Forever
Page 25
I walk over and sit in the place he gestured to. He wraps an arm around me and gives me a little squeeze. I snuggle into him the way I used to when I was little and we’d watch scary movies with Misty tucked into his other side.
“I remember when my father moved you guys in. He took me to the side and told me it was my job to watch over you girls. I was a big brother. If you girls got hurt, it hurt us all. I took that shit seriously.” He pauses and blows out a breath.
“I tried my best after we thought we lost them. I know I fucked up somewhere with Sal. That shit has eaten at me because I didn’t know how. Then you both go and fall in love with brothers.” He snorts and shakes his head.
“Not just any brothers. Squad members,” I tease.
“Exactly.” He draws a hand down his face. “We’re the worst kind of motherfuckers. I fought my feelings for Misty for so long because I know she can do so much better, but I’ll be damned if anyone else ever puts a hand on her.
“What I’m trying to say is. Look around you, Eva. We’re not normal. I wanted you to have normal. This ain’t it.” He frowns.
I tilt my head back and look up at him. “What’s normal? Would any of us know what that looked like if we saw it?”
“Probably not,” he says and laughs. He gets serious again and his blue eyes soften. “I want you to know, I was dealing with my own shit when it came to you and Brick. It had nothing to do with the two of you. Same with Sal.”
“Yeah, I figured that.” I lift a shoulder.
“I failed by not going to Mix with our shit and that caused my head to be all fucked up—”
“King, for as long as I’ve known you, you have come running to protect me and make sure I’m all right. Owen and I knew what we were doing. We knew you would be upset,” I say.
“But love is a motherfucker and none of that mattered.” He chuckles. “Owen. He’d knock the rest of our heads off for calling him that.”
“Yup. Makes me feel special.”
“You are special. If you can get his crazy ass to fall in love, you’re more than special.”
“Yeah, um, I didn’t know what I was really dealing with until Troy,” I say and bite my lip.
King roars with laughter. He gives me a gentle squeeze. “Yeah, well, you know that was minor.”
I groan. “But I still love him, so I’ll take it.”
King laughs louder and harder. I can’t help smiling. This talk wasn’t so bad. I love my brother for always being there for me. I can’t be mad at him for it.
Owen
“We’ve come a long way in such a short time,” Eva muses aloud as I rub circles on her belly.
“Yeah, a hell of a long way. I swear, you would think you could read my mind. I was just thinking the same thing.”
“Great mind,” she sings with a smile in for voice.
We’ve been sitting in the back of the clubhouse on a lounger for the last hour. The party hasn’t even begun to die down. She's nestled between my legs with her back to my front. I can’t bring myself to move an inch. I’m beyond content.
It’s been a long day. We’re married. I keep saying it, but it’s still surreal.
“It felt good to get away from the bullshit for a day,” I mutter into her neck as I nuzzle her skin.
She reaches back to massage my beard. “Yeah, you’re right.”
I think over the day and my heart swells. King stood beside me as we took our vows. I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else to be my best man.
Although, I think it was the look on Cage’s face when he walked Eva down the aisle that made the ceremony for me. I saw with my own eyes how much love he has for his girls, the club, and his wife. I’ve seen it before, but something about it was different today.
I think I saw the peace he made with his sacrifices. I admire him for all he’s been through. With Cage’s return and Rose waking up, a lot is going on around the Lost Souls family.
Word in the streets says Miguel has backed off. I’m sure Reap’s message had something to do with it. I smile at that thought.
Eva tips her head toward the yard. “Do you think Jemma will be okay?”
I look out and find my cousin with her son in her arms. They’ve been staying here at the clubhouse. Lord knows there have been a few interesting developments there.
Some better than others, but only time will tell if Jemma is better for them. So far so good. I think my cousin may finally find peace.
“I think they’ll be fine,” I reply.
Jemma doesn’t have to look over her shoulder now that Mags is out of the picture. I’ll still be keeping my eyes and ears open, though. However, Miguel is a problem we can deal with in the future.
For now, we have a bigger problem. Pop has been putting in work to get some weight behind him. Mags and Miguel were only a nice distraction for him to make a move.
With those two out of the way, Pop is going to have to come at us head-on. He hasn’t made a move yet, but we’re ready. Especially now.
Misty is due any day now and Eva is getting larger still. Sal, well, she and Gutter are happy and finding their way. That’s something we couldn’t say about either of them five months ago.
“Daddy looks miserable,” Eva pouts.
I turn my gaze on Cage. He does. You can see it in his face every single day. Rose still doesn’t remember him and she’s skittish as fuck when it comes to him.
“She’ll come around just like she has with you guys,” I reassure Eva.
“I guess so.”
Rose doesn’t remember much about anyone, but she’s excited about the babies. She’s been more than willing to get to know the girls. Eva and Sal, even Misty, have clung to Rose since she’s come home.
Home, we’re all in South Carolina for now. The longer we’re here the more right it feels.
“Their busy in there,” I murmur against Eva’s neck. The twins are moving around in her protruding belly beneath my hands. I just started to be able to feel them a few weeks ago and it made this all so real for me. Eva’s making me a father.
I can’t help the smile on my face. We don’t want to know what we’re having, but I’m hoping for two boys.
Her musical giggle fills the air. “Yeah, it’s been an exciting day.”
“The fucking best,” I say with a smile.
Things may not be perfect, but we have each other and our Lost Soul family. Eva has come out of her shell since being kidnapped. I don’t know whether I should be alarmed or not. She spends most of her time with the Squad. I know my brothers would never put Eva in danger, but they’re a batshit crazy bunch for her to become locked in with.
Honestly, I think it’s just a testament to the fact that Eva is a true Lost Soul. She’s seen her fair share of hurt to earn her place. Her place, right at my side. Property of Brick, Lost Souls, VP, the Lost Souls Squad Captain.
Want to Meet the Authors of Perceptive Illusions in Person?
Come join us in South Carolina for
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July 15th -July 18th
Join Blue and the ladies for Blue Saffire’s 40th birthday bash weekend at the luxury Wild Dunes Resort.
Blue’s Queens’, Divas’, and Readers 2021 Retreat Itinerary
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Here’s a look at the tentative itinerary.
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Thursday, July 15, 2021
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4:00-5:30pm Check-in and Registration
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6:00 pm-11:00 pm: Buffet Dinner and ’20s party
Special Welcome Event
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Friday, July 16, 2021
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10:00-11:00 am: Breakfast Buffet All Invited
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11:00am-2:30 pm Trip to the outlet for shopping (Tentative in planning)
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3:00 pm -4:00 pm: Lunch Buffet All Invited
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4:00 pm -6:00 pm: Book Signing and games time with
Blue and Ivy Harper
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7:00 pm-12:00 am: Blue’s 40th Birthday Party
Dancing, games, and more
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Saturday, July 17, 2021
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10:00-11:00 am: Breakfast Buffet All Invited
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1:00 pm -2:00 pm: VIP Private Author Lunch Big Hats
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4:00 pm -5:30 pm: Belly Dancing lessons with Blue and KT Adler
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6:00 pm- 7:30 pm: Dinner on Your Own
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7:30 pm- 11:00 pm: Book Signing with KT Adler, Ivy Harper, and Tiya Rayne and games
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Sunday, July 18, 2021
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10:00-11:00 am: Breakfast Buffet All Invited
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2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Paint and Sip with Blue and Tiya Rayne
Paint and Sip
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4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Beach Hang out with Blue
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10:00-11:00 am: Dinner on Your Own
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8: 40 pm-Until
Diva’s Ball Final Party with live DJ
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***All Itinerary subject to change.
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http://bluesaffire.com/blues-queens-divas-and-readers-retreat-2021
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much for reading this one, whether for the first time or if you’re reading it as the new version. I loved this book the first time around, but I’ve learned so much and was happy I could rewrite and expend this one.
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I’ve fallen in love with this book all over again. I think I love it more. Thank you for coming on this journey with me. There are eight more Lost Souls to go and I know we’re going to have a blast getting to know them. I swear, each one gets more raw than the last.
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Thank you so much for your support. I love what I do and I’m grateful to have all of you to share this with. Last year was tough and I had to make a lot of tough decisions. In the end you guys have shown tremendous support and love. You have no idea how much that means to me. The messages, the emails, comments and posts all gave me life when I needed it. Again, thank you.
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I would be so wrong not to thank my husband who has shared his wisdom with me repeatedly, even when I had a hard head and had to bump it to learn to listen. Thank you for hanging in there with my crazy. Thank you to my team, you are a family I didn’t know I was looking for.
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Now we know I’m going to thank God, my source, because He has been my guidance and to Him all the glory goes. It’s one think to say you have faith and another to demonstrate it. I give praises because I know what it’s like to walk on water. Thank you, Lord.
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Next! Gutter! Get your tissues. It gets deep.
About the Author
Blue Saffire, award-winning, bestselling author of over thirty contemporary romance novels and novellas, writes with the intention to touch the heart and the mind. Blue hooks, weaves, and loops multiple series, keeping you engaged in her worlds. Blue is a hybrid author, writing for Sourcebooks and for her own publishing company Perceptive Illusions as Blue Saffire as well as Royal Blue.
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Blue and her husband live in a house filled with laughter and creativity, in Long Island, NY. Both working hard to build the Blue brand and cultivate their love for the artists. Creative is their family affair.
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Blue holds an MBA in Marketing and Project Management, as well as a MED in Instructional Technology and Curriculum Design. She is also an NLP Master Practitioner.
Thank You
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Other books by Blue Saffire
Placed in Best Reading Order
Also available….
Legally Bound
Legally Bound 2: Against the Law
Legally Bound 3: His Law
Perfect for Me
Hush 1: Family Secrets
Ballers: His Game
Brothers Black1: Wyatt the Heartbreaker
Legally Bound 4: Allegations of Love
Hush 2: Slow Burn
Legally Bound 5.0: Sam
Yours: Losing My Innocence 1
Yours 2: Experience Gained
Yours 3: Life Mastered
Ballers 2: His Final Play
Legally Bound 5.1: Tasha Illegal Dealings
Brothers Black 2: Noah
Legally Bound 5.2: Camille
Legally Bound 5.3 & 5.4 Special Edition
Where the Pieces Fall
Legally Bound 5.5: Legally Unbound
Brothers Black 4: Braxton the Charmer
My Funny Valentine**
Broken Soldier
Remember Me**
Brothers Black 5: Felix the Watcher
A Home for Christmas
Be My Valentine**
Doctor Feel Good
Wicked Prince Charmings**
Brothers Black 6: Ryan the Joker
Brothers Black 7: Johnathan the Fixer
Forever Book 1: The Lost Souls MC Series**
Title from Blue Saffire and Sourcebooks**
The Blackhart Brothers Series***
Calling on Quinn
In Deep
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Coming Soon…
A**holes Club Series (Book 1 Pit)**
A**holes Club Series (Book 6 Kelex)**
Never
Blue Saffire Exclusive on the
BlueSaffire.com Site**
The A Million to Blow Series
A Million to Blow
A Million to Stay
A Million Blown Coming 2022
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Dom
The Fixer
Lost
Love Notes
Stay With Me
His Miracle Baby
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Other books from Evei Lattimore Collection Books by Blue Saffire
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Black Bella 1**
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Destiny 1: Life Decisions**
Destiny 2: Decisions of the Next Generation**
Destiny 3: coming Winter 2020/Spring 2021**
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Star**
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**Book not connected to the Legally Bound Spinoffs.
***Books published by Sourcebooks