and we had high expectations.
“Now that you know we didn’t recruit you because Wick was worried about you, but because we wanted you, I’ll confirm that we had our suspicions Wick used you to run his ghost ops. As you know, Wick is tight-lipped so he never actually told us he was running them, but since I, Levi, Lenox, Clark, and Wick had all worked the program back in our day, we’re smart enough to put it together. You can take from that, that none of us had an issue with it. And that includes me and all the personal shit we got going on.”
Some of the tightness started to leave my chest. But when Levi spoke, that loosening was short-lived.
“The question is, after all these years, with us proving to you you’re more than an employee of Triple Canopy, you’re family—how is it you can be standing there looking like you’re getting ready to run the gauntlet?”
I looked from Levi to the wall decorated with photographs in an effort to free myself from the hurt in his stare. Hurt that for some reason, even though I’d caused it, felt so fucking good it burned my heart. The burn was so good, it was second to how Hadley made me feel when I got one of her smiles.
“Because until I met the four of you I didn’t know what family was,” I admitted and looked back at Levi. “Because up until you welcomed me into your family, not only did I not want to be a part of one, I knew I never wanted one of my own. Not once growing up was I shown care or concern. When I joined the Army I was given a team. When I was Delta I was given brothers. When Wick took me under his wing I was given a mentor. But nowhere in any a’ that was I given a family.”
I looked back at Levi. “And no disrespect, Levi, but you misread my hesitation. I wasn’t trying to hide who I was or what I’d done from the men in this room. I wanted it hidden from my woman’s father so he didn’t change his mind and take the only good thing I have in my life away from me. And that extends past Hadley to all of you and the family you’ve given me. It was me not wanting the woman I love to know what I’m capable of and the body count I have on my conscience.”
I looked at all those good men in that room. “So, yes, I was part of Wick’s ghost team, but you have to know I wasn’t only a part of it, I was his go-to. I have more hits on me than the other four he used put together. And that’s something I never want Hadley to live with.”
“I am not that motherfucker,” Jasper barked, and my torso jerked back at the forcefulness in his tone. “I’m not gonna give you one of the most precious things I have in my life then take it away and leave you shattered. We’ve had this conversation, but it bears repeating: I love my daughter. I would maim and kill to protect her. I would lay my life down for her. As well as you know me, do you think I’d ever hand her to a man I didn’t believe was capable of doing the same?”
“No,” I bit out, only saying that one word because I could say no more with my heart in my throat.
“Damn right, I wouldn’t. I know the man you are, Brady, and you know I love my kids, so you know I don’t say this lightly when I tell you I’ll be smiling when I walk her down the aisle to you.”
Jesus fuck, that felt good.
Even if that would never happen.
That lump in my throat was getting hard to choke down.
“Why do you look like I just kicked you in the balls?”
Christ.
“Hadley knows this so it’s only fair you do, too. I’m never gonna marry her.”
“Come again?” Jasper growled.
Fuck.
“I already told her, me and her are forever. She’s got my promise, she’ll have my ring, I’ll have hers, but she’ll never have that paper. If she finds it in her to live with that, she’ll be mine in every way that’s important. I’ll vow in front of you and God to take care of her always. But she’s never taking the motherfucking prick’s last name. Fucking guts me every time I have