EPILOGUE
Six Months Later
ARTEMIS
Donovan proposed to me in every country we visited.
He told me he was making it official, around the world.
We travelled for six months, South America, Europe, Asia, looping in Australia, then a quick stint through the Middle East and Africa, all before ending it in America.
In Maine, at the large log cabin with two stories and a tree hours with a wooden path in the air, connected and held between trees.
It was magical, especially in the fall where the breeze got trapped between the trees, unable to pick up steam or any of the fallen amber leaves.
It was the perfect place. There was even a brown picket fence and a garden with untamed bushes and overgrown feeds
We sat in the car and looked at it for a moment, big smiles on both of our faces.
“I love it,” I said, holding his hand.
“Good, because we’re spending the next six month here,” he said. “Just you and me, baby.”
“And it’s the perfect place for a wedding, don’t you think?”
“After winter, please,” he said.
“I’m thinking exactly when it’s snow.” I was all giggly. I was ready for a whole lot of cold weather, snow, and cups of cocoa in front of a fire with snuggles.
There was a man at the door, dressed in a thick winter coat already. He smiled and waved us over from the car. He’d almost blending right in with the place.
“I’m Joss,” he said, introducing himself.
“Welcome to your new home. I’ve been told to tell you both that anything you need, I’m a call away.
Everything you need is inside. Including some specialty items. There’s a file with information.
” He held both hands up. “I didn’t peek. Mercy would have my guts for that.”
It wasn’t a safe house in the Sanctum sense, it was our home, and from the sounds of it, Mercy had given us an upgrade, an early wedding gift. I was eager to get inside.
The pictures of this place hadn’t done it justice. Granted, it had been six months since we’d been given those pictures. It was toasty and warm inside. Everything was so cream and chrome, modern looking. I didn’t want to dirty any of it up.
Joss had stuck behind to speak with Donovan while I ventured through the house. There was a box on island counter in the kitchen, and inside, a letter on top of another box from Mercy.
‘Hello,
I’m still waiting on the wedding invite.
If you’ve already tied the knot. I can’t be too mad.
I’m a sucker for a wedding, so whether you’re married or not, my gift for you is a stocked pantry and equipment cupboard.
There are plenty of safes around the house as well.
No codes set currently, I know Donovan is suspicious at times of Sanctum, but this place is yours.
There are no bugs, except for the ones you might find out in the woods.
I’ve been following your journey. I saw that you both went into a tattoo parlor in Thailand. I’m eager to know what happened. And I saw that you withdrew a lot of cash. I don’t want you going rogue or running out of money before the next six month is up.
I don’t get so attached to agents, but you two are special. You two go the extra mile for each other. It reminds me of mine and Marzia’s relationship.
And I hope you’ve both been paying attention to the news. One of Nathaniel’s children has been arrested for murdering two people who they believed was connected to their father’s death. They’re not giving up.
Burn after reading, boys.
You know who from.’
It humanized Mercy to me. I knew she was doing it because we’d probably given her a bazillion dollars or whatever.
It was nice to finally have a place where we could live, and that picket fence dream was going to be a reality, even if it needed a little bit of a work and upkeep.
I wanted a taste of this life, and make sure it wasn’t for me—or maybe it was.
Perhaps now I’d killed my demon, I could be some homemaker with a sour dough starter I would have to feed daily, or an entire barn full of animals.
Donovan came in, interrupted my thoughts. “Nice place,” he said. “I bet we could fuck on every counter and wall, just to make sure the place knows whose boss.”
I placed the note to his chest and as he held it there in place, I reached down and grabbed his chubbing cock. He was already so excited, and I wanted to explore—but we had all the time in the world—or however long six months was.
After reading the note, Donovan placed it on the counter. “I take that as a yes,” he said, picking me up and placing me down on the island. “Think we should follow in their footsteps and try for a baby.”
It was a joke we got often, starting a family, leaving the criminal world behind.
And as much as we tried to make that baby, it just wasn’t happening.
And I didn’t think I wanted a human life attached to mine, especially if I was responsible for them.
The idea I’d fuck them up like my folks did to me.
I’d ruined the mood. I placed both hands on Donovan’s chest. “I wanna explore the house first,” I said. “Please.”
He planted a kiss on my cheek. “I’ll see what else is in this box, then burn it all.”
There was one large bedroom with an ensuite, and two guest rooms, all the beds were made, everything had been taken care of.
It almost felt like a hotel, but this was our place, and now, it was something we’d have to take care of, unless Joss was also here to clean, cook, and garden—which I highly doubted.
Running around and almost slipping on the polished wood flooring, I managed uncovered one of the secret safes around the place.
It was inside of a wall panel, completely hidden, unless you knew the line to look for that would pop it out.
There was a handgun inside and a couple ammo mags. I placed the cover back over it.
“Mercy has definitely stocked the place,” Donovan said, holding a large bottle of expensive whiskey.
I knew it was expensive because I’d seen the bottle before in a fancy restaurant.
“I wonder if she’s buttering us up for something.
” The smell of burning followed him, attached to his clothes. I kinda liked it.
“No way, haven’t you been paying attention to the news?
” I asked. I knew I’d been telling him stuff, but unless I was fucking him, I doubt any of the information actually went in.
He shook his head and threw himself on the cream leather sofa, sinking into it, he had a satisfied smile.
“With Nathaniel’s death, his control on the family’s wealth went to Mercy.
Everything. I think she’s just thanking us.
That’s another generations wealth. Just gone.
” Part of me felt sorry whenever I thought about it, and another part of me felt that it was justified.
Donovan nodded, again, probably not even listening.
He grabbed the remote and turned the plasma screen TV on.
The news appeared, blasting sound out. “Whistleblower for Nexovex Therapeutics has gone missing.” He turned the volume down.
“Unnamed whistleblower in this case has proof that big pharma falsified clinical trials. Killing thousands and making them billions.”
“Fuck,” he said.
I joined him on the sofa.
“What?”
“Reaper called the other week. I think he’s fucking that whistleblower.”
“Shit.”
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