Page 128 of Ruptured

“I’m sorry,” she said around a sob.

“You’re high,” he said flatly. Her father snapped his brows together and her mother gave him an unreadable look. “And I know you didn’t have fucking money, so there’s only two fucking ways you got your drugs.”

“That’s enough!” Sam yelled, anger reddening his cheeks. “You can’t come in and disrespect my daughter in such a manner.”

Diesel opened his mouth, ready to blast a barrage of words, before he reminded himself that Jana needed patience and understanding and so did her parents. Yet, Jana stood before him in tears, a sight he could barely stomach. He drew her into his arms and held her tightly, until her sobs subsided, then he took her face between his hands and brushed his lips over hers.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. But you have to trust me. Have I ever promised you something that I didn’t do?”

“No,” she said in a watery voice.

Because of her addiction, Diesel exempted Jana from the standards he usually held other women too—either low or high. Placing an arm around her waist and tucking her into his side, he faced Sam and Amy.

His anxiety returned, and he remembered he’d wanted to put his best foot forward so the Reynolds wouldn’t find him lacking and not good enough for their daughter.

“I met Jana at a party down the street,” he started. “Several years ago,” he added hastily. “I—”

He swallowed, thinking of Aunt Meggie and her expectations of him.

Thinking of Uncle Christopher and his warning. Of Axel and his awe and admiration. Of CJ. Ransom. Ryder. Rule. His family, who only wanted loyalty and honesty.

Tabitha and her tears rose in his head. For the first time, regret filled him. Her lies had enraged him, so he’d made her life miserable, instead of just walking away. He hadn’t stayed to discover what or who she knew. He’d stayed because he was a motherfucker.

“I want to marry Jana,” he blurted, fucking up despite how much time he’d practiced his pretty speech and flowery words.

“I-I’m obtaining a divorce from my first wife,” he said anxiously. If he had a daughter, he wouldn’t want a still married motherfucker darkening his doorstep. If he did, he’d chop him to pieces. Clearing his throat, he pushed his dark thoughts aside. Jana deserved safety and happiness. “I care so much about Jana and I want to give her the world. Icangive her the world.” He dropped his gaze, surprised at the depth of his sincerity. “Iwillgive her the world.”

“You want to marryJana?” Amy asked, her tone as incredulous as her face.

“Truly?” Jana whispered before Diesel responded to her mother.

He dug into his trouser pocket for the engagement ring made of 14k gold, a band of diamonds and a fancy dark gray diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds. Even in the dimness of the living room, it sparkled.

“You’ll never want for anything, Jana,” he swore. “I will lay the world at your feet, but you have to get into rehab, sweetheart. It’s the only way we can work. I want more for you than you searching for your next hit or exchanging sex for drugs. I want more for us.”

“Okay,” she mumbled.

Addicts were notoriously untrustworthy. He might set them up for failure and himself for betrayal and heartache, but Jana was who he could have.

Tears glistened in Amy’s eyes and she placed a hand over her chest. Smiling, Sam wrapped an arm around her waist and grinned at Diesel.

“Sir, I’d like to marry your daughter.”

Uncle Christopher once told Diesel if Aunt Meggie’s father had been alive, he would’ve gone to Big Joe Foy like a man and asked for his daughter’s hand. Once he recovered from Big Joe’s beat down, he would’ve been free to marry Aunt Meggie. It was about respect and consideration. Diesel might’ve lost a lot over the years, including his soul, but he valued the wisdom Uncle Christopher passed to him. Doing right by Jana meant respecting her parents.

He shifted his weight. “I’m asking for permission to marry Jana.”

Sam smiled and, this time, he held out his hand to Diesel. “Welcome to the family, son. You can call me Sue.”

Smiling, Diesel shook Sue’s hand. “It’s preferable over Sam. More memorable.”

“Not. Don’t care if I got it because of the Man in Black. Sue’s a shit name. Only called that by my closest friends and family.”

Diesel was almost certain his wife called him Sam. It wasn’t his business so he kept his mouth shut and turned to Jana.

Shoving away images ofher, he dropped to one knee, took Jana’s hand in his and kissed the back of it. Ignoring her mother’s squeal, he met Jana’s gaze.

“Jana Reynolds, will you do me the great honor of marrying me? I swear I will spend the rest of my life honoring, cherishing, and protecting you.”