Page 88 of Monstrosity

Tomorrow we'll shop for rings, tell the girls, start planning a wedding. Tomorrow the real world will intrude with all its demands and chaos.

But tonight, in our bed, in our home, with our children safe down the hall, everything is perfect.

This is our happily ever after, earned in blood and tears and patience. And I wouldn't change a single thing.

CHAPTER TEN

Rio

I wake up before the sun, which isn't unusual. What is unusual is the way I can't stop staring at Dasha's left hand resting on my chest, imagining how it'll look with a ring on it.

My fiancée.

My future wife.

Jesus, I actually asked her to marry me last night. No ring, no plan, just sitting on the porch like an idiot and blurting it out.

And she said yes.

She fucking said yes.

Dasha stirs slightly, pressing closer to me in her sleep.

Her hair is a mess, she's got a crease on her cheek from the pillow, and she's never been more beautiful.

This woman who walked into our lives with coffee and smiles, who loves my girls like they're her own, who stood by me through all the violence and threats—she's going to be my wife.

I ease out of bed carefully, needing to move, to do something with this energy buzzing under my skin.

The house is quiet as I make my way to the kitchen, automatically starting coffee and pulling out ingredients for pancakes.

Cooking gives my hands something to do while my mind races.

We need rings. Need to tell the girls. Tell the club. Plan a wedding.

The list feels endless, but in the best way.

These are good problems, happy problems.

The kind I never thought I'd have again.

"Daddy?" Florencia appears in the doorway, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "Why are you up so early?"

"Couldn't sleep,mija. Excited about something."

She perks up immediately. "What kind of something?"

"The kind that requires pancakes to discuss. Want to help?"

"Yes!" She grabs her step stool, dragging it to the counter. "Can we make shapes?"

"Whatever you want."

We work in silence for a few minutes, her carefully pouring batter while I manage the griddle.

This kid has been making breakfast with me since she could barely reach the counter.

Some of our best talks happen over pancake batter.