Epilogue
It took a little over a week for everything to get sorted out.
The FBI finally ruled the case as cartel retaliation for Mario’s perceived betrayal.
They did question why Tristan had left his own wedding, leaving his bride to be mutilated hours after they wed.
Instead of the torrid affair story, he told them as head of security for the Maricuso-Russo empire, he was needed at the hotel after the discovery of Dad and Carla, who explained they had been held hostage since Mario staged their deaths.
The staff gave us all solid alibis, insisting we all arrived before the coroner’s estimated time of death from examining the victims.
Explaining Mickey’s, Sage’s, Gio’s, and Casey’s miraculous resurrections was a little harder, but Agent Garcia was ever so grateful for us rescuing his sister, he bought the flimsy excuse we gave and closed the case.
His final warning that we’d be under deeper scrutiny for the next six months was appreciated.
Life returned to normal, or as normal as it can be for a mafia family. Business went on as usual, and all of our loyal family members returned to their previous lives and roles.
The mansion became the life and soul of our family, with everyone once again in residence.
Dad had taken my relationship with Mario’s four adopted children in stride, and like I thought, once he heard that they did what they did to protect Addison, all was forgiven—or mostly.
He likes giving the guys shit, but Vienna and Addison have him firmly wrapped around their pinky fingers, especially when Addi declared that she was going to call him Nonno S.
Dad and his respective paramours live in their wing, and mine and Addison, as well as Gio and Casey, live in ours.
We shuffled the rooms around a little, and Gio and Casey live as far away from ours as they could possibly get.
They are fixing up a bedroom next to theirs as a nursery, and Addison has her own bedroom next to the future baby’s.
She insisted as the big cousin, she should be close by in case the baby needed her. None of us argued with that.
We’ve all talked about what’s happening next, but none of us have made any solid decisions except Sage, who wept and cursed when he saw the state of his grow rooms. He’s going to resume his former position as Dad’s chemist, but everyone else is going to take their time making any major life choices.
As for our relationship, we’re enjoying spending time together, and I’m still married to Xavier.
What will happen in the future is anyone’s guess, but for now, we’re trying to make this untraditional relationship work.
Tristan inherited everything from Stacey and her family when no other living relatives were found, and Mario’s estate was divided equally between the three guys.
Mario left Vienna out of his will, his thoughts on females previously made very clear, so she wasn’t actually surprised nor had any fucks to give.
For now, they’ve put a lump sum in a trust for Addi and are still figuring out how to handle their newfound wealth.
Dad has been giving them financial advice and helping them in any way he can, which I appreciate more than I can express.
Gio and Casey are going to finish college and wait for the birth of their baby.
Gio finally told Dad he didn’t want to constantly put his wife and child in danger by being the head of the Russo family, and Dad accepted his decision.
He offered me the role, since I had basically been doing it since his supposed death, but I hesitated.
What I thought I wanted maybe just isn’t the end goal anymore, and he’s giving me time to make up my mind.
“Hmmm, the sun feels so good on my skin,” Vienna mutters from her position on the lounger next to mine.
“It sure does,” I reply, turning my head to look at her. “This was an awesome idea.”
“I propose a toast,” Sage says from my other side. I pull myself up and grab the cocktail on the table next to me. “To Stacey.” I wrinkle my nose, but he continues. “For picking a fabulous spot to honeymoon.” He holds up his glass, and we clink them together before taking a sip.
“Right? What an amazing idea to use Tristan’s honeymoon to get away for a couple of weeks.” Vienna giggles, half drunk and half stoned from the weed Sage was passing back and forth between us.
“What are you laughing about?” a voice calls below us, and we get up and peer over the deck and find Tristan, Xavier, and Colton all treading water with their diving masks pushed back on their faces.
“Just mentioning what amazing taste Stacey had.” Sage raises his glass in their direction.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Tristan grumbles. “Those bridesmaid dresses she put you two in were hideous.”
“Are you coming up? I’ll pour you drinks,” I offer, and the three of them swim toward the steps that lead up into the bungalow.
I head inside to the kitchen and pour them all a glass from the pitcher of margaritas we made earlier.
“Do you want to rent a boat later and go exploring?” I hear Colton ask, and when I return outside with everyone’s drinks on a tray, he’s rubbing a towel over his head to dry it.
Xavier is stretched out over Vienna, dripping water onto her and causing her to giggle, and Tristan is perched on the end of Sage’s lounge, having already confiscated his blunt.
“Ugh, that would be nice,” Vienna says, pulling Xavier closer and giving him a quick kiss before shoving him off her.
He falls to the ground with a shout. “But I promised Addi I would go snorkeling with her this afternoon. She’s going to use the pool noodle to keep herself afloat.
She’s desperate to see the fish the boys were telling her about. ”
The six of us look over in the direction of the two closest bungalows, curved slightly around from us.
Casey and Gio claimed the first one as theirs, and further past that Mickey, Carla, Suzy, Ben, Maeve, and my father claimed the final one.
I am so glad there is a bungalow between us, because I have discovered, quite to my horror, that noise travels easily over water at night.
“Yeah, it was lucky those two villas weren’t already booked, and we were able to grab them last minute so they could come with us,” Xavier mutters dryly from the ground.
I pass him a drink and give him a wink. I know my dad probably threw a whole heap of money at the resort and told them to rebook whoever had them.
He is very reluctant to let us out of his sight for the moment, and that was his solution.
No one argued, because it’s been awesome having Addi here with us while also staying in a different bungalow.
She’s been sleeping in the spare bedroom in Casey and Gio’s.
It’s the safest place for her to be if we don’t want to scar her for life.
They promised to give us plenty of space, so currently, they are all over at my dad’s villa. I see Gio and Ben wrestling each other in the water, and Addi is over my dad’s shoulder. As we watch, Dad throws himself into the water, taking her with him in a wave of laughter.
“Oh God, she isn’t a very good swimmer.” Vienna jumps to her feet, but Colton puts a hand out.
“She’s fine. I saw the flash of orange water wings.”
“Trust me, Stefano will have her swimming like a fish by the end of this trip.” Sage grins, draining his drink. He ogles the mostly naked flesh in front of him, his eyes slitted with desire and weed.
“So is anyone up for a little afternoon delight?” He adjusts his shorts, and when I look down, I am not surprised to find him already sporting an erection. “All this naked flesh is making me horny.”
“Please, a stiff breeze gets you going.” Colton ruffles his hair as he walks into the bungalow.
“So is that a yes?” Sage calls, hurrying after him.
“I’d say it was a hell yes.” Tristan scoops Vienna up, throwing her over his shoulder with a scream, and takes off after them.
I look down at my tray of drinks then at Xavier, who has drained his.
“Last one there is on the bottom,” I shout, tossing the tray over the edge and giving Xavier a hard shove as he tries to stand, toppling him like a tree.
I scamper away, but he catches my foot and drags me down on him, pinning me to the ground and kissing me soundly.
Our tongues clash, and our hands grope, but just as suddenly as it started, it finishes, as he jumps to his feet and runs into the cabin.
“Hey, that’s cheating,” I call out, unable to stop smiling. I get to my feet and follow them into the bedroom, the sounds of passion already reaching my ears.
I don’t know for certain what life is going to be like from here, but I know it’s never going to be boring.