Page 48 of Loving Her

“I need some help getting the mountain of food Indy and Iva cooked out of the truck,” I tell Dad.

“C’mon on in, we’ll send out some prospects to get it. I want you to meet some of our allies that are here for dinner. Do you remember any of the Demon Chasers MC?” he asks.

“I don’t think so,” I answer.

“Good. That will make watching Dragon and Ford go at one another even more fun,” he laughs. I have no idea what he’s talking about. I’ve met Dragon a few times and I can’t imagine him going after someone being fun for the holidays, but what do I know?

I look back to see Indy standing with my sisters, Dragon’s wife, and some girl I haven’t met. They’re laughing together, but as if she can feel my gaze on her, Indy looks up. She smiles at me and mouths the words I will never get tired of.

I love you.

I repeat them and then turn my attention back to my father who is now telling Tinny that Daisy is on her way, but while she’s waiting, she can be his partner playing checkers and they’ll beat Cooper. From the way Tinny reacts, you’d think he promised her the world. Then again, to a girl who has been picked on at school for not having a family other than her mother, that’s pretty much what Dad’s doing now. He’s giving her everything she’s ever wanted.

“Wait!” she says. “Daddy! I want to be your partner.”

My heart stops beating for a second and then I take a breath and it’s the sweetest damn breath I’ve had in my life. “What my princess wants, she gets. We’ll beat the socks off Big Paw and Uncle Coop.”

Tinny giggles as my dad looks at me with a big smile. I grin back at him and Tinny slides down from his arms and takes my hand.

I don’t look away from my dad. It’s a full circle moment. I may not remember everything, but I know I was probably like Tinny when Dad first came into my life, giving me a father when I’d never had one before. Now, I can see it from his side, though. I might be giving Tinny a father, but this precious little girl is giving me so much more. So much there are no words … only love.

Love without limits, unconditional, and without end.

Chapter 29

Dragon

“This year, we have so much to be thankful for,” I say, my voice carrying across the huge log-style table with bench seating. The room falls quiet. The five matching tables around us are all filled with familiar faces.

Tonight’s dinner is massive. It’s our biggest gathering yet. Nicole took charge, having the crews set everything up buffet style. She had portions of it catered, while everyone brought in a bunch of sides and desserts. There’s enough to feed all of us and probably a few hundred more. It’s a big change for a man who grew up on the streets not knowing where his next meal would come from.

“That we do,” Bull says, slapping his hand on the back of Breaker’s shoulder. Breaker looks at him and I swear he blushes. Sky is on the other side of Bull, grinning from ear to ear.

My lips twitch as I look over at Nicole, giving her a wink. She reaches over and squeezes my hand. When she tries to remove it, I hold on tighter. I bring Nicole up to stand with me, pulling her close to my side.

“Damn, he’s going to make a speech. It will probably be midnight before we eat now,” Dancer says. I watch as Carrie chastises him and he kisses her, making her pale skin turn brightpink. Beside them are Grunt and Jazz, with their two kids. Jazz’s stomach is already showing a third is on the way. Hawk is with them, too. It’s a rare occurrence for him to be at the club and I know it makes Dancer happy that he showed up.

“Does he still get long-winded?” Crusher asks, laughing his ass off. Dani elbows him, but he ignores it. I throw my middle finger up at the bastard, but that just makes him laugh harder. He’s sitting at the table beside me, with his ten or twelve kids and their families. I can’t keep track of how many they have. I know he told Dani that they would adopt as many as she wanted, but I personally think he should have reined her in a bit. Diesel and Rory are beside him with their four kids. Their oldest has his old lady by his side. Devil and Torrent are here without their kids. I haven’t asked why they aren’t here, but I imagine they’re back in Tennessee. Fury and his old lady didn’t make the trip. I think Diesel left Fury in charge. Gunner and his old lady made the trip and even Nailer and Freak are here. It has been a damn long time since we’ve all been together. Some of the Demon Chasers are here at a separate table. Ford didn’t make it. I kind of miss the asshole. He apparently has been dating a woman that was kidnapped. I offered him some men, but he has another club out of Virginia helping him. King is here. I know he’s still hurting over the breakup of his marriage, but I’m damn grateful he showed up. T, Lyla, and my beautiful grand baby are beside him. Dom is on his other side with Thea, Joker, Skylar, and some guy I don’t know. He has a Demon Chasers cut on, though.

I let my gaze continue to sweep across the room. We usually have the Devil’s Blaze here, but there’s no celebrating for them this year. Skull and Beth are really struggling since losing Diego. I also heard that Gabby had left the state, needing a fresh start. I can’t say as I blame her. I feel sorry for her and that’s something I never thought I’d say. Word is that Skull completely ignores her now. I may have to travel to Corbin to pull that man’s headout of his ass. If I don’t, once he realizes what he’s done, he will hate himself. Skull’s loss is a sad reminder of how truly blessed my family is to have Breaker back. My heart breaks for Skull. I still feel responsible for the loss. I probably always will.

I look at all the tables filled with members of the Savage Brothers and their families. Then, slowly, my gaze shifts back to Nicole—my reason for living. Next, I look at my beautiful daughter Kayden and her man Chains. I shake my head as I see Chains rocking my grandchild gently. I had my doubts about that son of a bitch, but he’s a good man. I can’t deny it. I clear my throat, forcing myself to focus.

“As I look around this room, it’s hard for me to believe that this all started with four assholes who fought to survive every damn curveball life could throw at them. We had no idea what we were doing. The only thing we knew for sure was that we were brothers. We might not have shared the same blood, but we sure as hell shed it together.”

“Amen,” Dancer, Crusher, and Bull chime in.

“I don’t think there’s a one of us that realized what we were building at the time. I don’t think we could have grasped what our dreams would become.”

“You can say that again,” Crusher chuckles.

“We sure as hell had no idea that our sorry assess would somehow luck in to finding the only women on the face of the earth that could not only put up with us, but somehow make us into better men.”

“You forgot save our lives,” Dancer says, looking at Carrie. “I love you, Princess.” She smiles at him and kisses him, hugging him tightly.

“Once long ago, I thought about striking a match and letting the whole club burn down, walking away with just my woman?—”

“Was that after Nic named another child after me?”