“We will,” Paige said and gripped his hand tightly. Colton gave her a small smile and squeezed back.
“Thanks, babe.” Colton turned to me. “I’m going to go make sure she gets some sleep. None of your family has gotten any sleep tonight.”
“Yes, take care of my baby sister.” I emphasized the words, and Colton smiled softly before practically carrying Paige out of the room.
Archer was next, but he walked in alone, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “I should have been there,” he whispered.
I gritted my teeth in annoyance at the familiar refrain—and maybe a bit from the pain. “I’m glad you weren’t. I wouldn’t be okay if something had happened to you.”
“I was with Marc. I wasn’t with you. I should have been with you.” My baby brother spoke, but I didn’t think he saw me just then. Damn it. I was going to be okay, but it seemed as if none of my family was at the moment.
“And then you would have been hurt. Just what I told Paige. Stop it. I’m going to be fine.”
“Anything you need, you just ask. Clay was in here for a minute, and so was Riggs, actually,” Archer said with a quick wink, reminding me of his old self. “Clay said he’s going to step up and do whatever you need at the office and the sites since you’ll be out of commission for a while.”
That made me groan. “Hell.”
“Don’t hell me. Once you can get back to work, you’ll be sitting and not touching anything. Clay and I will handle it all. We’ve got you. As do Benjamin, Annabelle, and Paige. You’ve got a good team. We can take care of you.”
“I’m the big brother. I’m supposed to take care of you.”
“Now it’s my turn.” Archer leaned down, smacked a kiss on my cheek, and stood up. “Marc wanted to be here, but he had to go in to work. He hopes you’re okay.”
“Tell him I’m fine. And tell yourself that, too.”
“I don’t know if I believe that. I will, eventually.”
Archer left, and then Annabelle and Jacob came in. And while I liked seeing my family and was glad they were here, I really wanted to see Eliza. Why wasn’t she here? And why wasn’t Brenna here?
I loved my family, but Jesus Christ, I wanted to see my people.
“I’m not going to say I wish I was there because, apparently, that’s what everyone keeps saying,” Annabelle rambled quickly.
I held back a laugh and groaned. “Good, because if you did, I’d have to beat Jacob up for allowing a pregnant woman to be part of this.”
“Don’t you worry, she wouldn’t have been anywhere near that. I’m glad you’re okay,” my brother-in-law said, and I nodded.
“I am. Now, go get some sleep. And take care of my future nieces or nephews. Or niece and nephew.”
“I love you, brother mine,” she said softly before kissing me. Then, the two walked out.
Either the hospital would stop letting people visit soon, or Brenna and Eliza would be next. I looked up as Brenna walked in, and relief and anxiety speared me.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” she said, her voice soft. “That was so scary. I never want to do or see that again.”
“I’m all right,” I said and reached out to grip her hand. “I’m really glad that you are. The car could have hit you, too.”
“No, your brother took care of that.” She had an odd look on her face and shook her head. “I love you, Beckett.”
“I love you, too, Brenna.”
She leaned down and kissed my cheat. “I’m going to go. Eliza’s waiting. Make sure she knows how you feel, okay? She wasn’t doing okay, Beckett.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?” I asked, anxiety racing through me. “I thought she wasn’t hurt.”
“She isn’t, but she saw you there, bleeding out, and…well, I don’t think she saw you. I think she saw Marshall.”
I cursed under my breath. “Jesus Christ, we’re two peas in a pod sometimes.”
“You were seeing Brian, weren’t you?”
I swallowed hard. “Apparently, the two of us need to talk.”
“I’ll let her in. I think she wanted to be last because she needed to prepare herself. I don’t know what she’s expecting to see in here, but I’m glad you have some color in your face. Tell her how you feel, Beckett. Make sure she knows.” She kissed my cheek again and walked away, and I had to wonder what else was on her mind.
Then I couldn’t focus on anything because Eliza was there. She stood in the doorway, her face pale, her gaze wild.
“You’re okay,” she whispered before swallowing hard.
“Come here,” I growled. I held up my hands, and she shook her head.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Eliza, I swear to God, I will get out of this bed and carry you over here if you don’t come here and kiss me.”
She scowled but stomped over to my side before leaning down and kissing me hard on the mouth. Any pressure I’d had on my chest went away like popping a balloon and letting the air escape.
“I almost lost you,” I said as I reached up and cupped her face.
“That’s my line. I thought you were dead, Beckett. I thought I’d lost you before I could tell you that I love you.”
I froze, and she did the same. “You love me?” I asked.
“Of course, I love you, you asshole. You saved my life. But you were bleeding, and I thought you were dead, and oh my God, I don’t know what I would’ve done if you had died. Don’t do that again, Beckett.”
“I will always be there to save you. Always.”
“No. You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to almost die for me.”
“You would have done the same for me.”
“I tried, and then you were bleeding, and I couldn’t do anything. I love you so much, Beckett.”
“I love you, too. It might be too soon but fuck it. We’ve all lost so much, and almost lost double that. I love you so fucking much, Eliza. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, but just stay with me. Be with me. I don’t want to face the future without you at my side.”
She leaned down, and I took her lips, and I was lost.
Chapter 23
Eliza
* * *
I woke up with Beckett’s head between my thighs and groaned, orgasming right as I looked at Beckett’s face. He hovered over me and kissed me softly, then slid smoothly into me. I groaned, wrapping my legs around his waist and rocked into him as we slowly kissed and made love, the two of us lost in each other.
“Well, that’s one way to wake up,” I said on a laugh.
“Last night was the first night I was allowed to fuck you hard into the mattress, so I figured I’d wake you up a little smoother.”
I held on to Beckett’s waist, careful not to touch his side. The stitches were out, and he was healing, but I was still careful with him. Just as he was oh so cautious with me. He kissed me again and lovingly slid his hands up and down my body.
“I missed you. I missed this.”
“You weren’t out of commission for long.”
“True, and I did like the sponge baths.”
I narrowed my eyes in a mock glare. “I never once gave you a sponge bath, Beckett Montgomery. Who do you think is giving you sponge baths?”
He laughed. “Probably Benjamin.”
“Now there’s an image,” I said with a laugh.
“I can’t believe he’s out on that trip now,” I said, sighing as I leaned back.
“He needed to go, for reasons only he knows.”
“I hope he’s doing okay.”
“I hope they both are,” Beckett said with a sigh.
“We can’t fix it, Beckett.”
“No, but I want to. I’m the big brother.”
“Whatever you say. We need to shower. And get ready because we have dinner with your parents soon.”
“Oh, great. Thank you for bringing up my parents while I’m naked and covered in you.”
“That’s a lovely image.”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s just a delivery person. Don’t worry, I’ll put on my jeans and answer the door.”
“And I suppose I’ll find some panties.”
“Or just pants. Leave the panties off.”
“Why? Do you want to borrow them?”
He snorted and made his way to the front of the house. I quickly cleaned myself up and slid on my sweats and a tank top from the night before. I was happy. Finally. I hadn’t known what I’d been missing until I was sitting with Beckett, realizing this was my life now. Eventually, I’d move into his place, something we had gone over for a while. It might seem too soon for some, but we weren’t others. This was what we wanted.
We would find our way. Almost losing Beckett had changed everything for me, and I didn’t want to ever wonder what could be without taking a chance in the first place. This was our future. I was his, just as he was mine.
“Eliza, darling, you’d better come out here.”
Something in his tone worried me, and I practically ran to the front door. And then I nearly tripped over my feet.
“Eli? What are you doing here?”
“It took me a while to get time off, but since you were almost hit by a car, I figured I’d come and check on my baby sister.” He glared at Beckett, at his sweat-slick skin, and the fact that it clearly looked like we had just been having sex.
“It seems I’ve interrupted something.”
I rolled my eyes and tugged my brother into the room.
“Stop it. This is my home. You know Beckett.”
“Oh, I know all about Beckett.”
“Eli.”
My brother scowled harder. “You’re my baby sister. He understands.”
“This is my home, Eli. And you know I’m with Beckett.”
“I didn’t have to see it. You get it, don’t you?” he said to Beckett.
The love of my life just shrugged, and I wanted to strangle them both. “Since I have two little sisters and two brothers, I get you. Now, I’m going to go put on a shirt.”
“For the love of God, please do.” The dryness of Eli’s tone made me roll my eyes.
“And I am going to put on a jacket or something. Or a bra.”
“Please,” Eli said with a laugh. Beckett and I practically ran to the bedroom, finished getting changed, and I came out to see Eli making a pot of coffee and opening a box of donuts he had brought.
“I didn’t realize you’d brought anything.”
“Of course, I did. I’m not going to show up at my little sister’s home without something. Now, come hug me.”
He opened his arms, and I slid into his hold. He gripped me tightly and kissed the top of my head. “You seem happy.”
“I am,” I said honestly. “I promise.”
“I came to check on you. I wanted to make sure you were serious about wanting to stay here.”
I gave Beckett a look. He shrugged and sipped his coffee. “Do what you need to. I understand.”
“I love him, Eli. I love this family. I mean, I love our family. And you know that I’m going to visit you down in Texas as much as possible.”
“We’ll make sure of it,” Beckett said, and I rolled my eyes at him.
“I know it might be awkward up here because of Marshall’s family, but part of mine is here, too. And while I wish you guys could retire here, I get why you’re going down south to do it.”
“The jobs are there.”
“And you’re always welcome in my home.” I looked at Beckett. “Our home.”
“Are you shacking up with my sister?” Eli asked with a groan.
“Seriously?”
“That’s such a lovely sentiment,” I said on a laugh. “I’m happy.”
“And the thing with Marshall’s parents?” Eli asked, and Beckett gave me a look as I stiffened.
“They called after the accident to make sure I was okay. They heard about it and wanted to make sure that I was alive.”
“Not just because of the money, right?” my brother grumbled.
“That was my question, too,” Beckett said, and Eli toasted him with his coffee mug.
Men.
“It was sincere. And we’ve already discussed it, all of us. You were part of that discussion too, Eli. I’m going to give Natasha some of the money because Madison needs it. For school. I don’t care. I have a life. I have my own income. And, honestly, I don’t know if I want all of those memories tied up into things. Natasha can make sure her daughter has a college fund, but it won’t bring Marshall back. And, as it turns out, I’m okay with that. Not that I know exactly what everything means or how I feel about it, but I’m coming to terms with it all. I didn’t have to give them any money. I did. Or will. Because it’s my choice.”
My brother nodded, staring at me as if he wanted to take away all of my troubles. That was his problem, though, and always had been. Another reason why his life was changing as it was. “That wasn’t an easy decision to make.”
“No, it wasn’t, but I’ll figure it out.”
“My family’s here,” I said softly as Beckett smiled at me. “Marshall was my past, and not even the past I thought I had. The Montgomerys here are my future. And so are the Wilders,” I teased, and my brother smiled.
“I am going to check on you often because I’m overprotective that way.” He winked as he said it, but I knew he wasn’t joking. I had a feeling that there would be more than a few visits from all six of the Wilder brothers.
Beckett sighed. “It’s fine. I check on my sisters often, too.”
“How many of them are married now?”
Beckett cocked his head. “Annabelle is, and going to pop out twins in a few months.”
“That’s such a lovely image,” I said with a laugh.
Eli’s eyes narrowed. “You have another sister, right?”
Beckett scowled, and I held back a laugh. How I ended up with the eldest, overprotective brother of a family like mine, I’d never know.
I sighed. “Yes, Paige. She and Colton are serious, though I don’t know when they’re going to be walking down the aisle. Probably sometime soon.”
At least, I hoped so. I didn’t voice that. It wasn’t my place.
“It seems like you have your hands full,” Eli said and then gave me a look. “I mean, Eliza is enough to deal with.”
“Hey,” I teased as my brother hugged me hard. I laughed, kissed his cheek, and then moved to lean into Beckett.
I smiled, looked up at him, and knew that this was my future. I hadn’t lied. The Montgomerys were where I wanted to be. I would always be a Wilder, always be part of the family that had raised me. Marshall wasn’t part of that.
I could walk away from those memories and know that I had something to look forward to.
I hadn’t been expecting Beckett Montgomery.
I was so glad that I’d taken a chance. So happy I had gone to that beach and ran into the man I had told myself I shouldn’t want.
Because he was my future. My everything.
My Montgomery.
Soon, I would have the family crest on my skin, their ink on my soul, and my future paved with purpose and promises I knew would forever be kept.
SHATTER
Benjamin
* * *
I gripped the steering wheel, my jaw tight.
“Why are we like this?” Brenna asked. I looked over at her before pulling my gaze back to the road. The roads weren’t easy, and the rain was coming down hard. As soon as I could pull over, I would, but we needed to get out of the area. We just needed to breathe.
Brenna kept pushing. She always just kept fucking pushing.
Then again, so did I. It was what we were good at: pushing each other.
“What is Beckett going to say?” Brenna asked again.
I growled. “Seriously? That’s what you’re going to ask? What the hell does Beckett have to do with this?”
/>
I saw her glance at me, and I did my best to keep my eyes on the road. “He has everything to do with things. You can’t just pretend that’s not a problem.”
“Well maybe if he wasn’t at the center of everything, we could actually have a fucking conversation,” I snapped.
She looked at me then, but lights hit the windshield. I narrowed my eyes, trying to see what was going on. We were in our lane, but lights were coming at us fast. Brenna screamed, and then glass shattered, and metal screeched. I reached for Brenna. I reached and caught nothing.
Metal tore, someone screamed, and then there was nothing.
Just screaming, shattered promises, and darkness.
Next in the Montgomery Ink series?
Brenna and Benjamin take a chance in Inked Devotion
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Beckett & Eliza CLICK HERE!
A Note from Carrie Ann Ryan
Thank you so much for reading INKED OBSESSION!
This book was about second chances, finding love when you aren’t expecting it, and remembering you can make your own family even while loving the one you were given.
Next up in the Montgomery Ink series?
Things don’t go quite as expected for Brenna’s plans and Benjamin’s choices. Inked Devotion changes everything.
Now…about those Wilder Brothers? Hmm…I do believe they are calling to me. What do you think?
And if you’re new to my books, you can start anywhere within the my interconnected series and catch up! Each book is a stand alone, so jump around!
Don’t miss out on the Montgomery Ink World!
Montgomery Ink (The Denver Montgomerys)
Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs (The Colorado Springs Montgomery Cousins)
Montgomery Ink: Boulder (The Boulder Montgomery Cousins)
Gallagher Brothers (Jake’s Brothers from Ink Enduring)
Whiskey and Lies (Tabby’s Brothers from Ink Exposed)
Fractured Connections (Mace’s sisters from Fallen Ink)
Less Than (Dimitri’s siblings from Restless Ink)
Inked Obsession Page 20