Page 62 of Tempest

That familiar tension radiated off Tempest, but when he spoke, his voice was controlled. “All of you think it’s so funny. Exactly how many of you were aware of how we felt about each other?”

Silence fell. I held my breath, acutely aware of every pair of eyes on us.

“Everyone but her parents,” Saint said.

Then Wraith raised his glass. “To Tempest and Kasen!”

The room erupted in cheers. Glasses clinked, liquor sloshed. The celebration took on a new energy.

“To fallen brothers,” Preacher’s voice cut through the noise. The mood shifted instantly, smiles fading. “And to the fight ahead.”

“To fallen brothers,” the crowd echoed, voices thick with emotion.

I glanced up at Tempest. His eyes were dark, filled with a mix of grief and determination that made my heart ache. I knew he blamed himself for what happened to Bats and Gears.

“We’ll make it through this,” I whispered.

He looked down at me, his expression softening for a moment. “Yeah,” he said gruffly. “We will.”

I tugged gently on Tempest’s hand, leading him away from the crowd. We found a quiet corner, the thumping bass muffled by the old wood paneling. My heart raced as I turned to face him.

“Tempest.” I knew my voice was barely audible over the distant roar of the party. “I… I’m scared. I don’t want to be, but I am. I’m supposed to be strong, and a support for you and the club, but…”

His calloused fingers brushed my cheek. “Me too, darlin’. Everyone here is worried about tomorrow, but we’re all dealing with it in our own ways.”

“Promise me you’ll be safe,” I demanded, gripping his cut. “Promise me.”

Tempest’s eyes, usually shining with barely contained fury, were uncharacteristically gentle. “I’ll always come back to you. Always.”

I pressed my forehead against his chest, inhaling the scent of leather and gasoline. I had a feeling he was lying to me, but I’d take it right now. “I’ve waited so long for this. For us. I can’t lose you now.”

His arms encircled me, strong and protective. “I know. I’m sorry it took me so long to see what was right in front of me.”

Across the room, I caught sight of my father. He stood motionless, his expression unreadable as he watched us. My stomach knotted. He’d begrudgingly given his approval when we’d returned from Florida, but I knew he hadn’t liked the thought of me and Tempest together.

I saw Dad’s massive frame shift, his boots scuffing against the wooden floor as he began to move in our direction. Each step seemed to echo, despite the noise around us.

Tempest tensed, his grip on me tightening fractionally. I held my breath, waiting for the confrontation I’d feared since I was sixteen.

Dad’s imposing figure loomed over us, his eyes flicking between Tempest and me. The air crackled with tension. I felt Tempest’s muscles coil, ready to defend us if necessary. He knew as well as I did that my dad didn’t like us being together.

But then, something unexpected happened. Dad’s stern expression softened, just slightly. He gave a single, curt nod to Tempest. “Take care of her. You get through this and don’t leave her alone.”

My heart leapt. Was this… acceptance? A true one this time.

Tempest’s grip on me loosened, but he didn’t let go. “I will defy the devil himself to stay with her.”

I opened my mouth, overwhelmed, but before I could speak, Preacher’s voice boomed across the room. “Brothers and friends! I need your attention!”

The cacophony of the party died down as all eyes turned to Preacher. He stood on a chair, his presence commanding even without the added height. “Our family has a surprise for Tempest and Kasen,” Preacher announced, a smile playing at his lips.

My pulse quickened. What was going on?

Preacher’s eyes found ours in the crowd. “We’re gonna make it official. Right here, right now. I’m gonna marry you two.”

Gasps and cheers erupted around us. I turned to Tempest, shocked. His eyes were wide, mirroring my surprise. It seemed he hadn’t known anything about this either.

Preacher held up his hands for silence. “Now, technically, Lavender already did the deed. You know how and she and Wire are about this sort of thing. So if anyone goes digging, they’ll find a marriage certificate on file. But I wanted to give you a proper ceremony, surrounded by your family.”

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