Epilogue
BARRETT
A Week Later
“You want me to do what?”
“You’ll be my moral compass,” Jordan said. “You’ll go out into the public and do community outreach. People like you. You’re less intimidating than the twins.” I glanced at Reghan, who shrugged.
“Sheldon would have been better.” Why did I say that? Even I didn’t believe it. Sure, he was calm, and getting him riled up was a feat. He was deadly though. I’d witnessed him poison people repeatedly.
“Think about what you just said.” Jordan was being extremely patient with me, which was unsettling. Although, since moving in with Reghan, I’d learned just how soft Jordan could be. His words, not mine. I’d never say them to his face. He’d slit my throat if I did.
“I thought I would be out in the field with you and the guards. I’m a hell of a shot.”
“I’m not disputing that. I want you to do both, but your involvement with my daily activities will be reserved for when I really need you. I want you to be the face of my organization and get me more positive press.”
“You want me to be a mafia PR person? That’s weird as hell.”
Jordan sighed and tipped his head back where he sat behind his desk. “You’ll have two jobs. With me when big shit is going down, and in the community so I can better serve the people there. Writing checks only gets me so far. I need feet on the ground. I need you talking to them, finding out what they need and what I can do to help. People will respond to you better. You’re used to being out on the streets.”
“I’m not sure you fully understand what I did." I also didn’t think he gave a shit.
“It’s either this or you can help Barry with security management,” he growled as his gaze pierced mine. He only threw that out there because he knew I wouldn’t take it.
“Fine,” I mumbled. At least he was giving me a job that would pay way more than I used to make. Plus, I didn’t have rent. I lived with Reghan.
My brother had taken quickly to living here. He was relieved when I told him I was moving in. Marshall didn’t want to leave. He had his own apartment on the same floor as Sheldon. Jordan charged him a very small rent since Marshall insisted on paying. Marshall was also in the process of creating art for a bunch of the guards. Once they saw how talented he was, they all wanted a painting.
“Your first project will be checking in with the men who’d been kidnapped,” Jordan said. “I want to make sure they have everything they need.”
That wouldn't be difficult to do. I still talked to Noah regularly. He was slowly healing and working with Arden to cope with the trauma he suffered. He also reclaimed his identity, thanks to Lawson. After a lot of digging, Lawson found his records and restored them. Noah was so excited he wanted to thank Lawson in person, which wasn’t possible. Lawson was rarely here and when he was, I’d heard he snuck in at times when very few would see him.
“Anything else?” I couldn’t help the bit of smart-ass attitude I injected into my tone.
He cocked an eyebrow and leaned forward, his forearms on the desk. Not a word was said. He was waiting.
“Oh my god. I really don’t want to regret working for you during our first meeting. I was hoping to do more of what Reghan does. And yeah, you said I’d do some, but the majority of my job will be in the community.”
“I’m going to give you an example. I want you to really fucking listen to me, Barrett. No smart mouth, no having to interrupt. Just close your goddamn lips and hear what I’m saying,” he growled.
I pressed my lips together, taking his warning seriously. I’d learn my lesson with him eventually. That wasn’t to say I didn’t fear him. I did.
“Let’s say you’re with me when I meet with one of my gun buyers. You, the twins, Sheldon, who the hell ever. It doesn’t go as planned. Someone dies, not on my team or me. There’s a witness who flees. We chase them into a crowded area. Sure, my men will be noticed, but you will be more so. Your photo was all over the media as the detective who saved the men and helped take out the criminal police chief. Who do you think people will latch on to? My men or you?”
Everyone knew me now. There was even a charity fundraiser, one of many Jordan hosted, and I was the man of honor. It didn’t matter that Jordon, Reghan, Raiden, and others were in the media too for the part they played. The public already loved them in East Dremest, most anyway. I was new to this scene even if I lived here my whole life. They latched on to me, had to know me.
That thought made me pause.
“You set this up from the start with your fundraiser,” I accused. “You knew they were going to love me. It was PR within PR.” He was a smart man, smarter than I had given him credit for. Jordan always had a plan. This one included me.
Jordan’s lips twitched. It was the beginning of a smile. “You’ll learn that everything I do has a purpose. I always get my way.” Smug asshole. I might not have said it out loud, but I didn't need to. His lips twitched again. He knew exactly what I thought. “I expect a plan from you by the end of the week.”
“A plan?”
“For the community outreach. Where you’re going to start, your budget, and your goals.”
“Jesus, I didn’t sign up for a corporate job.”
“No, but if you do well, you’ll get a raise and salary as an executive would.” I forced my lips closed again. That kind of money could mean a lot for Marshall.
“Also, you and your brother will be under my medical, prescription, vision, and dental plans starting on Monday. That’s when you'll both officially be insured. I’ll need your information so someone from my administrative staff will be in touch.”
My mouth dropped open. I had thought I’d get coverage, but Marshall too? He’d have insurance that could cover his medication?
“Alton visits us monthly and in emergencies, as you've experienced.”
“My brother?”
Reghan’s hand covered mine. I was so caught up in what Jordan said I forgot he was here.
“If you haven't already realized how important family is to me, I question your abilities,” Jordan stated.
“I knew, but Marshall doesn’t work here.”
“He’s expressed an interest in assisting in some capacity. I told him to quit his job. And before you jump down my throat, he won’t be in the thick of anything where he could be hurt.”
I stood and without thinking, rounded Jordan’s desk. He pushed his chair back to face me, hands gripping the armrests like he was bracing for me to attack him. I did the opposite. My arms went wide as I approached so he knew I wasn’t a threat. I bent at the waist to hug him. He didn’t move, but I could feel how tense his muscles were as I wrapped my arms around him.
“Reghan, your boyfriend is hugging me,” he growled. “Do something about it.”
He could force me off him if he really wanted to. As I held him tighter, I heard Reghan stand. I thought he’d pry me away, but the love of my life leaned down and hugged us both.
“Raiden!” Jordan shouted.
Raiden had been at his post by the elevator when I arrived with Reghan.
“Yes, sir,” I heard Raiden say.
“Do something about this,” Jordan bit out.
“Sure thing.” Then Raiden’s arms were around us too.
I laughed. I couldn't help it.
“Where the hell is everyone?” Hartley. This was going to be interesting. “Oh my god, are you having a group hug and didn’t invite me?”
“We are not,” Jordan snapped. “Get them off of me.”
“Fuck that. I want in on this.” Hartley was suddenly there too, wedging himself between Jordan and me so I’d put my arm around him as well.
“I’m going to murder all of you,” Jordan bit out.
“You can do that after you hug us,” Hartley said. There was a small bark. “You come up here with your daddies, Duchess.” Hartley lifted the rapidly growing Rottweiler puppy and sat on Jordan’s lap. She licked my arm, which was enough to cause me to pull back.
When I did, Jordan's eyes blazed murder.
“You’re to blame for this,” he told me, though he seemed to lose some of his anger.
“I’m fine with that. This will probably be minor compared to some of the shit I’ll do in the future. I’m yours now.” I grinned. “No longer employed by the city. You agreed to it. Don’t forget that.”
“I won't. Get the fuck off of me. All of you are to blame for me being soft.”
“But we adore that side of you,” Hartley said. “Don’t we, Duchess?” She barked then dove in to lick Jordan's face.
Jordan tried to stay angry but couldn’t with his partner on his lap and a puppy licking his face. Reghan, Raiden, and I peeled ourselves from Jordan and left his office.
Vail exited the elevator as we walked up the hallway. “Why are the three of you so happy?”
“Group hug with Jordan,” Raiden said.
“He let all of you hug him? At the same time?”
“Yup, and Hartley is still in there.”
“Lucky me.” Vail winked and walked past us, Tahoe and Aspen following him.
“Don’t,” Jordan warned when Vail entered the room.
"I’m going to."
I laughed. There was no way Vail wasn’t hugging them.
Raiden clapped me on the shoulder when we stopped at the elevator. “Welcome to the family.”
“Is that what you call this? One big family?”
“It is, but I was referring to my blood family.”
“Really?” I had to swallow the emotion building inside me.
Nodding, he said, “I don’t know your full background and don’t need to unless you want to tell me one day. I don’t see my brother ever letting go of you. That makes you part of our family, Barrett. Mom will expect you to come over to the house for dinner soon, and Dad will probably try to act tough and protective. Mom will tell him to knock it off, and she’ll hug you within an inch of your life.”
“What about you? Are you going to threaten me too?”
Reghan’s arm went around my stomach from where he stood behind me. “He won’t.”
“My brother’s right. He knows me better than anyone else. I’ll be here for you like I always have been for him.” Then he stepped forward and hugged me. I was so stunned for a moment, I didn’t move. My arms finally went around him and a tear slid down my cheek.
I had Reghan at my back and Raiden in front of me. Two men who cared about me. Who welcomed me into their fold. I hadn’t been looking for family when I started seeing Reghan. I had Marshall. We had our aunt and uncle, even though they didn't live near us. But Reghan had me stripping my mask off to show him who I was inside. After a bit, I only slid it back on when necessary. Little by little, I was allowing more people in.
Now I had an entire family in the twins. I had another with the mafia boss and his guards, who I never imagined I’d work full time for, let alone do his PR. That was still crazy to me. I had more people who cared about me than I’d ever thought I would.
“Marshall and I aren’t alone anymore,” I whispered as I held on to Raiden. One of my hands dropped to grip Reghan's arm where it was around my waist.
“No, Bear,” Reghan said. “You won’t ever be again.”
I choked on a cry. No matter how much I tried to keep it inside, I couldn’t.
The elevator arrived in the middle of my emotions getting the better of me.
“What happened?” my brother asked. “Vail called and told me to come up. Barrett, are you okay?” He touched my arm.
“Did you know we have a big family now?”
A grin lit his entire face. “I did but was waiting for you to catch up.”
Releasing Reghan, I reached for my brother to pull him close.
In the midst of me feeling like I was alone on an island with just my brother, boats appeared. People came to rescue us. They showed me what it meant to trust and let someone help.
I also fell in love with one of them. He held my whole heart in the palm of his hand. He gave me the courage I needed to believe in others.
I’d forever be grateful to these people. And I would forever be in awe of the beautiful man who loved me back.
* * *
Thank you for reading Barrett!cription to get all the goodies.