Page 153 of The Vagabond

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MAXINE

Despite fucking like bunnies, I am not pregnant. So, in case anyone’s wondering, that’s not why Saxon and I get married two short months later.

No shotgun wedding. No rushed vows under duress. Just us. Two peas in a battered, scarred, bloodstained pod — and somehow,somehow, we still found our way back to each other.

The wedding takes place in the gazebo at the Gatti estate on a beautiful, wide-open Sunday afternoon. The sun is warm. The breeze is gentle. The sky stretches endlessly above, like even the universe decided to show up, to bear witness.

Saxon wears white linen — casual, understated, the kind of effortless rough charm that only a man like him could make look lethal. His sleeves rolled up, a few buttons undone, tattoos peeking from his forearms, barefoot in the grass like he doesn’t need anything but the woman walking toward him.

Me? I’m in an off-the-shoulder sheath dress, soft and simple, hugging every line of me — but it’s the look on his face as I step into the sunlight that makes me feel like I’m the only woman who’s ever existed.

The guests are family — the only kind we keep. The Gattibrothers, their wives, a few of the trusted enforcers standing respectfully to the side. I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and I guess it’s written all over my face, because the smiles of the attendees speak for themselves. For the most part.

Mason, my grumpy, surly uncle, is brooding under the trees like the world has personally offended him, but even he can’t hide the way his eyes soften when Shelby leans in and smiles as she squeezes his arm.

Mia slips in beside me, her arm linking with mine, her voice low, trembling just a little.

“I’m so happy for you, Max.”

I swallow, my throat tight, and glance at her with a watery smile as she continues.

“You’ve been to hell and back,” she whispers, “and you came back shining. You’ve always carried so much, so many scars, so much weight — but this… Saxon is your light now. I just want you to be happy. You deserve a future that’s yours.”

I blink back tears, press a quick kiss to her cheek.

“Thank you, Mia. For everything.”

And then it’s time. We stand facing each other, barefoot in the grass, surrounded by the only people who matter to us, as the sun spills gold over everything we’ve fought to have. Saxon’s hands cradle mine, his thumbs brushing over my knuckles like he’s memorizing every inch, every scar, every tremble. His voice, when he speaks, is low, rough, steady.

“Maxine…

you are the one thing in this world

I will never stop fighting for.

You are the storm and the calm.

You are the reason I get up,

the reason I breathe,

the reason I am still here.

You are mine,

and I am yours,

and I swear on my life,

I will never, ever

let you face another day alone.”

My breath shakes, my heart pounding as I hold his gaze, my own words rising like a prayer I’ve waited my whole life to say.

“Saxon…

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