Page 64 of Lady Sings the Blues

A beat. Then two. Then three he stares at me as if waiting for me to argue, and shakes his head. I can see the ‘what am I going to do with you’ question dancing in his eyes.

“Duke had to come back to take his place at the head since they were all gone. But he promised Dawna that if he took over, they’d get outta all the shit they’d been into because he needed to be there to take care of her. So he needed lieutenants who wanted outta the life. Who wanted the family but not the shit. I got patched in when he took over because of how I handled the shit I had to do. Mick, who shoulda been Duke’s VP got sent up for takin’ out a cop in a bar brawl. That left me to take the spot ‘cuz Duke knew I didn’t want the shit, like he didn’t. Chaos and Blood got patched in a few months after me. And a few months after them came Carver and ended with Sneak. We called a tentative truce with the Horde while they regrouped. Although we never trusted ‘em to stay down. Eventually brothers either left or decided bein’ outta that shit was a better place to be. So here we are.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Nothin’ much to say. It is what it is, darlin’.”

I suppose he’s right. That was then. That’s not the club they are now. So be it.

“How soon we talking?” I ask, changing subjects. “The wedding?”

Swiping a finger along the apple of my cheek, he leans over to kiss my temple as he laughs lightly through his nose, seeing my subject chance for what it is.

“Soon,” he says, showing me that crooked smile of his.

And that’s it. He gave me heavy without making it too heavy. I love him, I’m sure of it, and I think it’s about time he know.

“I love you, Beau,” I say confidently, and lean up to kiss him.

Beau closes his eyes just a moment, squeezing me tighter. “Say it again.” He pleads.

Since I don’t mind, I say it again. “I love you, Beau.”

“Love you too, darlin’.”

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