I bump my fist gently against his headstone and then lay a kiss on Jana's. "We're going to be okay now," I promise them both. "You'll see."

I linger for another moment like I expect Titan's heavenly voice to come floating down to tell me to keep my hands off his baby sister, but it doesn't. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but at least he didn't ask God to strike me down with lightning or some shit, so I guess that's good enough for now.

When I return to the car, January is curled up in the passenger seat, sleeping. Her nose is red, and her eyes are swollen from crying, but she still looks like my little doll. She will always be my little doll.

I lean over the console to kiss her tenderly on the forehead and then fasten her seatbelt around her before heading back toward home. When I pull up in her driveway half an hour later, she's still passed out. Roman's truck is idling on the curb. He hops out to meet me when I cut the engine.

"What's up, Sasquatch?" I ask him, climbing out.

He flips me the bird and then grins so wide it damn near splits his cheeks. "You ready to come to work for the ATF, fucker?" he asks, reaching out to bump my fist when I prop myself up on the back of the car and shove the keys into my pocket.

I cock my head to the side and arch a brow. "Administrative leave, dude. That means my ass isn't going anywhere until the DEA decides what to do with me."

Basically, until I'm either charged or the case is closed, I'm twisting in the wind. Not that it's stopped me from getting shit done or anything. Now that Kaleo is gone, I've got nothing but time on my hands. The way I see it, Los Angeles needs me just as much, if not more, than Seattle does. Especially with a cartel war festering.

I may not be the monster I've always thought I was, but I'm still pretty fucking scary to those assholes. And I don't need a badge to take care of business when I've got guys like Roman and Santiago in my corner. So I'm doing what needs to be done. The rest will sort itself out eventually.

Roman's grin widens, and he chuckles before clamping a massive hand down on my shoulder. "LAPD cleared you as a suspect about an hour ago, man. You're free."

"I'm…What?" I stumble as shock courses through me, weakening my knees.

"The only prints on the gun were Curtis Kaleo's. Ballistics testing matched that gun to the murders of Adcock, Adams, and Cortez," Roman says softly. "You're free, Michael. Hernandez cleared you as a suspect and officially closed the case since their only remaining suspect is dead. It's over."

"Fuck," I mumble, trying to work moisture back into my mouth. "You're serious."

Roman nods. "The only thing left for you to do is celebrate with your girl and then sign your hire paperwork with Finn Bethel," he says, grinning. "You're free and clear."

"But…"

His dark brows fly upward. "Don't fall on the sword, Kincaid. This city needs you. Whether you think you deserve it or not, you're a cop. You're one of the best gang cops I've ever met, and I don't say that lightly. Guys like Leyva respect you enough to play by the rules you set, and guys like Fuentes need someone around who's willing to put a boot to their neck and keep them in line when they don't. If you think you've still got some penance to pay, work it out in the streets because that's where we need you, not locked up in a cell."

"He's right," January says from behind me.

I spin around to find her standing by the passenger side of the car, the door open. She looks so sweet and rumpled as she smiles at me. My cock turns to steel, and my heart crashes against my ribcage.

She strides toward us, not sparing a second glance at Roman. Her bright eyes stay locked on mine until she's right in front of me, pushing her way into my arms like she always does. And I fucking love that shit…love that she wants to be in them as much as I want her in them.

"You're a good cop, Cade," she whispers. "People like Titan need you to keep being a good cop. We need you to fight for us because there is no one else like you out there to do it."

Fuck. I can't tell her no, not when she says stuff like that. Because she's right. Maybe I don't deserve a badge or the right to call myself a cop, but people like Titan need motherfuckers like me fighting the good fight. Regardless of how I came to the job, I'm good at it. And if that doesn't count for something…well, I guess God can sort that shit out later. If he wants to cast me into hell for the choices I made back then, so be it.

I kind of have a feeling he won't, though. I asked Titan for a sign. I'm guessing the big fucker came through for me. This is my sign. This is the blessing I needed. This is my shot at salvation…my chance to keep my girl at my side until the day I die.

I'm not stupid enough to say no to that.

"Tomorrow," I growl at Roman and then swing January up into my arms.

She shrieks with laughter as I stomp toward the house.

"Tomorrow," Roman agrees, laughing loudly. "Be there at nine."

"Noon," I shout over my shoulder, kicking the car door closed. "I'm not leaving my girl before then."

He laughs again.

I take that as an agreement and practically run to the front door. Once I'm there, instead of putting January on her feet, I just hold her up with one hand and use the other to drag my keys out of my pocket and open the door. She's still giggling in my arms when I stomp inside and reset the alarm before making a beeline for her bedroom… our bedroom.

Her long blonde hair fans out around her on the pillows when I lay her on top of the bed. Her eyes shine with happiness. It practically shimmers in the air around her as I stare down at her, memorizing her in this moment.

"Fuck, you're beautiful," I whisper and strip my shirt off over my head.

"You're pretty beautiful yourself," she says and bites her bottom lip, shifting restlessly on the bed. Her thick thighs rub together as she tries to create friction, but we both know that won't satisfy her. What she really needs is my cock. And I plan on giving it to her. It's been way too long since I was last inside her.

"Cade, please. I need you."

"I'll take care of you," I promise her, "but I have to do something first."

She tilts her head to the side and eyes me curiously as I stalk toward the closet and pull it open. I shuffle through my clothes before I find the right pair of pants and pull out the ring I've had hidden in there since she came home. I've just been waiting to be cleared so I could put it on her finger.

"Cade," she whispers when I turn around and make my way back to her.

Without a word, I reach out and slip it onto her finger with her Claddagh ring. Like that one, this one is platinum, with a massive round-cut emerald surrounded by smaller diamonds. It matches the Claddagh ring perfectly and looks fucking stunning on her.

Satisfaction twists through me at the sight of it on her finger where it belongs.

"My answer is yes. I will marry you, Cade." She smiles at me, her eyes alight with happiness.

"Wasn't a question," I remind her, shooting her a cocky smirk. "You're mine now, little monster."

"I've always been yours. Now get naked. I need you."

Fuck. I love her.

I make quick work of stripping off the rest of my clothes. But before I can crawl onto the bed with her, she sits up and reaches out for me. My head falls back, a moan rumbling from my lips when she wraps her hand around my cock.

"You're so hard," she breathes, sliding her hand up and down my length.

I bark out a choked laugh as a bead of pre-cum wells at the tip. "I'm always hard for you, January."

She leans forward and licks the head of my cock. The way she moans when she tastes me has me ready to explode already. Swear to Christ, it's been too damn long since she's had that perfect mouth on me. There's no way I'm going to last.

"Fuck me," I breathe, planting my feet apart before I fall on my ass.

She runs her tongue all over the head of my cock before sucking me deeper into her mouth. It's heaven and hell, and I don't ever want her to stop torturing me this way. My hands sink into her silky hair, pulling it back from her face so I can watch my dick disappear between those perfect lips of hers. It's almost obscene how wide her lips are stretched around me, but happiness and desire shine in her eyes, letting me know she's loving this. She bobs up and down a few times, trying to take as much as she can.

When I hit the back of her throat, I cry out her name and then pull her off me.

"You're too good at that," I mumble and push gently on her shoulder until she lies back on the bed.

"I like the way you taste," she whispers, making my cock jerk.

I crawl up the bed over her. My lips come down on hers, soft and sweet, before I deepen the kiss. I can still taste the salt of her tears on her lips, but there's something beautiful in that, too. We're healing together. Exactly like we've always been meant to do.

"We gotta go slow," I murmur to her when she whines beneath me and shifts restlessly. I love that sucking me off turned her on, but she's still healing, and she's got me so worked up I'm a little afraid I'll hurt her if we don't take this slow. "Don't wanna hurt you, but I need to be in you, or I'm going to lose my fucking mind, January."

"Same," she gasps, lifting up so I can strip her shirt over her head. Her bra goes with it. The bruises around the bullet wound and the surgical incisions have pretty much healed, leaving behind red, puckered skin.

I prowl down her body and place my lips to each one, sending up a silent prayer of gratitude that she's still here with me. She twists her hands into my hair as I place kisses all across her soft stomach and then up her ribcage. My lips land on her tattoo, and I brush reverent kisses there too.

"You're so goddamn strong," I remind her.

"So are…Oh God!" she cries out when I pull a nipple into my mouth and suck hard. Her hands fist in my hair as she writhes beneath me, moaning my name loudly. I want to lean back and beat my chest like Tarzan again, but I don't because that would mean releasing her nipple, and that's just not going to happen.

I move from one to the other and then back again, leaving my marks all over her perfect skin as I strip her shorts and panties down her legs. As soon as they're gone, I kiss my way back down her body.

"Need to taste this pussy before I get inside it," I mumble, wrapping her thighs around my head.

I hold her open and take one long lick.

We both moan in ecstasy. Swear to Christ, there's nothing better than her pussy.

I take long, slow licks of her, just savoring her taste and the way she moans and grinds herself on my face. She's so fucking hot and sweet. I love every single thing about her. Especially the way she's crying out my name and grasping at the bedding.

When I slide a finger inside her and stroke it over her G-spot, she screams my name and comes, flooding my mouth with her candy taste. I lick it all up, not wasting a single drop, and then I prowl back up the bed toward her.

She's boneless beneath me, a sated smile on her lips.

"Fucking perfect," I mutter and slide her over before lying down on my back and moving her pliant body until she's straddling my hips. Her thighs spread around me, putting her hot little pussy right up against my dick. Her hands come down on my shoulders, those nails digging in as she holds on. "Ride me, baby girl."

She lifts up and then sinks down on me, taking me inside her.

We both moan, the sounds mingling somewhere near the ceiling as she rides me straight out of this dimension and into another. I grip her hips and help guide her, gritting my teeth and cursing the whole time because I can't seem to last for shit when she's wrapped around my cock.

"Easy, baby," I remind her when she drops down a little too hard.

She moans like it feels good, but I'm not risking anything happening to her. Fuck that noise. She means too much to me, and it's my job to protect her, even if that means protecting her by not fucking her as hard as I want to fuck her. There's plenty of time for that later. Right now, I just want to love her.

I rise up and wrap my arms around her, holding her to my chest as she rides me. Each time she drops down, she circles her hips and then slides forward, making me growl. I pull her nipple into my mouth and toy with it as her nails dig into my shoulder blades, and my name leaves her lips in a breathless chant.

Her head falls back, her hair brushing my thighs as she takes her pleasure from me.

"Christ, you look like a goddess taking my cock," I growl, sliding one hand between us to thumb her clit. "You're riding it like you own it."

"I do own it," she groans.

"Fuck yeah, you do." I grin, unable to stop myself. She does own my dick. She owns every piece of me. "You're the only woman who will ever be wrapped around this dick. It's just for you."

"Oh God," she whimpers, her inner muscles clamping down on me.

"All of me was made only for you. Who owns this pretty little pussy, baby girl?" I ask her, working my thumb in a circle over her clit. My teeth sink into her nipple before I pull back, letting it slide through my teeth. "Who do you belong to, January?"

"You! I belong to you!" she screams as she begins to come. Her muscles clamp down on me as another flood of wetness flows between her legs. Her body rocks and shakes above mine, wordless sobs pouring from her lips.

I hold her down on me and thrust up hard, unable to stop myself as she comes all over me. On the third thrust, she cries out my name. That's all it takes to send me over. I throw my head back and roar her name as I spill into her again and again. She milks me dry, her pussy massaging every last drop out of me. Stars burst behind my eyelids, and blood roars in my ears. My heart pounds like a jackhammer spelling out her name.

It's fucking perfection. She's perfection.

"What did you say to Titan?" she asks me a little while later, snuggling up on my chest and yawning. She gets tired easily since Kaleo shot her. The doctor said that will improve eventually, but it's going to take some time for her body to heal completely.

I rub my hands up and down her back, just reveling in the peace flowing through me. It's been so long since I felt like this. I honestly didn't think I could ever feel this all-consuming lightness again. But with each passing day, it grows a little bit stronger and lasts a little bit longer.

"I asked for his permission to marry you," I tell her, not holding anything back. "And I told him that if he sent me a sign, I'd spend the rest of my life loving you like you deserve."

"Cade," she whispers, her voice soft and sweet.

"I also asked him not to show up in the bedroom in the middle of the night to give me that sign," I mumble. "Ghosts freak me the fuck out."

Her little body shakes against mine as she laughs at me.

"I'm serious. I always kept Ma Lucia's house spotless because I didn't want her ghost showing up to kick my ass. Gangbangers, I can do, but I don't do ghosts. Fuck that shit."

"You're so ridiculous," she says, still laughing at me.

"I also told him that he could rest easy because I was going to be here to take care of you from now on," I whisper in her ear, stealing her laughter. "And I told him and your mom that both of us are going to be okay."

"We are going to be okay," she whispers after a moment. "I've never wanted anything more than I want to wake up in fifty years with you by my side and realize we made an incredible life for ourselves despite all the sadness and pain we went through. And I know it will be an incredible life, Cade. If you're with me, how could it not be?"

"Fuck." I bury my face in her hair as my heart pulses and then melts at her words. I love this girl like crazy. No one else, and I do mean no one, makes me feel like I'm the king of the fucking world like she does with a few whispered words.

I may be one of the things that goes bump in the night, but I'm not a monster. I'm her Grover, and she's my light in the darkness. She always has been and always will be.

"I love you, little monster," I whisper to her.

"I love you too, Cade."

Those sweet words whispered from her perfect lips chase me into sleep. For the first time in a long time, I don't dream of blood and pain. I dream of the future I thought was lost to me so long ago.