Page 63 of Broken

“This is true,” I murmur.

“What I need you to know is you’re safe, and I’m always going to make sure you’re safe. I’m also fuckingproudyou’re mine. I never want you to doubt that.”

“I don’t think there’s much about me that should make any man proud.”

“You’d be wrong. You’ve turned your entire life around. You have survived shit that would bring grown men down to their knees. I’m so fucking proud that you’re mine that I don’t even have words.”

“You just got out of a bad marriage. Are you sure you want to sign on to eighteen years of taking part in a child’s life that doesn’t even share your blood?”

“Absolutely.”

“Go to Kentucky. Meet with Dragon and your brothers. See what the fallout is of being with me up close. Then, we’ll talk,” I finally concede.

“Do you really think anything they say or do will shake what I feel for you?”

I shrug and say nothing. His mouth stretches into a thin line, showing his displeasure. He shakes his head, but the strangest thing happens. He smiles, his features softening. “My Gabriella has no idea how much I love her. That will be something I can show you every single day from here on out. In time, you’ll learn, baby. You’ll learn.”

He takes my mouth in the sweetest kiss I’ve ever experienced. After that we have breakfast and then shower together, where—for the first timeever—I experience shower sex. By the time Pez arrived and King had to leave, I wasn’t even upset he had a man there to watch over me.

I just kissed him goodbye and continued riding the wave of goodness that flows directly from the man that is bigger than life and the man I love with myentire heartin a way that surpasses anything I thought was love before.

He is my King.

Chapter 30

King

“You came.”

I frown as Dragon walks out to my bike. “I told you I would.”

“I know, but I wasn’t sure you’d actually show up. It’s not like you’ve come to many of our other family meetings,” Dragon says, pulling me into him and slapping my back in welcome.

“You have those shit weekly. I have a life. I’m here now because I figure this meeting is about me and my old lady. So, I need to be here.”

“Your old lady?” Dragon repeats, his voice rough.

“Claimed her and I’m keeping her.”

“Son, you just got divorced?—”

“Don’t start that shit. It’s none of your business. I’m not some wet-behind-the-ears kid. I’m in my thirties. I grew up hard and fast. I know my mind.”

Dragon holds up his hands in surrender. “I just want to make sure. I’m your ally in this, King. Nicole and I both will make it plain that we’re supporting you.”

My body jerks with that announcement. I don’t know what I expected, but that wasn’t it. “I appreciate it, but I don’t think you get that I don’t need support. I spent most of my life without knowing my brothers or my sister. If they can’t see their wayaround to letting me live my life the way I choose, I can live the rest of it without them. Gabby’s dealing with enough. I won’t let her take on more shit. Her plate is overloaded as it is.”

“How is she doing with the pregnancy?”

“She’s good. We decided not to find out what we’re having. Gabby wants it to be a surprise.”

“We?”

“She’s having a baby, Dragon. I can hardly claim her and not her child. What’s more—and this is nonnegotiable—to anyone outside of those already in the know, Gabby’s baby is mine. That’s how it’s going to be on the birth certificate and that’s how it’s going to beperiod. You get me?”

“If they knew the pregnancy was from the rape, that with what she’d been through, it might make them more sympathetic.”

“I don’t care. That’s Gabby’s to share, and I’m not asking her to share it with people that don’t care about her. Besides this baby is mine!”

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