It still blew my mind that I was officially part of the family I’d secretly always wished to be in; Gabe was my cousin, Booth and Stella, my uncle and aunt.
Many times I asked my wife to pinch me, simply because my life had taken such drastic turns in the last year and a bit. Good turns, fucking awesome turns.
I found the love of my life, the very breath in my body, knocked her up, had a daughter, and married her. I discovered I had a real family, and I found my dad.
Really mind-blowing shit.
Gabe swung the jeep through the gates of the compound and my mouth dropped open at the sight in front of me.
“What the fuck is going on?”
Standing in the carpark, in a long line, were the original members of Team FIVE.
In uniform.
All of them.
Nestled amongst them were the women I had come to love like second mothers, my Aunt Faye, my paternal grandmother, which surprised me because she was nearly ninety, and getting her here to Ballarat tended to be a logistical operation. Usually, Addy and I took Millie to see her, so seeing her today meant this gathering held some real importance.
“Ready, Grill?” Gabe asked, shutting off the engine, looking at me through the rear-view mirror.
“Ready for what?” Looking out the front windscreen recognising all the people, however, two of the most important ones were nowhere to be seen. Scanning a critical eye over the crowd, I searched for my Sweet Cheeks, finally spotting her emerging from the gate that separated the compound yard from the carpark. Our daughter in her arms and she was giggling because Addy was jogging, jiggling Millie in her arms.
My heart settled at the sight, my girls. My world. My reasons. When I wasn’t deployed, I was with Addy and our daughter. Nothing else mattered except them.
Still confused as to why all the Souls were in uniform, and the crowd of family, my first priority was to get to my girls.
Throwing a quizzical glare to my cousin, I opened the door and jumped out from the back of the jeep, my boots hitting the ground with a welcoming thud.
Home … well nearly.
Racing towards Addy, I ran to her, making it in less than a dozen strides.
“My girls!” My arms gathered them both up in a tight embrace.
“Hmmm, now I am home,” I sighed, breathing in their scent. One floral and one a mixture of baby powder and … custard?
“Welcome home, honey, we missed you so much,” Addy mumbled into my shirt, I had her in such a tight hold the poor woman was in danger of suffocation.
Easing my grip on them, I pulled back just enough, so my wife’s beautiful face was front and centre.
“Missed you more, Sweet Cheeks.” Closing the small distance, I pressed my lips to hers and just enjoyed our reunion, my eyes open, so I didn’t miss a moment of it.
“Da!” A tiny screech suddenly broke the spell.
Releasing Addy, I took my daughter from her and held her up over my head.
“Say it again!” I demanded. Logic told me my six nearly seven months old wasn’t going to adhere to my command, but she was my kid after all, so anything was possible.
“Da!” Millie repeated, she giggled, having fun being up high in the air.
“Of course, she says Da before Mum,” Addy complained good-naturally, leaning her head on the side of my chest, her arms around my back and middle.
“That’s because she is Daddy’s girl,” I told her smugly, bringing Millie down to join back in our huddle.
“She is the devil incarnate,” my wife argued, but the smile on her face was wide and indulging.
“So, what is going on here?” I enquired, looking over at the men and women waiting patiently for something, me perhaps? Except Bastian and Gabe, they were busy pawing at their wives. Gabe and Devon got married a week before our orders came through, effectively postponing their honeymoon.
“Well, this is Booth’s gig, so I better let him explain,” Addy replied, giving me nothing more. “Come on; they are waiting. When we get home and this one to bed you can undress me, kiss every inch of my body, maybe I will suck your cock before I ride—”
Cutting her off with a harsh kiss, my growl vibrating on our lips and my cock growing in my pants.
“Sweet Cheeks,” I groaned. Too long, it has been far too long since I felt her sweet, tight heat gripping my cock, milking my cum.
Laughing at me, Addy laced her fingers with mine, and together we walked to where Booth was standing.
“Welcome home, Corporal,” Booth greeted me, using my new rank. Climbing the ranks to corporal a memorable day, one I looked back on with pride. Our commanding major broke with protocol and allowed Gabe to present me with my second stripe. One for the record books indeed.
“Thank you, Lieutenant, it is good to be home,” I winked, referring to him with the rank he discharged with.
“What is all this about?” I asked, intrigued.
“This is something I planned the day after I found out your family history.” Turning around, Booth marched to Deck, who handed him a folded cloth.
Coming back to me, Booth, clucked his tongue at Millie, “Hey, there sweet girl, happy to have your old man home?”
Millie had no idea what he was saying, but that didn’t stop her from squealing happily at her uncle. He was my uncle so he was hers too and she absolutely adored him.
Holding onto the cloth, which I now saw to be an Australian flag, Booth’s knuckles turned white.
“This was given to my mother and me, the day we laid Carson to rest. It belongs to you son. Your dad was a brilliant man, a courageous soldier, a caring son, and the best brother I could have asked for, ever. I know without a shadow of a doubt, he would have been an amazing father to you.” Booth’s voice wavered slightly while he spoke of the man taken before I had the chance to know him. Unfairly, taken way too soon, his passing setting off a chain of events, some good and some bad, but all of them lead me to here.
To where I was meant to be.
Taking the flag, I choked back the lump in my throat.
“I wish every day that I knew him, but—”
“But had he lived you might not have met Addy?” Booth finished for me, his eyebrows raised in question.
“Yeah, something like that,” I admitted quietly.
“Grill, we have a path in life, but we also have a destiny. Each man standing behind me suffered tragedies of unspeakable kinds, the kind that would destroy any man. But we each had a destiny, and we each found them.”
“Addy was always in your cards, mate; you would have found her no matter what path was handed to you.”
Patting me on the back, Booth saluted me. Quickly passing the flag to Addy, switching Millie to my other hip, I then held out my right hand.
“Thank you, sir, thank you for everything. And thank you for my family.”
“Copy that and back at ya, son.”
Okay, so that is it. Obviously, it isn’t in the book, but Pirate convinced me it needed to be in the book in some way.
COMING SOON
Next in the wounded sons is Rafe.
Also coming soon The Hott Brothers series. Book one. Hott and Taken.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am so tired right now. I mean seriously bone-weary tired.
Each book takes a bit of me with each character and world I create, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Writing is my greatest joy, after Caffeine Free Coke and Burt Reynolds’ movies.
Grill was a lot of fun, I haven’t created such an alpha since Booth demanded to be heard. Addy too was a great character to get into the head of, her past was absolutely miserable. But they pulled their heads out and realised they were made for each other.
I love it when my characters take charge and drag me alone for the ride, I am merely their servant. And Grill and Addy knew where they wanted to go and happily it was the same place I wanted too.
A few people I need to thank here, my Flock, each and every member I love you to the moon and
back. Without your constant support, your kind messages and your chats late at night I don’t think typing The End would be anywhere near as satisfying. So, thank you ladies, you bloody rock!
My betas, Belinda, Sara and Amanda. As usual you three wonderful women keep me going when all I want to do is go to bed and sleep. Your support and encouragement with every book I send you means the world to me. I am so happy that you all get me and see what I see.
My PA and dear friend Belinda AKA Pirate, your annoying ways know no limits but I wouldn’t be without you. Thank you for all you do for me, but that doesn’t mean you can have every single man. They belong to me!
Robyn, my editor who accepts me as I am, and for that lady I am very grateful. She also feeds my fruitcake obsession.
My absolute favourite blonde in the world (other than my three blonde daughters and granddaughter of course) Lila Rose. To me you are Shanneen, my best friend. You make me go to watch teens play basketball, you threaten me on a daily basis and you love me despite my flaws.
Dustyn Rogers, you my friend are so hot! This is the second cover you have done for me but not the last. Thank you for letting me slather your chest with olive oil.
And before I head off to start my cowboy series, giving the Sons a well-earned rest for a while, I would like to thank to my special and wonderful bestie. Handsome, you make me snort laugh. You teach me the ways of the ninja, you put up with my mush and you mow my lawns. What more can a girl ask for in a bestie? Don’t worry I will come up with something. Hahaha. xoxo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leah Sharelle loves the idea of being in love. Since her early teens, when she first discovered Silhouette Desire novels, her life has been all about reading. She would find herself rewriting scenes if she wasn’t happy with them and then would hide them under her bed. That led her to writing love stories of her own. They all ended up under her bed and are still there - where she says they will stay.
Leah is a mum of three beautiful girls, Gigi to her adorable granddaughter, living in Australia, and she has what some say is a weird sense of humour. She spends her free time watching movies, having Sons of Anarchy and Friends marathons, and or course reading. She doesn’t do angst. In fact, it drives her crazy. She loves Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain. There’s that weird humour.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Website : Facebook : Instagram
Amazon : Bookbub : Goodreads
Newsletter : Email : Readers Group
Grill (The Wounded Sons Book 3) Page 21
