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KING

Six Months Later

“To my daughter and my son-in-law may you always have the happiness you feel today in your hearts,” Skull says, toasting us with punch—because he hasn’t had a drop to drink since he came to Tennessee to apologize to Gabby.

“To my son and his beautiful wife. Thanks for my grandbaby. I’ll take two more just like her,” Dragon says, holding Etta in one hand and a beer in the other.

Everyone laughs, but I just shake my head.

I do enjoy hearing Gabby’s giggle, though.

I hold her close. We’re now husband and wife.

I never thought I’d want to be a husband again in my life, but this time it’s right.

This time, it’s perfect . Gabby was always meant to be mine.

We both know that now. We’ve made mistakes, some bigger than others, but in the end even our mistakes taught us to appreciate what we have with one another now.

I lead Gabby out onto the dance floor, and she smiles up at me in her beautiful white wedding dress that hugs her full breasts and flares out at the bottom to make her look like the princess she is.

Her gorgeous gold hair is piled high on her head and the beauty I see when I look down at her makes my heart squeeze in my damn chest. I love this woman with everything I am.

What’s more, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she loves me the same.

Ambrosia starts playing over the loudspeaker and immediately Gabby starts laughing.

My brothers from my new club, Dragon, Ford, and yes, even T and Dom are all watching us, laughing as I sing to my woman.

It’s still a little awkward with those two.

Still, they called and welcomed Gabby into the family.

We’ll get there in time, and if we don’t?

Then, it will be like it is right now and honestly, this is the best life has ever been. I have everything I want.

As my family watches us, I don’t care that they’re going to give me flack for singing. I don’t give a fuck. I’m gone for my old lady. I want her secure in that knowledge every single day of her life.

“That’s how much I feel, feel for you baby,” I croon.

She holds me tight until Ambrosia fades into Etta James, and that’s when she kisses me and whispers up. “Thank you for loving me and giving me a beautiful life, King.”

“That’s my line, baby. That’s my line.”

I kiss her while all our friends and family enjoy our special day with us.

When I was a child, I wanted to give my mom a home and happiness I thought my old man denied her.

It was a tough pill to swallow, finding out the truth about her.

I could be bitter about that, but I hope she managed to find peace wherever she’s at now.

I’ve let the past go, because I am a man whose cup is definitely running over.

I have everything I want and my dad—the man I thought didn’t want me and made my mother’s life hell—is at my wedding smiling at me and letting me know that he's proud of the man I am.

It's hard to grasp when I think about the path that led me here. Yet, as Gabby smiles up at me with tears in her eyes, one thing is very clear. Every single dream I’ve ever had as a child is now a reality.

Gabby lays her head against my chest as we move together.

I allow my gaze to sift through my brothers and their family, my sister with her man Chains watching their baby boy, Nicole laughing as she holds Dom and Thea’s baby, and finally my father.

Dragon is holding my daughter and as if he can feel my gaze on him he looks up.

He grins at me. I find myself smiling back.

“King?”

I turn my attention back to my woman who is looking up at me. “Yeah, Sunshine?” I respond softly.

“Never, baby. I never thought I could be this happy. I love you so much.”

“Then, you better prepare, my sweet Gabriella, because I’m making it my mission to give you nothing but love and happiness for the rest of our lives.”

“God, I love my husband,” she murmurs, smiling widely, with tears of joy shining in her beautiful, blue eyes.

“God, I love my wife,” I respond, my voice hoarse with emotion. I look up as I feel a tap on my shoulder. Skull is there and you can still see his grief, but there in his smile as he looks at Gabby. I know he’s slowly finding his way back.

“I was wondering if I could steal my daughter. It’s time for the father-daughter dance,” he murmurs.

Gabby goes straight to him. “I love you, Papi,” I hear her whisper as Skull wraps her in his arms, holding her tight, tears sliding from his eyes.

“I love you, my princess,” he says, emotion in every syllable.

I let my wife have her moment with her father and go to stand by my own, while gazing down at my daughter. When Dragon hands over my daughter, he wraps his arm around me, his hand clamping on my shoulder. “I know it has nothing to do with me, but I swear to fuck, I sure am glad you found it, son.”

“It?” I ask, not quite understanding.

“Everything,” he qualifies.

I look around and I get it. I see it and he’s completely right.

I have a beautiful life filled with joy and laughter, a family I can be proud of and love—which includes the asshole standing beside me who I not only care for, but respect.

Yet, it’s when my gaze centers on my wife who is currently dancing in the arms of her father.

She turns and her gaze finds mine. She smiles big, mouthing three words.

“I love you.”

She doesn’t know it, but that love in her heart, surrounds me every minute of every day. It heals the scars of my past and makes me feel completely clean.

“Yeah,” I say to Dragon, my voice gruff.

That’s my Gabriella. My everything.

The End!

Turn the Page for a sneak peek of Book Two in the Devil’s Blaze Second Generation. Torch and Katie’s son, BB!