“There,” Josie “Mama” Bullock said. She’d just finished adjusting a string of pearls around my neck. They were hers. My something borrowed. She pressed her cheek to mine, catching my eyes in the mirror.

She was a striking woman with silvery-white hair cropped short. She was strong, smart, fiery. I loved her almost the minute I met her at the same time she scared the hell out of me. But she loved Deacon. She’d given him a family after his own had fallen apart. For that alone, she’d have my eternal gratitude. She gave me something else along with it: her friendship.

“Thank you,” I said, my eyes misting. She scolded me about my makeup for about the sixth time. I stood up, smoothing my white silk dress. It was just a simple sheath with spaghetti straps. I didn’t want ruffles or anything flashy. I’d done all of that before.

“He loves you so much,” Mama Bear said. “And you brought him back to me.”

“Funny,” I said. “I was just about to tell you the same thing. You kept him whole all these years.”

She shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I think that boy was broken into pieces until he found you again. I never knew you were the thing missing. If I had, don’t think I wouldn’t have dragged you back here years ago. The hell with what Deacon had to say about it. You two belong together. You’ve suffered enough apart.”

She reached for me, pinning a stubborn strand of hair back into the French knot she’d helped me make. I slid into my satin heels and stepped back.

“You’re perfect,” she said.

There was a soft knock at the door. Deacon stepped in. Mama gave him a wry smile then excused herself quietly.

“It’s bad luck for you to see me!” I gasped even as my heart fluttered with excitement.

Deacon came to me. God, he was so handsome. He’d tied his hair back. His blue eyes shimmered. He wore a sleek, black suit. I reached up to straighten his tie. Somehow, he managed to look just as dangerous as he did wearing leather.

Deacon slid his hands around my waist and pulled me to him. “I couldn’t wait. I needed to make sure you were still real.”

I went up on my tiptoes and kissed him. “I’m real, baby.” I gasped as he got his hands beneath my ass and lifted me off my feet. He took three steps forward and set me on the vanity table. This was the cry room of San Mateo’s church. The place doubled as a staging area for the bridal party on wedding days. I had no party. Mama Bear would stand up for me. Bear would be there for Deacon. It was all we needed and perfect to seal our vows to one another.

“I want you,” Deacon whispered.

“What, now? We’re just about to go out there!”

“Yeah.” His voice rippled along my neck as he kissed a trail up it. My nipples peaked and heat coursed through me. Oh. I wanted him too. It nearly drove all reason out of my head.

I growled with pleasure. “Danny, it’s probably a sin. We’re in a church.”

He laughed. “I’ve done worse. And if this sends me to hell, baby, it’ll be worth every second.”

I threw my head back and joined his laughter. Deacon found the hem of my dress and slid his hands between my legs. Afraid of panty lines, I hadn’t worn any underwear. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now it drove me mad with lust.

Deacon nipped my ear and pried my thighs apart. Gasping, I braced myself against the counter as his skilled fingers found the slippery cleft between my legs. He hooked three fingers together and slid them into me.

“Oh,” I gasped. “Baby.”

“I want to hear you say it,” he said.

“Yes. Oh God. Yes. Do it. I can’t wait anymore either.”

I tugged at Deacon’s fly. I got it open and found him huge and hard. I hiked my dress up all the way. Damn the wrinkles. Deacon entered me in one powerful thrust.

“You’re mine,” he whispered as he started to fuck me. I was drunk with desire. Part of me didn’t care who heard. I knew Mama Bear would be discreet and drive the others away. God bless that woman for so many reasons.

Deacon felt so hard, so good. I opened for him like a flower. I’d been so wet, so ready for him, it didn’t take long before the rising tide of my desire carried me away. I bit into his shoulder to keep from crying out with the ecstasy of it. Deacon held still inside me, letting me find the sweet friction that would drive me home.

As I crested down, he slid out of me. I surprised him that day with a gift of my own. Smiling, I went down to my knees and took him in my mouth.

“Baby,” he gasped. As quickly as I found my pleasure, Deacon was no match for my lips and tongue. I took him. All of him. He gripped the side of the counter and I brought him home.

He helped me to my feet and kissed me deep. “I love you,” he said.

Laughing, I reached down to gently zip his fly. “I love you too. But you’re a bad influence,” I whispered.

There was a light knock at the door. “Danny, we’re ready for you.” It was Father Sanchez. Though it had been hard won, he gave us his blessing when Deacon brought me home. He worried about both of us, but I knew the priest wanted Deacon to be happy. He had been there for me too when my life fell apart. Having him marry us today felt like coming full circle. Ten years ago, Deacon was meant to take one oath with Father Sanchez. Today, he would take another with me.

Giggling, I straightened Deacon’s tie as he smoothed my hair for me. “Well, you’ll have some interesting things to talk about in the confessional.”

Deacon kissed me and lightly slapped my ass. “No way, baby. I’m not the least bit sorry for this one. Come on. Time to make you my wife.”

I gave him a salute. “All yours, husband.” It was good and right. My eyes filled with tears of joy again as I looked at my handsome groom.

Deacon’s face grew serious. I knew what was on his mind. Our day would be filled with hope and laughter. But there was something else beneath all of that. He wouldn’t tell me everything, but I knew enough.

With Milo Higgins’s death, the clubs had reached a temporary truce. Milo killed Sean and tried to kill Deacon. He’d paid with his life. But Deacon feared that wouldn’t be the end of it. He wouldn’t say more. As the almost wife of a Dark Saint, I learned quickly there were things he’d keep from me. I was okay with that. Because I had the part of him that mattered most. I had his heart. In a few more minutes, I would have his name. It was enough. It was everything.

Deacon gave me my life back. He told me I gave him his soul. Maybe I had, but I still felt like I got the greater part of the bargain. I had something else as well. With the money Ed Albright gave me, I had another dream to fulfill. This fall I was starting law school. I had my life back. I had my heart.

As we walked out of the cry room and stood at the end of the aisle, my heart nearly burst with joy. Deacon’s brothers stood. I’d gotten to know them all over the last months. They embraced me, treated me like a sister. In time, I knew I would grow to love each of them. I would worry for each one of them in the coming weeks and months. Though the clubs had reached a break in the tensions, we all knew it wouldn’t hold. War still loomed over Port Azrael. But I would not run from it. I would never run again.

Deacon and I locked hands. He smiled down at me as we walked down the aisle together. My man. My love. With Deacon at my side, I knew whatever came, we could face it with strength and hope. And I knew where I belonged.