Broken Promise (The Denton Family Legacy #1) Read online

  “What?” She stared into his eyes as he lifted up. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’ve got nothing to be sorry about.”

  “I made you a promise to keep Riley safe. It was the only thing you asked of me, baby. That’s all you wanted, Riley to be safe.”

  “You think he died because of you?”

  “I saw him pick up the gun. I couldn’t get mine fast enough.”

  She shook her head, cupping his face. Lou saw the guilt, but she didn’t want him to feel it. “No, this has nothing to do with you. Do you hear? Nothing. Do not blame yourself for what happened tonight. Mom and Dad are the reason Riley’s dead. Their greed to constantly have more people betting. They didn’t even use security, and they should have. This has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with them. They’re the ones at fault, not you.” She stroked his cheeks. “I’m in pain, Jacob. It hurts.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “I feel like I’ve been torn in two, and there’s no going back from it. Please, help me make it better.”

  He lifted up, kissing her lips and settling her in bed. Jacob climbed in behind her, holding her tightly as she sobbed for her brother. Throughout it all, Jacob held her, and for that, she was thankful.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The whole of the Denton family were with Lou at Riley’s funeral. They made sure to see him off properly. Jacob held onto his woman, giving her as much support as he could. Her sorrow cut him deeply. There was nothing he could do, and those days before and after the funeral were the hardest. Lou didn’t go to work. She didn’t do anything other than sob, screaming, and crying. Jacob didn’t go into work either. He asked his father to give him the time needed to support his woman.

  His entire family took their turn visiting and taking care of Lou. A couple of weeks afterward, Lou woke up, and she decided to go to work. Her grief was still there, but Jacob got Oliver to follow her at a safe distance. He made sure she was looked after, never letting her go anywhere without a guard of some kind.

  The days passed turning into weeks, and those weeks turned into months. The pain lessened, and after a time, she started to smile again. They would go every Sunday to Riley’s grave, and when her parents were sentenced she seemed to be at some peace. Their lawyer had mounted a case against the Moores, and they had even gone out to find others who had suffered at their hands.

  The Denton reputation was intact, and they even earned more respect for seeing justice dealt. Jacob, himself, had been disgusted to hear of some of what happened at the Moores’ hands. They took men and women off the street, and pitched them against some of the toughest fighters. It wasn’t a fair fight, and they would be dumped in a field somewhere. The Dentons were monsters, but they had a set of morals which they lived by. They didn’t set out to kill innocents, and especially not dragging people off the streets.

  “When are you going to ask her?” his father asked.

  It was a Sunday, and they were at his parents’ for dinner.

  “Today.” His brothers were in another room, and his mother was with Lou.

  “You don’t think it’s too soon?”

  “I love her, Dad. If she’s not ready, then I’ll have no choice but to accept that.”

  He held the ring in his palm and closed his hands around it. Jacob had been going to ask her on the night that her brother was killed.

  “She’s got us, Jacob. She’s in love with you. I don’t see a reason for her to turn you down.” Maddox slapped him on the back.

  Leaving the room, he made his way toward the kitchen.

  Lou was peeling chicken as his mother beat some mashed potatoes. She had lost a little weight, which grieved him. He loved her so much, and even though he had broken his promise, she wouldn’t let him blame himself. Riley, as far as Jacob was concerned, had died on his watch, and there was no way he’d be able to take that back.

  Leaning against the doorframe, he held onto the ring in his pocket, and stared at her.

  Why are you waiting?

  Stepping into the kitchen, he moved behind her, and kissed the back of her neck.

  “What’s up?” she asked, finally smiling when she saw him. He loved her smile.

  “Nothing. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “I’m doing good.” She turned around, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You don’t have to worry. I’m here, and I’m alive. Riley, he told me to give you a chance, and he’d been telling me long before he passed.”

  “I should have been there.”

  “Jacob, you were there.” She visibly swallowed. “Riley wouldn’t have been able to say goodbye if you hadn’t been there. I know he enjoyed working with you, and he considered you a brother he never had.” She cupped his cheeks. “Please, stop carrying this guilt. I’ve told you all the time, I don’t blame you. Riley’s death, it’s not your fault. Don’t think it is.” She snorted. “You should know by now that if I thought for a second it was your fault, I’d be a bitch.” She laughed, and Jacob saw the woman he’d fallen in love with, making a little joke.

  “I love you,” he said, wrapping his arms around her.

  “I love you, too. So much.”

  ****

  Lou had never thought for a second that she would be angry at Jacob. Being in the hospital even after Riley had been pronounced dead, she’s been so relieved that she hadn’t lost Jacob as well. Riley had been taken to the morgue, and she’d sat in the waiting room, wishing that it had all been a horrible dream. It hadn’t been. Still, all the time, she’d been thankful that Jacob hadn’t been hurt.

  She loved Jacob, and she never wanted to be without him. It would kill her, and she’d rather die than live without him. What had happened at that fight had been at the hands of someone who Jacob had no control over. The man had been aiming at her parents, and Riley had got in the way.

  Kissing Jacob’s lips, she smiled. She had a family, and in her heart, she knew that Riley would be more than happy with that.

  “I love you, Jacob. You’ve not broken any promises to me.”

  “Good, because I’m now about to keep a promise that I made to Riley.” He went down on one knee, and she was frozen.

  “You don’t have to do that.” She touched his hand with the intention of pulling him to his feet, but he wouldn’t let her.

  “This is not just about what Riley would want. This is what I want.” He was down on one knee, and staring up at her. She saw the love in his eyes, and when she glanced around the room, she licked her suddenly dry lips. All of his brothers, his parents were watching them. “Lou, I love you. I can’t give you fancy words, but I can give you me. No one else will ever love you the way that I do. Your brother wanted you to be with someone you really wanted, and I know that man is me. Louisa Moore, will you marry me?”

  Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She stared at the simple diamond ring, and she nodded. All of her life she had tried to defy her parents, promising she’d never marry, but this man, this wasn’t about defying her parents.

  “Is that a yes?”

  She nodded.

  “I’m going to need you to speak up, babe.”

  “Yes, it’s a yes. I love you, and I want to be your wife.”

  He got to his feet and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off her feet. The moment he put her down, each of his brothers took their turn to hug her. Tamsin wrapped her arms around her waist, and she held onto her. This was her family now.

  Later that night after Jacob had made love to her, she stroked his arms, staring up at the ceiling.

  “Talk to me, babe,” he said.

  “It’s nothing.”

  “We don’t have to get married straight away.”

  “I don’t mind about the wedding or anything like that.” She rolled over so that she was facing him. “What if you wake up one day, and wish you’d married someone else?”

  “That’s not going to happen, Lou. I told you, I love for a lifetime, and I know I love you.” He reached out to
stroke her check. “You’ve got me for the rest of your life, and that is never going to change.”

  She closed her eyes, resting her head against his. “I love you.”

  “Love you too, babe.”

  He tilted her head back and took possession of her lips.

  “Surreal.” It was the only way to describe what had happened to her life within the past year. She’d become part of Jacob’s life, lost her brother, and found her soul mate. When she thought of Jacob that was what she thought of him. He was her soul mate.

  Jacob chuckled. “Our life has only just started. We’ve got the rest of our lives to make it even more surreal.”

  Lou couldn’t wait, and she looked forward to the years to come.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  “Are you okay?” Frank asked.

  Lou turned toward her boss and smiled. “Yes, I’m fine.”

  She waited for Ben to finish her order as she stared at the clock. It was her birthday, and Jacob hadn’t even been there when she woke up.

  Of course, Jacob had been there for her last birthday. Today had been hard, and she had been scheduled to work. It was hard as all she had to remember was the birthday of her twin brother. She still missed Riley, and there were times that she forgot he was gone. Jacob and the whole of the Denton family had helped her deal with the loss. Jacob had helped her during the worst part of her life. Lou hated the way she had been to Jacob in the beginning, being a huge bitch to him. She was an idiot, and every time she thought back to their first encounter, she cringed at her own behavior.

  “Here you go, honey,” Ben said, handing her the drinks.

  “Thanks.”

  She walked the tray toward the table of men who were regulars. The club was packed with customers today, and they were keeping her busy.

  Pam, who was giving a performance, walked off the stage, and the lights went off, plunging the room into darkness. Lou paused and stayed still so she didn’t bang into anyone.

  The sound of a microphone being tapped drew her attention back to the stage.

  “Forgive me for interrupting your night, but today is my girl’s birthday. I wanted to do something special, but I know today is a great day, as well as painful for her. So, I’m going to do my best.” The lights came on, and Jacob was on stage with all of his brothers beside him, and they all started to sing happy birthday to her.

  Jacob climbed off the stage and weaved his way toward her.

  She circled the ring on her finger, showing the world that she belonged to a man, this man. Jacob Denton, the man coming toward her.

  He placed the mic on the nearest table and wrapped his arms around her. She loved it when he did that.

  “Happy Birthday, baby,” he said.

  “Thank you.”

  “Today you should be surrounded by your family, and that is us.”

  “I’m sorry I had to work.”

  “I know, but you don’t have to work alone. I’d already planned this with Frank for your birthday. You and I both know you needed to work today, to help you through. I made sure Frank put you to work,” Jacob said.

  This man, he knew her better than she knew herself. He took hold of her hand and walked her toward the bar. She followed Riley’s advice, and she had stopped being a bitch. Jacob was not going to leave her, and there was no one to fight. “I’ll have two whiskeys,” he said.

  She went to sit down, and Jacob stopped her, placing her on his knee.

  “To Riley, baby.” He lifted his drink, and together they saluted her brother. Lou had already been by Riley’s grave, and placed some flowers. She and Jacob had done that the day before.

  Swallowing the burning liquid, she released a sigh, resting against him. Closing her eyes, she basked in his warmth. It had been over a year since she had lost Riley but she had gained so much.

  The Dentons were her family. Jacob, the man she loved, had given her his love, his family, and his trust. Her time with him was the best in the world, and one day soon she’d be ready to start a family.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, kissing her neck.

  “I’m more than good. I’ve got you, and I know that Riley would have been happy.”

  He rested his hand against her stomach. “I think it’s time for us to start our family, Lou.”

  “You’re ready for that?”

  “We’ve been together long enough. You’re the love of my life, Lou. It’s not going to disappear. It’s only going to get stronger.” He kissed her lips, and she closed her eyes. Around them, the noise picked up as another woman walked on stage, but to Lou, she was only interested in her husband, the man who owned her heart and soul.

  The Denton family legacy was known to many as a rumor. They were men with vicious reputations, known for being lethal in conducting business. They were a crime family, and feared around most states, but when it came to their women, they fell hard. Staring into Jacob’s eyes, Lou saw his love, she saw his desire, and she loved every part of him.

  She didn’t fall in love with him instantly. Over time she’d fallen in love with him, and that was the best part of all.

  No matter what happened between them, they would survive together, and she couldn’t wait to see what the future held for them. Lou looked out toward the stage where his brothers were gathered around, hollering at the woman. She looked forward to watching each of them fall, one by one.

  “Are you ready to go home, and I’ll give you a real birthday present?” Jacob asked.

  Lou followed him.

  Nine months later, Riley Denton came into the world, screaming.

  The End

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