Page 55 of Rage's Solace
“Darlin’ I’m her father. I don’t care what the DNA says,” Rage’s voice is hoarse, and I see something dark flash over his face.
“What is it?” I ask.
“This morning, it was when I was dying Mia’s hair and I caught sight of us in the mirror. Seeing us that close I couldn’t ignore the resemblance. When I asked her when her birthday was and she told me, I did the math. Obviously then I didn’t know what had happened with Ashton, but before I went to the clubhouse, I took a sample of her hair and mine for a DNA test. I wanted to know. I’m sorry I went behind your back, Prissy. I should have just talked to you and asked.”
I turn to look at him, “I’m as guilty as you are. When I started having suspicions, I should have said something. But I was afraid of how you might react. I’d overheard you telling that nurse that there was nothing going on between us and you weren’t the settling down type.”
“That’s just me and my big mouth. It’s true, after you left me, I didn’t want to get into another relationship. At that moment I still thought you’d ran off, I didn’t know what your parents had told you.”
“I guess that makes sense,” I say.
“I feel terrible about believing the letter your parents gave to me. I guess you were at college when I kept coming to your house. They told me over and over again for a month that you didn’t want me. They finally gave me the letter and it crushed my soul. I thought you were my forever girl.”
“I hate what my parents did to us, Rage. If I could go back in time, I’d never give up on us.”
His steady gaze never falters, and he takes my hands in his. “Look Prissy, the whole reason why I turned Mariam down and a dozen more just like her over the years is that they all pale by comparison to you. You were my one, Priscilla. If I couldn’t have you, I didn’t want to settle down with any woman. I was only ever going to be the settling down type for you, Prissy girl.”
I launch myself at him and wrap my arms around his neck. Rage laughs and pulls me into his lap.
“I love you, Rage. I’ve been so lost and miserable all these years without you.”
He responds playfully, “Good thing you had a little mini me, to remember me by.”
I tear up, “Mia looks so much like you and even her mannerisms are similar to yours. But what if she isn’t?”
He brings his hands up to cup my face, “If you would have me, I’m gonna be the best damn dad that little girl ever had. Doesn’t matter what the test says. I loved having you both in my life before I knew she might be mine, so it’s not gonna change a damn thing.”
I feel my entire body relax.
He leans forward to give me a kiss. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever truly loved. You were beautiful, sweet, and opened your heart to me just when I needed it the most. I never got past losing you, but I loved you enough to let you leave me if you thought it would bring you a better life. I’m still in awe of you for preferring my small house to the mansions your family and the Whitmores call home.”
“I never liked the trapping of wealth, sure having all that stuff makes life easier, but what really matters is love. And there was none of that. Yet seeing you, your club, how you are with Ven and Meli, that’s love and that’s more important than anything money could buy. And I love that you have your club brothers backing you up and keeping you safe.”
“Keeping us safe, you mean.”
“Yeah,” I tell him. “I was nice to have your club brothers show up to help tip the balance in our favor. I can’t thank them enough.”
“I’ll be sure to give them your thanks. But now I want to talk about our future.”
I shake my head adamantly. “I’ve already decided I’m not leaving your house ever again. Everything I want and need isright here. If you want me to leave, you’re gonna have to throw me out and lock the door.”
“I would never ask you to leave, Prissy. In fact, I want you to marry me. It’s not the romantic proposal I wanted to do, but if today has taught me anything it’s that you have to say what’s on your mind now. You can’t park it away for another day, because you never know what’s coming. When I got home and found your note, I thought you’d gone again, that me being an asshole this morning had ruined what we’d been building. I’m not risking that ever again, will you marry me Prissy girl?”
My breath gets caught in my throat and I honestly can’t believe he just proposed. He can see that I’m stunned, so he tries to smooth things over.
“We can have a long engagement if you want. I don’t care how long it takes us to get to the altar. I just want you to wear my ring and know that we’re on the right track to get to the altar.”
He sweeps his hand inside of his cut and pulls out a very pretty marquise cut diamond engagement ring. The stone is smaller than most, but the design is elegant and just my style. I never liked large ostentatious pieces of jewelry. I hold out my hand, let him slip it on my finger and admire how it looks on my hand. “It’s so pretty. Where did you get it?”
“I’ve had it put away for eleven long years. It’s the one I bought to propose to you when we were eighteen, innocent, and didn’t know how cruel the world could be. I’d planned on doing it before you went off to college, but…”
His words trail off.
Our talk has been an emotional rollercoaster, and this last bit of sweetness causes the long-awaited tears to flow like nobody’s business. He quickly dries the tears from my cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. “Don’t cry, Prissy girl. From now on I’m gonna make sure that nothing bad ever happens to you.”
“Or our daughter, right?”
He nods and pulls me close against his chest. “Of course Mia too. I’ll rip off anyone’s head who gives her a hard time.”