to be where we were as kids. Too much shit has happened. We both have different lives now.” He stopped. “I’ll always be the brother who didn’t protect you and that will stay—”
“Right, stop.” She held up her hand. “I didn’t want to do this but I don’t blame you, Xavier. I really don’t. You’re my brother, sure, and the whole brothers protect their sisters, I get it. We were both kids. Both of us, not just me. You were a kid as well, and I will not allow you to carry this guilt. It’s not yours to carry. You didn’t sell me or hurt me. Our lives took unexpected turns and I dealt with it.”
She took a deep breath. “Just stop feeling guilty about what happened and move on. It’s all we can really do. I don’t want you to be here because you feel like you have some kind of debt to me. I’m in love with Boss and that’s scary enough. He’s a crazy guy and amazing, and I can’t believe how lucky I am that despite everything we’ve gone through, he’s going to marry me today. I’m happy, Xavier. Against all odds, I’m happy. I know you’re happy too. I’m going to be an aunt. You’ll be a daddy, a damn good one. What’s more, every time you see me, I don’t want you to be thinking about what you couldn’t do as kids. I don’t want to keep being reminded of what was taken from us, Xavier. Our childhoods were stolen from us. Stop trying to steal the chance that we have now as adults.”
Xavier nodded. “I can do that.”
“Good, because I didn’t ask you this as I knew you’d cry on me. Will you walk me down the aisle to your boss?” she asked, smiling. He was the only family she had, so it was only fitting.
“Of course, I’ll walk my sister down the aisle. It’ll be an honor. And he’s more than just my boss. He’s also a friend.” He held out his arm. “By the way, I don’t cry.”
“I can see a tear. It’s right there. You just got to blink and it will slip right down your cheek.”
“You know what your couple’s nickname will be?”
“Nickname?” she asked.
“Yeah, like Brangelina. Graciella and Boss, so it’ll be Gross. I totally agree. The thought of you two together makes me nauseous.”
“Xavier, act your age.” She shook her head.
He chuckled. “I really hope Boss can handle you.”
“He’ll never be able to handle me, but it’s going to be fun to see him try.”
Graciella didn’t want to get married in a church or at the city hall. Instead, she’d asked if they could rent a villa near the ocean so they could have their wedding on the beach. She didn’t expect Boss to own an island or for a priest to be one of the Killer of Kings. That was his name, Priest. He didn’t go by any other name, and she’d yet to hear him speak. Half his face had tattoos, and there was nothing holy about the man.
Boss had his secrets but she knew he was all hers. She had fought him for so long but there was no one else she wanted more. Men had torn her life to shreds, but Boss was determined to put her back together piece by piece. He was her knight in shining armor.
The music started. A small band on the edge of their group sounded like an orchestra. It was incredible. Other Killer of Kings men and their wives were present. Their intimate group of people. This was where she belonged. She didn’t have to run anymore.
Everyone else faded away. All her focus was on the beast of a man in front of her. The man who’d been able to shatter her cold heart and make her hope for a better life, to make her feel true love.
Xavier placed her hand within Boss’s and as he moved to stand beside her, Priest started to talk. His gruff voice garnered everyone’s attention.
She didn’t move. She only had eyes for Boss.
Ever since she was taken, she’d stopped believing in fairy tales. They were just stories kids told themselves. There was never a handsome prince to save you. For the longest time, she had only been able to rely on herself.
Boss was her prince. She saw it now.
With him, she knew deep down she could experience life how it should be.
“Graciella, I will make sure you never regret a moment