Page 35 of Enforce This

The judge turned back, realizing we hadn’t moved and she paused.

“Oh…” She softly started. “Evan explained about you kids having to cancel your wedding on account of what happened to Janice. It’s alright if you need a few moments to collect yourself.”

“No.” Trista gushed, releasing a big breath and stepping inside.

When the judge's gaze shifted to me, Trista paused and looked over her shoulder.

“Sorry,” I snapped out of it. “I— uh– I guess I’ve never willingly stepped into a courtroom before.”

I laughed at my joke. The judge didn’t.

“They say there’s a first for everything.” The judge sighed.

Trista gave a sharp bark of laughter and slapped her hand over her mouth. I started toward the bench, taking her hand as I passed and didn’t stop dragging her until we were standing in front of the sign that read: Honorable Patrice Clarke.

The corner of Trista’s full lips kept twitching and little sounds emitted from her now and then as she wrestled a bout of nervous giggles.

She might decide she was out of her mind with grief, hell, she might even decide that she really did hate me someday… but for now, it was enough to know that she was safe.

“Are you two ready?” Patrice asked, after she looked over her notes for a few moments.

“Uh-huh,” Trista quietly agreed.

“Absolutely.” I grabbed Trista’s hand and brought it up to my lips, planting a reassuring kiss on her knuckles.

I wasn’t a fucking hero… but I wasn’t a bastard, either. It was enough for me to know that I had done my duty by my club. I’d lived up to my role as enforcer, and I felt good about myself for not fucking something up for once. Trista on the other hand was a chick. A young, vulnerable chick. And while, yes, she had found a good deal of strength in the last twenty-four hours, enough to leave her brother sporting the signs of her crazy for a few days to come, she was still just a girl.

I didn’t have any experience with them—not in any meaningful, romantic way… But I’d lived with Daisy forseven years. I knew she kept the tissue box next to her when she watched chick flicks. I observed enough to know that she smiled when she watched the show about the damn wedding dress.

Signing a paper wasn’t enough for her. She’d remember this moment for the rest of her life. I couldn’t give her the dress and I couldn’t bring her mother back to stand watch over the ceremony…

But I could show her kindness. I could make sure that the memories of her first wedding were those of hope and stolen happiness… Rather than risk and fear.

Chapter Eighteen

Trista

Tears streamed from my eyes, and a smile lingered on my lips, threatening to take over at any moment.

I didn’t dare let it.

I was so fucking scared it would all be a dream or worse, a sick joke.

He’d just beat my childhood monster into a bloody pulp, and now he was staring into my eyes and vowing to have and hold me for the rest of his days.

“You're damn right I do,” he throatily mused when Judge Clarke asked him if he took me to be his lawful wife.

Before she could proclaim anything, he slid one hand behind my waist, and the other along my face. His palm was soft and warm against my cheek, I leaned into it, submitting myself to him in a way. As gentle as he was, his touch firmed and for a moment, he took complete control over my body and senses as his lips met mine in a tender brush. His hand slid back behind my neck, preventing me from shying away as he deepened the kiss and his tongue teased against mine.

I kissed him back, lost in the world we had created for just a few stolen moments.

It wasn’t long, but in those precious seconds, there were no Disciples. There were no pending funerals. There was just me and the man of my fantasies.

His hand slowly retreated, his hold on me loosening until his lips left mine and we were staring into each other’s eyes.

I sniffed and laughed against his chest. His leather-clad arms wrapped around me and hugged me so tight that for a moment, I truly believed he could take the pieces of our fucked-up lives and fit it all back together again.

“There you go kissing your bride. Congratulations, I pronounce you mister and missus Eric Aviston.” The judge announced.

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