Her Silent Revenge novel Chapter 139

Her jaw pinches tightly. She trembles in my arms, pushing back so she can read my eyes.

I give her the truth, and nothing but, standing silently until she answers with a smile. "I was a little shocked. I thought you'd never say it."

"We've already established I fucked up, woman. Do you forgive me?"

With a solemn look, she plants her feet against the ground and presses her hands into my shoulders like she's about to say something heavy. I slide my hands to her waist and wait.

"I forgive you, Patton—but only if you forgive me for freaking out and getting scared. It's hard to get past that when it's all I've ever done my whole life."

"Done," I whisper.

"Me too." Her smile sharpens. "I'm done being a black cat. I want this. I want you. I even stood up to my parents. They flew in when they heard about Arlo, begging me to move in with them… I couldn't have fought back before. Not before you."

"I'm proud of you," I whisper, leaning down to kiss her again, but she pushes a finger against my lips.

"I wasn't finished. Because I don't just love you back. You… you drive me wild. Some days, I want to strangle you. But despite that, I can't stop thinking about you and the family we could be. I know this won't be easy, but that's also what makes it so, so good. I want to stand my ground. I want to fight for this, Patton, for you and me and Arlo. No more escape attempts or sudden freak-outs, I promise." She takes her hands off my shoulders and cups my face with a sweetness that resonates in my bones.

"Big words. You sure about that, Lady Bug?"

"Yes! I'm positive I can't do anything else," she whispers. "Because I'm in love with you, dork. Plus, Arlo will kill me someday if he finds out I messed things up with his hero."

I chuckle with a warmth that ripples through me. That's it, right there.

Everything I hoped for and more—what I was counting on her saying— but hearing it hits different. It's like seeing a painting of a gorgeous sunset versus witnessing the real deal in person.

It turns out, loving someone else and telling them is the strongest drug known to man, and dangerously addictive.

Hearing it with the joy in her voice and the tears in her eyes isn't enough.

I want to hear it forever.

I want to watch the shape of her lips as she speaks every syllable.

"Salem Hopper," I say, my voice too low. The ring was a spur-of-the- moment decision when I saw the jewelry shop in Nassau, and I'm pretty sure couples usually discuss this sort of thing in advance. If she's not ready, I won't blame her one bit, but I'm also not losing this chance to keep her.

Tonight, we're all in.

"I love you," I say. "I fell for you faster than I'd ever believe. I had it coming, even before I found out Arlo was mine. Fate reached down through years apart and shook me the fuck awake. So I want to do this family thing properly. I don't want to wait. I want you as my wife. I want you where you belong—right by my side, forever."

A painful moment passes.

Seconds feel like days, months, years.

Then she grins, wide enough to bring the sun out through the evening gloom.

"Yes," she whispers, her eyes watering. Her bottom lip quivers. "Yes, of course I'll marry you, Grumpybutt." Music to my ears.

I'm laughing like a madman as I slide the ring on her finger before she can change her mind. It looks like it was always meant to be there, hugging her finger like a promise forged from our worries and doubts, remade into something beautiful.