Epilogue
One Month Later
I despised being in a room full of strangers, dressed expensively, yet here I was in an expansive bedroom in the heart of Dansport, preparing for our announcement to the extended family and Mafia community. The discomfort was overwhelming.
Walsh had postponed the announcement as long as possible, explaining that once we were officially declared, additional protective measures could be extended to me. He mentioned that most family members preferred living in a specific neighborhood, but sensing my hesitation, he had decided instead to heighten security around our house.
This morning, Walsh hurriedly brought me to this unfamiliar house, promising a surprise. After the hairstylists and makeup artists left, I finally surveyed my surroundings. The room had a modern, minimalist aesthetic, dominated by an ornate bed with regal purple, gold, and white accents. The sheer opulence felt extravagant, a stark contrast to the simplicity I was accustomed to in our home.
A knock on the door shook me from my thoughts as I sat on the bed looking around the room. "Madison?" a familiar feminine voice crooned.
"Oh, Ember," I said, jumping up, hurrying to the door to get it open as fast as I could.
"Thank fuck," I said, pulling her into a large hug the moment I saw her. She let out a little giggle.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
"No. Nothing is okay," I said, throwing up my hands and turning around to pace the room. I was standing there in my underwear, uncomfortable with what I knew I had to wear.
"I’ve been around these events my entire life and I still find them absolutely ridiculous and littered in boring tradition."
I gave her a soft smile at her confession as she walked toward the window where a rack of dresses were. "Any of these fit your fancy?"
I joined her and thumbed through the glittery dresses which were far too bright, loud, or sparkly for me. It would have normally been something I would have picked when I was wearing my mask because I felt like that’s how society wanted me to look, like the golden girl with the bright smile, but that isn’t who I was today and I was trying to embrace that part of me.
"How are you feeling?" Ember’s words broke through my inner thoughts.
I paused, not daring to look at her. "I feel like shit still," I confessed. Depression was a weird thing. Sometimes, I felt like I could climb Mt. Everest I was feeling so good, and other times, anxiety and sadness crept through my veins like an unwelcome visitor.
This past month, Ember connected me with her therapist who she still saw after her boyfriend passed away, but I just felt like it brought everything up again. We’d been talking a lot about what happened to me when I was a child.
I knew that I struggled processing it. My parents were horrible people who’d set my entire room on fire, but beyond that they neglected my basic needs growing up. I guess talking about it, even though I knew it would eventually get better, was hard. My depression had been acting up and although oftentimes I felt myself wanting to retreat, I tried. Because Walsh was there the entire time. After every session, he’d come pick me up from the office and just hold my hand not saying anything unless I prompted.
He had even decided to give therapy a shot, perhaps with encouragement from his sister. Witnessing my earnest efforts to better myself, he recognized the value of self-improvement. While I yearned for Walsh's pride, my ultimate goal was to feel proud of my authentic self—to shed the roles forced upon me over the years.
"Time helps," Ember consoled, her hand brushing my elbow in a gesture of empathy. Had someone told me two years ago that I would become Ember's sister-in-law, I would have scoffed at the notion. Falling in love, let alone with the girl who once despised me, and her brother, seemed ludicrous.
Today, I couldn't fathom my life without her. In the past month, we had grown remarkably close, and I even had the chance to visit their countryside property, accompanied by only one bodyguard, as opposed to the multitude Walsh typically insisted on having when I went anywhere else.
"Yeah," I finally pulled out an all-black dress with cut-outs in the front that gave it a zigzag pattern, leaving a lot of my skin exposed. "Is this too much?"
I held the hanger up and Ember only gave me a mischievous smile. "This is yours."
I pulled it over my underwear before I looked at the floor-length mirror in the corner of the room. My hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, letting my red hair flow down my back. I had small diamond earrings that Walsh gifted me as a delayed Christmas present even though I told him the oversized ring on my finger that matched was far too much anyway. My makeup was done in a way that accentuated my natural features without feeling overdone. Yet, I’d never felt more beautiful than I had in my life.
"Wow," Ember whispered as she came from behind, giving me a little hug on the shoulders. "You look amazing."
"Good enough for a mob wife?" I joked, but also the reality of the words hit me.
A freaking wife of one of the strongest Mafia men in the country. It was fucking terrifying and after everything that happened with Georgie, I didn’t question when Walsh added another bodyguard. Although I had asked him to try and keep it to a minimum because the feeling of being trapped or locked in still was a huge trigger for me.
"You’ll do great," she offered as I smoothed out my dress.
"Is it time?" I asked and she only nodded her head.
"Okay, I guess we should go downstairs." I gave her a little sigh and then noticed my purse in the corner of the room. "Do you think I need to bring this downstairs?"
"Wait, what?" Ember gave me a confused look, her brows raised in question. "You don’t know?"
"Know what?" I looked around the room like I was somehow going to get surprised.
"Oh…Okay. Let Walsh explain it."
"Ugh, I hate this." She laughed and linked my arms, promising me it was a good surprise not a bad one.
We descended the staircase, and the rest of the house echoed the same modern aesthetic as the opulent main bedroom. Upon reaching the lower level, I was greeted by a fully decorated space prepared for a party. Even before laying eyes on him, I sensed his presence. Ember planted a swift kiss on my cheek, unlinking our arms as she moved to greet Rain, who donned a sleek, blacked-out suit.
And there he was, standing in a perfectly tailored tuxedo. My eyes locked onto Walsh standing at the bottom. His black hair was meticulously gelled back, showcasing a clean and sharp look. Brown eyes, usually intense and focused, now held a warmth and tenderness that felt new. His plush lips parted into a gentle smile, and it seemed like the entire room hushed, everyone's attention focused on the moment.
His tux accentuated the contours of his strong, athletic frame. The suit molded to his thick body, emphasizing every powerful yet graceful movement as he waited for me at the foot of the staircase.
"Hi, Muse," he whispered softly and I practically jumped into his arms, hating the attention around us already.
"Don’t leave me," I all but begged, hating being around crowds now. I used to thrive in this environment but it reminded me of the times when Walsh and I were not together. When I was desperately trying to be someone I wasn't.
"I won't, wife." He dropped a soft kiss to my forehead as he offered his hand to mine. "We just have to walk around the room a few times, say hi to a few people."
Ember tried to hand me a glass of champagne, but Walsh shook it off. Instead, grabbing me a glass with water in it.
"I hate drinking," I confessed. I’d used it to mask the pain that I was in, but it never led me to the right situations, or circumstances.
"Me too," Walsh said, then laughed to himself. "You ever wonder why I never have any alcohol in the house?" he turned and asked, his big brown eyes imploring.
I shook my head. "I just saw you when you were at your worst. I don’t want to bring you there. Plus, I don’t drink anymore either. It fucks with my ability to be precise and clear in my thinking."
Huh. Who freaking knew? I just never reached for it, but I didn’t realize that he did it for me. "Thank you," I confessed. I know people who would be freaked out if they ever found out they were with someone who stalked them, but truly, Walsh saved my life—in more ways than one.
I nodded, agreeing to let him walk me around. His dad was the first person we said hi to, along with a man named Romeo who Walsh told me was third in charge of the entire organization.
The women were all dressed up, there was a pianist in the corner, and the men were huddled in the oversized sitting room in the front of the house.
"Is this really where this entire community lives?" I asked looking out the window. It looked like a little suburbia and this house was so oversized that it almost didn't fit. It stuck out among the other homes on the block from what I could see.
"Yeah, for the most part." Walsh answered as we shook hands with another couple standing in the corner. There was a lot of small talk and lingering before Mr. Solis stopped everyone, asking them to gather in the formal sitting room. It was clear he was the boss with how people ran over to him and responded quickly to his demands.
"Son," Mr. Solis began. "Please come join me." Walsh nodded, giving my hand a squeeze as he made his way to the front of his room.
"I don’t like talking business at these types of events, but I need everyone to know that we just closed on the biggest pipeline treaty between the Cartel, the Mob, and our family." There was a lot of applause held around the room. "I am thankful for my son and his quick wit for being able to create this deal between the three organizations."
Walsh smiled proudly, giving his father a quick shake, but his gaze never left my direction. I was beaming at him. I knew how hard he’d work to get here and deep down how proud he must’ve felt. "Everybody knows that when my wife died, I felt this need to get revenge on the person who did it to her, and then fell into the role of capo when my father-in-law passed away." A lot of murmuring was heard through the room.
"But I think I would like to retire now and pass the baton onto my son, Walsh Solis. The council unanimously agreed to let Walsh take over the reins of the family business. Now that he is married, settled down, and has finally purchased property here in the community," Mr. Solis gestured around the room and it dawned on me. This strange house we were in was…our house.
Holy shit. I never thought growing up I’d ever even have the opportunity to live in one house, but now I have two. I was a scared girl, both physically and emotionally, who grew up with no love and no protection and now I was here, with my husband, who offered me all of that on a platter.
And no, life wasn’t easy for us. It was fucking hard but somehow we found our way back to each other. We would never be good people by society's standards. We were two very broken people who’d been traumatized in our pasts, but we were working on fixing each other. Sometimes I wished our story had a happily ever after ending where everything was perfect and fixed, but that wasn’t true and it wasn’t reality.
Standing in front of me was the one person I felt I never deserved, the one person I tried to fight and push away from me, but never left. Mr. Solis’s final words to his speech was the only thing that cut into my thoughts. "I want to proudly announce my son, Walsh Solis, as capo of the Solis Family Dynasty."
There was a thunderous amount of applause in the room and those who were seated stood up. Walsh held up his hands, a gesture of thanks, before he started to talk.
"I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you for being here today. A special thanks to my father and Romeo for supporting my nomination as capo of this organization. I'm aware of my youth, but I assure you that I will lead this family toward lucrative business ventures, ultimately increasing our wealth." Walsh's confident grin prompted cheers from some in the audience.
"But tonight, we gather not only to celebrate my new role, but also to commemorate my marriage to the incredible Madison Solis." Walsh gestured toward me, and I walked toward him, holding onto him as if he were my anchor.
He stared at me as he spoke to the crowd. "Madison, from the moment I first laid eyes on you, there was no one else. Our journey hasn't been a straight path; we've navigated through uncharted waters, weathered storms, and emerged stronger. Each step, every challenge, and every triumph has shaped us into who we are today—two imperfect beings perfect for each other."
I shook as he grasped his other hand in mine, holding me tightly, grounding me down to the earth.
"As I stand here, surrounded by the warmth of your love and the embrace of our cherished ones, I reflect on the promises we've made. Madison, my love, my muse, my heart, I want you to know that I loved you then, I love you now, and I will continue to love you with every beat of my heart. Yes, mistakes have been made, lessons learned, and through it all, our love has only deepened. Today marks a new chapter—a chapter where I pledge to put you first, to be the partner you deserve, the husband you desire, and the lover who ignites the passion within your soul.
"So, to each of you who has been a part of our lives, our story, and this momentous day, I express my deepest gratitude. And to you, Madison, my beautiful bride, my confidante, and my eternal flame, thank you for being my love, my anchor, and my everything.
"As we step into the future hand in hand, I promise to cherish, honor, and adore you. May our love continue to grow, may our journey be adorned with laughter and joy, and may our hearts beat as one. Thank you for joining us on this magical day, and Madison, I love you more than words can express."
I didn’t register the applause that burst from the room or the kiss that Walsh gave me after his speech. It was as though my mind was blurred and I had tunnel vision. I didn’t even remember being whisked away from the crowd, as Walsh led me back up the stairs, down the hallway and closing the door to the room I was in earlier in the day.
I especially don’t remember the look that Walsh gave me as I pinned my back to the door and he prowled over toward me.
"Lift your hands up," he demanded as my back pushed into the frame of the door, but I obliged him. His eyes still fixated on mine, his chest was pressed tightly against mine. His fingers reached over pulling my scarred hand down. His lips trailed up along my hands, sending a shiver of delight through my spine. The anticipation nearly killed me as his mouth pressed languid kisses up toward my shoulders.
"You were so beautiful down there," he murmured. "Waiting for me."
A moan escaped from my lips. "I was so proud of you." I praised him and his other hand trailed up my thigh over the thin fabric of the dress.
"Are you?" Walsh asked and a mhmm was the only response I could give him as his hands took over letting my body get lost among his touch.
"Turn around." I followed his demand, spinning on my heel for him. I felt his rough calloused fingers reach around toward my zipper as he slowly pulled the cool metal down from my skin, letting my dress pool in one big pile at my feet.
I didn’t dare turn back toward him, instead I gripped onto the door, my nails digging into the wood. "Tell me something," I demanded.
A thud was the only noise I heard until I felt wet lips pressing against my ass cheeks. His hands gripped the front of my thighs, pulling my ass to his face. "God, I could be buried forever here."
"Oh yeah? In this house you bought me?" I teased, but felt his fingers loosen along my legs.
"It's all ours," he murmured, peppering kisses up and down the back of my thighs.
I tried to crane my neck, to turn around and look at him to see his face, but I was distracted when his hands moved, parting my cheeks and his tongue grazed my backside entrance.
I bent forward slightly, giving him a better angle to lap me up like I was the greatest ice cream flavor ever invented and I marveled in the thrill of letting him eat my ass out. Fuck it felt so good, feeling the warmth around me. His free hand, toyed with my folds, teasing me just enough to edge me on—make me wanton and desperate for more.
"Walsh," I cried, needing more from him.
"Yes, Muse?" he taunted.
"Please," I begged, throwing my head back as his fingers strummed along my pussy.
He stood up and I whipped around, my chest pressed tightly along his tux coat. "Take this off," I demanded and the corners of his lips twisted into a mischievous grin.
"What a demanding little wife you are."
My hands were working his buttons, ripping his coat off and pulling on his bowtie. "Why did you buy this house?"
Although I was breathless and my body was primed for him, I wanted answers. "Because I needed to, for the business. I knew I was going to be capo, I needed to have a presence in the community."
Pop. One button went flying across the room and I suppressed a little giggle when it did. "Naughty, Muse."
Walsh’s lips came crashing down onto mine but I pulled away. "Why surprise me?"
"Because I like the way your eyes bulge out of your head, the way your lips part, the way your body gets all tense when I surprise you. It fucking turns me on."
I stared at him, this time the laughter could not be stopped. "I love you," I cried and pulled off his shirt, tracing my fingers along the tattoos around his body.
"You are beautiful," I praised him, loving the way he let me take over sometimes in the bedroom, letting the roles reverse.
"My stunning queen." His pants went crashing on the floor after I’d finished fumbling with the zipper at the same time Walsh had pulled off my bra and underwear set.
"Fuck me," I cried, as I jumped up, hooking my ankles behind his back, not wanting to leave.
His shaft was along my backside as he held me in his arms, draping me on the bed. "Come on, Daddy. Come play."
His eyes hooded with a darkened demand and I knew that my words had worked. I loved watching this man, the head of a freaking underground organization, unravel beneath my fingers. I loved the way my words literally made him fall to his knees to taste every ounce of me.
"Show me what a good girl you are—how ready you are to take all of me," he told me as I spread my legs wide on the bed and he crawled over to me like the whore I was for him.
"Good," he praised, pushing my knees wider apart.
His girthy length slid around my folds, feeling my wetness as I arched toward him, desperate for even a single taste of his thickness.
"Please," I cried. "Please. Please. PLEASE ." I screamed the last word no longer needing his cock for pleasure, but because I would explode if I didn’t get something inside of me, quickly. "I am going to have to pull out my saddle, again."
Walsh’s body stilled. "I am not jealous of the saddle. I fucking love watching you ride it. I loved when your eyes rolled back as you leaned over, increasing the strength of it. But I just want to be a jealous lover. I want a taste first."
I propped myself up on my elbows, gazes locked. "Then show me how badly you want it."
He plunged inside of me, and I held my breath as my body took him in. I don’t think I’d ever tire of feeling him bare and stretching.
"I was ruined when I first tasted you, Muse. You absolutely wrecked me." Walsh was thrusting inside of me as my ass hung off the side of my bed, legs tightening around his waist. I was at his mercy.
He continued his assault on me, fucking me raw. "I am going to spill my seed inside of you, Muse."
He cried eventually and my ears shot up. The symphony of pleasurable noises halting momentarily. "Do it."
A deep laugh was the only sound I heard as the bed continued to squeak letting him fuck me raw. The one thing that Walsh "accidentally" never brought to his house in Dansport was my birth control, so even though I had just gone to the doctor to get a prescription, I found out other news that may have halted the need for that.
"My fucking beautiful wife." More. Thrusting.
"Be quiet. Everyone can hear you downstairs." His hands reached up, pinching my nipples as I squealed in surprise.
"This room is soundproof." There was the Walsh I knew. The one always thinking ahead, always had the answer.
"Of course it is," I groaned just as I slipped into that peaceful abyss. The one where my world exploded, stars bursting, and everything ceased to exist except for Walsh and myself.
"I love you," he said one last time as he impaled me with his thick, girthy dick.
I exploded around him, my pussy lips clenching as I slipped into that star-drenched heaven. My body collapsed on the bed, lungs seizing as I tried to catch my breath.
He slid next to me, positioning me so I was laying on the pillow, and I entangled my arms and legs between his.
"I missed this," I murmured. His mouth came down onto my nose, peppering me with little kisses.
"You just had me earlier, you insatiable wife."
"Thank you," I whispered. "I never imagined myself as ever having a home."
"Now you have two." He pressed his lips to mine.
"No." I stopped him, pulling away slightly so I could see his eyes. "I meant you. You are my home, Walsh."
A slight smile tugged at his lips. "You’ve always been mine, Muse."
We laid there, the sounds of the party partially muted. "We should go back down there. They're here for us."
"Eh," Walsh waved his hand. "They can stand to be away from us for a few more minutes. Let me lay here."
I gazed up at the ceiling, contemplating the journey my life had taken in the past few years. Every shared moment between dusk and dawn had brought us to this point.
Closing my eyes, memories flooded in—the pain, the hurt, the collateral damage my trauma had caused, and the life I'd been compelled to lead due to my past. Today, however, felt different because Walsh was by my side. Even amidst life's messiness and the lingering fragments of my history, we embraced our imperfections. Perfection was never our expectation for each other.
Walsh wasn't a substitute for the elements missing from my childhood. Although everything I'd endured, everything that had been taken away, felt more bearable, as if he had smoothed out the rough edges, the puzzle of my life remained a work in progress.
"Hey?" I mumbled turning my head so we were eye to eye. This was the life that I’d always wanted. Every day felt like a moment where I was loved, worshiped, and cherished. This was all I had ever wanted when I met the man I knew would one day be mine.
"Yes, Muse?"
I grabbed his hand, placing it on my stomach. "You know that breeding kink you have?"
"Hey," he retorted, wrinkling his nose. "I do not." He laughed before giving me a kiss.
"I’m pregnant."
His eyes widened with surprise momentarily, but then a delicious smile spread across his cheeks.
And with that, a little piece of my inner child healed.