Chapter 11

Hatton's eyes narrow as I stride towards him and his men. "Did you have a good time last night?" he asks with his arms crossed.

When I dropped off Tessa, it was mid-afternoon. He has security cameras, so I refrained from kissing her goodbye. We ate breakfast but didn't discuss what it meant for us to have sex. Are we truly together?

"Yep." It's not a lie—it was spectacular.

His nostrils flare, but then he grabs a list from his "business coordinator." Unrolling the papers, he lays it on the steel table in the middle of a vacant barn thirty miles from E-town.

Mr. Hatton points to the map. "These are the four locations where the packages need to be picked up and put on the ships."

I spent the last week working with Beau and the ATF to make it appear hard to get the cargo on the ships carrying Barron's 69, not wanting Hatton to get suspicious.

"I'll have bourbon barrels delivered to your men in these locations." I take my phone out, snapping a picture.

"How long will it take?"

"A week or less." Hatton gives me a quick cursory glance. I heed his silent suspicion and add, "You chose me because you know I have friends in high places. If you don't trust me, we should end this right here."

"Saint, can I have a word?" his business coordinator asks.

They walk to the corner of the barn. His associate does most of the talking. Saint, as he calls himself to the MC, looks to me and then shakes his head.

When they get back to me, Hatton states, "I hired you so I would have cover. I don't need to know the hows as long as the product gets moved according to the schedule. There are men much more violent than me who expect their deliveries. Do you understand, Double?"

"I'll take care of it. I need another five-hundred grand."

He snaps his fingers, and his thug from the Steel Riders takes money from his leather cut and slaps it into my hands.

"And Double, in case you've forgotten, my daughter's body is off-limits."

Got the memo. Ripped it in half.

"Not a problem."

And it's not. Her body is off-limits to everyone but me.

Somehow, I need to devise a plan to keep her by my side but have her dad face the consequences of his actions. Despite her current defiance towards him, at her core, she's a daddy's girl and will undoubtedly feel betrayed by both of us.

Hatton and his lackeys walk out the side door, and I take out my phone to make sure it was recording from the time I snapped the photo. I took a chance using my ATF phone but thought it was worth the risk. The ATF can automatically pull the photos and recordings without me having to send it, so they receive the information in real time, gradually making a case and gathering evidence.

Earlier this week, I met with Maverick, one of Beau's billionaire best friends who owns a private airplane business to move some of the product to the ports where they'll be loaded with the bourbon. The ATF ensured he would be safe from prosecution and would be paid handsomely for the overseas flights.

Back at the Shack, I hand Rooster ten thousand dollars. "Get the leak fixed in the bathroom and buy a new couch. Hell, buy all new furniture. I don't want Tessa coming here and smelling other women."

"Country Club has you in knots," Rooster heckles. Once Gunner said she was a country club girl, the name stuck. Everyone around an MC has a nickname and although she's only been here twice, Rooster knows I've been with her more in two weeks than any woman in the past five years.

"Do you like smelling old pussy? From now on, no sex in the open spaces."

"Damn, Double is in love. Who would have thought?"

"Fuck off," I snap, but then I shake my head and lay my cards on the table. "I'm asking her to marry me."

The guys know about the shipments of guns. I'm flying them to each port to oversee the exchange at each city, but they have no clue about Hatton requiring me to marry his daughter. There are some things that need to stay inside a tight circle of trust.

"She must have a magical pussy."

"Quit fucking disrespecting her, or I'll kick your ass."

"My bad, Pres."

"Any ideas where to get a ring?"

One of the married men chimes in. "E-town has a place where you pick a loose diamond then they'll set it for you, but Country Club is probably going to want the most expensive diamond and platinum."

Will she want an ostentatious ring?

"Thanks." I walk out and call Beau. "Where should I buy a diamond ring?"

Beau shouts, "Time for phase two—Operation Fake Engagement."

I never anticipated that a mere business agreement could unravel my emotions. What started as a strategic maneuver has evolved into something far more serious, something that transcends duty and obligation—love.

When I don't say anything, he chuckles as he says, "You're in love." As always, my twin reads my mind. It's not quite as sharp as it was when we were young, but the twin senses are pretty damn strong. Just like I knew he would help me before I ever asked.

"I… I mean how can I be in love with a girl so many years younger than me."

"Simple. She makes you happy."

He's the second person today who has told me I'm in love with Tessa. "I'm coming over. I have details to share."

Tessa makes me happy. And I can't seem to go more than a few hours without talking to her, needing to hear her voice. "Checking in. Hoping you don't have regrets."

"Beckett, having sex with someone who knows what they're doing was the highlight if my life." Her voice is soft but sincere.

"You wanted to get back at your dad for arranging this marriage. I'll understand if that's all you wanted."

"You're kidding, right? Come over, and I'll show you again how much I need you."

Heat travels through my body. I've never believed in true love, and now, I'm fucking lovesick over a twenty-two-year-old country club rebel.

"Wish I could, but your dad is already pissed off that you didn't come home."

Adamantly, she replies, "He made this bed, and I'm going to lie in it."

A half-laugh escapes my throat. "You're his baby girl."

"And I'm your good girl. You said it over and over last night," she teases, and it's true. She did everything I asked, even letting me fuck her mouth like a cave man.

"I want you to meet my parents. Unless you don't want to follow through with this fake marriage." I added that because maybe she doesn't feel the same way I do.

I hear the hesitation in her silence.

"I still want to marry you… for… I guess this will make it appear… real."

Yeah, real. My emotions are all over the place. We're obviously not in the same place. She wants more sex but doesn't want me long term. I'll get a ring, propose, and get married. Finish the job and get an annulment, so she can marry someone of her social status.

Disappointed, I say, "We'll talk later."

How did we go from the most amazing sexual connection to choosing our words carefully? One of us is going to be hurt in this. I was worried about her when I should have been guarding my own heart like I have since I was fourteen.

I meet Beau at his team building business, walking around the old house while I wait for him to get back from leading a course.

I wasted so much time with my brother when my depression, and obsession spiraled out of control.

He loved Vanessa enough to buy this place even though there was no reconciliation in their future. That's true love, and they finally got their happy beginning.

"Hey, Mav is flying us to Mom and Dad's in thirty minutes," Beau says as he strolls in without a care in the world.

"What? Why?"

"You wanted to know where to get an engagement ring."

My body warms at the thought of actually marrying Tessa. It's hard to describe the happiness she brings me. I find myself smiling inside even if it doesn't show outwardly.

Of course, Mom used to show us our grandmother's ring. My grandfather on our mom's side passed away in a helicopter training accident. It's one of the reasons Beau and I wanted to go into the military together. Beau ended up enlisting by himself because I messed up so badly that I couldn't face him and was unable to be around my family. The time I missed with my twin is time I'll never get back.

"Let's go."

He smiles, and I know exactly what he's thinking. This is your chance at being happy.

"My babies." Mom's arms surround us in a loving squeeze.

Dad walks in. "What a pleasant surprise. Seeing the two of you together and healed makes your mother and me incredibly happy. The years you didn't speak were so hard on us."

"It's forgotten, Dad. Beck and I are one hundred percent," Beau says as he wraps his arm around my shoulder.

I interrupt, "I haven't forgotten what I did. But we're not here about the past. I'm looking to the future." My parents have no idea I work for the ATF. They assume I rebuild motorcycles, car engines, and the like. And I'm good at those things. Tinkering helped me heal.

The best thing I ever did was leave Kissing Springs, but I find it's the place I want to be, which is partly due to Tessa gushing about how quaint it is and how much she loves the little boutiques.

"I made your favorite lasagna with the meat and zucchini. Maverick, will you stay for dinner?"

"Of course, but then I have a pilot to interview."

Maverick has dinner with us and then tells us to meet him at the hangar when we're finished. The pilot he's interviewing will be transporting my men to the various locations and freelances as a contractor for various government agencies. But still, they're Maverick's planes, and he wants to make sure his investment is in capable hands.

I haven't been with my parents and just Beau since I was eighteen. Vanessa and the kids are always around. Admittedly, this feels good, like the last step on the ladder to having my family back.

Beau glances at me, urging me to tell them the big news. I clear my throat. "I've met someone, and I'm going to ask her to marry me."

"Oh, baby. What's her name? Where did you meet?" Mom asks, squeezing my hand.

Taking a deep breath, I say, "She's twenty-two, fiery, gorgeous, and sassy."

"She doesn't take any of Beckett's brooding. Since they've been dating, he talks… to almost everyone." Beau laughs, then falters as he chokes up. "I finally have my brother back."

He fights back tears, and I do too.

Even though he had forgiven me, I never quite felt worthy of it. Never knew how I fit into a life with him, Vanessa, and the kids. I always make appearances, and we talk, but there's always something missing like he can't be totally happy unless I am. That something is having my own person to love. Tessa.

"Mom, do you still have Grandmother's ring?"

"Yes, come with me." She hops up from the couch, and I follow her into the guest bedroom.

She opens the safe built into the closet and pulls out a white velvet bag, loosening the strings. Mom hands me the ring with her delicate fingers.

"Thank you… I hope she likes it. Her family is wealthy."

"Beck, you are worthy of love and if she doesn't love this ring, then she's the one not worthy of you. You've always been the most introspective, and I'm sorry your dad and I didn't understand what you were going through."

I pull her into my chest. "You were the best parents a kid could ask for. My shortcomings aren't your failures; they're mine. I learned to take responsibility for my actions." I kiss her cheek. "Love you. And it's because of you that I know I want to spend the rest of my life with Tessa."

"I'm so happy for you. When can we meet her?"

"It's funny you should ask. I was thinking of getting married here on the beach, although I don't know if she'll go for it. She's a country club girl. Her dad owns the Hatton car dealerships ."

"Give the girl the wedding she wants. If you're lucky, it only happens once."

"I will, Mom. We'll call you if she says yes."

"She'd be a fool not to want to marry you."

We meet Beau and Dad on the back porch overlooking the beach. I take a few photos to show Tessa. I want our wedding to be relaxed with just our families and a few friends. I doubt I'll get my way if her father has his way.

I send Tessa a message.

Me: Want to take a ride tomorrow?

Tessa: Yes! I love having that power between my legs.

Me: You handle it with finesse. Pick you up at ten.

Tessa: I'm sorry.

Me: For what?

Tessa: I was freaking out. The deal with Daddy has nothing to do with how I feel about you.

Me: Same.

But I have to admit this complicates everything. I've spent five years of my life preparing to bring down gun runners. And when she finds out, will she break me? And am I strong enough to live without her?

Flashes of my past and how my depression had me in a vice grip linger. Am I strong enough to survive if this doesn't work out?