Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 76022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Saul reached for my wrist, lifting it, and pressing a kiss to the back of my hand. His fingers slipped between mine after, holding on as we kept driving.
I’d met a few of Saul’s family members since we’d gotten together. We’d visited with his sister and her lovely little family several times.
One of his uncles had dropped by on his way to a bachelor party in Vegas.
But it was the first time we’d gotten together with everyone in preparation for our upcoming wedding.
Coming from such a small family background, I had been unprepared for how loud, crazy, and fun it would be.
But there were so many times that I stood back, watching everyone interact, and completely overcome by how much love existed there.
“Hey, Saul?” I called, making him turn to look at me.
“I changed my mind.”
“On?” he asked, brows knitting.
“I know we only have three extra bedrooms to fill. But I think we need like five kids. At least. I want all of that,” I said, gesturing back toward where we’d come from, “every single day.”
“Luckily, I know a guy who knows a thing or two about construction,” he said, leaning over to press a quick kiss to my lips before the light changed.
Coach - 5 years
“Whoa, where you going, little man?” I asked, scooping up our toddler as he seemed to be making a beeline for the wall. Why? Who knew. Toddlers made no sense. I once caught him putting piles of pasta on his head instead of eating it while munching on a leaf he’d taken off a houseplant.
“Papá,” he said, thrusting a fat arm out toward the door.
“Yeah, the door. That’s where I was going. You were running face-first into the wall.”
It wasn’t uncommon for someone to be at the door. Between all the club members, their wives, and local friends we’d made.
But when I pulled open the door, I was shocked to see who was standing there.
I’d been writing him for years, but hadn’t been able to bring myself to visit him in prison after finally getting free of that place myself.
“You’re out,” I said, my eyes going wide.
He looked mostly the same from the last time I’d seen him, except he’d clearly been working out. Gone was the skinny kid; In his place was a lean-fit man with a more chiseled jaw, bright green eyes, and brown hair that he had shaved close to his head.
“I’m out. You’re a dad.”
“I am. I’ve got two.”
“You never mentioned that.”
“Figure not everyone wants to talk about kid stuff,” I said, shrugging. “Did you get out today?”
“Yeah.”
“And you came right here?”
“Got nowhere else to go,” he admitted, making my heart crack.
But of course he had nowhere to go. That was part of the reason he’d been such an angry kid when he went inside.
“Is that Saint with the… oh,” Este said, stopping at my side as she looked out. “Oh my God. You’re Deacon!”
Then, baby on her shoulder, she flung her arm around Deacon, pulling him in for the first hug the guy had probably had in a decade.
“You know about me?” Deacon asked, arms awkwardly patting her back.
“Of course I know about you. Saul talks about you all the time! We have your art all over the house.”
“Yeah?” Deacon asked, shifting his feet.
“Of course. I keep telling Saul that you are going to make a fortune from it when you got out. And now you’re out.”
“Dunno about that.”
Deacon fell into the trap that a lot of young men from shitty families do. Without any love or direction growing up, with a parent who beat the shit out of him and emotionally stomped him out, he went looking for belonging elsewhere. That got him into crimes. And if he’d been on the loose long enough, I was sure drugs would have become a problem.
In a fucked-up way, going away, and making friends with people inside like me, had shown him there was a different way.
Evident by him showing up at my door all these years later.
“Well, I do,” Este insisted. “Okay. What are you doing standing on the porch? Come in. I have fresh coffee. And I was about to make some lunch. Are you hungry?”
“You’re gonna invite me in?” Deacon asked, watching her with wary eyes.
“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I’m a con.”
“Saul is too.”
“It’s different.”
“Not from where I’m standing. Come on. You’re practically family. Are you afraid of dogs?”
“Nah.”
“Okay. Trix might not be a fan of yours right off. But she will warm up eventually once she realizes you’re safe.”
We all moved inside, but after I put down our toddler and took the baby, so Este’s hands were free, Deacon and I hung back as Este disappeared into the kitchen.
“This is your place?”
“Yeah. We’ve done a lot of work on it.”
“It’s nice.”
“Yeah. It’s home. So, what are you most excited about now that you’re out? I think mine was food, a good shower, sex, and peaceful sleep.”