Page 187 of The Broken Note

What is it?

He’s also… mine.

All of him—the good, the bad, and the… well, Dutch Cross is many things, but definitely not ‘ugly’.

What are you getting yourself into, Cadey?

“There are some things I need to clarify.” Dutch growls, turning to look at me with those sharp eyes. “And I need you to listen because I mean every word.”

I nod.

“My mom told me about my grandmother’s will recently, but I wanted to marry you long before that. The night I came to your apartment, I’d already decided that my future belonged to you.”

I open my mouth.

He keeps talking. “And that blonde girl from Jinx’s app?”

“It was Breeze.”

“I—” He stops and looks at me with a question in his eyes.

“She texted me this morning and clarified what those pictures were.”

‘I don’t want you to think I went after your man. I don’t approve of him, but I certainly wouldn’t steal him from my best friend.’

He juts his chin down. Prowls in the other direction. “I’ve been trying to get you pregnant.”

I flinch.

He stops and stares at me. “I want you to have my children, but not at the cost of losing you.”

“So you’re giving up on the will?”

“If that’s what I have to do.” His face darkens. It’s like looking into a rumbling storm cloud, lightning flashing inside a hurricane. “You’re mine, Cadey. Always have been. Always will be and nothing can change that. No one can change that. Not my dad. Not my brothers. Not… even if I find out you’re pregnant with Hunter’s child, I’d still lay my life down for you and the baby.”

My eyebrows hike. “What?”

Dutch studies my face. Suddenly, he crosses the room to me. Hard fingers squeeze my waist. “Listen up and listen well, Cadence. I told you once that I’ll love who you love and I’ll hate who you hate. If one day, you’re pregnant and it’s Hunter’s baby, I’ll love him like it’s my own damn blood.”

I blink up at him in shock. “Dutch, what are you talking about?”

“I mean that.” He grabs my face gently and holds my head up. “We can have children or we can hold off. You can tell me right here, right now, that you never want kids, ever. Or you can tell me that Hunter’s… that you two…”

Dutch thinks I slept with Hunter last night.

Feeling especially cruel and wanting to test him, I say, “Would you really take care of the baby if it was Hunter’s?”

There’s not a second of hesitation. Not a glimmer of unease.

Dutch gathers me by the small of my back and growls darkly, “I’d rather have you and some other guy’s baby than not have you at all.”

“What about your dad?”

The muscles in his face go taut.

“He’s not going to just… let us be together. He sent me away. He made me think you were a drug dealer. If you and I… if things change—”

Dutch’s eyes glint with danger. He bites out, “I won’t let anyone take you away from me.” Rough hands cup my cheek. “You’re my drug, Cadey. I’m addicted to you. I’d do anything to have you. The more of you I taste, the more I want.” His thumb slides over my cheek. “I’ve never loved like this before. Nothing else matters but you. And I have no intentions of hurting you again.”