Page 91 of Shattered Vows

I chuckle and stand. “I’m glad you like it. Now give your fiancé a kiss.”

She leans forward and places her lips to mine, kissing me briefly while Max wiggles between us.

“I promise I’ll show up to our wedding day this time.” She laughs.

I scowl at her. “That’s not even funny.”

I lean in again to kiss her, and this time Max stretches his head up and his slobbery tongue joins in.

“What the hell? You’d better not be a little cockblocker, Max.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand while Rapsody laughs hysterically.

Why do I get the sense that this is going to be a theme in our lives now?

As long as Rapsody is mine, everything is right in the world. At least in my world.

Later that night, we head to the dining room to enjoy a New Year’s Eve feast with my brothers and Anabelle, Max in tow. I’m already regretting getting Max because he is going to be a little cockblocker.

But I don’t mind—much—since Rapsody’s face lights up whenever she sees him. I’ve never once in my life wanted to have, or even thought about having, kids, but now I find myself thinking about them and what Rapsody would be like as a mother.

“Oh my god, who is this?” Anabelle springs from her seat at the table and rushes over to us.

“This is Max. Isn’t he the cutest? Kol gave him to me today.” Rapsody looks up at me, and I swear there are fucking hearts in her eyes.

I’m getting laid so good tonight. That is, if that little ball of fur in her arms lets me.

I scowl at him because I know he won’t. Rapsody sets him down.

“Wait.” Anabelle yanks Rapsody’s left hand forward. Her attention goes from the sizable diamond ring to Rapsody’s face and over to me. “Are you guys engaged?”

Rapsody presses her lips together and nods, emerald eyes glistening.

“Oh my god, congratulations!” Anabelle wraps Rapsody in her arms.

Asher and Sid get up from the table, walking over to us.

“Congratulations.” Asher sticks out his hand, and we shake. When our gazes connect, I see what he’s not saying—that he’s happy that after all the fucked-up shit we went through, I was able to find my piece of happiness.

“Another one bites the dust.” Sid shakes his head. “Jesus.” He pulls me in for a hug and claps me on the back.

“Don’t knock it until you try it,” I say to him.

He guffaws and clamps my shoulder. “Yeah, no thanks.”

I look around the room while they give their congratulations to Rapsody and realize that Nero’s not here.

“Where’s Nero?” I ask.

Sid frowns. “No idea. He should be here already.”

We shoot the shit, but when the staff brings the food in, we make our way to our seats around the table.

Max spends the first half of dinner running around and whining for food, which of course the women give him, until he finally conks out in the corner.

Our champagne glasses are in the air, and we’re about to toast when Nero walks in.

“Finally! Where the hell have you been?” Asher asks.

“Sorry, I’m late. I, uh… had something that came up.”

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