Epilogue
LOCHLAN
SIX MONTHS LATER
Our actual wedding and reception in Santorini is small. Just family and a few close friends. But everything about it feels perfect.
The sun dips low on the horizon, glittering atop the rippling waves down below. A warm breeze whispers through my white linen suit. My brothers stand beside me, all of them, together for the first time in years without any bullshit hanging over us.
The only one missing is Reaper. One of my security consultants is watching him while we’re away.
I know he’s bummed that we’re gone since he’s been glued to Adriana’s side ever since she agreed to marry me and moved back into the penthouse.
But he’ll be excited to see us when we’re back, and to be part of the family we built on the most unlikely of circumstances.
The organ music starts.
Luna comes down the aisle first. She’s stunning, even as she shoots me a warning look that says hurt my sister again and I’ll gut you. Fair enough. I give her a small nod.
Then, in a flash of white, Adriana appears at the end of the aisle looking more gorgeous than I’ve ever seen her. Her dress clings to every curve, her dark hair loosely curled around her shoulders.
She’s on her father’s arm. Francesco, standing straight and proud to move without a cane, walking his daughter down the aisle like he didn’t spend months recuperating. The stubborn bastard worked with a physical therapist to be ready for this moment.
But I barely register him. Because she’s all I can see.
Her dark eyes lock on me as she slowly makes her way down the aisle.
She’s smiling, so stunning that it takes my breath.
Francesco reaches me and places her hand in mine.
“Take care of her,” he says in a low voice.
“With my life.”
He nods, steps back, and sits next to his wife.
And then it’s just the two of us.
I don’t hear most of what the priest says because I’m so taken by my bride that all sound fizzles into white noise.
I can’t take my eyes off of her… the way the light catches her face, the way the flecks of gold in her eyes glimmer, the smile on her face that tells me everything I need to know… that she is mine. Truly mine forever.
“Lochlan,” the priest says, jolting me from my thoughts.
Right. Time for the vows.
I clear my throat. “I had a whole speech prepared. I practiced it in the mirror over and over so I’d have it memorized.” That gets a few laughs. “But standing here, looking at you... I forgot all of it.”
Adriana giggles softly.
“So here’s what I know,” I say. “I know that I was originally supposed to marry you for business. For an alliance. For survival. And somewhere along the way, I fell so completely in love with you that I can’t remember what my life looked like before you were in it.”
Her eyes are wet with tears. At this point, so are mine.
“I know that I hurt you and almost lost you. I also know I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure that never happens again.” I squeeze her hand. “You’re it for me, Adriana. You’ve always been it. And I will spend every day proving I’m worthy of this second chance.”
She blinks fast. A tear slips down her cheek.
“Adriana,” the priest says.
She takes a breath and sniffles. “I spent twenty years building walls, building a company, building a life that kept people out. I convinced myself I didn’t need anyone.” She looks at me. “And then you showed up. Cocky, infuriating, impossibly stubborn—”
“Charming,” I say.
“Don’t push it.”
More laughter from our audience follows.
“You were relentless and pushed your way into my heart. You made me feel things I swore I’d never feel. And when I tried to run, you didn’t let me.”
“I’m never gonna let you run.”
“I know.” She smiles and swipes away another stray tear. “That’s why I’m here. Because you fought for me. For us. Even when I made it impossible.” She squeezes my hands. “I love you, Lochlan. I trust you. And I choose you. Today and every day after.”
“And now, the rings,” the priest says. Ronan hands me hers, Luna hands her mine. We slide them on each other’s hands, grinning like idiots.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. Again.” The priest smiles. “You may now kiss your bride.”
I pull her in and kiss her deeply like no one’s watching. She laughs against my mouth, wraps her arms around my neck, and kisses me back just as hard, just as desperately.
Our families cheer and whistle.
I grin against her lips, holding her tight.
I’ve got her. For real this time.
And I’m never letting her go.
The reception is on the rooftop terrace of a small restaurant.
It sits on a cliff overlooking the water.
Fairy lights are strung overhead, looped in white tulle.
The view of Santorini is spectacular, but nowhere near as incredible as the view I have of my wife as we have our first dance together.
I spin her around the terracotta tile as the band plays “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra.
Everyone looks happy and relaxed, mingling together like we’re all old friends instead of mafia rivals.
Well, almost everyone. Luna still looks at me like she’s waiting for me to screw up.
That’s fine. I can be charming as hell. I’ll win her over eventually.
I gotta respect her loyalty. My brothers would be the same way if the tables were turned. Even Ronan.
I can sense something is off with Wolfe. He’s been distracted all day. Even now, he’s here physically, but I’ve seen him check his phone about ten times since the last course was served. I watch as he peers at the screen. The crease between his eyebrows that means something’s bothering him.
I find him on the edge of the terrace after dinner, away from the noise, staring at his phone again.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
He looks up, focusing his eyes on me for a second before speaking. “Fine.”
“Bullshit. What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing that can’t wait. Tonight’s your wedding night. I’m not going to—”
“Wolfe.”
He lets out a sigh. “Someone’s been poking around our systems. Ours and the DiMichelis’. I’ve been tracking them for a few weeks.”
“Is it the Kozlovs?” The hairs on the back of my neck prickle. “Those motherfuckers better not be screwing around after the deal was signed.”
“I don’t know yet.” He pushes his glasses farther up his nose. “But whoever it is, they’re good. Really good. Patient. They don’t rush, don’t get greedy. They know what they’re doing.”
“But you’ll catch them.”
“Eventually.” Something flickers in his expression. Not frustration. It’s more like intrigue. “They almost got past my second firewall last week. No one’s ever gotten that close.”
Coming from Wolfe, that’s practically a compliment. My brother doesn’t impress easily.
“Sounds like you might actually admire them.”
He shrugs. “I respect the skill. Doesn’t mean I won’t destroy them when I find them.”
“You need help?”
“No.” His lips quirk into a half-smirk. “I’ve got this. Go be with your wife.”
I look at him for a long minute. Wolfe is the guy who sees everything, misses nothing, and carries more than he lets anyone know, mainly because none of us would understand the kind of things that keep him up at night.
Cillian walks over to us with a beer in his hand.
He doesn’t say anything, just leans back against the railing. Wolfe’s shoulders relax slightly.
Those two have always understood each other in ways the rest of us don’t.
“You’ll tell me if it’s serious?” I ask.
Wolfe nods. “When I know more.”
I clap him on the back and head back to my wife where she stands with her parents.
“May I?” I ask, holding out a hand to Adriana. Maria and Francesco exchange a smile and nod.
I spin her around once, pulling her close. I breathe in her floral scent and nuzzle her ear. “Hungry for dessert?”
“Always,” she says in a husky voice. “But there are too many people around. And I’m not really into the whole voyeurism thing.”
I chuckle. “Okay, noted. The lady wants to enjoy her dessert without an audience present.” My eyes scan the space, falling on Cillian and Luna at the bar. “Uh-oh,” I say, twirling Adriana so she has a clear view. “What’s happening over there?”
Cillian flashes his easy smile at her and hands her a flute of champagne. Luna looks at the glass, then at him, then back at the glass like he’s just handed her a dead fish.
She says something. Cillian’s smile falters.
Then she turns and walks away without taking the drink, leaving my brother standing there holding two glasses like the rug was just pulled out from under him.
He’s not used to that kind of reaction from women. They normally melt at his feet. All it takes is a look and they’re pretty much ready to fall to their knees.
But not Luna DiMicheli. He watches her walk away, but his expression isn’t one of disappointment or shock.
It’s interest. He grins like she’s a challenge he needs to win. Then he guzzles the champagne down and orders another.
“Wow,” Adriana says. “What was that all about?”
“I don’t know. I’ll talk to him later,” I say, dipping my head. I trail my lips down the side of her neck.
She gives me a little push. “Talk to him now. I feel bad that he’s standing there all by himself after that rejection.”
I plant a kiss on her lips. “Okay, but don’t go too far.” I walk over to where my brother stands at the bar. “What the hell were you thinking, C? That was never gonna go anywhere.”
“Damn,” he says, shaking his head as he stares at her across the terrace. “She’s... intense.”
“She’s Adriana’s sister. Which makes her off-limits. Forever.”
Cillian takes a gulp of his drink. “She told me she’d rather lick the bottom of her shoe after stepping in dog shit than take a drink from me.”
“Sounds like she’s still pissed, and you’re unfortunately guilty by association. Just stay away from her.”
“I’m not doing anything.” He finally looks back at me. “I’m just saying. She’s not what I expected.”
“Leave it at that and move on.”
“I probably will.” He finishes the drink and gives me a wink. “Good luck with your honeymoon, brother.”
He walks away before I can say anything else. I watch him go, shaking my head.
That is just a disaster waiting to happen. But C has never been one to learn his lesson.
Much later, we head back to our honeymoon suite. It’s just us now, moonlight streaming through the open windows, the sound of waves lapping against the rocks below.
Adriana stands on the balcony, still in her dress. I strip off my shirt and join her outside.
I wrap my arms around her waist. “Mrs. Molloy,” I murmur into her ear.
“That’s my name now.” She leans back into me, settling between my shoulders. “For real this time.”
“For real.” I press a kiss to her neck. “No escape clause.”
“No escape clause,” she says.
We stand there for a while. Just breathing.
“Thank you,” she says after a few minutes.
“For what?”
“For not giving up when I pushed you away. When I told you it was over.” She turns in my arms, looking up at me. “Most men would have walked away and said screw it.”
“I’m not most men. Don’t you know that by now?”
“I do.” She brings her hands to the sides of my face, her thumbs stroking over my jaw.
I lean toward her, capturing her lips in a slow, deep kiss that reinforces every promise we made today.
When I finally pull back, she’s smiling.
“I love you,” she says.
“I love you, too.” I grin. “Now can I please get you out of this dress? I’ve been thinking about it all day.”
She laughs, that real, unguarded laugh I worked so hard to earn back. “Oh my God, could you be any more romantic?”
“I’ll show you romantic.” I sweep her up into my arms, carry her inside, and lie her down on the white comforter. She stretches out, her dress sliding up her thighs, legs falling slightly open enough to taunt me. I climb onto the bed, straddling her, captivated by her heated gaze.
There will be plenty of problems to solve once we get back home to our reality. Eamon’s still out there. The Kozlov situation needs watching. And whatever Wolfe is tracking could be nothing or could be everything.
But none of that matters right now.
Tonight, there’s just us. My wife in my arms. Our future stretching out ahead of us.
The rest of the world can wait.
Tonight, she’s the only thing that matters.
OMG, did you LOVE this book or what?? I had such an amazing time writing this epic love story, and I hope you enjoyed the new mafia world I’ve created.
“To blood and bullshit, the foundation of every great empire!”