Epilogue
EPILOGUE
DAGGER
The bedroom is quiet except for the soft hum of the fan and Steele’s tiny snores between us. His little body is stretched out like a starfish, one chubby hand resting on Chloe’s arm and the other flung across my chest. I don’t know how someone so small can take up so much space, but here he is, ruling the bed like a king.
Chloe shifts beside me, her head nestled into her pillow, her belly round and full with our next kid. She looks beautiful—always does—but there’s something about seeing her like this, glowing with life, that makes it impossible to look away.
Beast is sprawled out on the floor by the bed, his massive body stretched across the rug like a hairy landmine. He’s snoring too, low and rhythmic, and for a moment, I can’t help but smirk. He’s a big softy most of the time, but I’ve seen what he’s capable of. If anyone tried to hurt Steele or Chloe, they wouldn’t make it five feet before Beast turned into a nightmare.
Chloe shifts again, her eyes fluttering open, catching me staring. “You’re awake,” she murmurs, her voice still heavy with sleep.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I admit, running a hand over Steele’s soft hair.
Her gaze softens as she watches me, then shifts down to Steele, her fingers brushing over his tiny arm. “What’s on your mind?”
I take a deep breath, glancing at the ceiling for a second before turning back to her. “I bought us a house,” I say, letting the words hang in the quiet room.
Her eyes snap up to mine, widening in shock. “A house?”
I nod, shifting onto my side to face her. “Yeah. We’ve been in this rental for a few years now, and it’s been good, but with the baby coming, it’s time for something bigger. Something that’s ours.”
Chloe stares at me for a moment, her lips parted like she’s trying to figure out what to say. “You… you bought a house?”
“Yes, woman. A house,” I reply, grinning at the disbelief on her face.
Her hand comes to rest on her belly, and she looks at me like she’s trying to see if I’m serious. “When did this happen?”
“Been working on it for a while,” I tell her, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “It’s got plenty of space for us and the kids. Big yard, fenced in. Beast will love it, and Steele can run wild without us worrying.”
She stares at me, still processing, but I can see the wheels turning. “I don’t even know what to say,” she whispers.
“How about we ride over and check it out?” I offer.
Chloe nods slowly, still looking like she’s caught in some kind of dream.
The sun is high in the sky by the time we pull up to the house. Steele’s strapped into his car seat in the back, chattering about everything he sees out the window, while Beast sits in the cargo area, his head pressed against the glass, watching everything like a hawk. Chloe’s been quiet most of the ride, her hands resting on her belly, her eyes distant.
When I park in front of the house, she just stares. The place is big—bigger than anything we’ve lived in before. A wide porch wraps around the front, and the yard stretches out in all directions, green and inviting.
Steele is out of his seat the second I unbuckle him, running across the yard with that endless energy only toddlers seem to have. Beast hops out after him, sticking close as he sniffs the air, already acting like he owns the place.
Chloe steps out of the car slowly, her hand shielding her eyes as she takes it all in. “This is… this is ours?” she asks, her voice quiet.
“Yeah,” I say, stepping up beside her. “What do you think?”
She doesn’t answer right away, her gaze still sweeping over the house and the yard. Steele’s laughing as he chases Beast, the sound carrying on the breeze.
“You want to check it out?” I ask, nudging her gently.
She nods, and we make our way to the front door, Steele and Beast trailing behind us.
The inside of the house is even better than the outside. Hardwood floors stretch through the open living spaces, and the kitchen is big enough for Chloe to cook up one of her epic meals without feeling crowded. But it’s the little touches that really make it special.
I lead her down the hallway to the bedrooms, stopping outside the one at the end. “This is Steele’s room,” I say, pushing the door open.
She steps inside, her eyes widening as she takes it all in. The room is already set up—painted in soft blues and grays, with a bed shaped like a race car and shelves filled with books and toys.
“I had Sophie, Carlie, and Jenny help out in here,” I admit, scratching the back of my neck. “Figured they’d know what a kid’s room should look like better than I would.”
Chloe turns to me, her eyes glassy, and for a second, I think she might cry. “You did all this?”
“Not just me,” I say, shrugging. “But yeah. Wanted it to feel like home for him.”
She moves to the next room, the one we’ve set up for the baby. It’s soft and warm, with pinks and creams, a crib in the corner, and a rocking chair by the window. Chloe runs her fingers over the edge of the crib, her lips trembling.
I step up behind her, wrapping my arms around her. “Figured we’d call this one Macie’s room,” I say, my voice low.
“She,” Chloe murmurs, her hands resting over mine.
“Yeah,” I say. “Thought we’d make it special for her.”
Chloe turns in my arms, her eyes shining as she looks up at me. “It’s perfect, Dagger. All of it.”
I press a kiss to her forehead, holding her close as Steele’s laughter echoes from down the hall. Beast pokes his head into the room, giving us a look like he’s making sure everything’s up to standard.
“Think you’ll like it here?” I ask her.
Chloe smiles, her hand resting on her belly as she leans into me. “I already do.”