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Chapter 35

Two Months Later

Addie

Istared at myself in the full-length mirror, smoothing my hands down my hips.

“Do I look okay?” I asked anxiously, and Tonya smiled at me in the mirror.

“You look beautiful.” Her hands gave my shoulders a reassuring squeeze, and I couldn’t help but admire her in the full-length mirror.

Her dark curls were intricately braided away from her face. The form-fitting, teal colored dress clung to her like a second skin, the deep v-neckline showing a hint of cleavage. Bracelets adorned her right wrist, jingling with each move she made.

“You look okay,” Doc drawled from the leather sofa. He, too, was dashing in a crisp black suit, white cuff links, and a cherry red tie. His peppered hair was slicked away from from his face.

It had been two months since we’d arrived at the small town in Kentucky where Doc’s friends were staying. So far, they’d had no luck in creating a cure, but they were confident it could be done. Already, they had replicated my blood and were working on distributing it across the nation. Small steps, but steps all the same. We couldn’t cross an ocean until we started moving.

“Addie! Are you ready?” Before I could answer, Tommy pushed open the door and strode towards me. Nik followed behind him.

“You guys look so handsome,” I cooed, emotion clogging my throat. They did. Both were wearing suits and ties, their hair artfully disheveled. For the first time, Nik didn’t have his headphones around his neck.

“Damn right we do,” Tommy said with a lopsided grin. “And you look beautiful.”

I dramatically curtsied, batting my eyelashes for extra effect.

“Damn right I do,” I joked, parroting his words back at him. He rolled his eyes, but his smile was wide when he extended one arm to me. Immediately, I linked mine through his, and Nik moved to take the other.

It felt right to do this with them.

When I had asked, Tommy’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. Instead of answering, he merely nodded. It was the first time I had seen him truly speechless. For as long as I’d known him, he had been the type of man to scream when the rest of the world whispered. His silence was a testament to his feelings.

Nik had wrapped his arms around my waist and had held on for dear life.

And he never needed to let go. Now that I had him, I was never letting him go. Either of them.

“Let’s do this thing,” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.

“You got this,” Tonya agreed.

“Don’t trip,” Doc deadpanned.

Ignoring them, I cracked my neck as if I was preparing for a fight. Yup. I had this. Badass extraordinaire ball-crusher at your service.

Despite my mental pep-talk, my feet were cemented to the ground, and my stomach was a block of lead mixing with my already jumbled nerves.

Fuck, I didn’t have this.

Before I could run in the opposite direction, the doors were pulled open, and I took my first step forward.

The first thing I noticed was the beautiful church. I had seen it once when we were picking out a location, but I hadn’t seen it since, having been led in through the back entrance. Row after row of pews lined either side of the aisleway, twinkling white Christmas lights adorning the wood. The vaulted roof was accented, steepling upwards. Each wall was made up of stained glass windows depicting everything from an angel praying to Jesus on the cross. The sight was ethereal, beautiful, and made my heart pound even faster.

But the true beauty rested on a low stage at the front of the church.

My men stood in a line, hands clasped behind their backs. Each one wore a black suit that curved around their bodies to perfection. They were so damn beautiful my breath literally caught.

And mine.

They were mine.