Chapter 29

29

M y heart pounds against my chest, and I suck in a sharp breath. I'm sure Hunter can hear it. "Are you serious, or is this just a ploy for your family?"

"I'm being serious, Little Red. I want to marry you."

Did Landon talk to him?

He pulls open the red box and drops to one knee. My hands fly to my mouth when the sparkly jewel shines back at me—a light pink princess-cut stone with a golden band. It's perfection and very much me.

"Is that a pink diamond?"

His grin is infectious, and I can't help but smile back. "Of course. Only the best for you."

"When did you have a chance to get this?" He's been here most of the time.

"I've had it chosen from the moment I brought you back here. I've wanted you since I laid eyes on you in the photo Nash gave me."

"Really?" I ask breathlessly.

"Really." He laughs. "Are you going to give me an answer or keep me on my knee a little longer?"

I laugh. This is really happening. I'm not dreaming.

Without hesitation, I answer, "Yes, I'll marry you."

Hunter takes the ring from the box and slides it onto my slender finger. It fits perfectly. I lean down, pressing my mouth to his. The fire between us ignites, and Hunter stands, backing me toward the wall. Our mouths claim each other, and I revel in the taste and savor this moment. I want him to take me back to my room and claim my body. I yearn for his touch in all the right places.

He pulls back, our breaths heavy. "We can celebrate once we deal with my family." He presses his lips to mine once more before stepping back.

"Okay, and when we get back, I've got something to tell you."

His eyebrows pull down. "What?"

"You'll just have to wait and see." I shrug nonchalantly and walk away to finish getting ready.

When I get in my room, I squeal quietly.

"What's going on?" May comes out of the bathroom.

I jump. "What the hell? I didn't know you were in here."

"I knew we'd need to finish getting you ready." Her gaze drops to my left hand, and a brilliant, wide smile spreads across her face. "Oh, he asked you." She swoons and rushes over to inspect the ring.

It's such a weird thing to think I'm engaged. I'm getting married to a mob boss or future one.

"May, is this the right thing for me to do, given my situation?" I place my hand on my stomach.

"Aelina, you will be so well protected, and once Hunter ruffles the feathers of the underworld, everything is going to change for the better. I've been waiting for this since my husband passed the reins down to Arthur. Arthur only saw power. He never looked at things the way Hunter does. Hunter has a vision to help people and change the way the underworld takes care of business. Just wait and see. The more you are around Hunter to witness it for yourself, the more you'll see that this is the best thing for you and baby." Her words slowly sink in.

All right, I can do this. I have to do this.

"Let's finish this then," I say.

* * *

Hunter, Landon, and I drive in Hunter's black SUV. My father follows behind in May's truck. There's nothing but static in the car. The silence is deafening, and it only causes the tension to build on what's to come.

An engagement should be a happy time. Only everything is hinging on Hunter's father, how he takes this news, and whether it's enough to get my mother back.

"What's going to happen once we get there? Neither of you have filled me in," I question, the unknown wreaking havoc on my nerves.

Hunter sighs. "Things will be tense. My father will be suspicious even though this was the way things should have been all along. But he didn't find you first, and that will be a problem. His ego won't be able to handle it, and he'll see us as a threat now that we're engaged. This is something he never would have expected. Stick close to me and Landon, and if things go bad, we'll get you out, and your father will help us if we need it."

"What if it all goes wrong?" I feel sick even asking that question. There's every possibility this will turn bad, and I could die.

I lift my eyes to the rearview mirror. Landon's stare meets mine. He gives me a slight nod. I know he's got me, and I'm one hundred percent sure Hunter has me as well. I also know that if he knew about the pregnancy, he'd turn the car around and take me back to May's, locking me up away from the evils of the world.

"It won't," Hunter says as we pull to a stop outside a red-brick, two-story home. White trims the windows, and there are stunning gardens with various flowers blooming. Huge spotlights shine on the building as if it's bathed in the sun's light.

"It's a security precaution," Hunter murmurs as though he reads my mind.

"Will they see my father?" I wonder where or how he's going to get anywhere near this place.

"I've given him a way in that will allow him to miss the greeting party."

"Okay." I nod. A chilling sensation prickles at the back of my neck and down my spine. This is it. I'm meeting Hunter's family—the family who desperately wants to kill me.

There are two big, muscly men dressed in black, wearing what I assume are bulletproof vests and holding automatic rifles. I back up against the opposite door. Hunter has already hopped out and is now waiting at my door. Peering inside, he notices I'm missing from my seat, then gets back in the car.

"I can't do this," I breathe out, and the tightness in my chest constricts with each word.

Hunter's face softens. His hand reaches over and takes mine, which is clenched into a fist. "You can do this. I'll be by your side the entire time, as will Landon." My stomach churns, and all I can think about is something happening to my baby. It has become my number one priority in the sudden face of possible danger.

"There's something I need to tell you," I start, but he holds up his hand.

"Let's get this done, then you can tell me."

"No, I need you to know," I press.

His hand squeezes mine. "Okay. What is it?"

"I...I'm..." The words get stuck in my throat.

"We have to go. The family doesn't like waiting. You can talk to me after."

But after might be too late.

I grit my teeth. "Do not rush me. This is all new. I'm sure they can wait an extra few minutes."

He sighs, but it's not of frustration or irritation. It's of understanding. He's continually chipping away pieces of my shell, and it's only a matter of time before I fall apart. Tonight could be that final piece.

"Like I said, you can tell me after. There's no rush at all, really. Everything is going to be fine," he reassures, and I don't know how he can be so calm and collected.

We both know that there's a possibility this could go every side of wrong, yet he and Landon have a stone exterior. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and draw on some of their strength.

Hunter steps out of the car, and after a second, I suck in another breath, filling my lungs, then slide across the seat and place my cream-colored satin high heels on the pavement with a click. Hunter takes my hand.

Once I'm clear of it, Landon shuts the door and is on my opposite side. The muscled men pull their guns up at us. My feet become concrete, and I stop. My eyes are drawn to the barrel of a gun now pointed at Hunter.

"Hand over your weapons?" the one on the left growls out.

Hunter releases my hand, and I immediately want it back. I need it. "That's not going to happen. I don't see any of you relinquishing yours."

His calmness in the face of a gun scares me. My body is trembling. If I were to hold my hands out, I wouldn't be able to control the shaking.

A look passes between them. "Fine."

They drop their weapons and move aside. The massive white door in front of us opens. "Hunter." A younger version of Hunter stares back at him.

"Levi." Hunter smiles, and it appears genuine.

Stepping in, he embraces his brother. A quiet exchange passes between them, and Landon's body moves closer to mine.

"Everyone is waiting," Levi informs us.

His face doesn't have the worry lines that mar Hunter's face regularly. He's dressed in black suit pants and a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He has the same dark hair and perfectly chiseled face as Hunter. That jawline. His eyes, though, are gray and stormy. I'd be drawn to him if Hunter hadn't already captured my heart.

Levi steps in front of me. "I hear congratulations are in order." He smiles. "About time this guy got tied down, and let me just say, he's batting above his weight."

Levi's eyes shine as they glide up and down my body. My neck heats. The red satin spaghetti-strap dress is nothing I would ever have picked for myself, but Hunter wanted me to stand out.

Hunter reaches out and playfully punches his brother in the arm.

"Back up there, brother," he whispers.

I hold out my hand. "I'm Aelina."

Levi eyes my hand. Instead of taking it, he scoops me up in his arms, laughing.

"I'm Levi," he says, unwrapping his arms and taking a small step back.

"At least you know how to have fun," I say, shoving Hunter in the chest, and he rolls his eyes.

"That's me. The clown of the family. The one who isn't always serious." He winks.

"I think we'll get along just fine." I adjust my dress and run my hands down it, smoothing it out after Levi's bear hug.

"Always playing games, Levi."

The mood changes swiftly.

All three men stand with me, their bodies rigid, and their demeanors change. Levi's smile disappears, and he turns around, standing fully in front of me.

"Ezra," Hunter greets.