Authors: K.S. Adkins
8 Mile & Rion (40 page)
“Pretty sure I’m going to let you. Less talking more---oh!”
Taking a nipple into my mouth, I suck hard, effectively shutting her up. Don’t get me wrong, I love her mouth, but now I need inside of her and I didn’t want to talk it out. For the next thirty minutes the only talking was of the dirty variety and her screaming for God.
Pretty sure he heard her too, my woman was loud.
Six months ago when I was at my lowest, I meet a tiny bookie who didn’t take my shit but still gave this fuck up a second chance at life. She saw something in me I hadn’t seen in myself. Without her, I wouldn’t know happiness, family or love. She also gave me everything I ever wanted without any fuss. Turns out, all I had to do was ask.
‘Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.’
~ David Ogden Stiers
Loving Loyal was the first thing I’ve ever done for myself. I saw him, wanted him and even when I wanted to quit I couldn’t do it. I loved him that much. Together we did our best to heal each other. Some days were better than others but we didn’t quit, we won’t ever quit. Betting on the long shot was the best bet I ever made. Deep down I always knew he was a sure thing; it just took him a while to know it. Now he does and he’s become quite smug about it.
We fell in love when each of us was at our worst. If we can survive that we can survive anything, bet on it.
As of 12:01 pm today, I am officially Rion Hart.
Twisting the ring around on my finger, my heart won’t stop fluttering remembering our vows. Mainly it was the part where Loyal told the judge to hurry the hell up and I quote, “
make that shit legal
.” Joining the crew, which included Tank and Shayla, we each did a shot in Senior’s memory back at the bar. Then Loyal said we had someplace to be so, I climbed in his pickup and waited for our destination.
Pulling into the cemetery, I felt my eyes fill up but didn’t want to make today a sad day. When he helped me out and we walked over to Senior’s plot, I was speechless at what waited for me. In front of his head stone was a blanket with three baskets. Senior’s area was adorned with lottery tickets on little stakes, a deck of cards on the ledge and flowers of every variety. “When did you do this?” I ask him.
“That day I said I had shit to do, I came here to ask his permission. No lie, I asked him and the wind picked up heavy and I figured that was my answer. Went and got your ring right after. Figured he’d like to look down and see the things he liked in life.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I whisper. “Thank you doesn’t seem appropriate.”
“Woman, you said I do,” he says, pulling me into a hug. “That’s good enough for me.”
For hours we sat on that blanket and talked to Senior, together. My dad would have loved Loyal and he would have been proud of both of us for how far we’ve come together. Senior always said, second chances; everyone deserved one.
Even me.
Tomorrow would be business as usual on 8 Mile, heading back to the books and back to reality. But, today was about us and I was in no hurry to leave. It was when the wind picked up and blew through my hair that I felt
him
. I felt my dad; I felt his love cover me like a blanket.
He was with me.
“He always said never to leave a man behind. I knew that when I saw you,” I whisper. “We’re a family, Loyal. Thank you for making this the best day of my life.” Then taking advantage of my good fortune, I lean in to kiss my husband on the lips because he’s mine and I can by law.
“Got a feeling it’s gonna get better,” he says, kissing me back.
“Better?” I ask confused on how that’s even possible.
“Junior Reynolds a married woman,” he says from behind me. “Looks like you went and got fixed up after all.”
“Rio,” I say on a sob. “You’re here.”
Loyal was right, it did get better. With him helping me up, I ran to Rio and like always he knew just how to hug me. “I’ve been so worried,” I say through my tears. “Where have you been?”
“I had a job to do,” he says, kissing the top of my head like he used to. “Had to see you for myself, tell you some things.”
“What job?” I ask looking up at him. “No secrets, remember?”
“Let’s just say I had to convince someone,” he says, with a sad smile then whispers, “Second chances right? Still have one left for a fuck up like me?”
I wanted to ask more, push for answers like always, but Rio was hurting right now. The weeks since my rescue were tough without him but I refused to be selfish about it. Maybe he would tell me, maybe he wouldn’t but when he joined us on the blanket I decided to let it be, for now.
Today, I had my family back. Later, I decided. I’ll push later. “You’ll always get an unlimited supply, you’re grandfathered in.” I say smiling up at him. But judging by the look on his face, he wasn’t buying it or staying. Rio came home to see me one last time; he came back for my wedding day.
When Loyal’s eye connected with mine, I knew he saw it too.
Rio was in trouble.
Again.
The End
Stay tuned for Rio’s story in
Convincing Bet
…
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Tee Tate, Brenda Wright and Melissa Gill for helping me get from crazy to published. To my Voxer babes and my besties, y’alls my girls. To my family, love you hard core. To every blogger, fan and critic just thanks for taking a chance on me. A big shout to Connie Thompson and Pamela Morgan for pimping an up and coming author because they believed in my work. To Detroit Rock City, I don’t even have to say it. You already know!
Author Bio
K.S. Adkins is a full time everything. When I'm not wifing, mothering or being bossy, I'm reading, writing or shooting. A full time realtor, lifelong Michigander and all around lover of all things guns and Detroit, I believe in freedom of foul language, gratuitous nudity, tattoos and mosh pits. I've recently taken up drinking wine and feel like I'm really making progress with it. I think my chances at finding a place within the Romance genre is 50/50, but I suck at numbers so what do I know?
My stories are written with heavy dialogue and are Detroit-based. If you don't like heavy dialogue or Detroit, don't read my stories. My characters are typically dark and fairly fucked up so if you want sappy characters without issues, don't read my stories.
I love violence, guns, blood, naughty words, awkward sex, rap, metal and untraditional people. Every fight scene was tried and tested by me. I have the bruises to prove it too.
I write romance, but my characters are not always romantic. Each is a work in progress. My stories are about strong women and the alphas who try to tame them, but never do.
At the end of the day, you may not like my stories, you may also think I suck as an author and that's okay, but I have to tell you, I had the best fucking time writing them and for me, that's what it's all about.
I love new likes so hit me up on Facebook @ K.S. Adkins or Twitter @ Hoodwrites and let me know if you loved it or hated it. ♥
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