Kill for You (Warrior for Her #2)

Epilogue

Octavio

T hree years later

"Faith?" I yell, dropping my keys, badge, and gun on the credenza table before stripping my shirt off over my head. "Where are you, angel?"

"In here!"

I follow the sound of her voice down the hall to our bedroom. Pushing the door open, I frown. She's curled up in the bed with the curtains drawn, the lights off, and the blankets over her head. Worry shoots through me.

"Angel? What's wrong?" I toss my shirt toward the bathroom and kick off my shoes, heading toward her.

"I don't feel well," she mumbles.

I pull the blankets back so I can see her and then sit carefully on the edge of the bed beside her. "You don't have a fever," I murmur, placing my hand against her forehead. She looks miserable though. Her eyes are watery, and her face is pale, especially around her lips.

"I've been throwing up all morning."

"Are you nervous about today, conejita ?" I ask, brushing her hair away from her face.

"Yes. No." Her face scrunches up and she shrugs. "I don't know."

I smile at her, stroking her cheek. "It's a big day for you. You're graduating."

She wraps her hand around my wrist and pulls it toward her lips, kissing my knuckles, but she doesn't say anything for a long moment. Her honey eyes flit across my face, her expression serious. "Did you have a good morning?"

"No."

Her lips turn down into a frown.

"I missed you," I say, smirking at her.

She rolls her eyes at me and then laughs softly. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"No. I'm just miserable when I have to leave you alone in this bed to go to work. You're too damn beautiful, especially when you're naked and sleepy." I run a hand down her chest, brushing my thumb against her nipple. It hardens almost instantly, her back arching as she tries to get closer.

Dios , she's ravishing. She's filled out over the last three years. Her body is soft and curvy, her tawny skin as gorgeous as ever. Her hair flows down her back like silk, hitting her at the waist. She's blossomed from the sweet angel she was into something even more ethereal and rare. She still takes my breath away and makes my cock throb with need. Rarely a day goes by when I'm not inside her, making her come apart for me. Keeping my hands off her is no easier now than it was three years ago.

"Octavio," she whines when I pull back regretfully.

"None of that, little bunny. You're sick."

She stares up at me again. Her tongue peeks out to swipe across her bottom lip, making me frown. She's still so easy to read. Her honey eyes give away every thought that crosses her mind. So does that tongue.

"What's wrong?" I pick her up and place her in my lap before scooting back against the headboard. She curls up against me, laying her head on my shoulder. "You worried about being the center of attention today?"

She's graduating at the top of her class. She's been asked to give a speech during graduation today, but she's nervous about it. She's changed so much over the last three years, becoming confident and sure of herself and her place in the world. She had several surgeries to help repair old breaks, but they didn't slow her down any at all. She is fearless at times and so damn brave. But she still doesn't like to be the center of attention. Her safe place is with me, and I won't be on stage with her. She's anxious about having all eyes on her, but I'll be in the front row, cheering her on with the rest of our friends and family.

"A little bit," she admits, twining our fingers together in her lap. I brush my thumb back and forth over the cigarette burns on her thigh. "I've never really talked about what I went through to my classmates before. It's intimidating. I don't want anyone to think I was asked to give the speech because the faculty felt bad for me."

"Angel, anyone who knows you knows why you were chosen to speak," I remind her. Two years ago, her mother stood trial for human trafficking. She was convicted, largely based on Faith's testimony. It was big news at the time and led to Faith meeting the founder of a nonprofit that advocates for the victims of human trafficking. She's spent the last two years of her life fighting tirelessly for women and children without voices. She's an inspiration. That's why she was chosen to speak today. Not because of what happened to her, but because of what she's done with her life since. There are dozens of innocent people out there who are safe now because of her.

"Ilya said he'd come," she whispers.

"Then he'll be there alongside your uncle Jordan and the rest of our friends. You know he loves you. You're like the daughter he never had," I remind her, smiling. They've stayed in touch over the years. He's gruff and crude and doesn't much care for me because of my job, but he cares about my girl, helps look after her like he did by giving her a job at the bar. Like I suspected, he didn't need help when he approached Tarasova about her. He'd seen how they treated her and wanted to give her a safe place…somewhere she could be as free as possible. I'll owe him until the day I die for that.

"Do you want kids?" she blurts out.

"Do I want–?" I blink down at her, caught off guard by the sudden change of topic.

She's watching me with wide, worried eyes, her lip caught between her teeth.

"Yeah, I want babies with you," I whisper, gently removing her lip from between her teeth before she bites it off. "But you already knew that. We've talked about it more than once. What's going on, Faith? Talk to me."

"I think I'm pregnant," she whispers.

I freeze. Even my heart stops beating for a second. I suspected as much, but didn't want to get my hopes up unnecessarily. Joy courses through me in a strong current before I suck in a breath, halting the visceral reaction as I read her expression. "You're not happy about it."

"No." She flinches when my body goes taut beneath her. "I mean no, that's not what's wrong. I want babies with you," she whispers, tears in her eyes. "I want them so much. But…"

"But what?"

"What if I'm not a good mom?" Her stricken eyes meet mine, her distress breaking a little piece of my heart. "What if I don't know how to be a good parent? My mom…Carmen…sold me to Nikolai. What if I end up messing up a kid's life like she messed mine up?"

"No, Faith. Absolutely not." I grasp her shoulders, shaking her gently. I'm so fucking glad that bitch is spending the rest of her life in prison. She'll never step foot outside again, never get near my wife. For the rest of her miserable days, she'll know exactly what it is to have no choice. She deserves death for what she put Faith through—for what my wife still endures because of her. But at least she'll spend the rest of her life in a cage like the one she sold her own daughter into.

"I've seen you with Stella, TJ, and Andrés. You're so patient and so loving with them, conejita . You're not capable of hurting a child and there is nothing about you that's cruel or heartless like Carmen is. You're going to be an amazing mother. It kills me that you could think any differently." I cup her cheek in my hand, forcing her to look at me. "You are not your mother, little bunny. There is nothing evil or hateful in you."

A tear rolls down her cheek, shredding another piece of my heart.

"Where is this coming from?" I ask, brushing it away.

"I want this so much. I didn't even know how much I wanted it until I realized that it might be possible. I guess I'm just afraid something is going to take it away from me. I'm so happy, Octavio. You give me everything. I'm graduating from college. I have a job I love. Everything in my life is exactly like I always dreamed," she whispers. "Having kids with you is the only thing missing."

"You're allowed to be afraid. But I'm right here with you. Everything is going to be okay," I murmur, wiping away another tear that falls down her cheek. I want to tell her that nothing will take this away from her, but I can't promise her that. Pregnancy can be tenuous and fleeting. I pray to God hers isn't because losing a baby would devastate her, but I can't make her a promise I might not be able to keep. Instead, I tell her what I know I can guarantee. "If you are pregnant, you're going to be an incredible mom, and your dreams are going to keep coming true. It's my job to make that happen for you. Seeing you happy is my greatest pleasure in life. Don't you know I'd do anything for you?"

"I do," she whispers. "I love you so much, Octavio."

"I love you too, Faith. I've been falling for you since the moment I laid eyes on you, and I haven't stopped yet. I never will," I vow, meaning it to my soul. Every day, I fall deeper and love her harder. She's completely changed my life, changed my priorities and how I view the world.

Because of her, I finally know that my sister isn't suffering. The Bratva killed her after she saw something she shouldn't have seen. She didn't suffer through years of sexual and physical abuse. She died quickly. I have that peace of mind because of the incredible woman in my arms. I have laughter because of her, and joy. And I will defend what we have with my dying breath.

"We're in this together," I remind her. "If you're pregnant, we'll both be here to love and protect our baby and give him or her the best damn life possible. What happened to you won't happen to our child, Faith. We would never allow it."

"You're right." She takes a breath, her shoulders going back. Her expression firms, resolve sweeping through the honey eyes, darkening them around the edges. "Our baby will be safe and loved. I'm going to be an amazing mom. And you're going to be the most incredible dad, Octavio. I know you are."

"Yeah?"

She nods emphatically.

"Then are you ready to go pee on a stick and make me the happiest man in the world again, angel?"

"Yes, I'm ready."

I climb from the bed with her in my arms and carry her into the bathroom before putting her on her feet. Once she's settled, I open the bathroom drawer and pull out one of the pregnancy tests I bought a couple of days ago.

"Wait. You already knew?" she asks, gaping at me.

"You're three weeks late." I grin at her, unrepentant. "Your breasts are tender and you're grumpy. Since you've been off birth control for the last year, and we haven't been entirely vigilant about using protection, it wasn't hard to figure out what was going on."

"Being married to a detective is so annoying," she says, an adorable scowl on her face. "And I am not grumpy."

I laugh, pulling her into my arms to kiss all over her face. "You are. But I love you anyway. Now pee on the stick so I can tell you that you're going to be the best mother ever and then cuddle you before we have to get ready for your graduation."

"You can't watch me pee."

I cock a brow at her. "I'm not leaving this bathroom, Faith."

"Fine, but I don't like it," she huffs, glaring at me. "And turn around. I can't pee with you watching me. It's weird."

"Angel, I had my tongue buried in your cunt until you screamed last night," I remind her…and then have to adjust my cock at the memory of her coming all over my face. Dios. Sex with her is always incredible. She's so curious and responsive. I've played out every dirty fantasy I've ever had with her, and then came up with a few new ones, and I still want her as desperately as ever.

"You can't talk to me like that if I'm pregnant," she says, taking the box from my hands. "The baby might hear."

I open my mouth to argue and then close it, frowning. I'm not sure if she's just messing with me or not, but I'll Google later to find out, just in case she's right. I love talking dirty to her because it drives her wild, but I don't want the baby to hear me doing it.

She stares at me until I mutter a curse under my breath and turn around to give her privacy. I stare up at the ceiling as she moves around behind me and the package opens. She's quiet for several minutes and then she finally starts to pee. It's over quickly.

I spin around as she's flushing the toilet, the stick still in her hand.

"What does it say?"

"That we have to wait three minutes."

"I don't like this test. Let's take a different one." I open the drawer again to give her a different one, but she just laughs at me.

"They all take three minutes, mi amor ."

I scowl at the tests, which makes her laugh harder. I can't even be mad though. Her laughter still makes my entire body light up like a firecracker.

Once she's washed her hands, I swing her up into my arms and carry her into the bedroom to wait for what feels like five thousand hours. She sets the test on the bedside table and then wraps around me like a koala bear just like she always has.

"Are you going to be disappointed if it's negative?" she asks, running her hands up and down my back.

"No. If it's negative, we'll just have to keep practicing," I respond. "I'm ready to make you a mom. I want to see you round with my baby."

"I want that too," she whispers.

"Yeah?"

" Quiero tener un bebé contigo."

My dick turns to steel at her throaty whisper. I grasp her hips, growling when she nips my ear. She's so damn sexy. If she's not careful, the only place she'll be going today will be for a ride on my cock and then to sleep in my arms.

"It's time," she whispers a moment later.

I snatch the test up.

"Together, angel."

She nods, reaching for my free hand and squeezing it tightly.

I flip the test over.

Two pink lines.

She's pregnant.

"You're pregnant," I whisper, my voice shaking with emotion.

She bursts into tears, burying her face in my throat. But when she laughs through her tears, I know she's happy.

I hold her tightly, a welter of emotions coursing through me…awe, pride, and gratitude send a lump into my throat and fill my heart with warmth.

" Te amo, conejita. Te amo ."

"I love you too," she sobs into my throat.

"Are you happy, Faith?"

She leans back to look at me, her wide honey eyes shining. Tears fall down her face. Her smile is so bright it takes my breath away. "I'm so happy." She flings herself against my chest again, kissing me all over my face and crying. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

I laugh quietly, tumbling her down to the bed beneath me. "Why are you thanking me? I should be the one thanking you." I pull her shirt up, exposing her belly. My hands shake as I lay them flat against her skin. They cover her entire abdomen…but not for long. Dios , I can't wait to see her growing with our baby. "I can't believe you're really pregnant."

"Are you happy?" she whispers, reaching out to touch my face.

"Am I happy? Oh, angel." I shake my head, smiling at her.

This woman is the center of my world, the most incredible person I know. There's nothing I wouldn't do for her.

I lean down to press my lips to her skin. The old burn is rough against my lips, but it's part of her, part of her history and part of her perfection. The kind of perfection that makes me so goddamn glad she's mine and always will be.

"Happy doesn't even begin to describe how I feel right now," I whisper against her stomach. "You're everything to me, little bunny."

I still don't know if I believe in God…but I believe in angels.

How could I not when one let me steal her from heaven and claim her as my own?

Faith

One Year Later

"Hi, sweet baby," I whisper, smiling when I see Octavio asleep on the couch with our three month old daughter cuddled up against his bare chest. She's in a diaper, his big hand on her back to keep her steady. Even though he has to work today, he's been up with her for the last few hours so I could get some sleep. She has her days and nights all mixed up, and tends to keep us up until three or four in the morning.

She's too cute for us to be upset about it though. With her dark hair and big brown eyes, she looks just like her daddy, but she's so tiny. I never knew I could love one little baby as much as I love Thea. I was so afraid I would be a bad mom, but I love her so much. I can't imagine my life without her. If Octavio is my soul, she's my heart. Loving her is instinctive, natural. If any part of Carmen exists in me, it's no match for the love I have for my husband and our baby girl.

I would fight through hell to keep Thea safe, and I know Octavio would do the same. No one touches either of us without his permission. He's our protector, our greatest defender. He's still my home too. My life with him is so much better than I ever let myself dream it could be.

Sometimes, I still can't believe that this is my life. That this incredible man loves me the way he does. I spent so long unsure if I even deserved to be loved. I don't feel that way any longer. Sometimes, it's hard to remember ever feeling that way because he makes sure I know, every single day, how much I'm wanted, needed, and loved.

And I know if anything ever happened to me, he would spend the rest of his life making sure Thea's life is nothing like mine was. He would kill anyone who tried to harm a single hair on her head, just like he would do for me.

We are blessed and I have never been happier.

Thea blinks at me and then yawns.

I try to take her from Octavio so he can sleep a little while longer, but as soon as I go to shift her off his chest, his eyes pop open and his hand tightens on her like he's worried she's going to roll off of him.

"I've got her," I murmur to him.

He blinks at me just like she did and then moves his hand so I can take her from him.

"What are you doing up so early, little bunny?" he asks once she's secure in my arms. His gravelly voice warms me. So does the way he smiles at me and Thea like we're the center of his world. He's always looked at me with such fierce devotion. The same reflects in his sepia eyes when he looks at our baby. He's such an incredible dad, exactly like I knew he would be. He's completely hands-on. I never have to ask him to do anything, he's just there, quietly helping out.

"I need to nurse her." I cradle her to my chest so I can climb into his lap when he sits upright. My favorite moments are these…where we're all cuddled up together as a family.

He wraps his arms around me, pressing his lips to my bare shoulder as I adjust my bra so she can nurse. She latches on like she's starving, even though I know Octavio gave her a bottle at three. Our girl likes to eat though, and she is quick to let us know when she's hungry.

"Did she sleep for long?" I ask.

"A couple hours," he says, yawning. "What time is it?"

"It's a little after six."

He grunts.

"What time do you have to be in court?"

"Not until nine."

Thea watches me intently as she nurses, one little fist bouncing against my chest as she does. She's becoming a lot more active lately, always moving and wiggling around. She's so curious about the world and everything around her. I love watching her grow and change every day.

I stroke my fingers through her thick hair, cooing at her.

She pulls back from my breast to grin at me, drooling milk all over the place.

"Messy little angel," I laugh, using the sash on my robe to wipe her drool.

She gurgles at me and then opens her mouth wide, silently demanding that I put her back on my breast so she can eat. Her little legs are getting chunky. It's so cute.

"You ready to give me another one, little bunny?" Octavio asks me, a smile in his voice as he watches me and Thea. He plants his lips against the side of my throat, nipping at my skin.

"Mm," I moan, melting against him as heat waves through me.

"I know you want another one," he says, kissing all over my neck.

He's not wrong about that. I think I wanted another one as soon as I had Thea. My pregnancy was a lot easier than I expected. I was prepared to deal with complications, especially after spending so long without proper nutrition. But aside from some morning sickness, I didn't have any problems. I loved being pregnant. Octavio says I was grumpy, but he was the grumpy one. He didn't want to share me with anyone and would growl at anyone who tried to touch my belly.

I don't shy away from being touched by people like I used to, but people getting too close still makes me anxious. I wish I didn't feel that way, but I can't help it. Octavio knows it and keeps everyone at a safe distance. He never judges me or tries to force me to get over my past. He understands. When I cry because I'm frustrated that I still feel that fear, he simply holds me and tells me that he loves me and that he will always be there to keep me safe.

I love him so much. I'd give this man anything. But I can't let him get me pregnant again. He already did that. I took a test yesterday to confirm. We're going to have another little one.

"You can't get me pregnant right now," I tell him.

"Why the hell not?" he growls, sending a shiver through me.

I love when he gets all growly and bossy. He cracks me up when he doesn't get his way. He does not like to be told no. He gets grumpy when he doesn't get what he wants. I don't know what that's so freaking endearing to me, but it is.

"Because it's not possible," I murmur, moving Thea from one breast to the other when she starts to fuss. I bite my lip to hide my smile. I can practically feel him thinking his way through that statement, trying to figure out what I mean. It doesn't take him long. The second he figures it out, I know.

His entire body goes still. He doesn't even take a breath.

"Angel, are you–?"

"Yes. You're going to be a daddy again, Octavio," I whisper, turning my head to look at him.

He stares at me for a long moment, his eyes blazing with emotion. "Jesus, little bunny. You're serious?"

"I took a test yesterday. I'm pregnant." I'm a little surprised he didn't figure it out before I did. Sometimes, being married to a detective is annoying. He's so damn good at his job. I can't ever keep anything from him or surprise him. He's one step ahead, never missing a thing.

Thea releases my breast and burps before her eyes flutter closed and then open.

"Fuck." Octavio places his hand against my stomach, splaying it wide. His eyes shine with moisture, making tears well in my eyes too. He stays just like that for a second and then he picks me up around the waist and stands me on my feet before climbing to his.

"Where are we going?" I ask, laughing as he propels me gently down the hall, determination in his gaze. Thea's eyes flutter and then open wide before fluttering again. She's sleepy, but fighting it. I don't think she's going to last much longer before she's out again.

Octavio leads me into the nursery.

"Stay right there," he murmurs and then takes Thea from me.

She fusses for a split second and then cuddles up against his chest with a small grunt. I swear, she clings to her daddy like I do sometimes. We both want to be as close to him as possible, as often as possible. Lucky for both of us, close to him is exactly where he likes us to be. Not a day goes by when he doesn't seek us out and put us in his lap to hold both of us.

I quickly fix my bra, watching in amusement as he lays her down in her bassinet and then turns the knob on her mobile to distract her. As soon as her sleepy gazes drifts to the mobile, he grabs me around the waist and lifts me into his arms, turning on her baby monitor as he carries me out of the room.

I laugh, locking my legs around his waist. We don't even make it out of the nursery before his mouth is on mine. He carries me out into the hall, gripping my ass in his hands to grind me against his erection.

"You have court," I remind him as he yanks my robe off and then starts working on the front clasp of my bra, trying to get it off.

"Fuck court," he snarls against my throat, pushing me up against the wall.

I moan, shoving my hands into his hair and pulling. God, I love when he's so turned on he can't keep his hands off me. Not once over the years have I ever worried that he didn't want me or find me attractive. He's on me every chance he gets, making love to me again and again and again.

He growls, grinding me down on him again when I push his sweats down with my foot, freeing his erection. He finally manages to get my bra off and buries his face between my breasts, groaning.

" Mierda . I hope these get even bigger, little bunny," he mumbles. "I love them."

"I know," I say, laughing quietly. He tells me all the time how perfect they are. "Octavio?"

"Yes, conejita ?"

"Please get in me. Te necesito ."

"You have me." He nips my skin, pinning me to the wall with his body so he can pull my panties to the side. They're wet for him. They were the second he started kissing on my neck.

"Octavio!" I cry out, clawing at his shoulders as he thrusts two fingers inside me and grinds the heel of his hand against my clit at the same time.

"Shh, bebé ," he murmurs, not stopping. "I can't make you come if you wake up Thea."

"Then take me to the bedroom."

"No. I want you here. Now come for me so I can give you what you really want, little angel." He pumps his fingers in and out of me, curling them to strike against my g-spot. I swear, he knows my body better than I do. Knows just how to get me there. He grinds his hand against my clit again, rubbing my g-spot at the same time.

I sink my teeth into his shoulder to stifle my cries as I come apart at the seams for him. Waves of pleasure crest and then break, crashing over me.

" Da me lo, conejita ," he growls, working me through it. "Give it to me."

I moan and tremble, my body pulsing with pleasure.

"That's it," he croons. " Dios , Faith. I love watching you come for me. Knowing you're pregnant again has me so hard. I need in you."

"Yes."

He lifts me up and then sinks into my slowly, his eyes locked on my face. He looks so fierce, so handsome. I don't know how he keeps getting hotter, but he does. At thirty-nine, his body is still perfect. His discipline never ceases to amaze me. Lord knows, I don't have that kind of discipline. I love chocolate too much. He always gives it to me too. I think he keeps chocolate on him just so he can give it to me.

" Te amo, mi amor ," I whisper, writhing against the wall as he makes love to me.

He lifts me up and then drops me down on him again and again.

"I love you, little bunny."

He kisses me hard and deep, pouring his emotions into his kiss. I feel him everywhere as he makes love to me, lifting me up and down his cock and groaning my name. He feels so damn good inside me, like he belongs there. I never feel as whole as I do when he's inside me like this. It's heaven.

If I'm his world, he's my sun.

He loves me to the brink of madness again and then again, until I'm lost in him and the powerful emotions pulsing like a tangible, living thing between us. All I see is him. All I feel is him. I don't ever want it to stop.

"Come for me, angel," he whispers against my lip.

His quiet command sends me over like it always does. My inner muscles lock around him, orgasm pulsing through me hard enough to steal my breath.

He follows me over, groaning my name as he pumps into me.

Feeling him releasing inside me sends another shot of bliss through my veins. I cry out his name, clinging to him as my heart pounds, spreading that feeling all throughout my body. I cling to his shoulders, loving the way his powerful body trembles for me. Because of me.

"Faith," he whispers. " Dios , Faith."

I slump against him, pressing kisses into his throat as we both come down. Once he catches his breath, he kicks his way free of his pants and then pulls me away from the wall to cradle me carefully in his strong arms. He stumbles toward our bedroom.

"Don't go," I mumble, trying to pull him down into the bed with me.

"I'll be right back. I need to check on Thea," he murmurs, pressing kisses to my hands before pulling away.

I let him go this time and snuggle up on his pillow, dozing. A few minutes later, he slips into the bed with me, tugging me over until I'm snuggled up against him, my face in his throat. He still smells like peace, home, and safety to me. I think he always will.

"You really didn't know?" I ask him.

"I suspected," he admits and then chuckles when I huff. "Knowing you and every inch of this beautiful body is my greatest pleasure in life, angel. You're the center of my world. Your breasts have been more sensitive, and you're always sleepy."

"That's because your daughter likes to stay up all night."

He chuckles again, pressing his lips to my forehead. "I want another little girl, conejita ."

"I want a little boy."

"You could give me both," he suggests, reaching between us to rub my belly.

Mila is pregnant with twins. I don't know how she's carrying two of Roman's babies because he's a giant. There's no way I could carry two of Octavio's babies at the same time. I got so big with Thea that I couldn't see my feet for like four whole months.

And having three babies in diapers would be a lot of work. But I would give it to him if I could. I'd give him anything. That hasn't changed, not once since he stole my heart four years ago. He's everything to me, my strength, my home…my peace.

"Would you be upset with me if I decided not to go back to work?" I ask, my voice soft. I'm supposed to go back soon, but the thought of leaving Thea with a stranger makes me anxious and sad. I love my job and all the good I've been able to do, but I don't want to leave Thea. I don't want to miss a single second with her.

"Fuck no," Octavio says without hesitation. "I told you, little angel, you can do whatever you want to do, and I'll support you. If you never want to work again, that's all right with me. You know I'll take care of you and all the babies you're going to give me."

"We have my trust fund now too," I murmur. I gained access to it a month after Thea was born, but we haven't touched it. I never really used any of the allowance the trust provided either. Octavio always tells me that's my money and I can do whatever I want to do with it. I've donated some of it…okay, a lot of it. The rest just sits there.

"You have your trust fund now," he says, exactly like I knew he would. He helps Uncle Jordan oversee my dad's estate now that Uncle Jordan has retired, but he never lets me use it to pay for anything. He takes care of me and Thea in every way, spoiling us. "But we don't need it. I think I've been preparing for you my entire life, little bunny. We're good. Even if you decide not to go back to work, we'll be good."

"Okay," I whisper.

"But if you decide not to go back to work, I don't want it to be because you're afraid to leave Thea," he says, rolling to his back and then picking me up and laying me on top of him. He pushes my hair out of my face before rubbing my back. "Nothing is going to happen to our girl just because you aren't with her twenty-four hours a day. I need you to believe that too."

"I do." I lace my fingers together on his chest, propping my head up with them so I can look at him. "I mean, I am worried about leaving her with a stranger, but mostly I just don't want to leave her with anyone. I don't want to miss anything."

"Then stay home if it makes you happy, conejita ." He smiles at me, running his finger down the side of my cheek. "Or talk to January and Kincaid about signing on to help their organization. I bet they could use someone with your experience."

I bite my lip, thinking over his suggestion. About six months ago, January and Michael started a nonprofit to help keep kids from turning to gangs. They pair kids up with cops who mentor them. They also offer after-school activities to keep kids busy, and even have a couple of therapists who volunteer their time to talk to kids. January takes her and Kincaid's son, TJ, to work with her most days.

Octavio volunteers as a mentor, and I've helped out before, talked to some of the kids about my experiences. January and Octavio think it's good for them to hear from someone who's been through what I went through. I don't know if what I said had any impact, but I hope so. If they learned nothing else from me, I hope they learned that they can survive anything. I did. Despite everything, Nikolai didn't break me and he didn't win.

He no longer rules my life. Thanks to the case Octavio helped Finn and Roman build against him, he's in prison. I kept my word and abided by the terms of our agreement, but I didn't have to testify to nail his coffin shut. There were plenty of others willing to testify on my behalf.

Uncle Jordan told the world about the little girl he never stopped looking for, despite his fears. Ilya took the stand to tell the world about the scared little slave Nikolai kept locked away for five years. So did others in the neighborhood. I'm still amazed at how many people were willing to speak up for me and the others like me.

But I think the final nail in his coffin was the testimony Nikolai's sister provided. They didn't kill Sienna as I feared. She escaped, thanks to Nazario Leyva. Kincaid and one of his friends from Seattle helped track her down, partially to ease my mind about her fate, I think. She testified against her brother, telling the world about the years she spent locked away just like I was.

He was convicted and sentenced to over fifty years in prison. His world is a cage now, and he'll die in it.

With him gone, the Bratva no longer have a foothold in Los Angeles, but the cartel problem still exists. They are everywhere. Sometimes I think the only thing holding them in check is fear of Kincaid and what he might do. He still tears through them like a missile when they mess up. But by the time they get to him, it's usually too late to save them.

Maybe I can help change that, remind them of the real human cost of the lifestyle before they're in too deep to easily leave. They need to see what men like Nikolai are capable of doing to people. My scars may never heal, but maybe that's how it should be. I think maybe it's time to let my scars and my story serve as a reminder to future generations that there is a different way…one that doesn't end with men like Nikolai winning.

They don’t deserve to win. They never have, and they never will.

"Maybe I will talk to them," I say, my mind made up. My pain and my past should mean something. If not hope for something better, then what's really left?

Octavio grins at me, pride in his eyes.

“That's my girl,” he whispers.

I smile, resting my head against him, at peace with my past and my decision.