Page 56 of Damned By His Angel

I had a custom one made for him while I was still in Switzerland, it’s solid black with silver handles and a mural painted on the front. When Beth saw the lid of the coffin, she broke down in tears. I had it airbrushed with a picture of Bill with angel wings on his back and a portrait of their daughter, with her baby in her arms, and they are both looking down on the portrait of Beth.

I may not have been able to express my feelings for him in life but I fucking hope I can show him in death that everything he taught me, gave me and showed me will live inside me until I see him again. I’ve been here longer than I had planned, it’s been nearly a fucking week because the police were notified that Bill was murdered by a random source. I had a lot of red tape to cut through but I managed to line the right pockets and got it all stowed away.

Beth sits beside me in the hearse as we drive to the local cemetery. I have been trying to work up the courage to speak to her since I arrived and I know now might not be the right time but I won’t get another chance.

“Beth, I want you to come live with us,” I blurt out. She chuckles, I peer at her out of the corner of my eye. “What?”

“I was wondering when you would ask.” My face contorts.

“What?”

“Boy, I have had my bags packed since you left, the only thing that was keeping me in this town is in that box behind us. I never got the chance to love on my own grandbaby, so I would love the chance to share some of my love with my adopted granddaughter.” Hearing her speak about Kingsley like she is her own means more than she will ever know.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for giving us something to live for. Bill and I were living day to day until you showed up. You saved us both. I hadn’t seen my husband smile in a really long time until you came into his life, so it's me who should be thanking you.” I don’t respond as we pull into the cemetery. Cars line either side of the road. Beth sits up in her seat and looks just as surprised as I do. When we finally clear the vehicles and I see dozens of men in suits, then it hits me.

“Angel,” I breathe out just as she comes into view at the edge of the road with our baby tucked close against her chest. I see her sling is gone, much like my own. Her mother and father stand on either side of her with the rest of their family, sans Rook, standing close behind.

“They your in-laws?’ Beth asks.

“Soon to be,” I rasp out as I park the hearse and climb out, heading straight for my girls. Meelz smiles up at me when I’m close.

“Surprise.” I don’t respond to her. Instead I grab her face between my hands and kiss her, ignoring the growls coming from her father. I pull back and shoot her wink when I see the lustful look in her eyes.

Yeah, baby, I’m horny as fuck for you too!

I gently stroke the backs of my knuckles along Kingsley's cheek and place a feather light kiss on her forehead.

“Move boy, I want to see that baby!” I bite down on my lip to keep from laughing and step aside so Beth can meet Kingsley. Just the sight of her has the old woman beaming from ear to ear. “She’s beautiful.” Meelz melts at the compliment.

“Beth, I want you to meet our daughter, Kingsley Billie Argyros,” Meelz says quietly, waiting to see Beth’s reaction. “We wanted to name her after the hero that saved her other grandma.” Beth swallows a few times and looks away as she swipes the tears from her eyes. Everyone around acts like they don’t see her crying out of respect.

“T-that’s a fine name she has, my Bill would be mighty pleased with that.” I release a breath I didn’t know I was holding at her acceptance to our baby’s name.

“I never got the chance to say thank you, Beth,” Allison says, drawing Beth’s gaze to her, the two women share a long look and I begin to feel nervous. Bill sacrificed his life saving Allison and I don’t know how Beth is going to react to that. I see King subtly shift behind Meelz to be closer to his wife if need be.

“My Bill did the right thing,” Beth says, breaking the tense silence.

“My family and I owe you a debt we can never repay for what your husband did for me, it is because of him why I am standing here today.”

“You can repay me by allowing me to watch that little one grow until the good Lord calls me home.” Allison smiles warmly and places her hand on Beth’s shoulder.

“It would be my honor to have you in our lives,” she says.

“And mine,” Meelz adds. I leave the girls to talk as I move to the back of the hearse to assist Bill on his final walk. Respect flows through me when Royal, Bishop, Chaos, Knight and even King come to help me carry him. Most of the town is here to bid farewell to Bill. We place him on top of the ropes that will lower him to the ground. I've never led a service before. I normally leave this part to the family’s priest but Beth asked me to do it, so I will out of respect for her and Bill. I drew the fucking line at holding a Bible though, if I touched one of those things I’d go up in flames.

I clear my throat before I begin and lock eyes with Amelia. “Everybody’s talking about heaven like they just can’t wait to go, but I can because I have my angel here on earth. Bill found his angel in Beth, the love of his life. Her daddy thought Bill was no good for his little girl.” I smirk when King rolls his eyes, unlike Beth’s father he knows no matter what he does or tries to do I would never stay away from Amelia. “Bill didn’t need to win her daddy’s approval though, because he already had hers. They lived a life filled with love that many envied… they faced a horror no family should.” Beth lowers her gaze. “Yet, they both pulled through that tragedy because they loved each other enough to remain here on earth and not follow after their own daughter. For that, I am grateful.” I turn to Beth next and wait for her to meet my gaze. “I never had a mother, the father I did have wasn’t… nice. I found a mother and father figure in the both of you and for that I am eternally grateful. Bill saved me from my own demons and never gave up when I pushed him away.”

“He loved you, boy,” Beth croaks out. I nod and smile.

“The feeling was mutual, because of Bill I didn’t allow my heart to be crippled by the vein that I kept on closing. I let it beat again in the hopes he was right and to my horror… he was.” Everyone laughs. “I found my family thanks to him and with that, I want to say to you, old man.” I focus on his casket and lay my hand on the portrait of him as I speak. “Thank you for loving me when I didn’t think I could ever be loved. Thank you for forcing your way inside my own heart and forcing me to see that love doesn’t have to be jaded and dark. I’m going to miss you and our lunch times together. Fly fucking high, Wild Bill, and give them all hell for me.”

Amelia

Two weeks later…

“Are you sure you don’t mind watching her?” I ask Beth who shoots me an eye roll that has me thinning my lips.

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