by Addy Archer
“No,” he gasps.
“Oh. Fucking. Yes, asshole. What? Did you really think a woman was going to bring me down in a third attempt?” Bruno laughs harsh.
“But . . . she’s still alive.” Ridge’s eyes bulge, as if he’s not believing what he’s seeing.
“That’s the difference in women, Ridge,” Bruno snaps. “You wouldn’t understand but let me explain it to you. It takes one woman to see value in true meaning of life, and this one?” Bruno’s arm tightens around my waist. “Her eyes are wide open and she doesn’t need anyone to tell her how to fucking live or do what’s best for her. Everyone makes life-changing decisions in a heartbeat, but her heart belongs to me, and that makes all the fucking difference.”
“She’s fucking stupid,” Ridge sneers.
Bruno fires his gun and Ridge falls to the ground, clutching his leg and howling in pain.
“She’s fucking brilliant, and all mine,” Bruno mutters underneath his breath and gives me a kiss on the top of my head as if he’s talking to himself and needs the reminder I’m right here with him.
Torin, Alaric, and Hunt stroll out and others too. Some start to drag the two bodies into some tarp and I decide to keep my attention with Bruno and Ridge because I don’t want to think about people getting rid of bodies.
For a split-second I wonder if Angie is going to help dispose of the bodies since that’s what she does for a living. And yet, I can’t picture her doing it because she’s so sweet and normal, but I guess that’s just it. We all do what’s needed to keep going. And I realize with Ridge on the floor things aren’t as life threatening as they were a moment ago.
“Where is he?” Torin snaps and punches Ridge in the face.
Holy shit, how could I have forgotten about Rhyes?
“You won’t ever find out if you kill me,” Ridge grunts in pain. “Let me go and I’ll take you to him. A trade. His life for mine. We’ll call it even.”
“Fat. Fucking. Chance,” Bruno rumbles. “You tell me right the fuck now where my consigliere is and I might bring you to justice by taking you to the Circle meeting.”
“I have your word?” Ridge asks, grasping his chance with the Circle.
He doesn’t know Bruno and Torin have been in contact with most of the members and they all stand behind Bruno.
“Start talking,” Bruno demands.
“He’s here,” Hunt bellows from the SUV. “Fuck. Rhyes. A little help here.”
Four men rush toward Hunt and they drag Rhyes out and place him on the ground. He looks lifeless and when I want to go to him, I’m held back by Bruno. I understand why when they cut away his restraints and start CPR.
I hold my breath and bury my face against Bruno’s chest. I hear a car drive up and when I peek underneath my lashes I recognize the doctor jumping out of his car and rushing toward Rhyes.
He quickly unpacks his stuff and rips Rhyes’ shirt open, plastering stuff on Rhyes’ chest and shouting, “Clear.” Rhyes’ body jerks, arms flopping , as the doctor goes back to work. Did he inject something? I’m torn between keep watching them trying to save Rhyes and burying my head against Bruno’s chest again.
But I can’t look away. I have to know if he’s okay or if he’s . . . he’s still alive. Or at least I think he is because the doctor is requesting the others to lift him up and bring him inside.
Bruno guides me out of the way so they can pass and I now notice how beaten up Rhyes is. A large wound is gaping open on the left side of his face. Anger surges through me and I rip away from Bruno and plant my fist in Ridge’s face. Bruno’s arm circles my waist again to pull me back.
“Calm down, little spitfire.” Bruno places a kiss behind my ear.
“I wish you were dead you evil, evil man,” I growl at Ridge.
Ridge laughs without humor. “This coming from a woman who sides with the head of the mafia? Think real hard who you’re accusing of being an evil man, bitch. Because the one holding you has more blood on his hands than all the water a river can hold.”
“And yet she loves me as I love her,” Bruno simply states as he aims his gun and pulls the trigger.
I feel my heartbeat in my ears, each breath I take burns my lungs. Did he just kill Ridge? One bullet? One pull of the trigger and that’s it?
“Why didn’t you torture him? Kill him slowly? You just . . . why simply shoot him in the head?” I gasp.
There’s a sense of calmness in Bruno’s eyes and he gives me a genuine smile. “Because you wished he was dead and it made me realize we share the same thought process. You know, since you mentioned something about us and a bed and staying there for days. It made me aware taking the time to kill him would postpone what I really want to spend my time doing.”
Instead of giving him words, I rise on my toes to press my lips against his. Remembering the words he said out loud a mere moment ago; she loves me as I love her.
“You love me,” I whisper.
His chest rumbles with a husky chuckle. “Heard that, did you? And yes, I do. As you love me.”
“I do,” I beam.
“Pretty sure those are the exact words you need to repeat tomorrow,” he tells me between kisses.
“I’m practicing.”
He hums. “Want to practice making babies?”
A giggle escapes me and to be honest? “Forget about the romcoms. We’ll do a complete different marathon without getting out of bed.”
“I love the sound of that,” he murmurs and places a kiss on the top of my head.
And I love you, my heart replies.
EPILOGUE
Four months later.
– BRUNO –
“We should have waited. It was too soon. You heard how they mentioned it’s not one hundred percent accurate. We could do another scan in a few weeks.” Winter presses a hand over her stomach and a sweet smile spreads her face. “But just so you know, I’m ecstatic we’re having a girl because that means we can try again for a boy.”
A chuckle escapes me and I reach for her hand while I keep my eyes on the road in front of us. I link our fingers and place a kiss on her knuckles. We’re driving back from the checkup we had planned. Though it’s still early to be completely accurate, the one doing the scan said she was quite certain we’re having a girl.
“Let’s concentrate on our daughter first, but you know I’ll be up for trying for a second one as soon as you’re able to.”
“That would be the second we get home,” she states and I can’t keep the smile off my face.
Ever since we shifted from linked through a contract into bonded through a solid connection, things have taken a turn, allowing me to smile and laugh more.
“Later tonight,” I promise her. “We have a meeting in two hours and I have to talk things through with Rhyes first.”
“I can’t believe he volunteered when New York suggested to be linked through marriage as a personal favor when he handled Rimmel and those others who went behind your back and sided with Ridge.”
I nod and slow the car down when I near the place I need to swing by to do something.
“You should ask him if he’s doing it because he’s unsure of himself.”
I hit the brakes and turn to glance at my wife. “I will not ask him if vanity is an issue.”
“He has a scar and has to use a cane to lean on when he walks, he’s not fully recovered yet. I’m worried,” she presses.
I guide the car through the parking lot and park in front of the art gallery. “I’m still not going to ask. He’s my consigliere, he volunteered, New York agreed. He will marry Gian’s younger sister within two months.”
Winter is staring out of the window, eyes wide. “Why are we parking in front of an art gallery?”
Satisfaction and anticipation fills my veins. “I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise? For me?” Her eyes start to water and I know it’s the hormones.
She not only craves more sex these days, she’s also more emotional ever since she�
��s pregnant. She could shed tears when there isn’t enough milk for her cereal, or when she can’t find a specific brush she likes to work with. And I know because I love to watch her work.
Sitting in the loveseat reading the paper or going through files or contracts while she paints is the highlight of my day. Less stress when I have the light of my life surrounding me every moment of my life.
And I know she’s had this dream for quite some time, if not for all her life and even made me put it in the damn contract, preferring selling her art over easy money. And I have to fucking admit . . . her art is worth it and so much more.
Months ago I texted Torin to buy an art gallery and hire someone to manage it. The gallery would only hold her creations. And the reason why I haven’t told her yet was because I wanted to show her results, not just a mere few sales but an up and running gallery. To let her see how fucking good she is and the fat bank account to prove it. And now the time has come.
“Come on, let me show you.” I get out of the car and when I come around to open her door, she’s drying her eyes and shoving the tissue into her purse.
She takes my hand and we stroll toward the gallery.
“Here come the waterworks,” I murmur before I hold the door open for her.
She steps inside but comes to an abrupt stop. I close the door and step in front of her so I can look at her gorgeous face as she takes in the large room where every item hanging on the wall is made by her hand.
“Mr. and Mrs. Riccimenti, you’re early. Welcome. Oh, Mrs. Riccimenti, I’m so honored to finally meet you,” Chelle gushes and opens a file she’s holding, putting on her glasses she keeps around her neck.
She might be almost sixty but the woman has an admirable work drive. And with Winter’s art it has been a delight working with her. Of course when you ask Chelle, she would say it’s a delight because Winter’s art is amazing and practically sells itself.
Chelle and Winter shake hands and Chelle hands Winter the file. “Here you go. These are the sales of the last few months, but if you’d like to look around first, just let me know, doll.”
Happy tears stream down my wife’s face and she’s the picture of happiness. Though, Chelle looks panicked.
“It’s okay, Chelle. She’s just really excited. I’ll show her around and Winter will come visit you many times from now on. So, why don’t you take the rest of the day off? We’ll make sure to close up when we’re done here.” I give her a thankful smile.
“But of course. It was so nice to meet you,” she gushes again and gives the both of us a smile before she leaves, and I make sure to lock the door behind her.
Winter is drying her eyes and shoving the tissue, once again, back into her purse when I return. I’m not prepared for catching my woman when she launches herself at me and I slightly stumble back.
“Thanks so much,” she fiercely tells me and gives me a hard kiss.
I take her face in my hands. “But I haven’t showed you everything yet.”
“I’ve seen enough.” Her eyes slide through the room. “All of this. All mine. You’re really trying to sell them for me. I thought you just locked them up and didn’t do anything with them and yet . . . look, this is me. I did this,” she says in awe and strolls into the middle of the gallery and spreads her arms to twirl around.
“Yes. This is all you.” I swallow the emotion back that rises inside me when I see her this fucking happy.
Like the day we got married. With all the shit happening and Rhyes badly hurt and balancing the edge of life and death it didn’t feel right to carry on with a big wedding. Instead we chose to do it in the backyard of the clubhouse of Rebel Rage MC. Alaric’s suggestion and he made it happen within a day and it was small, personal, and damn perfect.
“But, sweetheart, I’m not trying to sell them. Your work has been selling for months. There’s a bank account in your name along with the money you earned with all your hard work and talent. And I am so fucking proud of you.”
She takes slow steps toward me. “It does funny things to my body to hear you say you’re proud of me.”
Her husky whisper makes my cock rock hard or maybe it’s the way she rubs her breasts against me. Breasts which got bigger due to her pregnancy. Her hand slides from my chest around my neck and into my hair, dragging me down for a kiss.
I grip her fine ass and grind myself against her, letting her know exactly what she does to me. But I guess she already knows since we can’t get enough of each other. Love grows stronger over time, and if these past few months are any indication of where we’ll be many years from now? I’m guessing we will be old and gray, still enjoying our bodies, while our kids visit from time to time with many damn grandkids.
I take tiny steps forward, forcing her back and behind the wall so we’re out of sight. I’m not ashamed to admit I need this woman no matter the time or day. And the way she’s unsnapped my belt, button, and is sliding the zipper down to palm my cock, I’d say we’re on the same wavelength. As always.
“I need you inside me,” she whispers, squeezing my hard length before letting go.
She spins on her heels, slides her dress up and thrusts her ass back, glancing over her shoulder at me with eyes that will always pull me in. I grip her hips, a guttural growl ripping from my throat, before I palm my cock and push her panties to the side as I slide the pierced tip through her folds.
“Wet heat. Damn perfect,” I croon and with gentle thrusts I allow her pussy to suck me in while the both of us take pleasure of connecting our bodies.
Hard and fast, every other position, you name it, we fucked it. But these days it’s slow and easy, slow but fast, and it’s not just because she’s pregnant, but it’s about connecting. Lazily sliding out and feeling my piercing rub her pussy and tugging my cock is fucking epic shit, making my balls draw up way too fast each and every time. I reach around to find her clit and feel myself sliding in and out her pussy.
“Feel this?” I grunt and slide back deep inside her while I tease her bundle of nerves. “That’s us. And you fit me so damn well.”
“Yessssss, please,” she moans and her pussy starts to ripple.
I rub tight circles around her clit and press down while burying myself deep. There’s no prolonging something that feels so damn good. Winter shouts my name and comes all over my cock while I shoot my cum inside her.
I keep her in my arms while we catch our breath. Regretfully stepping back, my cock slides out as I put her panties back in place and let her dress fall down. I spin her around, cup her face, and take her lips in a scorching kiss.
“You complete me. Fucking fulfill every angle and make breathing easy as long as I have you by my side.”
The happy face slides back in place and she fucking whispers, “Samesies.”
“There’s that damn word again.” I chuckle and give her another kiss.
She pulls back and tells me. “I only say it because your words hit me right in the heart and it makes every word coming out of my mouth after that fall flat. That’s why I come up with a lame word. Which actually means more to me when I say it to you. It’s second best to the words I love you because you give me a smile when I say it. One that makes my heart skip a beat.”
The corner of my mouth twitches and I understand what she’s saying. And I would say samesies right now in reply to her, but somehow I can’t bring myself to say it, so I give her the words coming straight from my heart instead.
A heart I thought wasn’t ever capable of love, and yet she reached out and grabbed it to give a hard squeeze to reboot my system, making the impossible possible.
“I love you so damn much.”
Her eyes fill with mischief and before she can say samesies, I kiss the fuck out of her.
Five months later
“I can’t believe it,” Winter whispers.
“I can’t either,” I croak.
Our eyes stay locked on the little crib where our son is sleeping. Our son. We don’t have a daughter, we h
ave a son. Something about a scan not being completely accurate. But in the end it didn’t matter because our kid has all ten fingers, ten toes, all healthy, and so is Winter.
“We have to get new stuff. We can’t put dresses on him or pink, and I’m so happy I painted the room not one color but with the blue skies setting,” she muses, her eyes never leaving Lorenzo.
“We’ll save the pink stuff for his sister,” I simply state.
Winter’s head swings my way and I drag my gaze away from our son.
“Yes, we will.” The look she gives me–along with those words–will get her pregnant again super damn fast.
She stands on her tiptoes and presses a kiss against my lips. “I love you so much.”
I slide my arm around her waist and pull her close to place my lips right next to her ear as I whisper, “Samesies.”
Her giggle flows into a laugh and I laugh right along with her. This woman changed me. She ripped my chest right open and claimed my heart. I might have been searching for the perfect woman, but the perfect woman found me, allowing me to find myself along with it.
Standing in the nursery, holding my woman, glancing down on our son with the prospect of expanding our family. It’s a good thing love is meant to grow because my heart expands each time I see my woman and now also our son.
The future might hold uncertainty and enemies will always rise and fall, but when you’re surrounded by those you love, it’s the fine balance of life placing you in the moment. And each moment is one to cherish. Especially when you have the love of your life standing strong beside you no matter what.
BOOKS BY ADDY ARCHER
Rebel Rage MC Trilogy:
The President
The Vice President
The Prospect
Trigger Pull MC Series:
Jace
Stone
Dreamer
Standalone Mafia Romance:
