Ride or Die (Rejects Paradise 4)

My thighs clench as the desire rocks through me, making it nearly impossible to even stand under his intense stare.

“Holy shit,” I breathe, reaching out and clutching onto Hendrix’s arm to avoid falling on my face and making an ass out of myself during Mom’s big day.

I tear my eyes away from him. The look in his eyes too much to focus on for long. Not unless I plan on stripping him naked and riding him like a cowgirl in the middle of the most beautiful cathedral I’ve ever had the pleasure of walking into. I mean, this place looks like it’s been pulled right out of a history book, and judging by the way Roman is looking at my mom, if that’s what she asked of him, then he would have made it happen.

Just as the priest begins welcoming all the guests to the wedding, four deliciously suited men silently walk through the doors. They hover in the back of the church, not wanting to be noticed, but damnnnn. Four sexy as sin Widows in suits is not something that any woman could skim over.

Sebastian, Kairo, Elijah, and even Nic remain standing with their backs right up against the far wall. Silently they watch the ceremony, being here solely to support me and my mom. Despite everything that’s been going down between us, I've never been so happy to see his face.

His eyes come to mine, and even from so far away, I can make out the words on his lips. ‘You look beautiful.’

Fuck, it’s been too long. I haven’t seen his face since the hospital parking garage.

My heart swells as I look into his eyes, so full of love, while every other part of him is swimming in regret. The fact that he’s here doesn’t change anything. We’re still at war, still enemies fighting for the win. But even with a gang rivalry between us, nothing can stand in the way of the bond we’ve developed over the last few years. We can still forget everything else, put it all aside just so Mom can have the day that she’s always deserved.

‘Thank you,’ I mouth, letting him see just how much it means to me that he’s here.

Nic nods and I scan my eyes over the other guys who all give me warm smiles, reminding me that while we’re all currently serving a lifetime in our own personal brands of hell, that they’re always going to have my back, just like amazing brothers should.

Feeling too much emotion swelling inside of me, I bring my gaze back to Colton, and seeing the happiness in my eyes, he turns back and takes in the boys standing at the back of the church. He brings his gaze back to mine and nods, letting me know that he’s happy that if even for the next hour, everything in my life can be perfect, even if it’s only an illusion.

‘I love you,’ he tells me.

‘Love you too, asshole.’

He grins wide, and as the priest gets on with the ceremony, I turn my complete attention back to the front, not wanting to miss a single second of it. I focus on every little bit of what’s being said, and forty minutes later, tears are running down my face as Mom and Roman say their vows, declaring their undying love for one another and proclaiming a lifetime spent at each other's side.

I’ve never seen anything so raw and beautiful. To me, what I have with Colton is as raw as it gets, yet looking at Mom so completely in love just proves that it can always get deeper. And while Colton and I have never felt so close, we’re still just teenagers, and there’s so much that we still don’t even understand about ourselves.

The priest announces Mr. and Mrs. Jennings for the first time, telling Roman that he can finally kiss his wife. With a sigh of relief, Mom falls into his arms, and he kisses her deeply while Hendrix is screaming in my ear, cheering them on. “FUCK YEAH, DAD. GET IT!”

Laughter bubbles through the church, and although Mom would be in a world of embarrassment, she’s secretly loving every second of it.

Warmth spreads through me, and as the joy settles into my soul, I can't help but look back at the four boys standing at the back of the church. Only as I do, all I find are their backs as they make their way out.

Devastation pours through me. I would have loved to run into Nic’s arms just once and tell him that even though Colton and I have more between us than he and I ever did, he'll always be a brother to me. I need him to know how much he’s hurt me, but I also need him to know that whatever happens between the Wolves and the Widows, I'll always love him.