And then all hell breaks loose.
I don’t know how many gunshots ring out and I don’t know who is firing, but when one gun skids to my feet, I bend down and pick it up, aiming at someone right in front of me.
Vince.
“I’ll haunt you, bitch.”
“And I’ll continue to send you back to hell. Bitch.” I pull the trigger and the hate on his face doesn’t disappear when the bullet lands in his throat.
He gurgles as blood fills his mouth and pours down his chin. He falls to his knees and then slumps over Malcolm’s lifeless body.
Quin and the redheaded man make quick work of the rest of the gang, and before I know it, the last few members of the gang, are placing their hands above their heads and kneeling.
But Quin shows them no mercy.
Four shots later and we are the only ones left standing.
I’m shaking. I’m covered in blood and I drop the gun onto the ground.
“Mama.” Quin catches me before the strength leaves my body. “I’m here, Mama. I’m right here.” He kisses me, his lips erasing the memory of Malcolm's mouth on mine, almost as if it never happened. “I was so fucking worried about you. I was so scared. I love you, you hear me? I fucking love you.” He begins kissing me again and I don’t complain, running my fingers gently down his face.
“You came for me. You’re really here,” I begin to sob. “I thought my life was over.”
“Never. As long as I breathe, your life will be with me.”
“Aye, that’s so fuckin’ cute,” the Irish man awes. “Ye know, I’m ordained. Who wants to get married? It’s just a few bodies and a little blood. What the hell, right?”
“I do,” I whisper through the blood, the bodies, the fear. “I do always.”
My life is more than fear and pain.
My life is love.
My eyes were closed before. I never thought it could be this way.
But it took a man with one eye to open both of mine.
“I’ll be your eyes, Bear. If you’ll be my heart.”
His face softens, leaning his forehead against mine. “I do.”
No two words have ever sounded sweeter.
December
“Okay. No. Don’t leave me. Don’t let go! You let go! I don’t know what I’m doing,” I yell, staggering on ice skates in the middle of the frozen pond.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
I’m fine.
I can just stand here and it will all be fine.
Pulse does fucking laps around me, doing double axels and backflips.
Whatever.
Fucking show-off.
“Daddy, it’s easy! It’s just like rollerblading,” Kimmy laughs at me, skating backward and Alicia is next to her, covering her mouth as she laughs too.
“I don’t know how to rollerblade!” I gripe, which only brings more laughter from the two of them. “This isn’t funny.” I’m bent over to try to keep my balance and my arms are spread out like an eagle.
Boomer is in the same position as me. Wolf is casually skating with a few mishaps, but he is doing better than all of us.
Warden and Bane are tackling each other on the ice. It’s only a matter of time before someone loses a finger. I guess that would make it easier to tell them apart.
Unless the other one cuts off his own finger to match his twin. That’s the kind of thing those two idiots would pull.
“If you can try to skate, I’ll go get you a Big and Dirty,” Alicia offers.
“I’m not fucking skating. Put me down,” Homer bellows.
“Afraid you’ll break those fragile bones?” Arrow jabs.
“I’ll outskate you any day. Bring it on, whippersnapper.”
“For one of your stashes?” Arrow bets.
“Oh, you’re on.”
God, even the old man is lapping me.
I shake my head. “I can’t do this. I don’t know why you talked me into it.” I hate to admit it, but I’m a little scared. The skates are sharp… what if I fall and someone accidentally cuts my throat? I don’t want to die.
Not when I finally have everything I’ve ever wanted.
Alicia grabs my hands and begins to skate backward, which pulls me forward. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Pump your brakes! Oh god, this is too fast. It’s so fast.”
Sloths move faster, but that’s not the point.
“Just look at me, Bear. Just watch me. We can do this. It’s okay.”
I stare into her big green eyes and find comfort and safety. As we lock eyes, I notice I’m gliding easily, smiling when I realize what I’m doing. I’m skating.
“You’re doing it,” she praises me with a big smile on her face.
I grin proudly, straightening my spine and puffing out my chest. This wasn’t so hard.
“I’m doing it!” I cheer. Everyone claps—at least, everyone except Boomer, who is currently windmilling his arms to try not to fall as Scarlett is cracking up next to him.
My confidence blooms and I pick up a little speed, starting to feel more stable. I even let go of Alicia’s hand and do a lap on my own. Sure, Kimmy comes around and laps me twice in the time I go around once, but hey—I’m skating!
“I think I’ve got the hang of this,” I tell Alicia. “I don’t think anything could make me fall.”
She gives me a grin.
“I’m pregnant, Quin.”
I slip and kick my legs out as I lose my footing, hitting the ice right on my back. “You’re what?” I groan.
She kneels down and places her hand on my chest. “I’m pregnant.”
I take her face in my hands. “Seriously? Really?”
“Really.”
I kiss her slowly, full of emotion and happiness. “I’m so fucking happy. Thank you. Thank you,” is all I know to say.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Bear.”
“Didn’t you promise me a Big and Dirty?” I sneak in a quick ass grab and she moans.
She nibbles on my earlobe and whispers in my ear. “Yeah, but I want a different kind of Big and Dirty.”
Damn, maybe skating isn’t so bad after all.
"What Ifs" - Kane Brown, Lauren Alaina
"Private Parts" - Halestorm feat. James Michael of Sixx: A.M.
"Meant to Be" - Florida Georgia Line, Bebe Rexha
"More Than A Memory" - Hoobastank
"Back in Black" - AC/DC
"If I Didn't Love You" - Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood
"I'll Be Waiting" - Adele
"Say You Won't Let Go" - James Author
"Someone You Loved" - Mitchell Tenpenny
"All I Need" - Within Temptation
"I'll Be OK" - Nothing More
"Those Days" - Lindsey Stirling , Dan + Shay
"Setting The World On Fire" - Kenny Chesney and P!nk
"React" - The Pussycat Dolls
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