Page 38 of Draco

“How did your last trip to Midnight Hills go?” Zo asked.

“It must have gone well, considering him and Frankie made it home,” Quadir answered.

My eyebrows jumped to my hairline as I recalled me and Frankie’s time in my birthplace. As tense as I was, I went there knowing this was my last time stepping foot in the city.

“It went as expected. Polo and his squad pressed us, but Frankie held her own. Even when they tried to intimidate her with their fangs and by drinking blood at the table, she just smiled and changed the subject.”

Quadir nodded like a proud father. “I love to hear it. I hate that it’s a part of the rules to take your mate to see whoever’s leading the coven, but at least one of us deserves a happy ending.”

I gulped down mycomebackwhen I sensed the angst in my brother’s voice. Ever since he took a bullet, Quadir had been moping around. He never acted like a hater, but his words made me feel bad. Of all of us, Quadir was supposed to be the one to findhisforever. The thought of my brothers having to live without me cracked my spirit, yet the idea of me having to live without Frankie felt like suicide.

As I stood in the backyard of Frankie’s house, I revered how nice everything looked. I added some details Frankie loved at Durk’s engagement to ours and put my spin on it. I knew how much her mother’s house meant to her, so having the proposal here was perfect.

“Damn, nigga! Had I known getting married would’ve pushed you to do it, I would’vetiedthe knot a long time ago.” Durk embraced me thenShiloh and his brother, Church, followed.

I didn’t expect everyone to make the trip from Silk Hills, but I was grateful for their presence. Aside from Quadir and Zo, The Sons of Eshu were my family. Knowing that’s what Frankie felt was missing in her life, I wanted to make sure she felt loved. That was the part of motorcycle and car clubs people don’t talk about—the family, the security, and the brotherhood.

Durk gripped my shoulder, narrowing his gaze. “You’re about to tie the knot. When is the baby coming?”

“In due time. We ain’t in no rush.”

Considering how much I stayed inside of Frankie, I knew it was only a matter of time before she ended up pregnant. She was worried that it hadn’t happened yet, but I wasn’t. If the Lord said the same, we would have plenty of time to have kids. If we never did, that was fine too. I had no problem knowing my legacy started and ended with me and Frankie.

Truthfully, my hands were too full for children. I had enough money to never have to work again, but I could never sit on my ass. Frankie tried to convince me to expand my barbershop to include a hair salon. As tight as her pussy squeezed my dick, I wasn’t with it. However, I did compromise and help her convert her childhood home into a place where she could explore her passion. Frankie called my actions an act of service. I called it taking care of my ol’ lady.

Stress shifted my shoulders as I peered at the stick. I waited twenty minutes to pee only to receive another negative pregnancy test. Not only was I sad for myself, but I felt like I failed Draco. He would never say it, but I believed it botheredhim that wehadn’t popped up pregnant. During our trip to Midnight Hills, the onyx vampires harped on building a legacy. Besides that, most of the members of The Sons of Eshu had children. I knew Draco didn’t want to be an uncle forever.

“Knock! Knock! Frankie, are you all right in there?”

I grinned, hearing the love in Stevie’s voice. She was the first lady of The Sons of Eshu, married to Shiloh, and she was sweeter than most women with so much power.

The ladies were in town with their men, and we went out for the day while the guys handled business. I raved about my new salon somuch thatClover and Stevie made me bring them to Ms. Green’s home to see it in person.

“Hmm.” I cleared my throat. “Yes, I’ll be out in a second.”

“All right. Meet us in the backyard once you’re done. Let me know if you need me.”

Stevie’s kind demeanor made me think of Sammi.

She called to apologize, which was followed by a request to introduce her to one of Draco’s club brothers. I thought it wasbold, considering the way she spoke about the men, but I knew what the issue was from the beginning. She was jealous.

I checked my face in the mirror after I washed my hands. The eye catcher on my finger instantly enlarged my chest. Not only did Draco upgrade my ring, he ensured I could always take care of myself. With his help, I converted my house into a cute little salon. There was more work to be done, but I was in love with the fuchsia walls and gold accents. Every time I looked at photos of the club members painting the inside, I nearly cried. A group of big black men playing in pink paint was a sight to see.

The second I made it out on the deck, my feet became cemented to the ground. I didn’t know what was more breathtaking. The flower arch or the tall,chocolateman standing underneath it. His cognac-coloredeyes wereshieldedbysunglasses, yet when I made an appearance, he snatched them off.

My throat tightened as I absorbed the scene. There were at least twenty people surrounding the yard. Each was someone I had built a connection with since I met Draco. When I was a child, the idea of celebrating with people who weren’t kin to me saddened me. Today, I was grateful to know I didn’t have to share the same blood as someone for them to show up for me.

“Are you going to come to me this time, or do I have to come get you?” Draco asked with a smile.

My long summer dress swayed in the wind as I hurried down the stairs and over to my man.

“Draco. This… What is this?”

He said nothing as he dropped to one knee. “Francesca, I know we’re already engaged, but I wanted to do it the right way. I’ve spent my life working off traditions, and it was selfish of me not to highlight yours. There was a time I thought I wasn’t worthy of finding you, and now that you’ve set my soul free, I’ll spend our eternity showing you how much that means to me.”

He shut his eyes.

“You saved me, Nugget. You saved me.”