Epilogue
ROWAN
Even in the midst of preparing for a war with The Preacher—when the inside of Decadence, which was once a chocolate factory, has now become a torture chamber— we’ve still made our little secret haven of bliss in the woods on the grounds.
Surrounded by our family. The Quinn brothers, their wives and children, and Bella’s brothers and Lily.
We’re missing Drago, as he’s out of the country with Enzo for a couple of days, bringing in more Russian contacts for questioning.
He’s leaving no stone unturned. And no lead alive. I’ve never seen something so brutal unfold, and that’s fucking saying something.
This isn’t a wedding. Not the conventional legal type. This is a celebration of our love with those that we love.
There are fairy lights in the trees, pink roses in bouquets on the tables, and even a chocolate fountain for the kids.
Well, the kids and Conan, who hasn’t stopped dipping his finger in for the past half hour.
And Bella, she’s laughing with Lily and Hallie as they drink champagne. While I’m sipping my beer with Reggie, watching her.
She’s happy. And when she glances over at us, my heart almost stops.
“God, she’s fucking beautiful, isn’t she?” I say to Reggie.
“Yep, we’re lucky men, Rowan. Really fucking lucky.”
I smile at her and she blushes. I glance down at the platinum ring on my finger, with a matching pink diamond set inside it, while Reggie has the black, to match her engagement ring from us both.
As Lily follows Bella over, she settles between us, linking her hand in mine and resting her head on Reggie's arm.
“You okay, precious?” I ask her.
She sighs. “Yeah, I’m really good. Today has been beautiful.”
I spot Father Byrne talking to Declan. We’ve offered him protection to make up for Lyla’s stunt in the church. And, somehow, we managed to sweet talk him into leading the ceremony, so it felt more real.
Not that we need a poxy piece of paper to prove a marriage. It’s written in blood somewhere that we belong to Bella King. Or, Bella Murphy now.
That was our purpose in life. Every shitty thing we’ve been through. Every fight we’ve had to win. It was all to get right here, standing beside the light of our life. Our Bella.
“It’s a shame Drago is missing,” Bella says.
“Drago?” Lily asks.
I glance at Reggie over Bella’s head. “You know Drago?” Reggie asks.
Weird. We’ve never seen Drago and Lily in the same room. Like, ever, now I think about it.
“I don’t think so. I used to know a Drago, though. It’s a pretty common name in Russia. My dad’s best friend was called Drago. Hot name, actually.”
Bella straightens her spine. “Wait. You’re Russian?” Bella asks, in shock.
Again, I look at Reggie, he clocks it.
“Uh. Yeah. Russian heritage. Mom is American, I came and lived here with her when I was younger. I haven’t seen my dad in years.”
I smile at Lily to hide what I’m really thinking. And then my phone buzzes in my pocket just as Reggie pulls his out too.
Speak of the devil.
Drago’s name flashes on the screen with a simple message.
DRAGON: STOP THAT CONVERSATION AND DO NOT TELL LILY MY LAST NAME.
Reggie clears his throat. “So, Lily. How's the art gallery going? You’ve got a showing soon, right?”
Lily starts answering his question all excited, and I type back a reply to Drago. Or as I like to call him, Dragon.
ME: What’s in it for me? What even is your last name? Oh my god, is it Drago Dragon?
He types back immediately.
DRAGON: Are you not even going to ask how I know what you’re talking about?
I hold back my laugh.
ME: I always assumed you were a watcher, Dragon. I’d turn off the cameras tonight, our wedding night is about to get messy…
He doesn’t reply. But I am really fucking intrigued. I know he ain’t bugged my phone, nor Reggie’s. Now, why would Drago be tapping into Lily’s phone?
Call it an instinct, but Lily being Russian and him spying on her. That’s something.
I slide my phone into my pocket and wrap my arm around Bella’s waist. I don’t give a shit right now about Drago’s problems, nor his last name.
All I care about is the woman who just took my last name.
The woman who stole my heart and my soul.
The woman I live for and the one I’d die for. I watch her, chatting away with Lily and Reggie, and I just smile.
I fucking love her with every single part of me.