Page 47

King

“Here, Sunshine,” I murmur, pulling the one stool we have with a back on it.

I help her sit at the bar, kiss the top of her head, and stare at her parents.

They’re sitting across from us on the remaining two regular stools.

They’re drinking coffee that Beth apparently made while Gabby and him were in the shower.

She also scrambled eggs, fried sausage, and made toast. I can’t tell that they’ve eaten, but I appreciate the gesture.

I go to the fridge and pour Gabby some almond milk.

She semi-hates it. We found that it makes the morning sickness which she can still have—even now—settle down.

So, she drinks it with breakfast. I steer away from the eggs, but I get a paper plate and put her a couple pieces of sausage on it.

Then, I butter two pieces of toast and put some apple butter beside the sausage, before getting her a fork and taking it to her.

All the time I’m doing this, the three of them are kind of staring at one another, but not saying a word.

Well, Gabby and Beth are staring. I can feel Skull’s eyes on me—and I don’t give a damn.

I put it all in front of my woman and she looks up at me with a stress-filled smile.

“I’m not really hungry, honey.”

“Jellybean needs his or her momma to eat,” I whisper looking into her eyes that look more green than blue today—but are just as spectacular.

She sighs, but she relaxes a little. “Thanks for doing this, Beth.”

“Gave me something to do,” she says carefully.

My gaze moves over to Skull. There’s some dried blood on his nose.

His face is a little swelled. He won’t bruise much, but I bet he’s feeling the pain from my blow and that will be enough for now, I guess.

I pour a cup of coffee and take a sip. It’s not how I usually drink it, but I’m not taking the time to worry about it.

My focus right now is solely on protecting my woman.

“You’ve claimed my daughter,” Skull says, breaking the quiet.

“We’ve claimed each other.”

“When did this start?” he asks.

“Before either of us truly grasped it had,” I answer, giving him the God’s honest truth.

“Although, that doesn’t matter. What does is that I’m the type of man who will not let you hurt her with your actions and words any longer.

You need to get that in your head or the hit I delivered earlier, won’t be the last you get from me. ”

Before he can say anything else, there’s a knock on the door. “Fuck me. When did our place become Grand Central Station?” I ask the ceiling as I look up at it.

“It’s probably Diesel and Crusher, sweetheart. Dani mentioned they were going to come over to try to talk you into staying,” Gabby says.

“That’s not happening. We’re going to Denver. This morning proves that’s the right decision,” I grumble. I go to the door, intent on getting rid of our company, but instead, I open it to find Gabby’s brother there. Fucking A, I’m stuck in the family reunion from hell.

“Carlos!” Gabby cries—this time with full joy.

She slides off the stool and comes to us and Carlos smiles huge, taking his sister into his arms. It’s fucked up and totally wrong, but I do not like seeing another man holding my woman—even if it is her damn brother.

As soon as Gabby pulls back to look at Carlos, I wrap my hand around her and pull her to my side.

“King! I’m hugging my brother.”

“I know. I don’t like it.”

“What?”

“He’s your brother, but he’s also a man. You can hug him quickly, but you come back to me.”

I know I’m not making any sense, but I don’t give a damn. Gabby’s eyes look like they might pop out of her head. “He’s my brother, King.”

“And you are mine, Gabby. All of you. Just like I’m all yours, remember?”

“I do remember our conversation. I also know that if Kayden was here and you were hugging her, I would not care.”

Her words make sense. I know they do, but I also don’t give a damn. I look down at her, seeing her eyes fired up and her hands on her hips, her stomach stretched in the maternity top she’s wearing and I let out a beleaguered sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“You’re just going to have to suck it up, Sunshine.”

“Excuse me?”

“That’s just how much I feel for you, baby,” I repeat the words from earlier.

“Quit being sweet and insane at the same time,” she mutters, but she does it right before she goes up on the tips of her toes and kisses me.

“Christ. You hooked up with my sister?” Carlos asks.

“No, I claimed her as mine.”

Carlos looks back at us and then, shrugs. “Breakfast. Thank fuck. I’m starved,” he says, kissing Gabby’s cheek and then plowing right into the kitchen.

“Come on in,” I mutter sarcastically, making Gabby laugh.

“I think he just did, King.”

“Yeah, I got that,” I huff. “Let’s get you off your feet.”

“I’m not fine China, honey.”

“No, you’re much more precious,” I counter, kissing her lips quickly, before escorting her back to her stool.

“Damn, Papi. What happened to your nose?” Carlos asks, while stuffing a piece of toast and apple butter into his mouth.

“He insulted Gabby,” I answer before Skull can.

“You hit him?” Carlos asks, looking shocked.

“You got a problem with that?” I question. Gabby actually likes her brother and as far as I’ve heard, he’s not been a dick to her. I’d hate to have to lay him out, too. But I will.

“Nah. He’s been a fucking dick. Someone has been needing to for a while.”

“Carlos, stop with the cursing,” Beth admonishes.

“Maw, it’s the truth. He’s been a fucking dick.”

“I have,” Skull says, looking at Carlos, his gaze skittering over me, but landing on Gabby. “I’ve been a colossal polla,” he mutters. I don’t speak Spanish, but from the look on his face, I figure he’s agreeing he’s a dick.

“Papi,” Gabby whispers in a way that I’ve never heard her voice before. There’s some pain in it, some love, but an overwhelming sadness, too. As beautiful as she sounds, it’s not a tone I want to hear her use ever again.

“I’m sorry, Gabriella. I’m sorry for so many things. Especially, what I said earlier in your bedroom. I had no right.”

Gabby rubs her lips together but doesn’t say anything.

“You could also apologize for breaking our lock and kicking the door open, walking into our bedroom and interrupting me and my old lady making love.”

“Oh, shit. I’m digging our family reunion, but how about we skip this part of the show, because I never want to hear about my sister doing it with some dude,” Carlos mumbles.

I look at the kid and he is probably barely in his twenties.

He was with us when we were riding against the Feral Kings, so I assume he’s mid-twenties, but he still looks like a kid.

“I heard her scream and panicked,” Skull grumbles, not liking the topic that much either.

“Can we not talk about what happened earlier?” Gabby begs, making it clear she’s not comfortable with any of this either.

“Yeah, baby. We can do that,” I tell her, noticing that makes her breathe easier.

“You love her.” This comes from Beth. I don’t figure I owe anyone anything when it comes to my relationship with Gabby. Still, I look at her and nod.

“I love her with everything in me.”

“How does that work? Didn’t you just end it with your wife?” This comes from Skull and he’s looking at me, pissed—but also like a father concerned for his daughter. That’s the only reason I will give him anything.

“My marriage ended way before the divorce started. My love for Gabby began when we were both at rock bottom and pulling our way out of the shit we were buried under. My love for her cannot be summed up in one word. It’s something I feel down in the marrow of my bones—something that I’m never going to let go of. ”

“Cristo! You even sound like him.”

“Him?” I ask, my body locked tight. If this fucking asshole compares me to Dom, I’m going to kill him and just pray Gabby eventually gets over it.

“Dragon. Of all of his sons, you are just … him.”

That statement hits me in the gut, but I don’t know what to do with it.

I push it down, so I don’t have to think about it.

There’s one thing that bugs me more than that—more than anything else, so I let it fly.

“Where was all this concern for your daughter when you were busy filling her with guilt and putting the blame of the death of your son on her shoulders?” I growl.

“King, stop,” Gabby pleads.

“No, I want to know, Sunshine. Fuck, you deserve to know.”

“That’s something Gabby and I should address alone,” Skull says.

“Fuck no. That’s not going to happen. You’ve taken enough of her light. I’m working hard to bring more to her. I will not let you fuck with her head again. You want to talk to Gabby, once she indicates she wants that, you only do it when I’m here making sure that my woman is good.”

“Just like him,” he mutters like the end of the world has come and we’re standing there with our dicks covered by our hands as the fires of Hell consume everything around us.

Before I can respond, there’s someone knocking at the door.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I growl. Gabby giggles. “There’s nothing funny about this, Sunshine.”

“It’s kind of funny. It’s probably Diesel and Crusher trying to talk you into staying with the club. I can get it.”

“You keep your pretty ass right there. I’ll get the damn door.”

“Okie, dokie,” she mumbles adorably, making me want to run everyone out of our home, take her back into our bedroom and fuck her. Damn it.

“Dude, you’re part of the Savage Brothers? You think they’d be willing to take me on?” Carlos asks.

“You’re not leaving our club, Carlos.”

“Papi, you been living with your head swimming full of Jim Beam. Not sure you’ve seen the state of things, but I think we have like five members. We have no club.”

“Five?” Gabby gasps.

“Yeah, most of them moved on once the president became an alcoholic and shut down most of the things we have. Well, the ones that made bank.”

“We still have businesses running,” Skull mutters, looking defensive.