Series Epilogue
“Uncle Ash!” Ash had heard those two words being shouted countless times today, but this one was extra special. The little boy ran toward him, across the crowded room. He was the only nephew who shared his blood. A miracle baby who never should have been, and who carried his name, as well.
Ash propped his cane against the table beside him and crouched, holding out his hands for the boy to jump into. He groaned as he lifted him into the air. “You’re getting so big, Adrian.”
He giggled and nodded before wrapping his arms around Ash’s neck. “It’s going to be my birthday! Maggie says you got her a pony when she turned five. Are you going to get me a pony too?”
“What do you think your father would say about that?”
“You didn’t care about my opinion the last time,” Trent said as he joined them.
Maggie stood beside him, but didn’t throw her arms around Ash the way she usually did. “Are you getting too old for hugs now?” She looked more grown up every time he saw her.
“Never. I’m just waiting my turn.”
He kissed Adrian’s cheek and set him down. “Your aunts are over there with some sweets.” He pointed, and the boy ran without looking back.
Maggie immediately threw herself into his arms. He picked her up and spun her around. It might not be proper to do with a twelve-year-old girl, but as long as he was able, he’d never stop. He loved her laughter far too much.
“I’ve missed you,” she said into his ear.
“It’s only been a month since I saw you last.”
She shrugged. “I still missed you.”
“I missed you too, Poppet.”
“You should let me move down here with you. I could be a Lady Raven.”
“Then who would take care of Trent and Samantha?” She rolled her eyes and he chuckled. “We’ll all be settling down soon, so get some sweets before you miss your chance.”
He turned back to his brother. “I’m glad you made it, Trent.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it.” His brother pulled him in for a hug.
“Where’s Samantha?”
“She went in search of Allister. Don’t tell anyone yet, but she might be pregnant again.”
Ash embraced him once more, thumping him on the back.
“Don’t get too excited. We’re not fully certain yet.”
“I will welcome any and all you manage to grace me with.”
Gwen slipped her hand into his. “It’s that time, my love.”
He took a deep breath. “Duty calls.” He shook Trent’s hand and made his way to the stage that had been erected for the occasion.
He looked around at the sea of people filling The Raven’s Den. Once again, the space had been transformed into a reception hall. People filed into the rows of chairs, and he stood before them as a strange sort of non-traditional patriarch, to an even more non-traditional family.
“Welcome, to all of you.” Perhaps he should have written a speech for the occasion, but this was his family, and that would have felt inauthentic to him.
“Tonight, we celebrate a milestone it never even occurred to me we might one day reach.” He shook his head in disbelief.
“Twenty years ago, today, The Raven’s Den opened its doors for the very first time.
” An explosion of cheering filled the cavernous space.
Not only were his partners and their families here, but also, their entire security staff, all the current Lady Ravens, barmen, musicians, dealers, everyone who was involved. He felt truly blessed to have them all.
“The way I can tell twenty years have passed is not just by the grey that’s creeping in—Gwen swears it makes me look distinguished, and that it’s befitting of my name.
But where I see it the most is in how my family has grown.
There was no family twenty years ago. Just three young men, trying our damnedest to overcome our demons.
” He waved his fingers over the group. “I want my partners up here with me, because I didn’t do this alone.
And not just Patrick and Michael. Fitz and Giles too.
You all have provided me so many nieces and nephews, I’m in danger of losing count soon.
Twelve, I believe it is, at present.” He counted them off while his partners made their way up.
“Maggie, my very first niece. Patrick has given me three. He’s been busy.
” Laughter rippled through the crowd. “Michael two, Fitz two, Giles one, and another on the way. And I know Trent and Allister aren’t technically partners, but I couldn’t do this without them, and they’ve given me one and two respectively. Every one of them is precious to me.”
One by one, his partners stepped up onto the stage with him. They were like brothers to him. They all shook hands and patted each other’s shoulders.
“We’ve come a long way from our humble origins as just a gaming hell, and I am incredibly proud of all we’ve accomplished.
I like to think we’ve made the world a little bit better.
Getting rid of Auburn Ridge certainly added to our tally of good, along with opening a school for single women with children in what was once a brothel. ”
More cheering filled the room. A handful of women were dabbing their eyes, and perhaps a few of the men as well. Even Ash felt emotional.
“We haven’t finished yet,” he continued. “Giles has convinced us that we need to open a school for underprivileged boys, too. That will be happening within the year.”
Giles patted him on the back. “Thank you.”
“Although I am incredibly proud of all of that, and I hope that Adrian and his cousins will continue once we’re gone, the thing I am most grateful for, is all of you.
Gwen, my saint of a wife.” He smiled at her and pressed his hand over his heart.
“Trent, my extraordinary brother, without whom, I couldn’t do any of this.
These men,” he said, gesturing to his partners, “who are also my brothers, in every way that matters. Allister, the man who can organize an army at the drop of a hat, and makes sure every one of us is safe, day after day. And every other person in this room. You are my family, and I love every single one of you.”
He breathed in deeply and paused for a moment to take them all in as they applauded.
“And now I should probably quit, before I embarrass you all. Especially you, Daisy. I know you hate it when I get sappy.” He winked at her, and she stuck her tongue out at him, the little girl on her hip doing the same.
He chuckled and signaled for the musicians to start playing, then turned back to his partners.
“I hope you all know that’s true. I love you as if you were my brothers.”
“I hope you know it’s true of us too.” Patrick hugged him, and it soon turned into one big hug with all of them.
Gwen was waiting for him when he stepped down, and he pressed a kiss against her lips. “Not a complete disaster, I hope?”
“It was perfect.”
“You are perfect, my angel.”
“Now you’re just trying to flatter me.”
He chuckled. “I know it all sounds a bit silly, but I really do hope we’ve made a difference. It is my greatest wish that somewhere, someone will be given hope when they hear the name The Raven’s Den.”
Turn the page for a preview of First to Fall, book one in the Married by Mandate series. Three brothers. One contest. The last to marry will be disinherited.