I laughed as the wheelchair was turned and Ry opened the door for Gage to push me through. As we left the room and headed towards the elevator, there was a commotion that caught my attention. The wheelchair slowed but didn’t stop as we passed slowly by a room with the door open. A little girl about seven years old was sitting on the hospital bed, clutching her arm, head bowed, as a woman stood over her.
The woman was dressed elegantly, her hair in soft curls, her makeup precise and perfect. She had a beautiful manicure with one of those nails pointed at the little girl’s face. I didn’t listen to the ugly words the woman said to her daughter; instead, I took in the ugly look on her face as she glared at her daughter. Then I saw the bruises and red crescent moons left behind from fingernails that peeked out from under the girl’s sleeve.
As we passed the room and I could no longer see the little girl, I tilted my head back to glance up at Gage, seeing his jaw tight with controlled rage. He’d seen everything I had, but I knew that his honor would never let him hurt a woman.
“Gage,” I whispered. “Can you teach me?”
Sometimes it took a monster to stop the darker, more evil ones.
Epilogue
Dante
Iheld Cherish close as we danced to the slow music. She was breathtaking in her long white gown. I brought her fingertips to my lips, kissing each of them as we slowly swayed, not really dancing, just taking up space in the middle of the floor and ignoring everyone around us.
“You look beautiful, baby girl,” I whispered into her ear, then kissed the ring that sat on her finger. The ring that I’d placed there when we’d taken our vows just a few short hours ago.
It had been an argument that had gotten slightly heated when Gage, Ry, and I had discussed who Cherish was going to officially marry. Even though we were all four in a committed relationship, the law would allow only one of us the honor of becoming her husband.
For a while, I thought Ry would become unglued and rip my head off. It took Gage to promise a marriage of their own to settle him down. Even though Gage would have liked to have been the one to marry Cherish himself, he had given me a nod and his blessing. Ry still pouted when he looked at Cherish’swedding ring, but having one of his own had him keeping the violence to a minimum.
Gage and Ry had stood as my groomsmen, sharing the title of bestman, while Cherish had her old teammate flown in to stand as her bridesmaid. Cherish had been worried about having family sit on her side of the church, but she quickly realized that family was what you made, not what you were born into.
Her side was filled with the new friends she’d gotten to know in Selene. Melanie and Carly sat in the front row, cheering her on when I bent Cherish over my arm and kissed her breathless after the officiant announced us husband and wife.
“Are you tired yet?” Ry asked as he cut into our dance, giving me a glare before kissing Cherish. I stood back with my arms crossed, trying not to be irritated that our turn at dancing had been rudely interrupted, while at the same time, eagerly waiting for her answer. I just wasn’t as vocal about it.
Gage walked up to our small group as Cherish smiled slyly up at Ry. “I don’t know, Ry. I may be a littletootired.”
At his open mouthed shock, Cherish giggled. Gage picked her up in his arms, cradling her to his chest the way I wished I could. “She’s fucking with you, Ry. You need to stop being a dick to Dante. You know why he was the best choice to marry her.”
Ry huffed, but smiled anyway. “Yeah, it doesn’t mean I can’t give him a hard time about it.”
I snorted. A hard time. The fucker had been throwing jabs my way ever since we’d all agreed. It was all in good fun, though. He’d even been the one to help me plan the proposal.
Everyone parted as Gage carried our girl off the dance floor. The cake had been cut and eaten, the bouquet had been tossed, and we each took turns dancing. But it was time to leave.
As we walked through the crowd of family and friends, everyone shouted well wishes and congratulations as Cherish waved with flushed cheeks. Not a single person judged us for ourunconventional relationship, and we wouldn’t have given a shit if they had. When you found the other half of your soul, even if you had to share her, you held onto her. Our friends and family who watched us marry knew that and accepted it.
Those who couldn’t accept it weren’t wanted or needed in our lives.
We all climbed into the back of the limo that Gage’s parents had rented for us, fighting for a place on the seats through the miles of fabric that made up Cherish’s wedding gown. Her sweet laughter was worth it all.
As soon as the car rolled away, Gage claimed her lips. “You looked beautiful today.”
Ry scoffed as we watched the way Gage worked her mouth in a deep kiss. “She looks beautiful every day.
When Gage finally pulled away and stared down into our wife’s dual colored eyes, he let a small smile play on his lips. “For once, you’re right, Ry.”
I leaned over, taking her hand in mine, unable to resist the sight of her delicate finger with my ring on it. “How do you feel, Mrs. Marino?”
Her chest was heaving as she panted from the kiss. “I feel amazing.” She looked at each of us, her eyes going glassy. “Thank you all so much for being my men. I love you all so much.” She blew out a breath, trying to control the tears that threatened to fall. “I don’t know how I could ever be happier than I am right now.”
Ry grinned as we looked down at her with love. “I can think of a way to make you happier.” He slid his hands up her legs slowly, inching his way under the dress. He got down on his knees on the floorboard. “Let me make you scream.”
“Ry,” she breathed out as he disappeared under miles of white satin and lace. I glanced over at the divider, ensuring itwas closed. I wasn’t a killer, but I would dare any man to listen to our wife cry out in pleasure.
After a long moment, Ry reappeared. “Holy shit, woman. How much fabric is there? I can’t find your pussy.”
