EPILOGUE
AURORA
SIX MONTHS LATER
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Waddling is the only part of pregnancy that I don’t like. I love my bump and feeling our little girl wriggling inside me. She’s very playful right now.
“Grandma,” Parker says. “What is that on her finger?”
Dick.
I had to say yes or I would’ve gone insane with him asking me day and night. It was the first thing he did when he opened his eyes each morning.
“Marry me.”
“Not yet.”
“Goodnight baby. Oh wait. Will you marry me yet?”
Or opening a door. “After you. Wait. Say yes to marrying me and I’ll let you through.”
The looks we have had in public. The women have giggled, the men laughed or gave him a pitiful look.
Six long months of it.
Until last night when I said yes. I probably could’ve said yes earlier, but I secretly enjoyed feeling so loved and adored.
And desired.
My hormones have been insane and Parker is well aware. While driving across town, a groan escaped as my legs fell open.
Parker glanced up and let out a growl.
“Close your legs or I’m going to slide my fingers inside you and make your pussy scream.”
Threaten me with a good time, why don’t you!
My whimper sent him straight into action. He tugged my panties to the side and his mouth was on my clit before I could count to ten.
“Parker!” I cried; grateful he owned a limousine.
“Soaking. Fucking hell.”
I leaned back and let my man pleasure me as I cupped my breasts.
Pregnant sex was the best sex in the world.
“You proposed?” His grandmother cries, reminding me we are at her house. “Oh, honey.” She wraps me in her arms, then tugs Parker in with us. “I’m so happy.”
“Thank you.” I smile and glance over at his mother.
She walks over and squeezes my hand. “Welcome to the family, Aurora.”
“Thank you.”
Things had been a little difficult with Mrs. Stone. Mostly because Parker was still working things out with her. The media had gone public with the news after we turned over the tapes. The pedophile ring was a large one once they dug even further.
While our identities were protected, Parker had told his mother who was involved—his father, her husband—so it was impossible for her to ignore the truth.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t a better mother. There are no excuses. He was my husband, and I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t know what to do.”
“You should’ve kicked him out,” Parker yelled while I sat beside him. His hand dropped to my leg. “Fuck. Don’t stress out my pregnant wife.”
“Um, we aren’t married.” I’d muttered.
“We will be.” He growled, and I’d let it go. Arguing with a dominant alpha man was impossible, anyway.
In the end, days later, I sat on his knee and asked for something so big I wasn’t sure he could give it to me.
“I don’t need you to forgive your mom, but I want our children to be surrounded in family. I know you’ll protect them, but they need to know where they came from. I never did. I want that for my son or daughter.”
Parker didn’t reply immediately, and I respected that. But when he did, my heart soared.
“For you, for our children, I can do that.” His mouth pressed to mine and I could feel the goodness in his heart as he made the promise.
I trusted him.
I trusted this man and loved him more than I ever dreamed possible.
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PARKER
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W ATCHING AURORA WITH my family—now her family—makes me so fucking happy. Seeing my ring on her finger makes me pound my chest with pride.
She’s going to be my wife.
In a few months, we’ll be parents.
Working with the authorities and learning the full extent of the crimes involved has been taxing. I’ve stepped back from the business to focus on Aurora, learning how to change diapers and recruiting the right people to find her parents.
I did.
I’m scared as hell to do this because if it's too much and hurts the baby, then I’ll regret it forever. However, Aurora has been deceived and lied to all her life. It’s not my decision to keep this from her.
Everyone is here this afternoon to support her, even though she doesn’t yet know. My family, Chloe, Travis, Maddox, Killian, and Zayne.
“The car just pulled up,” Michael says, and I slap him on the shoulder.
“Thanks, bro.”
I’ve been spending time with him. Not much, but enough that we’re getting to know one another. I told him everything. He’s sixteen and old enough to understand. As much as he can.
“Fuck. I hate him.” Michael erupted, feeling mad and powerless as teenagers do.
“Don’t.” I shook my head. “He was a good dad to you while alive, and I’m glad. It’s just taken me time to work through my pain.”
“How can you forgive him?” Michael gasped.
“I haven’t. I’ve accepted what happened and, without wanting to sound like some mental health Instagrammer, it’s made me who I am. It brought Aurora into my life, and I’ll never be unhappy about that.”
“Yeah, she is hot.” He smirked, and I punched his arm.
“She is.” I grinned back.
I glance around behind me and Grandma gives me a nod, standing close to Aurora. Maddox and Kyra are on the other side.
She might be angry that everyone knew before she did, but I know my girl will work out that every single person is here in this room to support her.
Her eyes lock with mine, and because she knows me well, her smile vanishes. “What’s wrong?”
Knock, knock.
“I love you.” I smile, knowing Michael is opening the door.
A man and a woman walk in and I shake their hands.
“Parker Stone.” I say, taking in the deep and painful emotion on their faces.
The man wraps his arm around his wife. “Thank you for this.”
Then they both ignore me and glance across the room at Aurora. Grandma and Maddox have their arms around her and the others move in, surrounding her.
I walk over.
“Corrine, Devon. This is your daughter,” I say, pulling her into my arms.
“Parker,” she whimpers.
My eyes drop to hers. “I found them, sweetheart. I found your mom and dad.”
“Oh, my god.” Tears fall down Aurora’s face as she hugs her baby bump and trembles.
Corrine slowly walks across the space and suddenly the two women slam into one another like they’ve never spent a day apart.
“Oh god. My baby. My baby, I have my baby back!”
Devon sits on the edge of the sofa sobbing. I don’t judge him for a second. If someone took the baby growing inside my fiancé’s tummy, I would hunt them down.
I bet he tried.
Corrine wipes her hand over and over Aurora’s face.
“You’re my mom?”
“Yes, baby,” she replies, tears pouring, and I can see her physically shaking. “I’m your mommy.”
Jesus. I think I might bawl myself.
“Let’s sit.” Blinking away the emotions, I guide Corrine and Aurora to the sofa, giving them a place to be together while remaining conscious of the baby. Both Corrine and Devon knew in advance and said they would take it as slow or fast as Aurora needed.
I kiss her cheek.
“Don’t go,” she says, grabbing my hand as I make to leave.
“I won’t.” Sitting down next to her as she leans into my side, the three of them cry, talk, and grieve.
My family and friends fade into the kitchen area, giving us space, but when I glance up, Travis is leaning in the doorway and meets my eye. He gives me a nod.
I nod back.
We’re going to have to stage an intervention for him soon. The fight between him and his father is getting ugly.
Very fucking ugly.
And surprise, surprise, there is a female in the middle of it all.
“I love you,” Aurora says, turning to me. “Thank you.”
Thank god .
I wasn’t sure how she’d react to being the last to know, but this just proves she trusts me. I won’t do anything to ever break it.
“I love you too.”
She glances back at her father. “Will you give me away?”
“Never,” Devon says, smiling at me. “But I will let this good man marry you.”
Aurora nestles into my side, her hand squeezing my thigh. Finally, she has the love she missed all her life.
And I got so much more than revenge.
I got my green-eyed girl.
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Ready to meet Travis and Brooklyn in ASHES OF CHAOS? Click HERE to get Book Three of my new Dark Romance series, The Dark Alliance.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Hating a man who is admired by the world is a curse, even when you’re estranged. My father is a public figure; powerful and cruel. He lives rent free in my head... and nightmares.
On a positive note, no one knows who I am. Including the stunning and smart redhead who is going to help me destroy him.
Unwittingly.
She’s collateral damage. Fortunately for her my heart is dead but my cock is not. So, I’ll ensure she gets some pleasure.
Whatever.
I am here to take and destroy.
Then finally take my rightful place in the family empire.