Page 130 of Malachi
“Oh, fuck. You’re right. That fucker better not have gotten into my whiskey without my permission,” I grumbled.
“There’s the bear I know and love,” she teased with a playful grin.
“Beast. The beast you know and love,” I corrected her, unable to help but grin back.
“Yes, of course. My beast,” she agreed. The moonlight provided just enough light for me to see the full-blown smile light up her face.
“I love you,” I whispered into the quiet cab of the truck, unable to take my eyes off of this incredible woman. My wife.
“And I love you. Now scoot! You know Ollie will have already poured drinks by now,” she said with a giggle, pushing at my arm for me to get out.
“Probably,” I agreed, finally opening the truck door.
We both slowly and carefully made our way into the house, grins on our faces; hand in hand.
“Took you fuckers long enough!” Ollie exclaimed as we walked into the kitchen. Everyone gathered around the table, drinks in hand.
“Ollie, you motherfucker. Who gave you permission to get into my whiskey?” I grumbled.
“Shut up and drink, asshole,” Ollie sassed, passing me a glass of whiskey.
“We’ve got to start carrying something other than whiskey in this house. Not all of us are fond of it,” Eden teased, eyeing her own glass with trepidation.
“Whatever you want, love,” I promised with a smile meant only for her. Of course, everyone else saw it too. I couldn’t be that lucky, apparently.
“Aw, look at it! Beauty has tamed the beast!” Ollie snickered, earning him a pointed look from me.
“You don’t get to call me a beast,” I leveled him with a look. That fucker better back off real the fuck quick.
“Pssh, I’m not afraid of you, brother,” Ollie teased.
“Then you can be afraid of me. That name is for me and me alone,” Eden growled, earning her shocked looks and gasps from around the table.
“Go, Eden!” Delilah cheered. Ollie looked at her in shock for a solid moment before a grin spread across his face.
“That’s my favorite badass little sister,” he praised, pointing at Eden and looking around at everyone comically. “That one, right there. Do you see her? She’s my favorite.”
“And don’t you forget it, Ollie,” she shot back at him, her eyebrow lifted in a playful challenge.
“So, I think a toast is in order,” I stated, clearing my throat and changing the subject.
“What shall we toast to?” Eden asked beside me. She hadn’t left my side since what entered the house, not that I would have it any other way.
“There are a lot of things to toast to,” I shrugged.
“Well, I don’t know about all of you, but I’m absolutely ready to get drunk tonight,” Ollie said emphatically.
“Amen to that. We fucking deserve it,” Gideon agreed wholeheartedly.
“Well, as it’s my house, I guess I’ll start us off,” I announced. “For starters, a toast to the newest soon-to-be member of the temple clan. Here’s to Violet Temple. May you be just as strong and fearless as the women in your family have been these last weeks. May you be loving and kind, like your mother. May you be unapologetically you, just like your father.”
There was a moment of silence as everyone took in my words. Talia’s eyes watered as she raised her glass of water to me.
“To Violet Temple!” Cheers rang out around the table, our glasses raised in the air as we toasted the little nibling.
“Here’s to the end of the Elder’s reign in Zion!” Delilah called out triumphantly.
“Yeah! To taking those fuckers down!” Gideon joined. We raised our glasses again.
