When I slid my hands into my pockets and stared at Mr. Hardy’s son, Declan stared right back at me. I knew he was the one I had to win over. And for once, I couldn’t intimidate someone. He had nothing for me to hold over his head to gain his respect. Respect was all I wanted, not fear or coercion. I was good at getting those two things.
“You plan on sticking around this time?” Declan asked, menace in his voice.
“I never left.”
“She said you did. For a whole month.”
“I watched her, made sure she was safe, and confirmed the world knew she was an Untouchable. I needed to make sure—”
“You know about her first love?”
I nodded.
“She can’t lose someone like that again.”
I rubbed my chin. Her family, although they loved her . . . I don’t believe they understood her strength. “She could. She’d be fine.” Declan narrowed his eyes at me. “She’s stronger than you give her credit for.”
“Are you questioning how well I know my sister?” He tilted his head.
Dom, on his brother’s right, bulked up like he was ready to fight.
“I’m just correcting you on my fiancée’s resilience.”
“Fiancée?” Mr. Hardy perked up at that and scratched his flannel-covered belly. “You propose yet?”
“I intend to tonight. It’s why I’m standing out here trying to make small talk when I’d rather be on my phone working.”
Her dad chuckled like he was happy with my candor. Her brothers practically growled in unison. But Mr. Hardy plucked the steaks off the grill and handed one of the plates full of meat to Dex. “Go on. Take the food in. And Dimitri, find your mother and tell her it’s ready.”
Good. He was helping even the odds. Now it was just three against one.
He squared up with his two boys, and they all sized me up. “What are you gonna do if we say no, Cade? Respect our decision?”
“Respectfully, no. I’m not even going to respect her decision if she says no. But I’m giving you the courtesy of bringing it to your attention.”
Declan grumbled a “What the fuck” when his father let out a belly laugh and slapped his son’s shoulder a few times. “See, that’s the same thing I would have said about your mother to anyone who told me no. He’s fine, boys. She’ll give him enough hell as it is.” Then he walked up to me and patted my cheek twice like I was a five-year-old. “Enjoy married life. Going at the world alone is too damn lonely anyway.”
I think all our jaws were on the floor at how easily Mr. Hardy accepted me.
“We also need Bug back, Mr. Hardy. The cat’s hers.” I figured I’d drop all the bombs at once.
He actually hesitated with that. “Fine, but I want visitation hours then,” He grumbled before he meandered away, probably to go cuddle the cat before we took him home.
“Dad’s lost his marbles,” Dom murmured.
“Fuck me,” Declan groaned. Then his brow furrowed when his phone went off and he looked at the screen. “Oh no. She’s not.”
He stomped away as he punched buttons on the cell like they were the enemy. It seemed the man had some issues to deal with of his own as he bellowed once someone picked up his call, “You’re not going to his place. If you do, you can bet your ass, I’ll come get you to drag you out of there myself.”
Dom and I glanced at one another before we heard him whisper with fury, “Babe, I swear to God, I’m not playing.”
A second later, he held his phone out to see whoever was on the other side of the call had hung up on him. “Fuck,” he grumbled.
Dom looked him up and down as he walked back up to us. “What’s got your panties in a bunch?”
“She never listens.” He glanced at me and slapped that glare on his face that he thought would drum up fear. “I need your jet.”
“What?” I squinted at him. Was he kidding?