Page 101 of Devious Kingpin
The moment we stepped out the door, my steps faltered. My grandfather’s 1934 Hudson Convertible Coupe was parked fifteen feet away. It looked like my grandfather’s convertible, but it couldn’t be. That one still sat in my collection garage, with Juliette’s artwork on the windows. It had to be a replica.
“Where did you find the same model?” I asked. “Even the same color.”
She smiled sheepishly, and despite the cold, her cheeks were red, matching her lips. Her eyes shone in excitement as she tugged me further down the driveway.
“It’s the same car,” Juliette announced triumphantly.
I blinked, my brain too slow. “How?”
She straightened up, a proud expression flashing in her eyes. “I did some research and found an expert in the restoration of antique cars.”
As if on cue, an old man stepped out of my grandfather’s car. He looked to be in his sixties, his silver hair a mess.
“Juliette.” He waved my wife over and she skipped over to him, excited.
“It looks so good, John.” She beamed. “You did an amazing job.”
He chuckled, revealing a few missing teeth. “I was able to find the original parts on the same model cars. Same color too.”
Juliette clapped her hands, then whirled around as she reached him. “So ta-da!” she exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. “What do you think?”
I was still glued to my spot, staring at her and the car. I blinked, almost expecting the light to play tricks on me.
John laughed. “I think your husband is speechless.”
She waved her hand. “Trust me, John. Dante is never speechless.” Juliette shot me a triumphant look. “He probably can’t believe I was able to pull it off.”
I finally made my way to the car, studying it with a critical eye. I couldn’t find a single fault. Not that I wanted to find one. The thought alone spoke volumes. Especially coming from Juliette.
“I’m sorry I damaged it,” Juliette remarked softly. “I know how much it meant to you.”
It meant a lot to me. But she meant even more. Which made this even worse. Guilt was a fucked-up thing.
“Do you like it?” she asked, insecurity lacing her voice.
I looked up at my wife’s hopeful face and prowled over to her. My hands came to her slim hips, and I lifted her into the air, squeezing her into my chest. She squealed playfully, her eyes glimmering.
“I fucking love it,” I rasped, emotion swelling inside me.
The day this girl set foot in my casino was the luckiest day of my life. Royally lucky, through and through. Or maybe it was the day in the alley when my life turned the corner and headed in the right direction. It slowly brought me back to her. Who could have ever known that the little girl who’d offered me her pink scrunchie would one day become the very reason for my existence?
“Do you forgive me?” she asked, cupping my face. “If I knew what it meant, I would have never done that stuff to it.”
John was chuckling next to me, but I couldn’t peel my gaze from my wife. Maybe I was fooling myself, but I thought I detected love and tenderness in her sapphire gaze.
“I’d forgive you anything, Wildling,” I admitted hoarsely. It was the truth. “But this…” I shook my head. “This means so fucking much.”
It was so fucking worth waiting two years. For her. For my grandfather’s car to be repaired.
I had often been tempted to get the car repaired but something always held me back. Now I knew what it was.This.
Juliette leaned forward, pressing her lips to mine.
If only we could have stayed here, in this moment, forever.
CHAPTER43
Juliette
