It’s been a long ass day. I’m bone tired. We brought Dom home today and had a welcome home party at the club. It was good, but instead of getting to be with my woman and son, I’m trapped talking with Diesel. He’s heading back to Tennessee tomorrow, and Dani and Crusher will be going with him. I don’t want my brother to go. We have shit to settle, but I think he needs the time away, and I know Dani could use it. I’m hoping it helps them. I was against them two getting together, but maybe they’ll settle each other down.

I open the door to our bedroom, immediately closing and locking it. I lean against the door for a minute and drink in the peace that instantly surrounds me. When Nicole was staying at Dance’s, the place was…empty. Just having Nicole here, her presence makes the entire place different.

I turn and see Nicole breastfeeding our child. It takes my breath away. This is mine. What the fuck did I do? What did the man upstairs find in me that he thinks I deserve this? Hell, I’m jaded as the day is long. I’ve seen shit that would make lesser men checkout of life without a backward glance. Worse, I have done shit in life. I have so much motherfucking blood on my hands that I will never be clean. Still, with all of that, I have something in my grasp that is pure and beautiful. How the fuck did that happen? I can’t begin to guess, but I’m sure not going to let it go. My world is wrapped up in this woman and our son.

“Dragon?” she questions and shit, I can’t remember my own name, let alone anything else right now.

“I want to be here whenever you feed Dom, Mama.”

“Not sure that’s practical, sweetheart.”

“Fuck, practical. I need to be here.”

“Dragon? Are you okay?”

“Just when I think I’ve got to know how good life is with you Mama, something else happens.”

“Drag…” she begins, while she moves our son from her breast, lays him against her chest, and gently pats him. I don’t let her finish.

“I’m not a praying man; I’ve seen too much and done too much. But, every fucking day, I want to get down on my knees and thank my maker for you. I was dead inside before you, Mama. Dead. You wouldn’t stop until you uncovered the bullet holes and patched them, made them go away. Now? Fuck, woman. The sight of you feeding our child… To see evidence of the way you completely love me and our son, not just once in a while, but with every breath you take… I don’t have words. I don’t have a way to tell you what you are to me, Nicole. I don’t think the damn words have been invented. I love you is too easy, too small, to tell you what I feel. If I live to be a hundred and four there won’t be a day that I don’t need you to help me breathe.”

My woman has tears in her eyes, when I finish. I don’t know what I said. I do know it didn’t say what I wanted it to. I’m too fucking rough around the edges to give her the flowery speech she deserves.

She walks over to the crib and lays Dom down. When she’s done, she comes to stand in front of me. Her hand slides against my face and her blue eyes shine with tears, but also with happiness.

“I love you, too. Forever.”

“Forever,” I promise, and it’s more than a promise. It’s a motherfucking vow.

She pulls my lips to hers and whispers, “Home.” The words brush against my skin, and I feel it all the way to my soul.