The Brightest Star

Epilogue- King

King's POV

One year later

"See you on Monday, Dan," I yelled into the office as I headed outside the warehouse.

"Hey, King! Hold on a minute," Dan yelled, making me stop and turn around again. He caught up quickly. "It's been awhile since you started here. I know I told Benjin it would only be a temp thing for the apartment build, but it's over now." I felt my heart sink as he said that, but the smile he tried to hold back gave him away. "I wasn't sure what to think of you when Benjin asked me to take you on as a favor to him, but you're a damn good worker and I'd be a damn fool if I didn't ask. I know construction isn't for everyone, but I'd like to offer you a full-time job here."

"Really?" I couldn't believe he was offering me the spot after all the yelling he did on the job site for the last six months.

"I was just brutal on you because I wanted to see if you were going to flake out," he shrugged. "It's yours. Think about it this weekend and return on Monday if you want it. If not, I don't want to see you. The next project starts soon, so I'll need to find a replacement quickly."

"I don't need the weekend to think about it. I'll take the job." I smiled as we shook hands, promising I would return on Monday, and left feeling giddy.

The job was exhausting, but it was great pay for living in the city, and I liked it. Building something with your hands gave me a sense of pride I didn't think I would have, and hey, I could stand back and tell Leo, "I built that," and see his smile light up his eyes. I've seen it a lot since we moved here nine months ago.

Once I opened the door to our cozy apartment in the middle of the city, the smell of roast lingered in the air, making me inhale, and memories of my childhood came flooding back in.

"How was work, son?" Dad called from the kitchen as I put my duffle bag of dirty work clothes down next to the couch.

"Great. Dan asked me to take the full-time spot and I accepted it," I said, walking around the corner to find Leo sitting at the table buried in a stack of books with his earbuds in. "Hey, baby." I leaned down behind him and kissed his cheek, making him jump.

He quickly pulled an earbud out and smiled as he turned around in the chair to peck my lips. "Hey. When did you get home?"

"Just now. What are you working on?"

"Just studying. The test is next week, and I have to score high enough if I want to get into the college program I want."

As promised, Leo got his GED while in recovery since he had little else to do. We found an online course for him to do while he spent most of that time in bed. Now was the time for his SATs, and he had his sights on an RN degree at the college here in the city. I was so happy for him.

The past year had been challenging for him, and he still didn't have all the feeling in his left leg, but he learned how to manage around it, but the pain spiked now and then. He couldn't fully raise his arm from the gunshot to his shoulder either, however, it was getting there the more he went to his physical therapy appointments. He was working harder than I was and I couldn't be more proud of him.

I told him about work, and he was overjoyed since he knew I wanted that spot. Everyone I worked with there was great and couldn't care less about me dating a guy as long as I was a hard worker. They helped make the work days go by faster.

"Kiki will be here soon. Take a shower while I help Dad finish the food," Leo said, peeking over for my dad's approval about him calling the man dad. I could see Dad nod and give a chuckle before turning back to the food.

"I wanted to talk to you about something. Can you come with me while I get ready to get in?"

Leo followed me to the room, looking confused as I shut the door behind us. He went to open my lips to no doubt ask what I wanted to talk about, before I captioned his lips with mine. We kissed slowly at first, but he soon melted into it for me to deepen it.

Pulling back way too soon, Leo's eyes stayed closed in a daze and he hummed. God, he looked beautiful like that and it took everything in me not to drop to my knees and suck his cock, but since Dad moved in, our sex life wasn't as loud and spontaneous as it was when it was just me and him here for three months. Leo felt really uncomfortable about it with my dad sleeping in the room next to ours, and I couldn't blame him for it. It did suck though.

"Sorry. I wanted more than a peck," I told Leo as he opened his eyes.

"Was that all you wanted?" He sounded breathless still and it turned me on even more. I gave him a nod and he sat down on the bed. "I'm gonna need a minute before I can go out there and Kiki said she was only twenty minutes out like ten minutes ago."

I laughed as I got my clothes. "I'm sorry, baby."

"No you're not. Get in the shower already," he snapped but smiled as I left the room.

Kiki was here by the time I got out and we ate dinner before my dad took out a bottle of liquor. We talked for hours about how things were going with my uncle and what was happening here, mainly what Leo was doing, but it was a good visit. Once everything slowed down here, we planned to return for a weekend since my uncle wouldn't come. Like I figured from the beginning, it was too far for him to travel for a man who didn't leave the house often.

By the time the four of us finished the bottle, Leo was nearly asleep on my lap, so I said our goodnights, scooped him into my arms, and carried him to our room. Once we were stripped down to our boxes, we claimed under the covers together, and I couldn't help but stare at his face, running my finger across his jawline gently.

It amazed me how much we went through together and how much I've changed from the cold-hearted, angry loner I was the first day I met Leo. This wasn't the life I thought I would end up with back then. I thought I was going to be in my uncle's gang for the rest of my life or in jail like how my father ended up. But looking into Leo's peaceful gaze as he stared back at me, I couldn't love my life more at that moment. I couldn't thank Leo enough for being the brightest star in my dark clouded world. I would do anything to protect him for the rest of our lives together. Nothing else mattered.

I leaned down and kissed his lips softly. "I love you, Leo."

"And I love you, my red lion."

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Thank you for reading until the end! What a ride these two went on, but finally, they're happy, safe, and moving forward in life! Time for me to take a long break to get myself ready for a new romance. See you all again in the future!!