He chuckles, the air between us lightening. He raps a fist on the table gently. “I’m glad it all turned out ok for you. It makes it all worth it.”
“Worth it? You’ve lost eighteen years of your life Johnny.”
He smiles, the smile he used to have, the one full of affection. For me. “Yeah, but you all made it. You fucking made something of yourselves. The way I was going, I was going to be dead soon anyway. Feels like an okay trade to me.”
“It’s not a trade I ever would have asked you to make.”
“I know. But I fucked up over and over, I just wanted a chance to…make it right with you, I guess.”
I want to lay my head on the table and cry. I want to punch someone. I want to bleed.
I want Evie.
I push through, determined not to leave anything unsaid. “You’re up for parole soon. Have you applied?”
For the first time, he looks unsure, smaller. “I’ve been in here a long time. I’ve got things figured out. I know my place. There’s nothing left for me out there.”
“Bullshit Johnny. You have me. You are one of us. We all have your back.” I reach out, cupping his fist. “You’re gonna be an uncle you know.”
His eyes widen in surprise. “No shit?”
“Yep. My woman has a little girl. She’s three and she’s fucking amazing. And Holly, she’s pregnant. Micah’s gonna be a daddy.”
His eyes get glassy, but he doesn’t show any emotion otherwise. “Good. That’s good. You tell Micah I have Brent covered. Fucker’s cried twice already today.”
The mention of Holly’s ex-husband makes me smile. Johnny’s been making his life a living hell, and clearly, Johnny enjoys his work.
The guard raps on the door and enters. “Time’s up.”
We nod. I move back, as the guard uncuffs him.
Shit. I forgot. “Hey, I’m getting married this weekend. We talked about waiting, but…” I shrug. He smiles, looking happy for me.
“Oh, and I made you a little something.” I slide the sticker out of my back pocket, putting it in his hands as the guard moves him to the door. He looks down at the glittery pink sticker in his hand, reading the lettering.I’m a princess, Motherfucker.His head falls back, laughter pouring out of him. He’s still laughing as they leave, my last glimpse of him the Joker playing card tattoo on the back of his neck.
I crawl into bed with Evie that night and feel my fucking feelings. The pain of losing so much time with my brother, losing the only family I had left pours out of me. There was relief there too, knowing that I’ll see him again, that I’ll get him out of prison someday soon, even if he’s kicking and screaming.
Turns out, falling apart is a way more effective way of letting out your feelings than beating someone up. Plus, Evie takes really good care of me after.
Like, really good.
So good.
I thinkEvie is a little overwhelmed at how quickly things happen when you have money. She better get used to it because spoiling her is a fuck of a lot of fun. I love watching the way her eyes widen and she gasps every time someone rolls out the red carpet for us.
She’s not marrying me for the money, I already know that. I think that’s why it’s so much more fun to treat her because she does truly appreciate every little thing we do for her. Mia rolls with the flight to Vegas like a champ. Strolling into the lobby of the hotel like she owns it, which I guess she kind of does since she’s going to be mine. You can be damn sure I’m making that official as soon as possible.
And the wedding? In my opinion, it’s the best fucking wedding Vegas has ever seen. Forget about Elvis. Bon Jovi marries us. OK, so not the real Bon Jovi, but it’s a damn good likeness. And like I knew they would, everybody we love dropped everything to show up for us.
Well, except for Declan and Cara, but that’s my fault. I might have fucked with their travel schedule, but I swear I only wanted to give them a little time to talk. The storm was not my fault, and it’s really not my fault they have to share some crappy hotel room.
They’ll make me pay for it next time I see them, guaranteed. But, if it brings them together, it’ll be worth it.
Standing in that church, watching Ransom walk Evie down the aisle is honestly one of the best moments of my life. I never imagined it for myself. Not once. Now, I can’t imagine my life without her. Without either of them.
As we stand in front of Bon Jovi, Evie and I each holding one of Mia’s hands, we promise to love each other. To take care of each other. To be a family. I promise to always stand between them and the world. To be their shelter. I will do anything and be anyone I have to be to keep that promise.
WatchingEvie say her goodnights to Mia, tucking her into her own massive bed in Ransom’s suite, I’m so fucking grateful for the chain of events that led us here. That led her to me.
