Healing Gabe (The Last Hangman MC #3)(67)

I still don’t know the real reason why you came back, and selfishly I hope I’m a tiny part of that reason at least. I’m so f*cking thrilled that you did come back, I finally get the woman I’ve always loved and wanted .

I know things will be f*cking chaos at times but I promise you one thing, I’ll never, ever let anything happen to you ever again. I’ll protect you forever and will cherish every single moment we get to spend together.

I don’t know what you want in life, if you want marriage, kids, to move away from here, whatever you want, you’ll get it. I don’t give a f*ck about the cost or if it kills me, you want it, it’s yours.

I love you with every single fibre of my being. It’s time to live for us.

Gabe

It takes me a few minutes after finishing reading to be able to speak. “I just want to be happy with you. I don’t care if we get married, have kids, pets or not. All I need is you, Gabe. You make me happy. Whatever comes our way, I’ll embrace it and love it with all that I have.” I look up at him. He looks surprised, happy and shocked.

“I promise yo-”

I cut him off. “I don’t need your promises, I need your love. That’s all I’ve ever needed and that’s all I’ll ever need.”

“You’ve always had it, Viv. You stole it from me the moment I met you.” I nod. “The thoughts of Annie and I being together still haunting you?”

“Yes and no. It’s weird but it feels like I finally have closure. She was always the favorite, the sweet and innocent one. I thought that was what you loved and wanted in your life. Men seem to love that, bu-”

“At one point, I thought I was in love with her, I wasn’t. I made myself think I was in love with her because I couldn’t have you. I did like her innocence, but I liked your sassiness and brutal honesty more. You were the wild one out of the two of you and I loved that. I always looked forward to seeing you.”

I nod. “I realized something when we were held captive, she had the same insecurities as me. She wanted to be able to speak her mind like I did, and I wanted to be the one who could keep her mouth shut and never get into trouble; the perfect child. She had started to change after our parents died but it was a slow transition, I wish I had seen it sooner. I still can’t believe what she did just to make us pay.”

“You and me both.” He sighs.

“I regret all the shit that happened because I stood up to Jared, but I don’t regret meeting you, standing up for you and loving you.”

“I know.” I smirk softly.

“Cocky much?”

“Can’t deny the truth.” I shrug and kiss his cheek.

“I don’t know how to do this, Viv…”

“Do what?” I look at him confused.

“This…us…being a couple, I’m not good at this.”

“That’s not true.” I stroke his cheek.

“Yes, it is.”

“No, it isn’t, you’ve been doing the couple thing ever since we got together the first time.”

“That wasn’t being together in a relationship, we were just messing around.”

“It’s the same thing, any interaction you have with someone is a relationship of a certain nature. Just depends how you want to define said relationship.”

“Bu-”

“No buts, kiss me, Gabe.” And he does, he kisses the shit out of me. It’s the be all and end all of kisses we’ve ever shared. Twelve years of want and need poured into one single kiss. It’s the type of kiss that makes you forget your own name.





CHAPTER 26



Gabe

How I managed all these years without Viv in my life is beyond me. Not that I need a woman to live, but she’s brightened my days ever since she came back. We were always meant to be together. I know it and always knew it deep in my heart. I could have gone after her, tried to locate her. I’m sure it couldn’t have been that hard, but the nagging fear that she wouldn’t want me after leaving me the day we killed Trent got the best of me.

I finally get to call her my woman.

My woman.

I’m watching her talk with Nic, Line and Ayd. I don’t know what about, I zoned out half an hour ago. Hearing them talk about wedding shit was doing my head in. Seeing the look of happiness on her face was making up for it.

“Hey, Brother.” Ant says from the doorway.

“Hey.” I chuckle and join him outside.

“How is she?”

“She’s good, doctors say she’ll make a full recovery.” I smile, finally reassured that I’ll have my woman with me for many years to come.

“That’s good to hear, Brother. She really scared all of us.” He sighs. He’s been affected as much as I have been. They were friends when they grew up and he sees her as his little sister, always wanting to protect her.

“She’s back to being her stubborn self and begging me to get her Red Velvet donuts. So she must be good.” I chuckle.

“Red Velvet donuts?” We both burst out laughing hearing Line, Ayd and Viv say it at the same time. They grin sheepishly at us.

“I do.” Bennett smirks wheeling himself between Ant and I to Viv’s bed.

“A man after my own heart. You should take example of him, Love.” Viv says very seriously.