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His lips were practically on top of mine.
He shook his head. “I just want to kiss my girl wherever I want to.”
His lips dropped onto mine, and I smiled into his mouth, knowing Harold Coker was probably having a heart attack right now, what with all his business associates watching. He might have shoved Vaughn into the closet as a kid, but he couldn’t hold it closed any longer.
“Mind if I kiss my girl too?”
I spun around to stare up into Fang’s ice-blue eyes. “You came!” I spluttered.
Vaughn let me go, and I flung myself at Fang, holding him tight, accepting the kiss I’d waited way too long for. I don’t think I’d even really noticed until that moment how much I’d missed him. But now my heart beat triple time to have him next to me again. I wanted to wrap myself around his body. Reassure myself he was here and safe and not dead in a gutter somewhere.
“I love you,” I said between kisses, not caring I’d totally outed this little foursome I’d found myself in the middle of. Fuck anyone who didn’t like it.
When I pulled away from Fang, I definitely saw some disapproving looks sent my way. A few heads went together, no doubt gossiping about Bart’s son and Miranda’s daughter holding hands while she kissed another man.
Might as well pour fuel on the fire. I pressed up on my toes and brushed my lips over Kian’s too.
Let them talk. I didn’t give a shit what a bunch of gossipy old businessmen thought. Clearly, at least for today, neither did Vaughn.
He squeezed my fingers. “Let’s go do this. I need it to be done and finished and put behind us.”
I did too.
I spotted Bliss, War, Nash, and Vincent near the doors, and made a beeline for them. They all hugged me and exchanged greetings with the guys, and then we all went inside the church. Vaughn and I sat in the front row, Kian on his other side, Fang on mine.
Two coffins sat side by side in front of the altar. I swallowed hard, staring at the white one I knew held my mother’s body. The priest came over and quietly spoke to Vaughn and me, but I wasn’t really listening. All I could see was that white box.
Suddenly, I was right back on those courtroom steps, holding my mother while she died.
The grief hit me like a tornado, ripping me apart, ravishing me until I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Other people filed in, taking seats behind us, but I didn’t dare turn around. If I did, I might run for the door.
I didn’t want to break down here in front of everyone. I didn’t want their pity or their judgment. But I didn’t want to say goodbye to my mom either.
For all her faults, she was the only one I had.
Fang picked up my hand and stroked his thumb over the back of it. I stared over at him miserably, wishing I didn’t have to do this. Wishing she was still here so she could see these men sitting around me.
Damn, she would have loved it. Loved them.
Fang’s hair was messed up from his helmet. His club jacket sat on his broad shoulders, his familiar scent of leather and smoke calming. I laid my head on his shoulder and looked down at our joined hands.
I froze. “Is that blood beneath your fingernails?” I whispered.
He swore softly, tucking his fingers into a fist. “Sorry. I thought I got all that off.”
I widened my eyes at him. “Whose blood is it? What happened? Is Caleb…?”
Fang shook his head. “No, unfortunately. He’s still very much alive. And he has the girl.”
“The one from the basement?” I already knew what he was going to say.
He nodded. “Her name is Kara. There’s a lot more I need to tell you.”
“Tell me now!” I hissed.
“Can’t.” He nodded toward the priest. “They’re starting.”