Defiant Dodge by Naomi Porter
25
Dodge
The day marked the first of the rest of Emilee’s and my lives as husband and wife. I could hardly draw in a breath, my lungs tight with emotion as I stared in awe at my beautiful woman walking toward me.
Emilee looked stunning in her wedding gown, pure and sweet like the day I first talked to her. Before then, I’d admired her from afar for over a year, having known she was forbidden.
The first smile she gave me, I knew I was doomed.
Our first kiss had sealed my heart.
The first time I’d made love to her, I had been prepared to betray her father’s wishes. Emilee was meant to be mine. When I lost her, it stripped me raw. It shattered my soul and destroyed the weak little boy who’d lived inside me.
Gone was the kid who had been teased relentlessly at school for being skinny and beaten for the hell of it by his mom and her latest boyfriend.
Gone was the kid who took what he was given and never asked for anything.
Gone was the kid who feared the wind.
Losing Emilee and my son made me determined to get them back. To fight for them. The person I used to be would’ve never done that. Before Emilee, I’d stayed in line, never rocked the boat and obeyed everyone.
Not anymore. I was my own man.
Husband and father.
Fuck with me and mine, and I’d fuck you up.
“Who gives this woman away?” Patch asked.
Justin cleared his throat, staring at Emilee. “I love you, Emmy.” He kissed her cheek, then turned toward me. “Don’t disappoint me.”
“Never,” I replied.
Justin joined my and Emilee’s hands together. “I give her away to this fine, loyal biker.”
Relief swelled in my chest. I hadn’t thought he’d be an ass and ruin our wedding, but sometimes people surprised me.
An hour later, the reception was in full swing. Smiling faces were everywhere in the backyard. It was a perfect August day. Hard to believe it had only been four weeks since Emilee and Dante had come back to me. It felt like they’d always been here.
“I’m so happy.” She laid her head on my shoulder.
I kissed her forehead. “Me too, Em. Your dad looks pretty damn happy over there, holding Dante.”
“He’s over the moon about his grandson.”
I smiled. He certainly was.
Justin held Dante with his left arm under my son’s legs, his right hand supporting his back. Even with only one hand, he managed to have a mostly normal life.
Storm gave him a job and a room in the dorms. When Justin came home from working at the auto repair shop with Wolf, he’d spend the evening with Dante. He was a good grandpa—even learned how to change diapers. Once he’d mastered the task, Emilee and I would leave them for an hour or so. We’d stroll out to Wennberg Pond or hang out in the bar. It was nice having a babysitter we could trust.
Boxer clapped my shoulder and kissed Emilee’s head. “Congratulations to the bride and groom.”
“Thanks, brother. It’s good to see you. Where’s Snow?” I asked.
He jerked his chin toward a table where several of the old ladies were sitting. “She’ll be over once she eats her cake. You don’t want to mess with her when she’s starving.” He squatted beside me and whispered, “Fucking Misty.”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“Glad you took care of her.” He winked and stalked away.
“What was that about?” Emilee eyed me suspiciously. I hadn’t told her it was me who’d killed Misty. She didn’t need to know who’d done the deed, only that Misty wouldn’t be stealing anyone else’s baby.
“Y’know, biker stuff.”
“Right.” She rolled her eyes.
“Come dance with your husband.” I took her hand and led her to a spot by the gazebo. I spun her around, garnering us applause from our guests—from our family.
I tugged her into my arms to slow dance.
“I like your moves.” She put her head on my chest as we swayed to a country song.
“Wait until tonight, baby. I will blow your mind with my smooth moves.”
She tittered. “I look forward to it.”
I admired the backyard. Twinkling lights had been strung through the trees, and white flowers hung from the branches. I’d never seen so much white at one of the club’s parties.
Sugar, Tina, Maddy, and Tara had gone all out with the decorating. Those women had loved planning the wedding. Next up was Tara and Hero’s wedding in November. Then Boxer and Snow’s Christmas baby would be arriving.
A lot was changing, but it was good. I liked having a real family.
But I loved creating my own family with my wife.
Emilee peered up at me. “I wish Ben and his family could’ve come to the wedding. I miss Piper.”
“I know, baby. Cobra has his hands full.”
A couple of days ago, Cobra’s club found Rat. They were in the midst of dismantling his gang. The timing sucked, but at least the city of Fargo could rest easy now.
I spun Emilee again when the song came to an end, then dipped her. “You know, we need to get my mark on you.”
Her blue eyes went as big as saucers. “A tattoo?”
“Yes. Karma is ready to do it when you are.”
My wife bit her bottom lip. “Can it say Property of Defiant Dodge?”
I threw my head back, laughing. “Hell yes, it can. I love that.”
Defiant Dodge? Where did she come up with this stuff?
