Epilogue
Finn
A black G-Wagon rolls up to the estate, and Trinity steps out, flanked by two men.
I know their names—Brody and Connor Gallagher—because Kellin gave me all the details when he first touched down in LA.
But I never expected my baby sister to bring them with her to New York.
I don’t have a clue what she’s thinking, but she’s home safe, and that’s all I care about at this point.
I leave the window and head for the front door.
The Trinity I last saw in person—a quiet, studious wallflower—is not the woman who’s gliding up to me right now.
Fresh-faced and vibrant, she smiles with an ease I’ve never seen from her. Ever since she was a kid, I’ve always viewed her as this top that needed spinning. Bottled-up kinetic energy. Always so thoughtful and slow to respond. Considering all her options.
Even so, I could glimpse the fire under the surface. We all could. We just didn’t know how to set the top in motion. Losing her mother early in life and then later her best friend put Trinity through hell. That light in her eyes died.
Though we searched for the men who killed Angelica, we could only devote so much energy to that endeavor. The cops had no leads, we had no leads, and nothing would bring that little girl back.
We didn’t mean to give up on her.
We hoped our self-defense and lock-picking lessons would help her heal, but we severely miscalculated. The training only served to remind her of what she lost.
Now, though, she’s like a whole new person.
A wide grin cracks over my face when she reaches the top steps. “Trini…”
“Finn!” She raises the stakes with a smile that could rival the sun.
For the first time in as long as I can remember, my baby sister falls right into my embrace. With the way she curls into me, I almost feel like a dad.
I missed her so much.
After giving Trinity a little peck on top of her head, I push her back to peer into her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I sent people to Austin as soon as you touched base that day. Kellin went too. But they all kept getting waylaid by fucking Declan’s men, and then you were nowhere to be found.”
She just pats my shoulder. “It’s okay, Finn.”
I scowl. “It’s not okay. You called me for help, and I couldn’t even…” I shake my head and glance over her shoulder. The brothers recline against the side of their rented car, just watching us. “What matters is you’re safe now. Thanks to Brody Gallagher, apparently. What a tool.”
She laughs a little while shaking her head.
“What’s so funny?”
“You realize he took down, like, half of Grigori Rostov’s guys to keep me safe?”
“I heard.” Even to my own ears, I sound petulant.
Trinity offers another smile. “I’m really okay. Better than okay.”
I peek over her one more time. “I admit you look different. Happy. And older.” I huff and ruffle her hair. “I’ve missed so much over the past few years.”
“No, mostly just the past few weeks. Trust me, everything before this was…” She glances up, biting her lip as if in thought. “I guess the best word for it is predictable. Or maybe boring.”
“Well, for you, boring is good. It’s safe. Let’s not make a habit of getting mixed up with other families, okay?”
She wrinkles her nose, and for a second, she looks like a kid again. “I won’t. But on that note… Finn, I want you to meet the men who saved my life.”
And the men who put you in danger. I won’t say that out loud, though, because if Brody hadn’t taken her hostage, she’d probably be locked up in Rostov’s dungeon by now. Maybe even dead.
Loathe as I am to do so, I must admit that I owe these West Coast Kings.
Trinity pivots to face the two men leaning against the G-Wagon before waving a hand. The men share a glance I can’t decipher and head over.
The stocky one’s Brody, according to what Trinity told me over the phone. I never met him in person, but I recognize a fighter when I see one. He’s the one who’s not Declan’s bio kid, and his mixed heritage shows. He also gazes at Trinity like she hung the moon.
Damn. I’ll have to watch that.
Connor walks up and stops beside him. He’s taller and thinner and possesses a calm that only the eldest child can manage. I should know.
“Boys, come meet my brother.” She whirls back around and gives me a silent “play nice” command as these two strangers stomp up my steps.
“Finn, this is Brody.” Beaming, Trinity slips her arm around the shorter man.
She’s never mentioned a boy in her entire life, and here she is, playing cutesy with someone who was our enemy until about forty-eight hours ago.
This will take some time to get used to.
She nods at the taller Californian. “And this is his older brother, Connor.”
I can’t help but size them both up. As head of this household and our father’s stand-in where Trinity’s concerned, territorial doesn’t even begin to describe my protective instincts for my sister.
Though, as Riley reminded me this morning, my sister’s an adult who can make her own decisions. Unfortunately.
After a long pause, I finally offer my hand to Brody. Seems appropriate given my sister’s draped all over the guy. “Finn Gallagher. Thank you for saving Trinity.”
“Brody. It was my pleasure.”
The handshake could be nicer, but I do manage to stop myself from crushing his fingers. Then I address Connor.
“I hear you also had a hand in her rescue. I owe you.”
Connor shrugs a single shoulder. “Anything for family, right?”
Loyalty. I can work with that.
I flick my gaze between the two of them. “Are you sure about this?”
Brody nods once. “I don’t have any love lost for Declan Gallagher. I’m here for Trinity and the Irish Kings.”
Acceptable. I shake his hand again, with a looser grip this time. “And you, Connor?”
“Well, actually, I was thinking of some cooperative work. You’ve got some men all tied up with some Italians, right?”
I scowl. How the hell does he know about that? “The Riccis have some of my guys, and I’ve got some of theirs. What of it?”
“Just an idea I had—” When Connor’s phone rings, he holds up a finger and steps away to answer. “Dad.”
I share a quick, narrow-eyed exchange with Trinity. Why is Declan calling?
Connor stays close enough for us to hear his side of the conversation. “I know you’re upset at Brody’s defection, but this could be good for us.” He glances up to meet my gaze. “Yes, Dad. But we’ve all got bigger fish to fry. …Okay. Why don’t I give you the chance to speak to him yourself?”
Connor pulls the phone away from his ear and puts the head of the Port Kings on speakerphone.
“Finn Gallagher.” Declan greets me with a smoke-roughened voice. “What’s this my son is saying about a truce?”
My eyes flick up to Connor’s stoic face. What the fuck? “It’s news to me.”
Connor brings the phone closer to his mouth. “We’ve all got a common enemy here. And New York is Rostov’s home base, right? It would be smarter to work together, from here, to eliminate the threat.”
I cross my arms, frowning at Connor. “I don’t appreciate being blindsided.
But I also don’t think you’re wrong.” I bend toward the phone.
“I’m willing to work with you on this, Declan.
The Roguilin Bratva is a problem for all of us, on both coasts and beyond.
Rostov is even more vicious than Viktor was, and at this point, he hates us all.
We need allies, and it might not be a bad idea to use the connections we both have. ”
The phone crackles before a heavy breath filters through the speakers. “Connor will stay as your guest for the time being. We’ll combine forces to take down the Russians.” Ice chinks in a glass. “Connor, call me later.”
The conversation ends, and Declan’s eldest slips his phone into his pocket. “That’s that, then. Guess I’m here for now.”
“You better not cause me any grief.” I jerk my thumb toward the house, hoping I didn’t just sign the Irish Kings’ death warrant. “Come on. We’ve got a lot to talk about. This war is just starting.”
The End