“I know, I can tell. Crazy really 'cause everyone always says how Hammer looks like our mother, but I can definitely see you and Maria in him now that I've looked close enough. Which is even crazier when you think about it because I look like him as well. So I guess he does look like our mom too.”
Draven leans into me and whispers, “Does he ever stop talking?”
“No,” I tell him honestly. “But I wouldn't have him any other way. He's my brother, the only blood-relative I thought I had on this earth until you and Maria. He's a crazy bastard who's quite capable of taking care of himself. Hell, you know who his wife is.”
“Yes. The Exorcist. Shame I never got her on my books. Looked for that little girl, thinking she was a man three times her size for a long time. Smart and dangerous.”
“Yeah. But they're just human like the rest of us. Been a few times I've had to take a bullet or knife for him. Okay, not had to, but rather me than him. Anything ever happened to him...”
“Nothing will happen to him.” I look at Draven with narrow eyes. “He's your brother, he and his family are under my protection as much as you are. I'm a lot of things, Hammer. People say all sorts of things about me. All of it probably true, but I take care of mine, and I would never hurt you. I just want to be part of your life. Think you can handle that?”
I look at him for a moment and nod. “I can handle that.”
How bad could it be having a Mafia Don brother?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Willow
That fucking son-of-a-bitch!
I thought I was going to die. The stupid shit who slammed that rag over my face – apparently, because I was knocked out for a while and had to hear it from Draven Vidal – was dragging me away from my house, and he would have gotten me into his truck if Draven hadn't turned up.
Draven shot the asshole through the head, told his men to clean up the mess, then he carried me inside to my room, laid me down, and called his personal doctor over to check me over. The doctor, Sid, or so he said his name was, probably fake, told me that I'm okay. There's no lasting damage. When the guy dropped me, I cut my arm. But it's nothing serious, just a few scratches, they'll heal.
My head is throbbing from the rag that was held over my face. But the Doc has given me something for that. He told me that he doesn't think anything is wrong with my pregnancy, but to keep an eye on things for the next few days in case.
I swear, for a second there, I thought there was going to be a repeat of last time. Only this time, I didn't think I'd make it out alive.
But I did, and I'm not going to let what happened ruin the life I've built with Hammer. Draven assured me that nothing like this will ever happen again, because he's watching over us, and no one will get close enough to hurt us again.
It's hard to trust people, but I believed him because he said them with such conviction that I felt them deep in my bones. Thing's will be okay, I just need to show Hammer that I'm fine. Because no doubt he's out there wondering what the hell happened to me.
I bet he was so scared when he got the call notifying him of what had happened to me. I need to make sure he knows that nothing bad happened. And I want to thank him for swallowing his pride and asking Draven for help. If he hadn't, and Draven hadn't come here today to talk to Hammer, God knows how this day would have ended.
I shudder to think.
Then there's little Ember. Draven told me not to worry because he'd take care of her until her parents arrived, or until the doctor had finished examining me. She wasn't crying and didn't even look like she knew anything had happened. That put my mind at ease, I don't ever want her to be scared. I just want to hug her and make sure she knows her Aunt Willow loves her more than anything.
“Can I go now?” I ask the doctor.
“I'd rather you lay down for a while longer, but I can see you're itching to get out there to your man.”
“He's here?”
“By the sound of it, there's a lot of people out there.”
I drag myself up, I'm dizzy but I shake it off. I need to get out there right now. “Then I'm going.”
The doctor says nothing.
He doesn't try to stop me from leaving the room. Thankfully.
I yank the door open. He's right, there are a lot of people here. The smiling faces of the men I have known for years through the club make me smile. But I don't want any of them. I want Hammer. I can't see him. Where is he?
There he is. Standing by the kitchen door, deep in conversation with Draven. “Hammer!” I yell his name so loudly, every damn person in my house turns to look at me and is now silent. My dad and brother are here, but I only have eyes for the man I love.
He pushes past everyone, I'm rushing towards him at the same time. He's so tall. He's in front of me, taking me in arms. He kisses my face over and over. “I was so worried.”
I hug him tighter, my arms around his neck, my feet inches off the floor. “Your brother saved my life! He saved me, Sam.”
“I know he did, and I will always be grateful to him for that.”
“He loves you,” I whisper in his ear. He holds me tighter and nods his head. He loves Draven too. They might never be the best of friends, but they love each other and that's all that matters.
Hammer sets me on my feet, my face in his hands. “Are you sure you're all right?”
I grab his big hand and kiss his palm. “I'm fine, the baby is fine, everything is fine, Hammer, I promise.”
He smiles and places a gentle kiss on the top of my head. This has taken a lot out of him. I can't imagine what's been going through his head. My man already thinks he's cursed when it comes to the women in his life, I know that's why he's holding his newfound sister at arm's length.
But he has to know that he is not cursed, he didn't lose me or the baby. We're right here still loving him. I just have to make him see that everything will be all right.
My dad and my brother are suddenly right there, grabbing me away from Hammer and holding me tightly between them. I'm a lucky girl to have such an amazing family.
“You made the right call, Hammer.” I look up at my dad, he's staring at Hammer, who's staring back. “Vidal saved my daughter's life. He did that for you. No matter what you might think, he cares about you. This club may not want anything to do with the Mafia, but the fact remains that man is your brother, and he obviously cares a great deal about you. Don't ever think you're betraying anyone by having a relationship with him.”
I watch my man look over at his Mafia Don big brother, Draven is staring back. He tips his head at Hammer, who tips his in return. His way of thanking his brother for what he did. But I need to thank him myself.
I pull away from my father, all eyes are on me as they watch me walk over to Draven. I smile up at him. It's crazy, but I can see that he really does look like Sam. I know Sam looked like Hillary, but he must have a little of Joseph Vidal in him in order for him to look like his brother.
I take the Don's hands in mine. He looks at our hands, then at my face. “I know that you and this club have never had any love lost between you. But you have one thing in common. Hammer. You love him, they love him. And as bad as you may be, you were there for him when he asked you to be. You saved my life and the life of my unborn baby today, and for that I love you.”
He flinches when I wrap my arms around his waist, but I won't let it stop me. His arms come around me and I sense his smile. “You just keep taking care of my little brother and I'll do the rest.” I nod against him before pulling away.
“Shepard, I'd like to talk to you about a truce. There's no reason for me to attack your club, no reason for your club to try and take me on. My brother, my blood is one of you. You keep your men in line, I'll leave you alone.”
“And what do you want in return?”
I don't know how the mob works, I've never cared to find out, but even I know that Draven will want something from the club in order for this truce to work.
“We'll discuss the de
tails later. Little brother,” Hammer comes closer and takes Draven's outstretched hand. “Take care of your girl, she's a good one.” He winks at me, slaps Hammer on the back, then leaves.
Hammer wraps me up in arms again. “I'm gonna start chaining you up in the basement to keep you out of trouble.” His joke has me laughing. I needed to laugh. It's good to laugh.
Epilogue
Hammer
Three Months Later
It's December and the church is packed to the brim with wedding guests. The wedding party itself has been going on for a damn week. But I can't deny how beautiful the bride looks, even with the baby bump showing. She's dressed is the typical white, fluffy, beautiful grown. Her groom is in his tux and looks good for a change.
This isn't my wedding. Nah, I married Willow three months ago, on the same day Tank married Nova. Talk about huge wedding's, ours was way out there. My brother and I married our girls at the clubhouse. It's what we all wanted. It was perfect.
I stood at that makeshift altar with my baby brother across from me as we both watched the Prez walk Willow and Nova towards us. I'm not a crier, but I'm not a liar neither, both Tank and I shed a tear of pure happiness as those beautiful women took our hands.
I'd never seen anything more beautiful than Willow that day. She was wearing the perfect dress, Ivory, silk, short lace sleeves that wrapped around the top of her arms, hitting the floor, and showing her little baby bump.
I was awed by her.
So much so that I didn't really take much notice of Nova, but I knew she'd be just as beautiful.
The priest, because Draven insisted we do something right, asked all to repeat after him. Then we each said our vows, and soon we were married, and as I kissed Willow for the first time as my wife, I knew that I'd finally found my true home. She is everything to me, nothing will ever threaten what we have, no one will ever try taking her from me again. I can trust in that if nothing else.
I might have gotten away with the biker wedding, but Draven wouldn't allow Avery to have anything but the traditional Italian wedding her father always wanted for her. I may not have known her father, but he sounded like a good dad. I know Avery wished he could be here today. As every young girl would.
Ghost couldn't make Avery his wife before now because it's taken her months to recover from what she tried to do to herself. Mentally, I mean. Draven had her seeing professionals to help get it all out of her head and help her heal.
She may have protested and said she was fine now that she had Ghost back, but Ghost told Draven about Avery's nightmares, how she was scared Draven was playing a trick on her, and that he was gonna kill Ghost and make her lose their baby.
That hurt him. I saw it in his face when he confided in me what Ghost had told him. I urged him to sit Avery down and explain things to her. Told him just why she'd be thinking that way. I don't know, I seem to have the magic touch when it comes to Draven and getting him to understand things.
He did speak to her, and she agreed to see someone who would help her get past it all. It took a couple months, but it really helped her. Now here we are watching Ghost and Avery exchange their vows, about to become man and wife in front of the whole MC, the Mafia, and the whole Vidal family.
A shit load of them came from Italy for this. Draven introduced me, they all seemed to like me. The old women seemed to love me and want to mother me, none caring that I'm a biker. They even took Willow into their hearts like they'd always known her.
Not to mention they were taken by Tank. Most women are. No matter the age.
“Do you, Daniel Ghost Vitali, take this woman, Avery Arianna Vidal to be your lawful wedded wife?”
I'm at the front of the church, Draven requested it as I'm family. I can see every expression that passes between the Ghost and Avery. Never thought I'd see Ghost so damn smitten with someone. The fucker is now family. Great.
“Damn right I do.”
“And do you, Avery Arianna Vidal, take this man, Daniel Ghost Vitali to be your lawful wedded husband?”
I watch the smile on Avery's face spread wider as she looks at Ghost. “I do. And I'm going to keep him forever.”
Everyone chuckles under his or her breath. The priest ain't liking the way they ain't sticking to his script. But fuck him, this is their wedding.
“By the power vested in me by God and the state of Tennessee, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the...” Ghost already has his lips fused to Avery's, her arms wrap around his neck, and I think this is bordering on pornographic for a church.
When he finally pulls away from her, he turns to face everyone, he raises their joined hands in the air and yells, “My beautiful wife, Avery Vitali!”
Everyone cheers the happy couple and watches them leave in a hail of confetti and rice, but I grab my wife and pull her against me. She smiles as I rock her gently from side to side. She looks beautiful in that blue dress.
I cup her face and lean down to kiss her softly. “I love you, beautiful.”
“I love you, too. Ouch!”
She leans over holding her stomach, and I fuckin' panic. “Willow, what's wrong?” Eyes wide, I look around the church, but I can't see who I'm looking for, dammit!
She suddenly stands up straight, laughing cheekily. I'm so fuckin' confused. “He kicked me, Sam. Our baby kicked me!”
My eyes widen, a shocked smile on my face. I place my hand on her swollen belly and instantly feel my son kicking his mother, kicking at my hand. Fuck, that's amazing!
Her little hand covers mine. “He's saying hello, Hammer. He already knows his mommy and daddy.”
“This is the most amazing thing I've ever felt, Will. We made him, and he's letting us know that he knows us.” She nods while laughing. I wrap her up in my arms and just hold her.
I deserve this. I deserve my little family. No matter what happened in the past, it's gone. But there's just one more thing I need to do before I can fully put the past to rest.
It's a cold December. Really damn cold. That's why I didn't bring Willow here. I sent her off to celebrate with everyone else while I came here alone. I needed to do this alone.
I get down on my hunches and just look at the grave in front of me. “Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad. I know it's been a while, but there's something I want to tell you. Your grandson kicked me for the first time today. Well, he kicked Willow and felt him. It was amazing, Dad, just like you used to tell me, and I can't wait to meet him, to hold him and tell him how much I love him.
“That's what you did for me, isn't it? You held me and told me how much you loved me even though you knew I wasn't yours. Wish I could tell you this face to face, Dad. Wish I could tell you how much I love you and how thankful I am for everything you ever taught me. And you taught me a lot. I don't hate you for keeping the secret you kept from me. I know you only did it to protect me from that man.
“I wish I'd have known before you died. I wish I had because I would have told you how amazing you were, what a wonderful father you were, and I'd tell you every damn day how biology doesn't matter a damn because you always were and always will be my father.”
I hang my head for a second. Nothing in my heart will ever change the way I feel about Titus. I love that man still to this day, and I will tell my son all about the brave man he was.
“Mom, I forgive you. I forgive you for not telling me the truth. I was angry for a while, but Draven set me straight on a few things. You were right to keep me from that man, Mom, he would have turned me into someone I'm not. You and Dad raised me right, and I wish I could tell you right now how much I love you.
“I'm gonna tell my son all about you, just as Tank tells little Ember all about you. You'd both be so proud of Tank, he's grown into an amazing man, husband, and father. He's an asset to the club just as you always knew he would be, Dad. I miss you both so much.”
“I miss them, too.” I wipe the tears from my eyes and get to my feet. Didn't know Tank was standing behind me, fuckin' stalker. “We'll never forg
et them, Hammer, and we won't let our kids forget them either. We'll tell them all the time, every damn special occasion just how amazing our parents were. Because, regardless of blood, you have always and will always be my brother in every way. You might be part Vidal, but you'll always be a Marshall.”
I grab the fucker to me and hold him tight. He's right, he's always been right. Cocky bastard. But I can put the past to rest now, I've made my peace with my parents and the secret they hid from me my whole life. Now I can move forward with the woman I love.
I take a deep lungful of December air and smile at the sky. “Today is a good day, little brother.”
“Today is the day you really start to live. So yes, I'd say it was a damn good day, brother.”
The end!
Next In The Series
Want to know what’s going on in Nova and Willow’s big brother's life?
Snakes Henchmen VP Jett lives life on the edge. Always wanting the one thing he knows he can’t have.
Maria Vidal is forbidden fruit. Jett should steer well clear if he wants to keep his head. But there’s something about the forbidden that makes Jett’s need to taste it even stronger.
But is Maria worth dying for?
Find out in Never Give You Up, book 3 in the series. Coming Soon!
Next in the series
Want to know what’s going on in Nova and Willow’s big brother's life?
Snakes Henchmen VP Jett lives life on the edge. Always wanting the one thing he knows he can’t have.
Maria Vidal is forbidden fruit. Jett should steer well clear if he wants to keep his head. But there’s something about the forbidden that makes Jett’s need to taste it even stronger.
But is Maria worth dying for?
All For You (Snakes Henchmen MC Book 2) Page 20
