Proof of Life (The Potentate of Atlanta Book 4)

by Hailey Edwards

  “Yes.”

  Ford was an enforcer, and Midas’s right-hand man, so it made sense, but I didn’t trust his megawatt grin.

  Midas and I piled in, me in the middle, and Ford began singing an old country song under his breath.

  The peculiar vibe continued the whole trip, which set my teeth on edge, and Midas was no help.

  He rested his forehead against the window…and took a nap.

  Resting my head on his shoulder, I shut my eyes, breathed him in, and tried not to think too hard about the fact a Faerie portal throbbed on the outskirts of my city like an abscess only I could lance.

  Nineteen

  The timing couldn’t be worse for what Midas had planned, but he was beginning to think there was never a right time when it came to him and Hadley. They had to fight and scrape to carve out space in their lives for one another, and tonight was no exception.

  Ford parked in front of the ostentatious glass house his mother built to host outsiders and formal events away from the den, and they all climbed out of the truck.

  “I think I hear my momma calling me.” Ford cupped his ear. “See y’all later.”

  “His momma is in Texas, isn’t she?” Hadley stared after him, but her confusion melted as a scent caught her attention. “Whatever that is, it smells crazy good.” She smiled at him. “Do you guys cook out often?”

  “Every weekend and holiday.” He shrugged. “And any time Kroger has a sale on beef.”

  Linking their fingers, he guided her toward the front door and tried to ignore the sweat on his palms.

  “Looks like the smoke is coming from the backyard.” A frown knitted her brow. “Are we interrupting?”

  “No.” He led her up the walkway, and his mother greeted them before they could knock. “Hi, Mom.”

  “Two of my favorite people.” She rushed out to hug him. “How are you?”

  “Good,” he said, voice low and tight. “How about you?”

  “I’ve never been better.” She embraced Hadley next. “Well? How are you holding up?”

  “I’m good.” Stiffness pinched Hadley’s shoulders, but she relaxed into the hug. “It’s been a long night.” She withdrew. “Is everything okay here?”

  “Better than okay.” She rocked forward and kissed Hadley’s forehead. “Come on, sweetheart.”

  Hadley shot him a nervous glance but linked her arm with his mom’s and entered the house.

  He stood close enough to catch her indrawn breath when she spotted the massive gathering in the entry and recognized the closest faces. Boaz and Addie. Grier and Linus. Bishop and Remy. Ford and Lisbeth. Abbott and Lethe.

  “What is this?” She whirled toward him, and his mother slipped away like a wolf into mists. “Midas?”

  “I made my share of mistakes during our courtship,” he said, loud enough his voice carried through the room. “Most of them stemmed from fear. Of losing you, of losing control.”

  Her mouth fell open, her eyes rounded, and she rocked back a step. All signs pointed toward her bolting. It was then he realized he had done it again, let his cultural needs supersede her personal preferences. It made the knot in his gut pull tight with certainty that he had no idea what he was doing, but he was sure he was doing it all wrong.

  “I made my fair share of mistakes too.” Exhaling slowly, she slid her warm hand into his and repeated his words to him. “Most of them stemmed from fear. Of losing you, of losing control.”

  In her voice, he heard understanding and acceptance, and his stomach quit twisting quite so hard.

  “I had no clue what I was doing,” he said softer. “I followed the rules outlined by my people to the letter, because they gave me guidelines until I could figure out what to do on my own. Except I keep falling back on my customs and neglecting yours. We need to start our own traditions that meld our heritages.”

  “I don’t feel slighted.” She walked into his arms. “I’m just glad one of us had a plan.”

  “You have to hold me accountable for this to work.”

  “You’re doing your best, and I can’t ask for more than that.” She linked her hands at his spine. “I like that you want to establish our own traditions, but your pack is your family, and I want to be part of it too. We can walk the line between our cultures, but I’m also good with stepping over to your side every once in a while, if it means allowing you to grow and mature into a leadership role for your people.”

  “Our people,” he corrected. “You’re pack, Hadley.” He smiled a tiny smile. “You’re mine.”

  “This again?” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a thing to be owned.”

  “I have no problem being owned.” He stared down at her. “Everything I am is yours.”

  “I thought there would be food,” someone yelled. “Where are the cupcakes?”

  No, not someone. His sister. Lethe. Giving him the kick in the pants he needed to drop to one knee.

  “What are you…?” Hadley slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, Midas.” Her eyes rounded. “Midas.”

  “There are children present,” Ford called. “Keep it PG.”

  Fumbling in his pocket, Midas closed his hand around a small box. “I need to ask you a question.”

  “Okay,” she whispered between her fingers. “Um, yeah. Okay. You can do that.”

  Careful not to let the box slip through his clumsy fingers, he cracked open the lid to reveal a ring.

  “What is that?” Grier leaned in. “An onyx?”

  “Looks like jet,” Linus countered. “A rather large piece of jet.”

  Joining in the speculation, his mom tossed in her guess. “Black tourmaline?”

  Hadley hadn’t moved since the hinge squeaked on his palm. He wasn’t certain she was breathing.

  “It’s a Carbonado diamond,” he told them then focused on her. “It’s made from—”

  “—a star,” Hadley finished for him, “that exploded before the formation of our solar system—”

  “—and fell to Earth as an asteroid over—”

  “—two billion years ago.”

  The Asscher cut black diamond was three carats, prong set in eighteen-karat white gold, and surrounded by a halo of round white extraterrestrial diamonds. More of the same white diamonds studded the band.

  The black stone lacked the glint and glimmer of a traditional white diamond, but its origins spoke to him, a tribute to his geeky mate’s love of science fiction. He hoped it spoke to her too. Especially when he had lost his voice again.

  “Marry me,” she breathed then flashed her eyes up to his. “I’m serious.”

  “Can I handle this part?” He gestured at his pose. “I’m the one down on one knee.”

  “Oh. Yeah. Sorry.” Her fingers clenched and released at her sides. “I just—wow. I got excited.”

  “Marry me.” A smile tickled the right side of his mouth. “I’m serious.”

  “You’re making fun of me, and I don’t even care, because ohmygoddess that ring is the coolest and most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life.” She flung herself into his arms, knocking him to the floor and landing astride him. “I will marry you, but only if you agree to a Star Trek-themed wedding.” She bounced on his hips. “I’ll be Captain Kirk, and you can be Mr. Spock.”

  I love her, he reminded himself. To the USS Enterprise and back.

  “Hadley, darlin’.” Ford cleared his throat. “I can see you’re very excited, but there are still kids present.”

  Yanked to attention, she noticed their positions, flushed scarlet, then slid onto the floor next to Midas.

  Amazed the ring was still snug in the box, he plucked it from its velvet bed and guided it onto her finger.

  Raising her hand, she admired the sparkle. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “I was talking to the ring.” She slanted him a playful glance. “You’re not half bad either.”

  “Live long and prosper,” Grier shouted, and the others raised their voices a
longside hers.

  “We are going to have the geekiest wedding.” Hadley smiled at the ring. “I really do love you.”

  Midas couldn’t help a laugh as he watched her. “Do you and the ring need to get a room?”

  “I was talking to you,” she said without moving her gaze from her hand. “How about you come stand in front of the ring. I can’t seem to look away from it.”

  “Ha-ha.” He rose and brought her to her feet before him. “You’re sure you want this?”

  “You?” She stuck her palm against his nose. “Or the ring?”

  “I should have asked you before I opened the box. Maybe then you’d have given me a straight answer.”

  “I’m planning a wedding.” She squealed with utter joy. “What do you think the answer is?”

  “I suspect it depends on whether or not you get to keep the ring if things don’t work out between us.”

  “Stop torturing the boy.” His mom waded in, took Hadley’s hand to break her line of sight with the ring, and examined the stone. “Tell him what he needs to hear.”

  Dutifully, she smiled up at him. “Yes, Midas, I will marry you.”

  “It’s a lovely ring,” his mother said. “Is the theme negotiable?”

  “No,” he and Hadley answered together.

  This was her wedding, and she would plan it to suit her. He would see to it. The tradition wasn’t a gwyllgi one, so it cost them nothing to let her indulge whatever little-girl fantasies she harbored about her big day.

  Even if it meant wearing pointed ears, having his eyebrows drawn on, and learning to make his fingers cooperate in the Vulcan salute.

  Hadley was worth it. All of it. She was worth everything.

  The outdoor party wound down as bellies filled with burgers, steaks, and brats, and little ones’ eyes got heavy. The night had gone better than he could have dreamed, and he couldn’t wipe the dopey grin off his face each time Hadley nearly poked out the eye of anyone who asked to see her ring in her eagerness to flash it at them.

  That she had known about Carbonado diamonds didn’t surprise him, and she was quick to educate anyone who asked (and some who didn’t) about how scientists theorized their scarcity was due to a single asteroid impact.

  “You did good.” Boaz clasped him on the shoulder. “I’ve never seen her this happy, and I took her to her first Dragon Con when she was eight.”

  Wreathed in a proud smile, Mom never left Hadley’s side as they navigated the room.

  “Thanks.” Midas soaked up how the pack embraced her, and she embraced them right back. “That’s all I want. To make her happy.”

  Boaz watched them for a moment longer but glanced away as if the sight of Mom and Hadley hurt him.

  “I didn’t know,” he said quietly. “How did I not see it?”

  Midas had wondered the same thing, at first, but he knew his Hadley. She would protect those she loved at any cost, especially to herself. She had suffered in silence most of her life, and nothing he could say to Boaz could make him feel better or worse about the agony clawing him up inside when he looked at her.

  “Don’t treat her like she’s broken.” Midas studied him. “I’m not saying turn a blind eye to her past. She’s going to want to talk to you about it someday, now that you know. She’ll also want precautions taken on Macon’s behalf. But don’t let her catch you staring at her like you are now. She’s worked too damn hard. I won’t let it all to have been for nothing.”

  “You really do love her, don’t you?”

  “I agreed to be Mr. Spock, didn’t I?”

  Boaz snorted out a laugh. “Sucker.”

  “You’re her Man of Honor,” he said toothily. “Dr. McCoy.”

  “Goddessdamn it.” Boaz recoiled. “You’re not serious.”

  “As a Vulcan.” Might as well get in character. “Better practice your I’m a doctor, not a… one-liners.”

  Adelaide waved to him as music spilled into the backyard from speakers mounted on the porch.

  Guess the party had caught its second wind, now that the littles were tucked safely in their beds.

  “I’m being summoned.” Boaz lingered a moment longer. “Just a friendly FYI, Addie is heavy into Keanu.”

  “Reeves?” Midas frowned. “Are we talking a Speed-themed wedding?”

  “More like Constantine with a splash of John Wick.”

  Hadley waved her geek flag proudly for all to see, but Addie hadn’t unfurled hers around Midas yet.

  “She’s that into him?”

  “Hadley is a geek in the broadest sense of the word. She lives and breathes her fandoms. Addie isn’t that into any particular franchise, so much as the man himself.” He frowned. “She blames her best friend for it, but I’ve seen the body pillow in her closet with him screen-printed on it.”

  Giving up on Boaz’s ability to take direction, Addie came to collect him. “Come on.”

  Midas gave them ten minutes before Abbott noticed they were physically exerting themselves, intercepted them, and sat them at a table where they could be monitored for the rest of the night.

  Until then, they rocked gently in a slow dance while other couples moved to the upbeat tempo.

  “Hadley’s eyes are glazing over,” Mom warned after hitting a cooler for a can of beer. “She won’t last much longer without caffeine or sugar.”

  Meeting the entire pack was overwhelming, especially when they were welcoming you to the family.

  “I understand Mr. Whitaker is bound for rehab,” she said. “Otherwise, I’m sure he’d be here.”

  “He would,” Midas agreed. That was the nature of the bargain Hadley had struck with him.

  “Matron Pritchard, on the other hand, has already left Atlanta.”

  That bit of news jerked his attention to his mother. “That was fast.”

  Mom watched Hadley, a faint smile arranged on her face that clashed with the furious storm in her eyes. “She plans on returning to Savannah, where she will pack her husband and her belongings, then relocate to upstate New York.”

  Careful of his tone around the woman who was his mother and his alpha, he asked, “Why would she do that?”

  “She won’t be Matron Pritchard much longer, and she’s not the type to sit idle. She has family there, and she’s decided to take a position with their firm.”

  “What about Macon?”

  “They don’t know it yet, but Boaz and Adelaide will be signing guardianship papers within the hour.”

  “And if Mr. Pritchard balks?”

  “He’s welcome to secure lodgings in Savannah, if that suits him better, but he has been evicted from the Pritchard home effective immediately. The Pritchards will be allowed supervised visits with Macon, after a time, but they are to have no contact with any future grandchildren.”

  Mom wasn’t much for empty threats, and Hadley was pack. Mom could take the law into her own hands if she deemed it necessary. Neither the Grande Dame nor the Lyceum could protect the Pritchards now.

  “He may not have raised his hand against his daughter,” she added, her voice arctic, “but he didn’t stop his wife, and that’s unforgiveable. The elder Pritchards are about to receive an all-expense-paid education in what happens when you harm my children.”

  “What will you tell Hadley?”

  “I’m hoping she will choose to believe her mother had a come-to-Jesus moment in that clinic and decided to get her life right.”

  “You’re getting soft in your old age,” he teased. “You let her mother off with a warning.”

  “Yes, well.” Mom ran her tongue along the edge of her teeth. “I thought about ripping out her throat.”

  Amused, though he knew it for the truth, he still asked, “What stopped you?”

  Wrinkling her nose, she curled her lip. “Can you imagine how that bitter woman must taste?”

  Ford waltzed up to her as the music changed and held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

  Flushed rosy with pleasure at having been asked, s
he accepted with a smile. “I would be delighted.”

  Males in the crowd who would dare approach her were few and far between. She preferred the distance most of the time, but she enjoyed the occasional spin around the dance floor, and she lit up when males worked up the nerve to help her forget her duties for a song or two.

  Skimming the crowd, he searched for Hadley, but she was nowhere in sight.

  “I have something to show you.” A warm hand slid into his from behind. “Quick.”

  Midas let Hadley tug him from the yard, through the house, and out the front door.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Shh.”

  Laughing under his breath, he followed her into the woods and understood in minutes where she meant to take them. Sure enough, the cabin came into view, and she let herself in without knocking. It was a safe bet no one was home thanks to the party at the house, but he performed a quick search to be sure they weren’t intruding.

  “Who left candles burning?” He blew out the first one then turned back to her. “That’s a fire hazard in this dry—”

  Soft light caressed Hadley’s bare skin, and the second candle’s flame was spared only by virtue of him forgetting how to breathe.

  Twenty

  Halfway through our surprise engagement party, I got struck by inspiration and drafted Lisbeth for cupid duty. That is to say, I bribed her to sweet-talk Ford into bringing her to this cabin and setting the scene. I might have had more success with the whole seduction thing if I hadn’t stripped buck-naked the instant Midas turned his back. Instead of aroused, he looked kind of, I don’t know, peaked. Like he might faint.

  Thank the goddess, I had also bribed Ambrose into disappearing for the night so he couldn’t mock me about this for all eternity.

  “I can’t not make it weird.” I covered my face with my hands. “I’m sorry I—”

  “Hadley.” Midas pried my fingers apart then lowered my arms to my sides. “You’re beautiful.”

  “I’m naked.”

  And I was covered in contraceptive sigils that smelled of blood and crushed herbs, a quickie engagement gift from Grier.