Page 48 of Blaze

My mama grips my arm as we walk barefoot across the sand, towards Linc, who is grinning my way, wearing slacks that are rolled up, his bare feet just hitting the water, a white button-down shirt and his cut. Snow sits beside him, wagging her tail as she eyes the birds.

Crusher stands as a proud little brother dressed similarly to Linc, only his shirt is black, standing in the water, ready to marry us with Kayden standing just off to the side with Alice and Alex.

It’s perfect, this is completely perfect and probably exactly what I would have always wanted.

The damn man has thought of everything…

Mama kisses my cheek, then Linc's, before sniffling as she walks over to Alex and Linc grabs my hand, pulling me close, and I grin wide as my eyes tear up.

“We’re insane, you know that?” I choke, and he shakes his head as he cups my cheek.

“No, we’re not, because this is right,” he whispers, and I nod before his lips touch mine softly, before a throat clears and Crusher mutters, “Yo dude, you’re supposed to do that after I say you may now kiss the bride,” and I grin against Linc's lips.

“I still can’t believe he got ordained,” I murmur, and Linc chuckles as he pulls back slightly, then looks at Crusher and demands, “Marry us, brother,” and I grin even wider as I lock eyes with Linc.

“Okay, I’m not good at this shit, just ask Alex, so I’ll try my best,” Crusher begins, and I smile. “Today, I have this amazing opportunity to not only marry my best friend with the woman he has claimed, the woman who knocked him off his feet, but I get to marry my brother to my sister-in-law and that is an amazing honor I will never take for granted,” my eyes tear as I grip Linc’s hands seeing the motions coming across his face at the love his brother holds for him.

For so many years, he thought Crusher hated him. He expressed his fear of never having his best friend back, but he can see that the opposite is true.

His brother looks up to him.

“I have known Linc since we were in school, and to this day, in all the years I have known him, I have never seen him look at someone the way he looks at Blair. I have never seem him so in love,” Crusher says and a few sniffles echoes, “Both of you have had it hard over the years, you’ve lost people, you’ve gone through pain, you’ve had fears that you’ve allowed to run your life for some time. But today, I get to help you overcome those fears by bringing you both together in front of some of our family.”

I grin wide as a few tears fall, and with the hand still cupping my cheek, Linc wipes away the tears.

“Okay, Blair, copy me, and I’m sorry if I get the words wrong,” Crusher says softly, and I smile as I take a tiny step back, causing Linc to drop his hand, and I turn to Crusher to see him holding up a black band. I swear, my heart bursts at the love I feel right now.

Taking the ring, I hold Linc's left hand and put it on the tip of his finger as Crusher says, “I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness…”

“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness…” I repeat.

“With this ring, I thee wed,” Crusher finishes, and I choke, “With this ring, I thee wed,” and I push the ring onto Linc's finger before he grips my hand and takes a ring off Crusher, and my bottom lip wobbles seeing it’s a match to my mom's.

“Linc, repeat after me, big brother,” Crusher rasps full of emotion, and my tears fall again, seeing Linc's eyes shining with unshed tears. “Blair, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness…”

Linc repeats, rasping, “Shortcake,” I grin wide, “I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness…”

Crusher chuckles, “With this ring, I thee wed,” and Linc repeats, “With this ring, I thee wed,” as he pushes the ring onto my finger, I feel, no lie, like everything settles in my world, but when he grips my hand tight, I know we’re going to be okay.

“Can I kiss my wife now, little brother?” Linc asks Crusher, and I giggle as the man sighs, “Fine,” and not even half a second later, Linc pulls me into him, cups my face and presses his lips against mine in a searing kiss. I grip his cut as our family cheers while Snow barks and the sea covers our feet. I can’t help but smile into the kiss feeling so goddamn happy, a happiness that for me, was never intended because people always leave, but not this man, no, not even a bullet would stop him from standing by my side.

Chapter 23

Blaze

I sit astride my Harley and look at my home where my wife, my fucking wife, sleeps, with our baby nestled safely in her belly and our dog guarding her.

We got back from visiting her parents' grave, and my mom's a few hours ago after probably the best fucking wedding I could have asked for, the love my little brother held for me, for my girl…

It was perfect, even telling my mom, who was never there for me, that I’ve found my peace was freeing. Now I have to do something, I have to go against the feeling of protectiveness I had held for so long and take a life in order to protect my peace with my wife and our child.

Elenor will never stop, she’s called and messaged several times, and word on the street is that the Chargers have been around her trailer a lot over the past three months. She knows I won’t fuck her, so she doesn’t have to hide who she shares a bed with, or in her case, the grass with.

Halsy is gone. She messaged a goodbye text early this morning, but did mention the several cars outside her old trailer and the loud music.

El has gone down a dark fucking path that none of us can drag her out of. When I saw that gleam in her eyes when I offered to claim her, the patch chaser gleam, I shouldn’t have ignored it. I should have seen the reality of my situation then, because at least then I wouldn’t have to do this.

“You ready, brother?” Trick asks, and I take a deep breath, but nod as I look at the officer brothers all sitting astride their bikes, minus Crash, who is still MIA, waiting for me.