Vow of Honor (Vow Series Book 3)

by Emma Renshaw

  “Save it. I get it,” he mumbles. “I need to get back to Chicago. I need to get Brae.”

  “We’re working on it,” Tatum says, scooting her chair forward to join me next to his bed.

  “Working on it?” Callan asks skeptically.

  “My dad is a partner at a law firm, and while he doesn’t practice family law, he has a colleague that does. They have a sister firm in Chicago. We’re working on it.”

  “Not taking a hand out,” he grunts.

  “Not a hand out,” I say, squeezing his hand before releasing it. “Family helping family.”

  “Brae is my only family.”

  “Not true,” I say with a small tilt of my lips. “Tatum loves me, therefore she loves you. She took you under her wing the minute you stepped in front of her, and she claimed you as part of her family when you stepped in front of a bullet for me. You won’t get rid of her now. Trust me, I tried.”

  Tatum lightly slaps my thigh. “I think I’m the one that tried to get rid of you, not-so-jolly-green-giant.”

  My eyes find hers, and the warmth shining from them makes my chest tighten. Callan chuckles next to us, and our gaze breaks to look at him.

  “I’m too tired to argue about this shit right now. Solving it through lawyers and crap will take too long. I need her here. Now. I don’t fucking trust Luca. I need her out of that city.”

  “Kiernan is in Chicago right now, working on it. We’re hoping he’ll be here by tomorrow.”

  Callan closes his eyes. “Fuck. She has to be okay.”

  “She will be,” I insist. There’s no other option.

  “My dad said the best thing is to get her down here as if she’s visiting. Doing it legally, that means your mom knowing about it. Once she’s here, we’ll go from there. Callan, I know you don’t know me, but I keep my promises, and I’ll work with you and the lawyers until we can get Brae here permanently. You’re staying in Texas.”

  Callan stares at her, gauging every one of her words. Trust doesn’t come easily to either one of us. Tatum meets his stare, challenging him to find a lie in her words. He won’t. My girl is fierce.

  Callan dips his head once—a silent acceptance.

  “You have a big family now. Get used to it,” Tatum says patting his arm.

  Callan raises a brow. “I think I like you.”

  Tatum grins. “Good.”

  “How the hell did someone as pretty as you end up with this guy?” Callan asks, matching her grin.

  I grunt. Somethings never change. There are brief glimpses that show me the guy I knew is still under the anger, but sometimes when his eyes meet mine, I know he’s still pissed off. Not enough to want me dead, seeing as how he stepped in front of a god damned bullet for me.

  Tatum shrugs. “He’s entertaining. When he gets really mad, he gets bright red. I think it’s great, plan on doing that for the rest of my life.”

  “Definitely like you,” Callan says between chuckles.

  Tatum leans forward, planting a kiss on Callan’s cheek. “Thank you for saving James.” I grip her thigh when her voice breaks. “I’ll never forget that as long as I live.”

  “Why?” I ask. That question has been popping in my head since he jumped in front of me.

  Callan stares at Tatum. He lifts his hand, brushing a tear off her cheek. “Don’t thank me, sweetheart.” Callan turns his bright eyes to me, grinding his teeth. “As much as I want to deck you in the face for making me think you were dead for damn well near a decade, you’re still family. You and Brae. That’s it.”

  “I’ll make it right,” I vow.

  The tense moment is broken by the sharp taps on the big wooden door before it slowly eases open. Tatum gasps when she sees Kiernan coming in with a bright smile.

  “Got a surprise for you, man,” Kiernan says, stepping aside.

  All the air leaves my lungs.

  Braelyn.

  The last time I saw her, she was about to start kindergarten. It’s been almost ten years, but I almost expected to see the same small girl from a long time ago.

  I can’t believe the teenager standing in front of me is Braelyn. She’s tall, thin, and looks exactly like Callan did at that age. Her long dark blonde hair looks a little dirty and her clothes are a bit tattered. The jeans she’s wearing a little short.

  All of that is going to change.

  Turquoise eyes, the same as her brothers, lock on Callan before she runs into the room, throwing herself on him.

  “Callan,” she cries. “Oh my god. I was so scared.”

  He grimaces in pain but wraps his arms around her. Her face is tucked into his neck as she sobs uncontrollably. Callan blinks rapidly, rubbing his palm on the back of her head, whispering to her.

  Braelyn lifts her head and stares down at him, wiping the tears from her face. “What’s going on? Kiernan wouldn’t tell me much. He said I had to hear it from you. What’s happening?”

  “We’ll talk Brae, promise. How was your first flight?”

  Braelyn glowers at her brother. “Don’t change the subject. I’m not a baby anymore.”

  “You’ll always be one to me,” Callan says, tapping her on the nose. “We’ll talk. I promise. No bullshit. Say hi first, though.”

  Braelyn turns her head, looking at Tatum and me. “Connor,” she whispers before rounding the bed and hugging me.

  “You remember me?” I ask, tentatively wrapping my arms around her slim shoulders.

  “Barely,” she says, taking a step back. “Lan-lan told me about you, and he has a picture of you. That’s how I knew it was you. Kiernan told me you’re alive and your name isn’t Connor anymore.”

  “No, Braelyn. I go by James now.”

  She looks at me with an eyebrow raised and whole lot of teenage attitude. “That’s weird. Why? Why did Callan think you were dead?”

  “I’ll explain later, Brae,” Callan says. Brae scoffs before they settle on Tatum. Kiernan chuckles from the doorway.

  “Hi,” Braelyn says softly.

  “Hi, sweetie. I’m Tate. James’s girlfriend.”

  Girlfriend. Christ. I wrap my arm around her shoulder, silently communicating how good it feels to hear her say that word. Mine. Tatum is mine. Now that my past is officially behind me, there’s no way I’m leaving her side. I don’t even want her out of my sight for a second. She took twenty years off my life when she walked into the gym. Things could’ve ended so differently, but they didn’t. She’s here. She’s next to me. She’s mine.

  “It’s good to meet you, Braelyn. We’re going to give you some time with your brother,” Tatum murmurs, reaching out to grip Braelyn’s hand.

  “Thanks,” Callan says as we walk out of the room with Kiernan.

  Once we reach the waiting room, Kiernan stops and turns toward us. “You were right,” he says, placing his hands on his hips and his face in an angry scowl. “Their mother is a piece of shit. She signed the paper allowing this visit after I gave her some cash. I took some pictures of the place for the lawyer. It’s a fucking sty.”

  “Fuck,” I mutter, rubbing my hand down my face.

  “It’s okay,” Tatum says. “We’re going to figure this out for them. My dad’s firm is on it. One way or another Callan and Brae are here to stay. For good.”

  I tuck Tatum under my arm, kissing the top of her head. I love when she becomes protective, and I’ll never be able to thank her for wanting to help my family. The family she was born into is amazing, but I had to cobble mine together along the way.

  “Money bags over here,” Kiernan says, gesturing toward me. “Can just drop some cash on that woman’s doorstep, and she’ll sign over Brae.”

  “No,” she whispers.

  “Yeah.” Kiernan runs a hand through his hair. Unfortunately, I know he’s right. Kiernan glances at Tate, grinding his teeth before sighing. “You’re right. We’ll figure this out, help them. Whatever they need.”

  I clap him on the shoulder. “Thanks for going, man. I owe you.”

 
; “You don’t owe me anything, but if Tate wants to dress as a candy striper to show me her gratitude, I’ll take it.”

  Tatum laughs, her hand falling on my abs as her head nuzzles in my chest. I can feel her whole body shaking against mine, and it feels damn good. “It’s stripper.”

  “Not the way I’m picture it.”

  “Not happening,” I growl, pushing Kiernan back.

  “Worth a shot.” He shrugs. “Savannah, Harper, and Val will be here in the morning with food. They don’t want Callan to eat hospital food and want Brae to feel welcome.”

  “Christ. They haven’t even met him yet,” I mutter.

  Tatum smiles. “Big family. I told him he’s getting a big family.”

  “He’s going to love them fawning over him. It’ll go straight to his head.”

  Kiernan laughs before saying his goodbyes and taking off.

  “Ready to go?” Tatum asks, hugging my waist.

  “Yeah, sunshine, let’s go home.”

  She tightens her grip when I say the last word. Home.

  Chapter 48

  James

  Three weeks later

  “I’m so excited to see him,” Tatum says standing on her toes looking over the crowd.

  “I think they’re still in the locker room,” Callan says leaning against the fence at the exit of the stadium. “Can’t believe this is my first weekend out of the hospital and I’m at a high school football game.”

  “A champion’s high school football game,” Tatum exclaims. She grabs onto the front of my jacket. “We have to do something for Corbin. He did so great.”

  “Will I go to this school when I move to Texas?” Braelyn asks. Callan slings his arm over her shoulder.

  Callan smiles while looking down at Braelyn. She’s been excited at the prospect of moving to Texas. Tatum’s father’s law firm is doing everything they can to make it happen quickly.

  “We’ll see,” Callan says. “Not sure where we’ll find a place yet. For now, we’re at Hudson’s.”

  “We can stay there,” Braelyn says. “I like it there. My room is huge.”

  Callan shakes his head. “We’re finding a place when I get some money saved.”

  “Corbin,” Tatum shouts as he makes his way toward us.

  When he reaches us, Tatum throws her arms around his neck hugging him tightly. “You did so great, champ. I’m so proud of you. How’s the shoulder?”

  Corbin grins hugging Tatum back just as tightly. “Great. Didn’t hurt at all.”

  Tatum turns toward me. “I told you I was the best physical therapist.”

  I kiss the top of her head. “I only doubted you for a couple of weeks,” I joke.

  Corbin stands in front of me and extends his hand. I push it out of the way, bringing him in for hug. “You’re going places, kid.”

  He makes a fist in the back of my jacket.

  “Damn proud of you,” I say quietly. He nods his head once, hugging me tighter before letting go.

  “Corbin,” Tatum starts. “This is Callan and his sister Braelyn. Callan is new to Texas and we’re hoping Brae joins us here soon, too.”

  “Good game,” Callan says, but Corbin ignores him and stares at Braelyn. She’s gazing back at him, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

  Tatum bites her lip to stop her grin. “Brae helped me make the posters and she held one up during the game.”

  Corbin’s chest puffs out and he stands taller, beaming. “Hi, Brae.”

  “Hi.” A blush rushes to her cheeks when he uses her nickname. Braelyn bites her lip after she whispers her greeting.

  Callan is looking back and forth between the two, pushing off from the fence he’s leaning against. “Oh, hell no.”

  Tatum and I chuckle watching Callan staring down an oblivious Corbin. He hasn’t taken his eyes of Braelyn for even a second.

  “This is going to be good,” Tatum whispers.

  My only response is a kiss to her smiling lips.

  Chapter 49

  Tatum

  Two months later

  “James,” I call before clamping my lips shut, trying not to burst into a fit of laughter. “That branch is way too big for him.”

  “He can handle it. It’s just a stick,” James says, shooting me a grin before tossing the stick a few yards in front of him.

  Sirius trips over James’s foot before taking off after his prize. The stick is longer than Sirius. He manages to pick it up, but stumbles sideways. He turns, trying to run back to James, but he can’t quite manage under the weight. Sirius head is cocked, and the branch is getting closer and closer to the ground. It’s definitely not a stick, but a branch. At least compared to Sirius’s little body.

  “He’s too small for it,” I insist, worrying about my little pup.

  “He’s fine,” James says, calling to him. Sirius’s eyes are locked on James as he moves as fast as he can, covering those few yards with his tiny legs.

  “I think that branch weighs more than he does.”

  “Stick, sunshine. It’s a stick. Our boy may be small, but he’s tough,” James says, laughing as the branch touches the ground. But Sirius doesn’t stop his mission. He keeps rushing toward James, wagging his tail, as the branch drags along the ground.

  “Atta boy,” James says picking up Sirius when he finally reaches him and takes the branch from his mouth. I stand watching them, putting my hand along my brow to block out the sun. Sirius launches himself at James’s face trying to kiss him, his whole body shaking from the force of his tail. “See? He’s proud of himself.”

  I throw my head back and laugh before stepping up to my two guys. I hug James tightly, kissing his chest.

  “Was it weird going back?” I ask, raising a hand to scratch behind Sirius’s ear.

  “To Chicago?” James asks.

  I nod. He just got back from Chicago with Callan. My dad and his colleague, Callan’s lawyer, pulled every string, used every favor and connection. They had to move custody proceedings along. Callan and Braelyn’s mom didn’t even put up a fight when Callan approached her about signing her rights away.

  Braelyn hasn’t been able to stay in Texas in an official capacity yet, but we’ve all chipped in and brought her down for visits almost every weekend over the last two months. Callan had to appear in front of a judge in Chicago, and James wouldn’t let him go alone.

  James also wouldn’t let me go with them.

  “Yeah, it was strange as hell being back. I’d go on any trip you asked me to, sunshine, but I really hope you never want to go to Chicago.”

  “I don’t want to go there,” I mutter. That place holds to many dark memories for James, and I’d be looking over our shoulder the entire time. “I wish you would’ve let me go with you.”

  “Fuck no,” James hisses. “I don’t think Luca will go back on our deal, but I can’t risk that with you. Also couldn’t leave Callan alone to face that.”

  “I know,” I whisper. “I want this to be over for them.”

  “It will be,” James says confidently. “Callan is set up here in Texas now. Hudson gave him a good job with great pay and benefits at his construction company, and he’s living with Hudson in his monstrosity of a house.”

  “Dad said he’s sure it will go Callan’s way,” I say.

  “Yeah,” James says. “Talked to him while we were in Chicago. They think it will be over soon. Callan will probably have to go back one more time.”

  I nod, knowing that means James will also be going back. If he does, hopefully it’s for the last time ever.

  “Want to go out to the field?” James asks.

  I nod again. He kisses my forehead. “I’ll be right back,” he says, releasing me and striding toward the house.

  A minute later he comes back out without Sirius, but with a blanket. He snags my hand as he passes, pulling me along as we go to our spot in the middle of his field. The grass where we lay has become flat, but it’s an easy marker of where we like to be. James spreads out the
blanket before getting on and lying on his back.

  “Get over here, sunshine,” he says, making this bright day even brighter with his grin. I sink down next to him, immediately putting my head on his chest and slinging a leg over his hips. My hand rests over his heart.

  James wraps one arm around my back, resting his hand along curve of my ass, while his other hand joins mine on his chest.

  “Do you have plans tomorrow?” James asks.

  “No,” I say.

  “Good.” He taps his hand on my ass.

  I tilt my head back and catch a smug grin slide across his face. “Why?”

  “You’re movin’ in tomorrow.”

  “What?” I ask, choking on a surprised laugh.

  James rolls us so he’s on top of me. “I can’t lose you.”

  “Never,” I reply. “You will never lose me.”

  He dips his head, nuzzling my neck before trailing his tongue up its column. James nips his way to my lips, sliding his tongue inside my mouth, tangling it with mine. My hands weave in his hair. He breaks our kiss, staring down at me.

  His gray eyes turn molten as a breathtaking smile takes over his face. “Glad you agree.”

  “I didn’t agree,” I say, laughing.

  “That kiss was your agreement.” He kisses me again. “And that one.”

  “Move in?” I ask.

  James pulls back, scanning my face. “Yes. I want you here. I never thought I’d get something like this. My past is behind me. For good. It’s done, I can actually move forward. I’m doing that with you.”

  “I know, James, but—” James cuts me off with another kiss to my lips. He trails his lips over my cheek to my ear.

  “I love you,” he whispers. “You’re mine. You’ll always be mine. I can choose my future, and I’m choosing you. Get on board. You’re moving in tomorrow.”

  “Okay,” I say, grinning. Questions race through my head as I open my mouth to voice them, but James cuts me off with another kiss.

  “We’ll figure it out. Your lease. Any other concerns you have, we’ll figure it out, but we’ll figure it out living together in our home.”