Page 48

“Not as much and just saying there’s a reason I’ve been crashing at home besides watching over Mom while you rotted in the garage.”

“Carlos,” Beth whispers.

“Just stating facts Mom. Anyway, that reason, old man, is because by the time Torch began dividing up the small income, we were making, there wasn’t much left for essentials like food and beer.”

“I’ve made mistakes. A lot of them,” Skull answers with a sigh. His gaze moves to me. “I was upset with you for the shit you pulled with Dom and T,” he says and Gabby flinches. I immediately put my hands on her shoulders.

“I’m thinking it’s time you leave, motherfucker,” I snap. Gabby’s hand comes up to cap over one of mine. I move our hands so that I can link our fingers together. I’m immediately rewarded with the way she squeezes mine.

“I was mostly upset because Dominic West wasn’t good enough for you, Gabriella. He never was.”

“Damn there’s a brain in there somewhere,” I grumble, just as the door gets pounded on again.

“In a minute,” I growl, not wanting to deal with Crusher, Diesel or any of the bullshit.

I don’t want to stay under the Savage Brothers umbrella.

I am going to Denver, like Gabby wants. Maybe I’ll find a place in a club there.

“Papi …”

“I know how he treated you, Gabriella. I didn’t find out until later, but I eventually did. I don’t want that for you. You deserve better than that. You always have.”

“I know, Papi. It just took me a while to grow up.”

“It looks like you’re happy,” he says, his gaze going to me.

“Fuck this shit. I’m not standing out in the sun with my fucking dick in my hand until you decide to let me in asshole.”

My head jerks up and I see Dragon stomping in the kitchen, slamming the kitchen door closed behind him.

“Fucking fantastic,” I mutter. “Now we have the family reunion from hell.”

“Hermano, how does the one man you didn’t have a hand in raising end up to be the one who is most like you?” Skull asks Dragon.

“Jesus,” I hiss. Gabby giggles again, squeezing my hand.

“Nicole wasn’t around to soften him up,” Dragon mutters. His gaze comes to Gabby. “How you feeling, sweetheart?”

Shit. I like him. I never wanted to, but I do just the same.

“I’m good, Dragon. Nicole with you?”

“Nah. Her and Kayden and their crew will be down for dinner. We’re having a family meeting.”

“I think I’ve had enough family meetings,” I growl.

“You’ll like this one.”

“Is Dom and T coming?” I ask, point blank.

“No, but not because they’re against you and Gabby. I’m pretty sure that’s mostly dealt with. Thea just needs to slap Dom around a bit. They aren’t coming because I just didn’t figure this was something Gabby would be ready for.”

“You’re right about that,” I mutter. “But I don’t think I am either. Your boy needs a serious come to Jesus moment.”

“You’re not wrong,” Dragon agrees, leaning on the bar. Gabby lets go of my hand and moves to the coffee pot to get Dragon a cup of joe. I don’t like it, but I let her. She’s probably as fed up with this crap as I am. “Thanks, Gabby.”

“I told you. You’re just like him,” Skull mutters, looking at me. “Gabriella are you sure you know what you’re getting into?” My gaze turns to my woman, and I find her smiling at me.

“I love him. We’re going to have a baby and build a family. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life, Papi.”

I pull her to me and give her a quick kiss. It’s closed mouth and not near enough, but I take it because I need it like the air I breathe.

Dragon claps his hands. “Now that that’s settled, let’s talk about this bullshit move to Denver,” Dragon growls. I look at my old man, seeing without even asking what all this is about. He went and rattled Skull’s cage all because he didn’t want me leaving.

Fuck me.

“We’re moving to Denver,” I insist with my own growl.

“You’re needed here. Diesel wants you here. He needs new blood.”

“Between him, Devil and Crusher they have a million kids around here. They don’t need me.

Being part of a club is my life. It also needs to be a certain type of club where old ladies and kids are put first. I didn’t find that with the Saints, which sucked because I liked my place there a lot.

Still, I’ll find it and it could very well be in Denver. ”

“You could go back to Virginia,” Gabby murmurs.

“That’s not where we belong, Sunshine. T and Lyla will come around, I know that and I know it in a way that I feel like the four of us will be cool in each other’s presence eventually.

That said, I don’t need reminders of the shitty decisions I made where Shelby is concerned and how I let the pain of those decisions, keep me from claiming the beautiful woman who laid in my bed all night crying and sharing her life with me.

A beautiful woman with blonde hair and haunted eyes that I knew was supposed to be mine. My Sunshine.”

“King …” she breathes, because she gets what I’m saying, because we both know that what we have started in the direst of circumstances but was nothing but pure love—even then.

“Gabriella?” Skull says, looking at his daughter. I’m a little shocked when I realize he’s pulled Beth into his lap and is holding onto her as he looks at his daughter.

“Papi?” Gabby asks and I hold her tight. Dragon looks annoyed and Carlos takes the seat his mother abandoned.

Family reunion from hell.

“I never blamed you for your brother’s death.

I blame myself. I always have. I just spewed off bullshit, trying to lay blame because I was drowning and didn’t want to acknowledge that the orders I gave resulted in the death of my son.

It was fucked up and you will never know how bad your beautiful face covered in that sorrow cut me open.

It broke me just as much as losing your brother. ”

Beth lets out a quiet sob and kisses her husband’s neck. “It’s good to have my marido back,” she tells him so gently that I have to strain to hear it.

Skull gives her a squeeze and looks down at her. When his gaze goes back to Gabby there are tears running down his face. I’ve let you, your mother and Carlos all down. I’ve let my club down. I’m going to try and fix everything. I really am. Right now, though, I’m begging you to forgive me.”

“Papi …” Gabi whispers.

“I’m so sorry, Gabriella. I’m sorry for putting my guilt on your shoulders. I’m sorry for hurting you, but most of all, I’m so fucking sorry that I wasn’t there when you needed me the most.”

“If you had been, I may not have found King, and I wouldn’t take anything in this world for what he and I have found. So, in that you can push that part of your sorrow away. I’m happy and I’m happy in a way that I’ve never been in my life.”

“You love him,” Beth says, her eyes shining.

“Down to the marrow in my bones,” she says, her beautiful face looking at me, with tears shining in them.

“Jesus. Now my own daughter is sounding like you, Dragon.”

“I told you, the girl found her grit. She’s exactly what my boy needs. Good he listened to me.”

“Fuck off, Dragon.”

Dragon grins up at me and flips me off. “So,” he huffs, “That’s a no to Virginia. I guess you’ll just have to dig in here.”

“No,” I argue at once. “Gabby and I are moving to Denver.”

“King, sweetheart. You’re happy here. I may want to visit Denver once our jellybean comes along, but I’m okay with living here.”

“Baby, I need to be where I’m needed. Not where someone is making a space for me,” I argue.

“My club is a mess,” Skull says.

“Man—”

“We’re down to Me, my VP, my Enforcer and three other members. That’s it. Everyone else has left. I can’t blame them, but I also know if the club was important one of them would have stepped up and tried to overthrow me. So, I’m glad they’re gone.”

“I’m all for you fixing the club. Might be hard to do, though.

I heard Torch and Sabre both say they were going to step down.

Just saying BB might like being an officer.

I don’t have enough time to know what I want to do, but I’m not ready to take the helm.

I know that, even if I don’t know anything else,” Carlos says.

“I’m ready to step down too. I have a wife I need time with while we heal.

I have a son who needs his papi, even if he wants to deny it, and a beautiful daughter I need to get to know all over again.

I even apparently have a grandchild on the way.

I don’t have time to lead a club and bring it back from the ashes,” Skull announces.

“What are you saying?” Beth asks.

“I’m thinking I have a son-in-law that I’d be willing to sponsor as coming in to take over.”

“The fuck,” I hiss, feeling like I’ve been sucker punched. “That’s not happening. Gabby moved here to get away from Kentucky.”

“I actually kind of like this idea,” Gabby murmurs, looking at me.

“What?” I ask, wondering why I’m having so much trouble breathing.

“I love my family. Papi apologized, but the truth is we were both just drowning in pain and sorrow. I don’t want to leave them. Carlos needs to spoil jellybean. Plus, you said you wanted more kids. If we’re going to have more kids, I’m going to need my parents and Aunt Katie close by.”

“Nicole and I are close too, damn it. We can be there in under an hour.”

“That was my next point,” Gabby whispers, smiling at Dragon.

“Gabby,” I mutter.

She turns to me, lacing our hands together.

“You love your Dad, and you love Nicole. We both know that. They’re a part of you now.

You have T and you love him. Ford is a second father to you, and you never want to leave him far behind.

Virginia isn’t a big ride away and once jellybean is born, you are so going to put me on the back of your bike, King. ”

“I so am,” I agree.

“I think we should try this. It might be what both of us need.”

“The club needs you. You may have to face a gauntlet and challenge for the position, but there’s only five members,” Skull adds.

“If you can’t take that on and win then you don’t have my blood in your veins, and we need to redo those DNA tests.”

“Asshole,” I grumble.

“Just like my kid,” Dragon adds.

“I’m kind of diggin’ this,” Carlos says. “Diego would have fucking loved it.”

“He really would have,” Gabby whispers.

“Diego would have given you a run for your money in the gauntlet,” Skull agrees, his voice tight.

“He would have been glad that you loved his sister and welcomed you into the fold,” Beth says, getting up and walking to me.

“I don’t think?—”

Beth wraps her arms around me. “Welcome to the family, King.”

Son of a bitch.

“Yay!” Gabby says, standing up, beaming at me.

Beth hugs her close and mother and daughter stare at one another in a way that makes my heart stop beating.

I don’t know. Until recently, I’ve never been exposed to it—other than what I found in the club.

Still, this feels like what a family is.

You love, you fight, there are rifts that eventually mend and heal over, but through it all you stick together.

Looking at my woman smiling at me so huge that it has to hurt her face I feel that all the way through.

When I glance at Dragon, I feel the same emotions.

“We’re not moving to Denver, are we?” I mutter.

“Fuck no,” Dragon and Skull say at the same time.

Gabby smiles. “We can go to Kentucky for a trial basis. See what you think once you scope the club out. They need you and I’m my father’s daughter, a bike princess. The club means everything, sweetheart.”

“What about the baby?” I question.

“He or she will be born in Kentucky—which is where our families are.”

“You got it all figured out, huh?”

“I think so. Did I miss anything?” she asks.

“You forgot the part where you kiss your man because he’s giving you what you want,” I grumble.

Gabby turns to me, going up on her tiptoes and presses her lips to mine.

I take her mouth, and I don’t do it gentle.

There’s too much emotion rolling through me.

I can’t admit it right now, but I’m not putting up much of a fight because this feels right to me.

It’s settling inside just like Gabby’s love did.

I think I’m finally on the right path.