Sometime later…
I WANTED TO throw up. I was standing at the back of the church with my sisters, my girls, the other halves of me I never knew I needed before and I was about to celebrate my marriage. My husband. Stone and I were married. And now it was time for the reception. Holy fucking hell.
It had felt like a lifetime ago since Stone and I got so drunk, we ended up in bed together. I could never thank Angel and Jay enough for that delicious night.
“Are you ready, girl?” Max asked, coming up beside me. With her swollen belly protruding from the red satin gown and the rosy glow to her cheeks, she was absolutely breathtaking.
“Do you want to go out there first? You look better than I do,” I teased, gently poking her in the ribs.
She laughed, the red hue in her cheeks becoming more pronounced.
“Shut your face,” Jay chided, standing on the other side of me. “You look absolutely stunning. The white makes your perfect olive skin tone look more tanned,” she scoffed. “Fucking perfect people and their perfect skin.”
I laughed. “Seriously?”
She shrugged, a grin breaking out on her face. “I swear if Angel keeps at it, he’s going to fuck a whole football team into me,” she said, rubbing her tiny bump.
“You love being pregnant,” I teased.
She laughed. “I actually do surprisingly. But with two kids and a third on the way, I need a break to enjoy my man.”
I nodded in understanding.
“Are you ready to greet your husband, Creena, and get this party under way?” Brogan linked her arm in mine.
“I am but there won’t be any drinking for me tonight.” I wasn’t able to get the words out of my mouth before my sisters squealed.
They threw their arms around me, holding me and squeezing me.
“What did I miss?” Meeka asked, running toward us. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair was a mess.
“Seriously? You couldn’t wait until after the reception?” Brogan asked, placing her hands on her hips.
We all looked at each other before laughter bubbled through us.
We started poking fun at each other, teasing and laughing when dark shadows loomed over us. Our laughter stopped short but the hairs on the back of my neck tingled.
“Did you miss me, wife?” Stone asked, wrapping his arms around my middle.
“Always,” I breathed, thankful for the safety of his touch.
He moved in front of me and knelt. “And how about you?” he asked my belly. “Did you miss me?”
I laughed, cupping his hands. “Baby always misses you.”
“Hmm …” He kissed my stomach. “I can’t wait to see you grow.”
“Pregnant women turn you on, baby boy?”
He glanced up at me, giving me a wink.
I shivered.
Stone rose to his full height, capturing my mouth in a bruising kiss. “You turn me on, Creena. Whether you’re barefoot and pregnant or working hard and keeping those girls safe. No matter what, you turn me on.”
“I love you,” I whispered.
He kissed my neck. “And I love you. More than you’ll ever know.”
***
(Stone)
With my wife at my side and our friends dancing and partying, I couldn’t help but be in awe of how everything turned out.
It had felt like a lifetime ago that the shit storm went down at Kenny’s compound. After that, I had given Creena her much-needed space. Not too long after, I went to my sister’s place and brought my baby girl home.
I remembered the moment I showed up to Aria’s. As soon as I told her what I was doing, all she could do was cry happy tears.
I had a hard time believing in a higher power, knowing the shit I had seen, but something kept us safe. Something bigger than all of us, brought us together.
The King’s Harlots had a safe house, helping victims from the brutality of our world heal as best they could. While Vice-One went back to regular duties, Angel officially retired and dove into his construction company with Asher at his side with their wives’ support.
Watching my daughter, Luna, dance with Zachary, Brogan and Coby’s adopted son, a part of me wondered how their lives would turn out. All of the kids were here because their parents were too damn stubborn to let things go.
Meeka and Asher’s twin boys stayed by their daddy’s side, the head of blond hair mirroring their father’s.
Angel danced with Angelica while Jay had their son in her lap. She would laugh every so often, watching her husband trying to dance with the little girls.
“You okay?” Creena asked me, pulling me from my thoughts.
“I am.” I pinched her chin and kissed her hard on the mouth. “I am definitely okay.”
She smiled, placing her hand on my knee. “I think Luna has a crush on Zachary.”
I grunted.
“Don’t get all protective yet, baby boy.” Creena laughed. “Just wait until she becomes a teenager.”
As much as seeing her with any man would piss me off, I prayed with everything in me Luna would find a good person to spend the rest of her life with.
Watching our friends, our family, I realized this was where I was meant to be. This was where I was needed.
This was home.
THE END
Coming this year, Greyson Mercer, President of the Hell’s Harlem, will be getting his own book.
Continue reading for the Prologue to Greyson: