Chapter 9
9
Sniper – Eleven Weeks Later
I sigh, checking my watch again for the twelfth time, before looking out of Rory's living room window, only to see the man next door struggling to control his small Jack Russell.
I chuckle a little and check my watch again.
I should have told her a different time; I should have told her to be ready an hour before we had to leave.
I hear Autumn giggle, making me smile. I check my watch again, and ask loudly, "Firecracker, are you ready yet?"
She shouts back, "Five minutes!"
I smirk, looking down the small hallway. Five minutes my ass. Between Autumn and Rory, they take fucking ages.
"Don't you mean twenty?" I comment.
She snipes back, "I don't know what you're talking about," with a little "Yeah," from Autumn, making me laugh.
These women….
Shaking my head, I straighten my suit jacket and say, "I don't want to be late for our wedding, Firecracker."
I can't help the smile that overtakes my face.
After we made love several times for the first time nearly three months ago, I knew I couldn't hold back; I knew I needed to tie her to me in any way possible.
Four weeks ago, with Autumn's help, I proposed.
I bite my lip, nerves overtaking me as I pace the living room.
Fuck, I hate this place. It's small and not my girl at all. My log house, yeah, that's more her style.
I want her there. I want Autumn there.
First, I need to make her mine before telling her who I am so she can't fucking leave me, and I know this is crazy, I know it's only been four fucking months, but I just know I need her.
"Daddy," Autumn mutters, and my heart leaps.
Fuck, I can't get enough of her calling me that, and yes, I taught it to her without Aurora knowing. Aurora thinks she came up with it on her own last week.
The little girl is my fucking world, and blood or not, she's mine. I knew it from day one.
I see her wiping away sleep from her eyes, and I smile. She's wearing the dress I bought her, the words, "Momma, will you marry daddy?" that I dressed her in before her nap sprawled across it.
Aurora is at work, being called in at late notice, which fucking pissed me off. I wanted to take the girls to the beach and propose there, but now it's happening here instead.
The dingy fucking apartment I can't stand.
I've littered the floor with red and white rose petals and flowers, and now we're just waiting for my girl.
I walk over to Autumn and pick her up, pressing my lips against her forehead as she holds me tight. Just then, the door unlocks, and I suck in a breath, nerves shooting through me.
Fuck, this is it.
I look toward the door to see a tired-looking Aurora walk in, and for a second, a split second, I think maybe I should have waited because of how tired she looks. But then she looks around the room, gasping at all the flowers, before her eyes come my way, and then toward the dress Autumn, who has opened her arms as we practiced, is wearing. Tears shine in her beautiful eyes, and I smile.
Yeah, it's the right time.
Her eyes come my way, and I rasp, "So what do you say, my Firecracker? I know it's only been four months, but I can't imagine my life without you and our girl here…." I swallow hard and ask, "You going to spend forever with me?"
She said yes with a cry before she ran to us, and since she said yes, I managed to convince her to quit her job, especially now that she's working at Tech's woman, Brook's, veterinary practice.
Brook took her on as an intern, so Rory gets a small wage.
It took me two weeks to convince her to leave the motel cleaning, having her depend on me more, but as I stated, we're getting married.
She needs to lean on me, while I will lean on her in other ways.
We're a partnership; we share everything, or well, we will when I finally tell her the truth, and when she finally lets me in on her past, a past I'm getting fed up not knowing about.
I think I'm going to have to speak to Tech….
Aurora pops her head around the corner, her eyes done with mascara and eyeliner, her hair up in a fancy twist, and my heart skips.
She grins at me, making me smile back as she states, "You love me even with my lateness."
I nod and admit, "With everything I am…" making her grin soften and her eyes sparkle.
She scrunches her nose at me, obviously not happy that I made her emotional, which makes me chuckle, and she disappears into Autumn's room again.
My grin fades, and panic hits.
"Fuck, what am I doing getting married when she doesn't know…" I mumble.
I feel like we're starting a marriage on a lie. She doesn't know I'm in an MC, and every time I try to bring the brotherhood up, she shuts me the fuck down, and then there's the fact that I have no idea about her past.
Yet if I don't marry her, there's a chance I'll lose her, lose Autumn, and I can't…they are my fucking world.
Autumn squeals, "Daddy…" and I look her way, grinning as she runs to me, her puffy white dress swishing with her movements.
I catch her and throw her in the air.
She looks fucking adorable with her thick, white headband, keeping those curly red locks out of her face.
Today, I don't just marry the love of my life, my heart, but I also make this girl my daughter, and I can't fucking wait.
We looked into the process, and because her biological father isn't on the birth certificate and has not been involved, the judge has granted permission to complete the adoption process at the same time we get married.
We get to become a real family—all three of us.
Autumn lays her head on my shoulder, and I smile in contentment. Finally, I hear the click of heels on the wooden floor. My eyes go to the mouth of the small hallway, and suddenly, I feel like I've swallowed my tongue.
Aurora slowly walks my way, wearing a white skater dress, with thin straps, and holding white and red roses.
She's wearing white wedges, making her a little taller.
She smiles at me and whispers, "You look handsome."
I swallow hard and nod, rasping, "I'm, God, Rory, I'm speechless. You look beautiful…."
Her cheeks redden, and my eyes eat her up.
I've never seen her in a dress. She's always wearing sweaters, jeans, and overalls.
"You ready to make me your wife, Theodore?" she asks, making me look up at her.
I grin wide and walk toward her. When I'm close, I place my arm around her waist, hold her against me, and whisper, "Of course, I am, Firecracker. Now, the question is…are you ready to become Mrs. Taylor?"
Her eyes glisten, her smile wide, and she croaks, "More than anything. You're my world, Theo."
I nod. "As you are mine, Rory."
Autumn butts in, "You mine…" and we both look at her, chuckling.
Aurora sniffles and coos, "You're mine, too, baby girl…."
I grin wider, holding both my girls tight, and then state, "Let's go get married, Firecracker. I can't wait much longer without having you tied to me for forever."
She giggles as she allows me to guide her out of the apartment, an apartment I hope to move them from, and head to my Jeep, the one with the big ribbon on it.
I may not be able to celebrate with my family, Aurora believing they're away on a cruise—yes, another stupid fucking lie, but at least I have my woman and my daughter.
Fuck, I never thought those words would float around in my head…claiming someone.
I just hope my mother doesn't get pissed when she realizes both her children have eloped, not that Snake has told anyone yet, though.
Fuck, I hope I can keep my balls after my soon-to-be wife, realizes the truth….
Fuck, I'm fucked and yet…I feel no guilt.