Page 84 of Reaper Razed

And just like that, we’re married! I feel like I’m floating in a dream. As Steel drives us back to the coffee shop, I can’t believe I’m married. I can’t believe I’m the luckiest man alive. My wife will want for nothing, my son will want for nothing, and I will spend every day trying to make her as happy as she makes me.

As we pull up outside the coffee shop, it looks stunning from the outside. There are four little bistro tables and pairs of chairs along the front outside of the large window. Beside the door, two large topiary hearts are standing in large planters on either side, with fairy lights trailing through them. A white ribbon is tied across them with ‘Mr and Mrs’ printed in gold. Everyone is standing in two rows on either side of the door at the side of the red carpet that’s laid out for us to walk down.

Demi stands at the end opposite Bran with some large scissors. We make our way past everyone. Viking, Carmen, Roach, Catalina, Dice, Dozer, Beauty, Scar, Ares, Blade, Dane, Priest. Ray and Steel are behind us, and as we reach Demi and Bran, she hands us the scissors, giving us both a hug. “Congratulations, I’m so happy for you both.”

As she pulls back, she gestures towards the ribbon, and Skye takes the scissors, turning to face everyone, and I step to her side. “I want to thank you all for accepting me into your family. It’s something I’ve never had before, and when I arrived, you all welcomed me without even knowing me. I’ve found more love here in these months since I arrived than I've ever had in the rest of my twenty-four years. I’m sorry I lied to you all about my age…” I take her hand as she trails off.

I kiss the back of her hand and hold it against my heart. “I want to introduce you all to my wife … Skye Pershing!” Everyone whoops and hollers, and confetti rains down all over us. “I would also like to introduce you to my son!” I reach across with my hand and place it on her stomach, and she blushes. “Well, he will be a few months yet, but I’m gonna be a dad!” I scream out, and all my brothers rush us and hug us. I’ve never felt more content. When the ruckus dies down, Skye shakes her head at me, smiling. She knew I couldn’t keep it in any longer. I’ve been dying to tell them all since the second I decided this little bundle and the woman carrying him would be mine. Mine to love, mine to protect, and mine to cherish.

Skye steps forward and cuts the ribbon. Demi ushers us to step in first. There are two young girls inside. One has a tray with two champagne glasses that say Mr on one and Mrs on the other. Demi leans over Skye’s shoulder. “Yours is non-alcoholic,” and Skye breathes a sigh of relief as we take the glasses and step through the door.

“Wow, Demi, this place is beautiful.” Skye’s voice comes out as a whisper of awe, and she beams at all the details Demi has added for the wedding.

The photographer came through the back while we were in the scrimmage outside and has been taking photos of us as we enter. Our faces must be a picture, as this place is stunning!

A banquet table is lined along the left wall with sage green accents on the white linens. In the centre of the table are three cakes on stands with flowers entwined around them. There’s a spread of finger food laid out around them.

Each table has a mini topiary heart in a pot with small fairy lights wrapped around it. Pendant lights are hanging from the ceiling all the way around the space, but they’re dimmed, and there are fairy lights all the way around the banquet table, the booths and the counter.

Everything feels so romantic. As everyone filters in, they all take a glass, and the celebrations begin. There’s background music, and people eat and drink, and even a few of us manage to have a dance. This place is gonna hold a special place in my heart, and I can’t believe our family has pulled this out of the bag for us.

The day has been perfect. After seeing Skye last night covered in god knows what and blood, I honestly wondered if she would be okay today. But the more I look at her, there’s a softness to her that wasn’t there before. She’s breathing a little deeper, a little freer, with a little more purpose. Those beautiful big brown eyes with the gold flecks that normally glisten are sparkling. It’s like the gold has been regilded. It's brighter and more iridescent. Her smile is more relaxed and wider than I’ve ever seen it.

“You’re staring!” she whispers into my ear, kissing my neck and making me shudder.

“I can’t believe you’re mine!” I say honestly because at this moment, as I look into those eyes, I’ve found my home and purpose, and I can’t wait to start this adventure of our new life together as a family!

Dane

It’s the morning of the funeral. I’m unsure how we’re gonna get through this. We just seem to be losing more and more people. I honestly know I have more people now than before, but I’ve felt alone for the longest time. I don’t know if it’s because, at one time, we only had each other, the four of us, me, Ray, Bran and then Scar, but now Ray has Steel, Bran has Demi, and Scar has Ares.

I have a hot guy I can’t get out of my head who I love but hate. I want, but I don’t. I can’t bear to be near, but can’t bear to not be with him. It’s a total mind-fuck, but honestly, I’m just hurt that he didn’t want me, and I can’t seem to get over him. Maybe I should try getting under someone else. Isn't that what they say?

As we head out to the cars that have been sent for us, Ray and Steel are waiting for me. Bran and Demi are going with Scar, and Ares is hugging Scar like he might not see her again. These things are family only. This is gonna be fun, as Ray and Cade have managed to avoid each other until now. He’s going with my mum and dad, so at least there’s a bit of separation for now.

Pulling up to the military base and checking in, the whole place has a sombre mood. This base isn’t just any base. This is our headquarters. Although we work out of The Tower, this is our base of operations.

As we head through the gates, we’re surrounded by our organisation. We pass ourselves off as a military base. It’s run as such: uniforms, vehicles, everything. It looks like an official base, but looks can be deceiving.

Once the funeral is over and we have two more urns ready to collect in a few days to add to our collection of ash family members, we head to the bar on base!

Ray and Cade sit on opposite sides of the room but face each other, neither one wanting to back down from the fury they’re reigning down on each other through their glares alone. Steel, Bran, me and Dad are standing at the bar in the centre at the end of the room.

“Do you think they realise how much this actually makes sense?” I ask as we cast our gazes from one side to the other.

“I mean, it seems kind of obvious standing here watching them.” Bran adds.

“They're both as fucking stubborn as each other. We know from experience how long their feuds can last!” Dad reminds us. Fuck, yep, I mean, that whole Jeremy thing blew over quicker than we expected, but I think we just felt more detached because we were over here, but fuck, this could be the worst yet!

“It really is scary looking at them like this! I mean, what if it’s not even true? We really should push them to do something about getting some answers.”

I think I’m making a smart observation till Dad chimes in, “This isn’t even about the results. They're irrelevant at this point!”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s always wanted kids, and then what happened happened, and she was born. That first time he held her, she was his. DNA never came into it. He always tried to be impartial, but when it came to her, he never was. He sure made to look like he was, but she was his little girl. That’s why he never met anyone. No one was gonna replace her. When Daniel died, it left a gap, and he wanted to fill it. He couldn’t bear to be away from her, and that's why he moved back. Why do you think he’s at the club?

“But now Steven and JJ are gone; he wants to be her dad so bad, he couldn’t see it wasn’t the time. And for her, he’s always been her dad. We all have. She loves us all the same. She’s just hurt we didn’t tell her and then how he went about telling her. In truth, it’s that she didn’t know, not that it’s a possibility. She just feels deceived. She won’t love him any more or any less.”

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