There were times he overheard her explaining how it was growing up under the care of the Reed brothers, and he would've gone and killed them on the spot if they were still alive.
They might not have physically abused her, but they were master manipulators making Dinah believe that she was inadequate in all her attempts at spreading her wings. Just the damage they'd done falsifying her birth certificate and forcing her into school before she was mature enough, set her on a path to struggle academically and with other kids who were two years older than herself. It made her grow up faster than what was natural and made the hardships ten times worse.
"Do you see your daddy?" Dinah turned Tyr. "That's him acting silly over by the motorcycles."
Peer motioned in the air, talking to Viktor, appearing happier than he'd been in a while. He'd gone through hell searching for Kelli with no hint of where she could've gone. It looked like he was finally letting the need to find Tyr's mother go.
Tyr burped. Dinah laughed, rubbing his back.
"Bet he feels better now." Brage leaned against the wall.
"I hope so. Nita's supposed to watch him today, but she can't walk around with him when he's fussy with her knee hurting. I'll take him back inside and let Nita rock him to sleep. It's almost nap time." She stepped over to him. "I'll be right back, and we can get started."
Dinah kissed him. He patted her ass and gawked at the way she swayed in the heels. If it were him, he'd skip their plans today and take her upstairs. She could even keep those heels on.
"Gate's opening," shouted Dag.
He turned his head. An older blue SUV pulled in slowly. Squinting, he recognized Ann Gardiner in the driver's seat.
Pushing off the wall, he motioned for Dinah's mom to park near the back door of the bar. Following the vehicle, he opened her door when she shut off the engine.
"Dinah will be glad you made it." He stepped back.
"Not as glad as I am." Ann shifted and got out of the car, smoothing the front of her dress. "Thank you for inviting me."
"It was all Dinah."
She reached inside the vehicle and brought out a present. He shut the car door.
Ann glanced at him and nodded once. "I thank you all the same."
He walked her over to the clubhouse door as Dinah walked out, spotted her mom, and stilled.
The two women soaked each other up without making a move toward each other. With them both wearing dresses and Dinah's mom wearing makeup and wearing her hair down her back, he could see the similarities more clearly.
Dinah reached out first, grabbing her mom's hand. "You made it."
"I wouldn't miss it." Her mom held Dinah's hand and stepped back a foot, looking up and down. "You look beautiful. Just beautiful."
"Thank you." Dinah looked to Brage and guided her mom over to his side. "We should probably get started."
"Mhm." Brage lifted his chin. "Lizzy's been entertaining the officiant."
She turned to her mom. "It'll only be a simple ceremony, but I wanted a real marriage certificate. A legal document. Will you be my witness?"
Tears came to Ann's eyes. "I would love to."
Brage put his hand on her lower back and walked her into the bar. Instantly greeted by Heather, Monica, and Coco, who were also wearing dresses fit for a wedding. They took the present from Ann and quietly talked to her.
Dinah leaned into him, putting her mouth near his ear, and whispered, "I love you."
"Love you, too." He gazed into her eyes. "Ready?"
"Yes."
Together, they walked across the room. The man Dinah had hired stood in front of the pool table that the Slag ladies had decked out with flowers.
"Oh." She stopped before she reached the officiant and let go of Brage's hand. "I'll be right back."
As Dinah went up to Roar, he stood back wondering what was going on. She'd promised that all he had to do was say "I do."
If she ran away now. He'd hunt her down.
She looked over her shoulder and motioned Brage closer. Then, she grabbed onto his hand and pulled him beside her.
"I have a surprise for you." She turned him around.
He looked across the bar, finding Norah. His sister grinned at him. He strode across the floor and wrapped Norah in a hug, his heart full.
"You finally were able to keep a secret." He chuckled. "I'm glad you're here, sister."
"It's not only me." She held up her phone. "As soon as you go back beside your soon to be wife, I have mom and dad waiting to FaceTime. Dinah thought it would be nice if they see their only son get married."
He looked back at Dinah and found her beaming with her clasped hands below her chin. Her whole face lit up in a smile. He'd never seen her look more beautiful.
"Let's get this rolling then." He joined the others in front of the wedding official.
Norah snuck around behind the officiant and held up a phone. Dinah squeezed his hand. Damn, he loved her. She continually surprised him.
Her life, once full of chaos, now was free to love, and she loved in wild abandon.
The wedding officiant spoke. He gazed into Dinah's eyes, unable to make heads or tails about what was going on. He'd never gone to a wedding before, and he needed no one to tell him how to love, cherish, and protect the woman he loved.
Roar nudged him in the back. He said, "I do."
His president handed him a ring. Brage slid it on Dinah's finger to match the engagement ring he'd given her when he asked her to marry him.
Dinah softly said, "I do." Her eyes lit with amusement as she struggled to get his silver band over his knuckle.
The grin on his face grew. Damn, she was beautiful, and she was his.
No one
