Epilogue 1
Rurik — 5 years later
So, whoever said that love is patient, kind, and is never jealous is a fucking liar. Because though I often feel patient and kind toward the love of my life, I sure as fuck feel this simmering rage of something as I’m watching Briar giggle at something her cousin said.
Yeah, that cousin.
Kevin.
So what if we’re at his wedding, and she went over to congratulate him?
He’s the same cousin I thought was into her once at a bar. It turns out they’re not even actually cousins! They are just super close friends who call each other family.
I’m kind of annoyed that meant he technically had a chance with her.
Not that I’m not confident in me and Briar’s relationship now…
Ever since I killed her uncle years ago, Briar and I have been glued to the hip. When I told her I had killed him, she thought I was joking. She said that I had a major phobia for violence, and that was the reason why I hated her in the first place because I thought she was this murderous, violent little psycho.
That was half true. I hated violence — still do. But I never hated Briar. I was just disgruntledly intrigued.
I killed someone once, and I don”t want to do it again. Unless they hurt my woman.
I’ve realized then that sometimes I must do bad things to protect the good things in my life — her.
I may have gotten laid at least eight times that day.
What? It’s not my fault my dick wakes up and stands at attention every time I see my beautiful little migraine.
My crazy migraine.
Mine.
Jesus, how is it possible to love someone so much that I”m willing to do things I never would ever do? Like killing Marcus, for example.
I”m so fucked. I have been since that day at the airport”s baggage claim.
It”s ironic how the woman who could be hazardous to my health has become the reason I”m even breathing.
Speaking of, she’s walking over to me with a mischievous grin.
My eyes narrow. “What the hell was that?” I ask, pulling her to me and wrapping a possessive arm around her waist.
She raises a brow at the gesture but continues, “What was what?”
“You had that look on your face?”
“The look where you pretend to despise me but fall apart when I shove you inside the bathroom stall and suck your cock in secret?”
I clear my throat, looking around before adjusting the tent in my pants. “Jesus.”
Briar grins and kisses the tip of my nose. “You’re so fucking hot when you’re jealous.”
“I wasn’t jealous, Briar.”
“You were so jealous that Kevin felt the lasers you were shooting at him with your eyes.”
“Shut up,” I mumble, looking away with a scowl.
Briar”s laughter fills the air, and it never fails to make me the happiest man on earth because I caused that beautiful sound. ”We should head out before we get stuck in traffic.”
I sigh, nod, drowning the last of my water, and try to get up. But then the room starts to tilt, I have to sit back down to gather my bearings.
Briar frowns, “You okay, angel?”
I wave my hand dismissively, “Yeah, baby, just give me a second.”
She nods, trying her best not to look at me with concern. She knows I”ve been feeling tired for the past few years.
We stopped going for our morning runs and instead would just take a quick walk around the neighborhood. I needed more rest breaks than usual, and my breathing wasn”t the greatest.
I hate to admit that my health decline has made me frustrated, and I sometimes lashed out at the people I love.
But Briar is my angel; she never left my side during the times I became an overbearing asshole. I always made sure to show her my appreciation in other ways.
But fuck, I started to feel weaker lately.
I can barely leave the house anymore. Even coming to this wedding was a challenge for me. I only came because Briar wanted to go. She told me I should stay, but fuck no.
With her looking like a goddess like that? I don”t think so.
“Okay,” I say, forcing a smile.
Briar smiles back and wraps her arm around my lower back to help me stand.
I stand up but feel a sharp pain shoot through my chest. I gasp and immediately grab onto Briar’s hand because because holy fucking shit.
That hurt.
I could hear Briar”s voice echoing, but I couldn’t even reply to her. Everything seems distant and hazy as if I were underwater.
“Rurik!” Briar places her hands on my face, forcing me to look at her. Her beautiful eyes brimming with tears as she stares at me with panic in her eyes.
I close my eyes, and the next thing I know, I’m in a hospital room.
I look around, listening to that familiar beeping sound and the IVs sticking in me.
Fuck. Not again.
“Baby?” I breathe out. Soft hands immediately squeeze mine, and I let out a heavy breath. “What happened?”
Before Briar could respond, three knocks came at the door.
“Come in,” Briar says, and we watch as both my doctor and Rogers”s family doctor walk in with grim looks.
My stomach drops, like it decided now was the time to take a nose-dive down Satan”s hole. We both listen to the doctors telling us that my heart is failing and that I need a transplant to survive.
Things I already know.
But fuck... I just didn”t expect this day to come so suddenly.
I mean, sure, it”s been five years, so I’ve been fortunate.
I look over at Briar and feel an overwhelming sense of fear. I”m not ready to leave her yet.
Oh, fuck… I don”t believe in a higher power, but I will get down on my knees and pray for some miracle.
Anything.
Please let me stay with her longer. I can”t leave her. I’m not ready.
If there is a God or anyone out there past those stars that can grant me this one wish, please let me stay.
I promise I’ll be better.
Please, please, please—
“You”re incredibly lucky, Rurik.”
My heart skips a beat, both literally and figuratively.
My doctor listens to something in his earpiece and nods before continuing. “We confirmed that there”s a heart available for you.” He pauses and glances at Rogers’s doctor, looking surprised but hopeful. “It”s rare to find a match so quickly, but... I guess luck is on your side.”
“What are the chances that he’ll survive the surgery?” Briar asks softly.
“Well, Rurik, despite your heart, you’re perfectly healthy,” My doctor says. “You’re also very young, so I don’t expect any complications to occur.”
“Let’s hope not,” I mutter, forcing a smile before turning to Briar. “In case something does happen, I want you to know that I—”
“Don’t talk to me as if you’re going to die.”
“Briar, I’m just being realistic. There’s a chance I might not make it.”
“Miracles can happen,” Briar says, her face wet with tears as she tries to wipe them away. “Besides, there’s a heart waiting for you already. What are the chances, right? I guess someone’s watching over you.” She adds.
I grin back, hope washing over me at this rare chance of another life. Both doctors left, leaving me and Briar alone in the room. She already informed our friends and my mum that I’m in the hospital, so we know they’re on their way.
I squeeze her hand, “I love you.”
“I love you so much, Rurik.”
“I promise I will do whatever it takes to return to you.”
“You fucking better, angel.” Briar teases, kissing me.
I cup her cheeks, keeping her still so I can eagerly have my fill of her taste and the feeling of her soft lips.
We stay like this for a while until the doctors come back in to get me.
“Ready?” Briar asks, looking hopeful yet nervous.
Oh, fuck. This is it. Man, I hope I”ll make it. I have to. I will. There”s no other option.
I kiss her fingers as they start to roll me away.
“Be right back,” I wink.
*-*-*-*
I’m dreaming. I’m pretty sure I am. I can hear muffled noises, but it’s unclear enough to understand what is being said. I’m looking around me, and holy fucking shit, it’s so bright out.
“Well. I can’t say I would have approved of you for her, but oh well. My darling knows what she wants.”
I whirl around, my eyes squinting. “Huh?”
I see a silhouette of a tall, slim figure. I can’t see their features. Everything is foggy and blurry here. This is starting to freak me the fuck out, actually. Where’s Briar, and why isn’t she here with me?
Oh, fuck… The surgery!
I need to wake up. I need to hold my Briar and smell her delicious scent so I can dream of her instead of this freakishly tall alien.
The alien-tall-silhouette snorts.
Fucking snorts.
What the actual fuck—
“Hey there, sleepyhead,” I finally hear the most beautiful voice say.
My eyes slowly open, and I blink until my vision slowly focuses.
I’m… back? Am I awake?
I see Briar”s face and stare at her. Even though there are dark bags under her eyes, and her lips look chap and dry, she”s still so fucking beautiful.
“H-how did it go?” I ask, my voice sounding rough in my ears.
Briar gives me a radiant smile despite looking tired. “It went perfectly, angel.” She squeezes my hand and kisses me softly. She places a hand over my chest and smiles, “You have a new heart, Rurik.”
I glance down to see the plaster covering my chest and gently touch it. “It’s weird to think I’m using someone else’s heart. Who do you think it belonged to?”
“I don’t know, but I wish I could thank them for giving you another shot at life with me,” Briar says, kissing the plaster gently. She pulls away and sighs, her hand on my face as she strokes my cheek with her thumb. “I prayed for you to come back. I waited out there for hours, not knowing what was happening. My own heart kept pounding every hour you were in the surgery room, and I felt like I was going insane.”
I take her hand and kiss her fingers. “I’m here now, Briar. I’ll never leave you.”
“I know that now,” She whispers with a small smile. “Thank you for coming back to me, Rurik.” She teases, “I should also thank whoever your guardian angel is because they’ve been looking out for you.”
I shrug. “That, or this whole time, you were sent my way to watch over me instead.” I grin when her cheeks turn pink. “I think it’s you who’s my angel, baby. Which is perfect because that means you are not allowed to leave my side ever again.”
“Is that so?”
“Mmhmm. That’s your job. Every time you leave, I feel at a loss,” I pout pathetically. “You don’t want your angel to get lost, do you?”
She rolls her eyes, grinning. “That would suck. I’d have to find another, and I don’t want to go through that work again.”
“I agree,” I nod. “Besides, you won’t be able to find another who would put up with your crazy shit like I do.”
She ducks her head, but I could see the smile tugging from those lips. She sighs before looking back at me, relieved and happy.
I grin. “Did you miss me, Briar?”
She grins back, looking so gorgeous and all mine. “Yes.”