Take care of yourself, too. And, if you can get past your hang ups, let Lily take care of you. She does it so well. This letter makes me sound like a saint, but at the risk of ruining that image, I’m not gonna lie. I feel a little jealous that you might get to experience that, and I might not ever again, but the truth is, you’re just as deserving of happiness as she is. Remember that.
If you and Lily get together like I hope you do, give her the second page of this, and remember you both have my love.
Saint Brandon.
Lily inhaled deeply, blinking hard as tears slipped down her cheeks. Moving the first page out of the way, she took a few more bracing breaths and quickly read the sentences on the second page.
Lily flower,
If you’re reading this, Noah decided to stop being a dumbass, and you two are beginning a life together. You have to know I’d never let you go if I had a choice, but if you have this letter, then the choice was made for me. So, if that’s the case, there’s nothing I want more than for my two favorite people to be together. Let him love you, and love him in return. Just as much as you loved me. It’s what I want, and you guys have my blessing.
And you’re welcome for bringing him into our lives. It felt weirdly fated at the time, but I didn’t understand why. If I’m gone and you two are together, well… this might be it. Maybe the fates, God, whoever, knew the future and knew you needed someone like Noah in your life. Find your happiness again with him. Love well. Have kids. Live a long, full life with him. Just so long as you live.
All my love,
Brandon.
P.S. Noah might get to have you, but he doesn’t get my amazingly awesome nickname for you. Tell him to find his own.
Laughing, she blew out a breath and handed the letter back to Noah, leaving the note to her on the top. He took them from her and read her note quickly, chuckling huskily when he read the post script.
After he put the letters back in the envelope, he stood and walked to her, taking her into his arms and hugging her tightly. “Are you okay?”
“That was my line.”
His brow was furrowed when he pulled back and met her eyes. “I’m not the one who’s crying.”
“They’re not sad tears. Well, mostly they’re not. Reading that did make me miss him. But they were—”
“Happy tears,” he finished with a small smile. “Do you do that a lot? I’m going to have to start figuring out the difference if you do.”
“I don’t know if I do it often, but sometimes I do. You never answered my question, though.”
“You were right. About all of it. How Brandon would feel if he knew we were together. I know you thought he’d be okay with it, but I wasn’t sold. You even called the fact that he would have teased me if he knew how I felt for you back then.”
She shrugged, unable to keep a tiny hint of smugness out her smile. “I knew him well. Since I was twelve, remember? I didn’t know what he’d written, but I’m glad he covered that stuff. He said he didn’t have a crystal ball, but it was like he knew what was going to happen. It was uncanny. And now, I have to ask… do you think maybe you can let go of the last bit of guilt you feel?”
“He gave us his blessing. I think that basically washed it all away. Besides, he was right. I’d be a dumbass if I let anything get between us. I think that guilt counts.”
“It definitely counts. I’m so glad I found that letter. I’ve been feeling like he gave me the nudge I needed to track you down, but that kind of confirms it.” She paused, wetting her lips and taking a deep breath. “I know you said to take some time, but I don’t need it. I don’t want to go home, Noah. I want to stay here, with you.
“And one day, when we’re both ready, I want you to claim me. I don’t mind being a shifter. And I can’t think of anything I want more than to be claimed by you. To feel our bond strengthen even more. To have us belong to each other irrevocably. I want that more than anything.”
“Then you’ll have it when you’re ready,” he said softly, his eyes searching hers. “There’s nothing I want more than to be with you forever, Lil. Nothing.”
She smiled, running her fingers over his beard before leaning up to kiss him. It quickly turned from gentle to passionate, but she broke it off before it could go further. She had one more important thing to tell him. Something he already knew, but she’d continue saying it often.
“I love you, Noah.”
Reaching up, he brushed the backs of his fingers down her cheek as he smiled. “I love you too, tesoro.”
He leaned down to kiss her again, but she put her hand on his chest to stop him. “Tesoro? What’s that?”
“Your new nickname, if you like it. When we were first briefed on Fernandez, I started brushing up on my Spanish in case I needed to use it. Tesoro means treasure in Spanish. That’s what you are to me. My treasure. I figure it’s better than the generic baby, but I can think of something else if you don’t like it.”
Tears pressed against her eyelids and she quickly shook her head. “No, don’t. I love it.”
“And I love you,” he whispered, kissing her ever so softly before pulling her in for a hug.
Heart bursting with warmth and love for him, she closed her eyes, snuggling in closer. So much had happened since she arrived at B&B Bar and Grill. So much was still happening. Her head was spinning, and it might continue to for a while, because there was a lot still up in the air.
The dragon case with the kidnapped women was still unfinished. But like she sensed before, she thought Blake was right in thinking it might take a while to wrap up. She wasn’t going to stop searching the files for clues, though. Not until all seven women—eight, including Damara—were safely away from Fernandez. And she knew the other Enforcers were going to be working just as hard.
And then there was the mystery of Noah’s twin brother, Chance. She had no idea what the time frame was on that one, since it rested in Chance’s hands. But she would personally track him down and hurt him if he made Noah wait any longer than necessary.
Noah had already endured so much in his life. So much pain, darkness, despair. The last thing he needed was to feel even more of it, and at the hands of the brother he’d missed so fiercely for over twenty years. He might not have known it was Chance he was missing, but it didn’t change the fact that he and his lion yearned for him for so long.
Yeah, too much was still up in the air. It wasn’t a neat and tidy beginning of a life together—it was full throttle, messy, and real. Real life wasn’t a fairytale where a person felt nothing but happiness, surrounded by sunshine and roses. And they were beginning their life surrounded by love, people, messiness and craziness.
It might not make sense to many people, but that reassured her more than anything else could have. If it was too perfect, she would have worried. Perfect never lasted. But this—this was real. And it might not be perfect, but it was perfect for her.
Opening her eyes, she slanted a look up at heaven, hoping Brandon was watching. Thank you for this. For Noah. I’ll take care of him and I know he’ll take care of me. We’ll be happy.
Closing her eyes again, she tightened her arms around Noah’s waist as she snuggled back in. Back where she belonged. Pressed up against the man she loved, who had his arms wrapped tightly around her, loving her just as much as she loved him.
Everything might have happened quickly after she got to Nevada, but it had been a long, hard road to get to where she was in that moment. But as painful as that road had been, it was worth it to get to where she was. She’d always miss Brandon—they both would—but she had her future in her arms, and she wasn’t looking back again. Ever.
Goodbye painful past, hello beautiful future.
Coming Soon
Iced
Book three in the Blood & Bone Enforcers MC series.
If you missed book one, here’s the link and a Sneak Peek!
Control
Book one in the Blood & Bone Enforcers MC series.
Taru
n Campbell was setting out on an adventure. At least, it should have felt like one. She’d never left her small village before, and traveling all the way to Nevada was a nerve-wracking prospect. But her shifter gift warned that a threat was directed at the Blood and Bone Enforcers MC, and she had to warn them in person. They’d be lost if she wasn’t there to help, so she was going to put her big girl panties on and do what needed to be done.
Luke Carlisle was struggling. His gift had become too dangerous to use, and he was on the verge of leaving the Enforcers when an avenging angel landed on his doorstep. Tarun tells him something evil is coming the Enforcer’s way—and that he could die if she’s not there. He’s willing to take the risk, ordering her to go home. But she refuses. The spark in her eyes as she defies him should make him angry, except the more he sees it, the more he’s drawn to her.
Lions and tigers are natural enemies, but hatred isn’t what Luke feels for spunky Tarun. As his enemy comes at him, Luke must fight to keep his Enforcer family safe. And his new distraction isn’t helping by constantly putting herself at risk, trying to fight for him. He has to figure out how to save them all—especially Tarun. Because if he loses her, there won’t be any saving himself.
More Books by Grace Brennan
War Cats
Zane
Karis
Jameson
Vynn
Kian
Rocky River Fighters
Heart of a Fighter
Fighting for Keeps
Fight Song
Fighting to Win
Red Moon Shifters
Unexpected Mates
Temporary Mates
Forever Mates
Bear Claw Shifters
Starry Night Sky
One Sunny Day
Misty Autumn Morning
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Thief (Blood & Bone Enforcers MC Book 2) Page 21