EPILOGUE TWO #2
“Hell’s Army isn’t gone, Ruin,” Mihai continues, his tone almost conversational now. “They still have rogue forces. Ones we’ve been keeping in check this entire time.”
A pause. A deliberate one.
“Do you really want us to stop?”
The room goes still. Because beneath the calm delivery, the threat is unmistakable.
Mihai’s gaze drifts past me. And lands exactly where Lana and Stephanie are standing—and something in his expression shifts. His lips twitch, amused. “I see you’ve found more princesses,” he says lightly.
I see Healer stiffening up in the corner. Slowly making his way to his sister.
“Perhaps I won’t have to marry one of my men to Charlotte, huh?”
Theo’s grip tightens around my waist. A low, dangerous sound rips out of him. “Get out.”
Mihai lifts his hands in mock surrender, a smile still playing on his face like this is all just a game to him.
“I’m not forcing you, Ruin,” he says, almost lazily. “Just making sure you understand the stakes.”
“The only thing I understand,” Theo bites out, stepping forward slightly, “is that you’ve overstayed your welcome.”
Ryder shifts beside him, silent but coiled, his stance enough of a warning on its own.
Behind Mihai, Tudor’s still watching Spike. Waiting. All while Spike doesn’t so much as blink in his direction.
Mihai exhales, like he’s bored with the tension he created. “You’re emotional,” he says, tilting his head at Theo. “It’s understandable. New role. Dead brother. Big decisions.”
That does it. Theo takes a step forward—and Ryder’s hand shoots out, catching his arm just enough to hold him back. “Don’t,” Ryder mutters under his breath.
Mihai watches it all unfold, faintly entertained. “You have time,” he continues, straightening his blazer. “Think about it. An alliance like this doesn’t come twice.”
“We’re not selling our people,” Ryder says flatly.
“Such a harsh word,” Mihai hums. “I’m not my sister, you know that.”
“It doesn’t seem like you’re any different,” Theo snaps back.
Something colder settles over Mihai’s expression. Not anger. Just a quiet calculation. Perhaps redirection. “Very well,” he says finally. “For now.”
His gaze flicks to Lana and Steph once more—lingering just a second too long—before he turns. “Tudor.”
No response. Mihai pauses, glancing back.
But Tudor doesn’t move. He’s still staring at Spike. Something unspoken hangs there—tense, unfinished—before Mihai’s voice cuts sharper this time. “Tudor.”
Then, finally, he turns and follows his boss.
The rest of his men file out behind them, the door shutting with a heavy thud that seems to echo through the entire clubhouse.
Silence lingers. Thick and unsettled.
“What a… weirdo,” Stephanie mutters as she walks up to me. Lana snorts, snuggling up to Hound who wraps his arm around her waist protectively.
And just like that, the tension cracks. Voices start up again. Low at first, then louder. Conversations picking back up, though there’s an edge to them now.
Ryder drags a hand down his face and shifts toward Bulldog. “Make sure they’re gone.”
“Already on it,” he replies.
Theo doesn’t move for a second longer. Then his hand finds mine again—tight, grounding.
I squeeze back.
He exhales slowly, like he’s forcing the anger out of his system, before glancing down at me. “You okay?”
I nod. “You?”
He huffs softly. “Ask me in five minutes.”
I smile faintly. “Okay.”
Behind us, someone turns the music back up. A little louder than before. Like they’re trying to drown out what just happened. And slowly, the room finds its rhythm again.
I’m halfway through a conversation with Steph and Healer when Theo reappears at my side, sliding in close like he belongs there.
Which he does. His hand settles at my waist, thumb brushing absent circles into my hip as he leans down, his lips grazing my ear.
“Say it again, baby,” he whispers, voice low, almost pleading. “Please?”
I huff out a quiet laugh, tilting my head toward him. “I love you.” Flat and casual. Like I’m telling him the time.
He pulls back just enough to look at me, and that slow, stupidly smitten grin spreads across his face.
“I’ll take that,” he says. “Even with that expression.”
I chuckle as he leans in, pressing a kiss to my temple.
“Oh shit!” I blurt, a little too loudly. “Give me a second.”
Theo frowns immediately as I slip out of his hold. “What—”
I’m already moving, weaving through the room with a grin I can’t quite contain, heading straight for his office. I hear him call my name once, but I ignore it completely.
A few minutes later, I step back out. And the second I do, Theo goes still. His eyes lock on me, something dark and stunned flashing across his face as he takes me in slowly. Thoroughly. Because I’m wearing his cut.
Well—
A cut. A property cut.
It’s the one he’d ordered weeks ago and hidden away like it meant too much to see the light of day. And now, it sits perfectly on my shoulders. Fits like it was always meant to be mine. And across the back, stitched clean and bold—is not Property of Ruin.
No, it’s something else.
Charlotte, First Lady.
Silence ripples outward.
“Holy shit,” someone breathes.
I don’t look away from him. Not for a second.
Theo steps forward, slow at first. Like he’s not entirely convinced this is real. “Charlotte…” he murmurs, voice rough, almost disbelieving.
I lift a brow, fighting a smile. “What?”
He exhales sharply, dragging a hand down his face before looking at me again—this time as I’ve just undone him all over again. “Come here.”
I don’t argue.
The second I’m close enough, his hands are on me—firm, grounding, pulling me flush against him as his gaze drops to the words on my back, then back up to my face. “Will you say it one more time?” he mutters, but there’s no teasing left now. Just something raw. Certain.
I smile softly this time. “I love you, Theo.”
His grip tightens. “Yeah,” he breathes, leaning down, forehead pressing to mine. “Yeah, you do.”