Tex enveloped us in a hug. “Welcome to the family, Hawk.”
I grinned. “Thank you for having me.”
Tex kissed his daughter. “I guess you’re no longer a Weaver, Threads.”
Nila sighed. “I’ll always be your daughter, Dad, but for now, I belong and have willingly become a Hawk.”
He nodded as if it made perfect sense that his daughter married the son of the man who killed his wife. It was a twisted world, but somehow, Nila and I had found a way to untangle it to the point of acceptance.
My fingertips tingled from our tally tattoos and I made a note to ask Nila if she’d like to finish the marks now we’d cemented our lives together. Ten fingers, ten tattoos. A lifetime of happiness.
Somehow, we’d found life over death.
Chosen freedom over debts.
And I would never take my future or my wife for granted.
Chapter Five
Nila
JETHRO LOCKED THE door.
The yacht rocked beneath our toes, sedate and savage in its sea-cradle.
The curtains had been drawn across the balcony, the bed turned down by well-trained staff, and all the guests remaining on board were a floor below.
We were the only bedroom on this level.
Private.
Alone.
Swiping a hand through his slicked back hair, Jethro traversed the distance between us. We didn’t speak as the air intensified and love poured from his heart to mine.
The white gold wedding band I’d had fashioned along with a few black diamonds I’d sourced at Diamond Alley graced his finger—absorbing the light rather than sparkling—sucking its life inward, protecting its secrets.
The matching ring hummed on my finger. The large midnight stone grew heavier the closer Jethro came.
“We did it.” His voice teased with disbelief. “We’re married.”
I nodded, a little breathless and a lot nervous. “We are.”
“You’re mine.”
“I’m yours.”
“There are no more debts. No more threats.”
I moved toward him, stepping onto the silver rug he stood on. Our bodies swayed as a current rocked the yacht, but our eyes never unlocked. “We’re free.”
Breathing hard, Jethro reached for me. His arms wrapped around me, gathering me toward him so the white silk of my gown rippled over my skin and floor.
Stars and moon above were the only elements invited into our room. The skylight above had a ladder granting access to the private deck. The nose of the boat was out of bounds to anyone. We could make love down here with the sky as company or make our way upside and fuck with the air licking our skin.
We could travel the world.
We could kiss and touch and never have to hide our happiness from anyone.
