Page 54 of Property of Shotgun

“No backsies,” he cries.

“No backsies,” I say hoarsely.

He releases my finger and throws his arms around my neck. “I love you, Uncle Shotty.”

“I love you too, kid. So fucking much.” I squeeze him tight, probably even a little too tight because he breaks the embrace shortly afterward. He moves to Jade’s side, giving Legend the opportunity to step forward.

I cup the back of his neck, giving it an affectionate squeeze.

“Remember what I said?”

He nods. “I’m the man of the house now.”

“That’s right, my man. Do you remember what else I said?”

“You promised to always be there for me and Raiden, and mom too. But on the days when you can’t, I need to step up and help mom out.”

“Let’s put Killian in there too since he wasn’t born before we had that talk.”

“Okay,” he says, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“Hey,” I call gently. “Look at me.”

He lifts his chin, and as strong and brave as he is, his eyes are like a mirror image of my own, full of unshed tears, and a longing to belong.

“Couldn’t love any of you more if it were my blood running through your veins. You hear me?”

“I hear you,” he whispers.

“Take care of your mom.” My gaze cuts to Jade who unlike the rest of us is openly letting her tears fall down her cheeks. “C’mere, mama,” I say, holding out my arms. She repositions Killian so he’s hanging off her right hip and comes to me.

This morning we woke before the kids and when they came down the stairs, they found Jade sitting on my lap in the kitchen. Jade didn’t hop off, and I didn’t run to the other end of the kitchen. Instead we told them that their Uncle Shotty was head over boots in love with their mother, and that I’d be moving into the main house when I got back.

They looked at us like we were crazy, then Legend laughed, and said “I thought you were going to tell us you were getting married.”

Jade laughed, and said no. But as she asked the boys if they were okay with the idea, I was itching to ask them for their permission to marry their mom.

I’ll be a King until my dying day or they strip me of my patch, but the only people I answer to, the only people I seek permission to love their mother, are the three boys in this room.

I lower my mouth, gently brushing my lips over hers.

“I love you, Jade.”

With everything I got.

With everything I am.

And with everything I’ll be.

SIXTEEN

JADE

Shotgun stoodtrue to his word. He Facetimed every day, and multiple times on some occasions, but seeing his face through a screen wasn’t enough for me, and it wasn’t enough for my boys.

We wanted our guy back home.

By the start of the second week of the rally, I could tell Shotgun was just as frustrated. He barely engaged in any of my dirty texts, and the night before they left to come home, he said he was done, that he was going to tell Biggie the truth on the way home at one of their stops.

---