“Whatever you decide,” he said, stepping in and pulling me in for a brotherly hug, “you know I’m ten toes down. Right beside you.”
I nodded in his direction, swallowing the knot in my throat. Because the truth was, no matter what choice I made protecting my family or protecting my son’s heart somebody was gonna bleed for it. And it might end up being me.
I glanced over at my wife, my peace in human form. Stormi was kneeling in the grass, feeding Shiloh a messy handful of cake while holding S3’s juice box like she had three hands instead of two. The moment she felt my eyes on her; she looked up and winked.
I let out a breath. “I’m thinkin’ about retiring. Givin’ the game up, focusin’ on my family. Letting my wife live out her dreams.”
I wasn’t even talking to the boys anymore. I was talking to myself, saying it out loud to see if it felt real.
Southside choked on his drink. “Playboy Seth retiring fully?”
Rich smirked. “Family man Seth never thought I’d see the day.”
“It’s time,” I said, watching Stormi wipe cake off Shiloh’s chin with her thumb. “This game done cost me enough. I refuse to lose my family behind it. We already invested our blood, sweat, and years into this. It’s time to sit back and enjoy the riches before we end up buried with ’em.”
I looked at my boys, my brothers, and my voice softened. “Rich… you, my brother. This empire we built. It’s yours.”
Rich’s jaw tensed, but I stepped away before he could question me. I made my way toward the center of the yard, tapping my glass.
“Excuse me, family. Lemme grab y’all attention really quick.” Heads turned, conversations paused. I lifted a hand. “Stormi, come here.”
She froze for half a second, then stood Shiloh immediately let out a scream like she’d been gone a whole year. She scooped him up in one motion, then reached for S3 with the other, because she never left him out of anything.
Stormi wasn’t his biological mama, but the way she loved that boy nobody would ever question it. She held him like she’d carried him herself.
Once my whole world was standing next to me, I cleared my throat. “I’m retiring.” The words were heavy, final. “It’s time I focus on my family and let my wife live out her dreams.”
Stormi blinked up at me, shock spread across her face. Whatever she thought I was about to say, it wasn’t that. My mother pushed through the crowd, tears already forming. She cupped my face like I was still her baby boy.
“Oh, Seth… finally, baby. I love you.”
She kissed both my cheeks and pulled me into a hug only her small frame could barely manage.
King stepped up, clapping my back hard enough to shake me.
“Sayin’ goodbye, huh? What you gon’ do with all that extra freedom?”
I shrugged, eyes drifting back to Stormi as she spoke quietly with my mother. “I’ll find something to do with the time.”
Rome came strolling over, laughing. “So that mean I gotta fly in for every gender reveal, baby shower, and six-month birthday party now?”
Before I could respond, Rich handed me another glass of bourbon, his expression serious but proud. “You might be out the game, but our business stays 50/50. We agreed on that. Ain’t changin’ now.” He lifted his glass toward the crowd. “To family.”
Everyone else raised their glasses. “To family!”
As the chatter picked back up, I wrapped an arm around Stormi’s waist and pulled her into me. Shiloh was on my chest in seconds.
I lowered my mouth to her ear. “You ready for a stay-at-home husband?”
She smirked, sliding her hand up my back. “You ready for a working wife?”
I kissed her slow, tasting cake and sunshine on her lips. “I’m ready for whatever my wife ready for.”
Then I took Shiloh from her arms, holding my son close like I could shield him from the whole damn world. With them besideme, retirement didn’t feel like losing anything. It felt like finally winning.
Chapter
Eighteen
