Page 82 of Ruthless

“Go to hell,” Grady spits a mouthful of it at my feet. Or at least he tries to. It’s hard to talk without a fucking tongue.

“That’s exactly where you’re going.” I slice into his throat with the blunt end of the rusty machete. Blood drips down the column of his throat, and it’s like watching art come to life as images of what he did to Kennedy fill my head. The blade is dull, so it takes much longer to cut through all the layers of muscle and tissue. I have to put more strength behind it when I get to the bone, but I don’t stop until his head rolls onto the floor at my feet. “For Nelson, you son of a bitch.”

“Savages for life.” Asher and Axel put a hand on my shoulder and squeeze as the four of us watch Grady bleed out onto the floor.

It’s done, but it’s not over. It will never be over. There will always be those who think they can come after us. Jobs will come and go, but with my brothers and my friend by my side, I will always let my demons out to play in the only way I know how. The only way I will be when it comes to protecting my family.

Ruthless.

EPILOGUE

“What’s with the all-black look?” Axel asks as he holds Lily in his lap. She’s wearing a dark green dress that brings out the same color in her eyes. Bits of frosting from the cake she’s currently eating decorates all down the front. Her dark hair is pinned up with a crown of flowers like a halo.

“Easier to blend in.” I sip on my whiskey, letting the burn wash away that I’m in a damn tux. Something I never thought in a million years I would do again, but here we are. Although, with the way Kennedy keeps checking me out, I might suffer through it more than once if I get a repeat performance of the storage closet we were in earlier.

“We’re in an Irish pub, and you look like the grim reaper.” Axel’s still bitching about my color choice.

“Better than looking like a fucking leprechaun.” I toss back as the tiny bundle in my arm awakens, and I change position, laying her up against my chest. Her dark hair is the same shade as her mother’s, but she’s got those Savage dimples. Seven months ago, Aislyn Marie Savage entered this world kicking and screaming at just over six pounds, and she’s been the best gift my wife has ever given me.

“Green happens to be the color of their wedding and an Irish one at that. Face it, I’m more of a chameleon and blend in much better than your lame ass ever could.” He waves the hand not holding on to Lily in my direction.

“I think you’re just whining like a little bitch because I stood next to Asher.” I can’t resist throwing that dig in there. The truth is, we were both his best men, but Axel is still sore that he couldn’t walk down the aisle with Kelsey since she was Charlee’s maid of honor.

“Eat shit, asshole.” His eyes widen, and I know I’ve struck a nerve.

“Ax,” Kelsey sighs. She and Kennedy are both dressed in form-hugging bridesmaids’ dresses that are the same shade as Lily’s. Her red hair is down, letting her natural curls run wild. “You are so embarrassing.” She scoots down lower in her chair, and I laugh at how she just chastised him.

His lips press together, but he doesn’t argue with her. Instead, he goes back to watching Lily feed herself. She lifts a piece that’s too big for her tiny mouth, but half the cake falls off the fork and into her lap.

“Uh-oh, Unc As.” Her small mouth widens as she stares up at my little brother. She’s fourteen months old now and just started talking words here and there. They aren’t always clear, but we manage to make them out. I’m proud to admit I may have had something to do with my brother’s new nickname.

“It’s all good, Wildflower.” He takes a napkin and wipes it up, smearing some of the frosting into the material.

“Charlee is going to hurt you when she sees the mess you made of her. They still have more pictures to take,” Kelsey hums out.

“Nothing could make my Wildflower look bad.” He bends down to steal the new piece of cake Lily just scooped up. She throws her head back and laughs at the dipshit with crumbs on her chubby cheeks.

The DJ announces the first dance as “Scars” by James Bay starts to play through the pub’s speakers, and everyone grows silent. All eyes go to the dance floor.

Asher leads Charlee into the middle of the room and wraps her up in his arms. He’s wearing an all-black tux similar to mine. Axel’s the only one that’s an attention whore in the family and wants to wear the same colors as a fucking leprechaun.

Charlee’s long hair is down in curls, touching the top of her white strapless dress that flows as she walks. I think Kennedy called a ballgown or some shit like that. Her mouth is curved into a wide grin as they get lost in each other.

“They look so happy.” Kennedy smiles at them and then looks up at me, those blue eyes sparkling behind the lens of her glasses. Her dark hair is down in loose waves, and I can’t wait to fist it in my hands as I fuck her from behind later tonight. The quickie we had earlier isn’t enough.

“That they do, Hummingbird.” I gently pat Aislyn’s back as she starts to stir.

“You know you can’t hold her all the time, right?” She tilts her head and watches me dote on our daughter.

My mind flashes back to Asher holding Lily all those nights ago when I thought I lost them both, and I finally understood what he meant. They become your everything. “Watch me.” I press a kiss to Kennedy’s temple.

“It’s like a fairy tale.” Kelsey leans back in her chair and sighs as she rests her hand over her rounded stomach. She’s due any day, and I can’t wait for that kid to give Axel a run for his money.

“Thank fuck he got his head out of his ass and finally got her to the altar.” Axel pulls out a cigarette and pinches it between his lips.

“Ax, you can’t smoke that in here.” Kelsey yanks the cigarette out of his mouth and tosses it onto the table. It lands in one of the untouched glasses of water with a small splash.

“Juicy Fruit?” I arch an eyebrow at him, dangling the yellow pack out to him.

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