Page 131 of 23 Hours

I can’t fuckin’ believe it.

My. Wedding. Day.

The entire compound is buzzing with people, all of them draped in leather. From Adam and the brothers setting everything up with the guidance of Debbie and Candy Cane. To Bonez, helping us ladies get ready for the big day. Well, maybe not ready, but he sure is helping dial down the crazy. To be honest, I think Gunz sent his brother to make sure I don’t get cold feet. As if that’d ever happen. There’s not a stitch of cold goin’ on in these boots. The same boots he bought me last week. The same ones I wore on our ride, and I took off at the meadow. Our meadow—is what I’ve begun calling it. Because that was the most magical day I’ve spent with any person in my life, and the most I’ve connected with another person.

All of my new sisters are ready to take on the day, including Whisky, the fiery redhead, who rode in with Bonez this morning for the party.

Most of the sisters are busy getting dressed throughout my house. Why they decided to get ready here and not Bink’s is beyond my comprehension. Our place is way too small to host this many bodies.

On the couch, the picture of calm, Bonez lounges in jeans and his leather vest as the horde of females dress and undress in front of him. The man doesn’t bat a single lash. If I didn’t already respect him before, I’d respect him even more now. He’s got Leech on one leg as Dom sits beside him, playing with an alligator toy.

“Does anyone need hairspray?” Jez calls from the bathroom, where plumes of toxic fumes cloud the air.

Hot footing a fresh cup of tea from the kitchen into my bedroom, to get dressed in peace, I escape the madness. At the end of our bed, I pat Chibs’ brawny head and take the world’s longest sip of hot chamomile. In through my nose, I breathe. Pause. Count to five. Then out it goes. Chibs nudges me with his flat nose, and I plop down beside him for a quick cuddle before dressing.

We are T-minus one hour to wedlock.

“It’s crazy out there, huh?” I talk to my pup.

He snuggles against my side in response.

“Dad and I are gonna be married today. You might need to sleep in the living room tonight. Dad and I don’t wanna scar ya for life, bud.” I scratch behind his ear.

Our Frenchie doesn’t seem to grasp what I’m saying, and I don’t care either way. This room is a refuge and has been since the night I first wound up on the compound. The day I read the first vampire romance in here. The day I found out bikers can be into romance books. Though, Gunz would still argue that to this day. Don’t worry, I’ll keep his secret, as I’ll keep all the rest of them.

A double knock sounds at the door. “Kit, you need anything?” comes from Jade.

“No. Thanks. I’ll be out soon.” More like last minute.

The sisters are donning denim skirts and red tank tops for the wedding. Those who have an old man are wearing their property of vests, too. I’m… wearing… this…

Standing from the bed, I finger the edge of my band t-shirt draped across the dresser. A tight skirt pairs well with my Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers top. It showed up yesterday, out of the blue. Gunz handed me a package and said, “Wear this tomorrow.”

Oh, I’m wearing it.

I’m gonna wear the hell out of this shirt. It’s freaking awesome.

Doing my best not to let my anxiety win the day, I drown out the chaos in the house, finish my tea, and get dressed. My t-shirt slides over a sexy lace bra. The black, skintight skirt keeps my pussy under wraps. The leather bracelet from Adam adorns my wrist, and as a last little somethin’ somethin’, I slip the black garter Bink bought up my leg. It’s exposed for everyone to see. I can’t lie. It looks hot with the skirt, boots, and tattoos. Not too shabby, if I say so myself.

Knowing I gotta slap on some makeup to be more presentable, I kiss Chibs’ head before I exit the room. Out of the frying pan and into the fire we go.

“Woo! Woo! Hot mama!” Jez cheers when she sees me.

With long, blonde hair braided down both sides of her head, Bink approaches and squeezes my arm. “He’s gonna lose his mind. You look hot as fuck.”

Wrinkling my nose at the compliment, I squeeze her arm in appreciation.

Bonez whistles his agreement from the couch as Leech scrambles to get off his lap and does her best to toddle over to me. By her second plop to the floor, I swoop in for the save. Hooked on my hip, she pats my nose with her palm like she’s seen her grandpa do with his finger many times.

I chuckle at her adorableness and pat her nose, too, nicely with a finger. “It’s good to see you, too, young lady.”

Dressed in a frilly red dress and matching headband, Leech babbles an entire story before I hand her back to her mama so I can finish getting ready. Jez is nice enough to fan out the bathroom before I enter, so I don’t die of sticky aerosol lung.

In the mirror, door open, I give myself a once-over. My hair’s grown a bit since the warehouse. Not as much as I’d like, but I’m rockin’ the shortness anyhow. I’m just lucky I have the head and face for it. Not everyone can pull off bald.

From the small bag under the sink, I cart out the necessities. A dramatic smokey shadow, eyeliner, and va-va-voom mascara. I smear on dark lipstick for effect. Normal pinky blush and a bit of shimmer finishes the look. It’s not much, but it’s far more than I wear on the daily.

From the doorway, Loretta watches me, in her red, denim, and a sexy black wig. When I turn to face her, fat droplets cascade down her cheeks. Not wanting to lose my shit, I wrap the woman up in a big hug. Because I get it. This is a big deal for us. All of us. Something we didn’t think could ever happen when we were there. With them. When real life and happiness was a distant memory. Two of us are dead because of those bastards. We lost a bit of ourselves in the darkness, but we also gained each other. Before I know what’s happening, there’s a circle of sisters surrounding us, all wrapped up in each other’s arms, smelling of perfume and soap.

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