Broken But Breathing (Jinx Tattoos Book 2)

by Colt, Shyla

  It took a lot of different gears to keep the machine that was the Wild Ones running smoothly.

  “You been spending a lot of time at the Clubhouse, brother, you sure you want to get married?” Mike asked as they dressed for the wedding they’d decided to have in the backyard. The girls had masterminded and he foot the bill, happy to be excluded from the tedious planning.

  “Yeah, brother, my house became wedding planning central. That’s what I’m avoiding. Kali and Es’s sister-in-law, Jolene, were attached at the hip. Not to mention the fact that my in-laws have been here for over a week to help get things settled and get to know me.”

  “So her pops grilled you?” Mike said.

  Snake laughed. “Yeah, turned out he used to be in the streets himself. I like him.”

  “You’re luckier than most. How was he about you marrying his daughter?” Mike asked.

  “He said he’d kill me if I hurt her, but gave me props for bringing her back to life. I told him it was mutual, and we made our peace,” he said, shrugging.

  “That’s not bad, brother.”

  “Nah, they love Jocelyn, too. They spent a good chunk of their time bonding, taking her to the zoo and stuff like that. She needs as many people in her corner as possible.”

  “She’s adjusting to life here pretty fast. I saw her at the barbeque last week running around with the kids like she’d always been there.”

  “We’re progressing,” Snake said.

  “Look at you, cool as cucumber. I never thought I’d see the day you got married. I’m still pinching myself to make sure this ain’t a dream.”

  “When you meet that one person who completes you, everything you thought you’d never do becomes feasible.”

  “Not for me,” Mike stated, shaking his head.

  “You say that now. Wait ’til some girl turns your head. I’m going to sit back and laugh.”

  “It’ll never happen. I don’t want that type of responsibility.”

  Snake looked at his best man and thought about the life he lived. Raising a baby sister on his own while running an MC couldn’t have been easy. And he did it right because Kali was a good girl. Sure she could drink like a fish, swear like a sailor, and gamble her ass off, but that was her environment.

  A knock sounded.

  “Come on in,” Snake called.

  Enzo stepped in dressed and ready to go. “Today’s the big day, brother, you ready?”

  “Hell yeah. How are my favorite little people?” Snake asked.

  “Good. I waited until Padraig was fed and happy before I headed up here. Having two under two is insane.”

  “Man, I can imagine. My little girl is eight and kicks my ass.”

  “Ha, she can reason and rebel. We’re just trying to get them old enough to be civilized,” Enzo said.

  Snake chuckled. They were dressed casually with a black tie in black slacks, a white button down they rolled up at the sleeves, and black and white tennis shoes. The theme was something Es called rustic. All he knew was it made her happy.

  “What is the ETA?” Snake inquired.

  “When I came up, Kali said we needed to head down there in about ten minutes,” Enzo replied.

  He thought he’d be nervous about tying the knot again, instead he was eager. He wanted to possess her in every way he possibly could. With his first wife, Jade, he’d been growing into the man he would one day become. His love was true, but young, not fully developed. With Es it was an all-consuming fire that engulfed him and changed him for life. She’d tattooed her name over his heart and tamed the wild beast inside of him that lusted for blood after everything had gone down with his family.

  The peace she brought him was beyond anything he dared wish for. Now he’d do whatever it took to keep it. Es wasn’t a girl you shacked up with. She was a woman you married and gave your last name.

  “All right, boys, let’s get down there before we’re late and Kali murders us,” Snake said.

  Outside, he took in the decorations as he walked down, nodding at the familiar faces. They’d sectioned off an area for guests with wooden chairs with white cushions. A canopy had been made out of wood. White flowers of various sizes and greenery wound their way up the four posts and exploded at the bottom, standing out against the backdrop of the wooded area behind their home. On the opposite side of the yard, round tables were set up with light brown tablecloths, white place mats, and the S’mores wedding favors he’d been roped into helping her make. Burlap and white lace tied bags.

  He stood at the end of the aisle with his groomsmen and the priest, anxious to see his girls come down the aisle. Jocelyn had been over the moon about being the flower girl. The weekend at the soup kitchen had done a lot for her humility. He’d seen a new person emerging and her attitude improved as she adjusted to her new life. He couldn’t be prouder.

  “Blackbird” began to play and, Jocelyn appeared at the end of the aisle holding a white wicker basket. The flowing pink dress reminded him of flower petals and made his chest swell with pride. Her curls had been pulled behind her ears and a crown of flowers adorned her hair. She dropped white petals on the ground as she walked forward, grinning. He waved at her as she moved to sit beside her newly claimed Grandmother. She got to the end and Kali walked down next, followed by Jolene.

  “All You Need is Love” began to play and everyone stood, and his breath evacuated his lungs as Es came into view. Her body was hugged by a corset top that molded to the top of her body before it belled out into layers of wispy, pale pink material which trailed behind her. She was breathtaking and soon to be all his. Her father offered his arm. They began the walk toward him and his throat grew tight. He blinked as his vision wavered.

  She reached the end of the aisle and mouthed, ‘Hi’. He replied like a teen boy enamored with his crush.

  “Who gives this woman away?”

  “Her mother and I do,” his father-in-law said.

  She walked over to him, and they locked hands. Mine. They turned to the priest, and the world fell away.

  The moment they said I do, he pulled her close, dipped her, and kissed her thoroughly. Wolf whistles broke out and he lifted her onto her feet. Grinning, he pulled her to his side and then walked down the aisle with the lyrics of “She Loves You” as their soundtrack.

  He’d never felt so high before. He thought the phrase floating on air was bull until now. Watching his woman and baby girl dance on the make shift dance floor was nothing short of magical.

  “Hey, Veep, I had a present I couldn’t wrap up in a box.”

  He turned toward Sick and lifted an eyebrow. “Do I want to know what it is?”

  “Trust me, you want to know,” Data stated with a grin.

  “Call it a joint gift,” Sick said.

  “All right, boys, lay it on me.”

  “The one who got away was found.”

  The words sank in. The man who’d sold his baby girl like an animal was in the ground.

  “Was it painful?”

  “And slow, brother,” Sick said as they clasped hands.

  “Damn, you boys just made this day even better. I didn’t think it was possible.”

  “Wanted you to start your new life off right with your youngin’ and your pretty lady,” Data said.

  “Hey, keep your eyes off her,” Snake growled playfully.

  “Are you terrorizing these young men?” Es asked, wrapping an arm around his waist.

  “Young men? Don’t let the Sunday best they’re wearing fool you,” Snake said.

  She laughed. “I thought family was supposed to stick up for one another.”

  Those words from her mouth were a beautiful thing. They were from two different worlds, but here as everyone mingled, drank, and ate it didn’t matter. They’d successfully forged a place for them to both belong. This tiny woman was the other hal
f of his soul. From the pile of shit he’d been buried beneath came something beautiful.

  EPILOGUE

  “Are we really doing this?” Es asked.

  “You tell me, you’re the fearless one lately,” he said, tracing her half sleeve. The elegant script in the ribbon read ‘Support’. He had a matching moniker across his collarbone.

  “Don’t tease.” Tilting her head, she spilled her rapidly growing blonde hair onto his chest. He cupped her ass and ground up into her.

  “This is teasing. What I’m about to do to you will be satisfaction.”

  She moaned.

  “No pressure, if we get pregnant, we do. If not, we’ll have a lot of fun trying.” He rolled her over, distracting her from her worries. It took him six months to convince her this was the right move. Soon he’d give her the one thing she’d always wanted but had never gotten and complete their family.

  THE END