Epilogue
The war room hums as I scan the financials of Tony’s shell companies spread across the table, each folder containing another piece of a system we’re dismantling.
It’s been three days since we took Tony down. Three days of playing clean-up, of ensuring nothing Tony left behind can ever touch our family again.
Between his accountant and the laptop Jade took off of them, we were able to locate every piece of the pie Tony had his fingers in.
“Property assets in the southeast quadrant are nearly liquidated,” Sebastian reports. “We’ve moved the final three through shell corporations and back through our offshore accounts. Untraceable.”
Nolan leans forward, eyeing the bank statement on his tablet. “And the offshore accounts?”
“Already dispersed to the foundations we discussed.” I nod at Liam, who jots down a note on his own screen. “The shelters will see the first payments by Friday. The Omega Outreach foster houses first, then the legal defense funds.”
“Police presence at the construction site has been neutralized,” Damien says as he joins us. “Captain Harris understands we’re dealing with a sensitive situation.”
“Meaning what?” Liam asks.
“Meaning they’ve designated it an industrial accident.” Damien drops a file onto the table. “Workers killed in a structural collapse. Tragic, but not worth a full investigation.”
Relief settles in. One less loose end to manage.
Nolan turns back to his tablet. “The video from the warehouse?”
“Already being scrubbed,” Sebastian says from his station at the far end of the table. “Micah’s working on isolating and destroying any remaining copies of the video. When he’s done, there won’t be a single trace left.”
I flip through another file, reviewing the list of associates we’ve identified. Each name carries a notation: status, location, and elimination priority. Most are already checked off, thanks to Jade’s revenge list and the efforts of our security team.
“The firearms division of Tony’s operation is still active,” Nolan says, sliding a tablet toward me. “Small arms, for the most part. High-end stuff moving through the eastern ports.”
I scan the manifest, noting the quantities, the distribution points, and the client list. “Give it to Avery to take care of.”
I flip to the next file, and the corners of my lips twitch up. “What about the public announcement? Timeline?”
“Next week,” Milo says, ever the strategist. “The buzz will help suppress any talk about the collapse of the Riverside Heights building.”
“And the content?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
He shrugs. “Simple. You’re officially mated. End of story.”
“Not that simple,” Liam points out. “Jade‘s been part of the family since he was born. The media will dig.”
“They’ll dig regardless.” I straighten the pile of folders, buying myself a moment to consider. “Oliver will spin it in the media as a star-crossed lovers story.”
Nolan snorts. “As if they’ll let it go at that. You’re Aaiden Rockford. The most eligible Alpha in the country, with a net worth that puts the annual income of small nations to shame. And you’ve chosen to mate the son of your housekeeper.”
“I’ve chosen to mate Jade,” I correct, the distinction important. “Who happens to be exceptional at what he does.”
“What he did,” Nolan says. “You’re retiring him from fieldwork, right?”
“I’m not retiring anyone. Jade made the decision on his own to switch careers.” I smile as I remember our conversation from the morning we made things official. “And on that note, look into what marksmanship competitions he’ll need to participate in to win a gold medal.”
Damien’s head jerks up. “You can’t be serious.”
“He’s competitive. We’ll need to spin a backstory for how he gained his skills.” I arch a brow at him. “Marrying a pro athlete is better than marrying the son of a housekeeper, though, don’t you think?”
“We should table this for now,” Milo says. “Focus on the immediate cleanup. We can revisit Jade’s new goals after things settle.”
“Agreed. Next item?”
Liam pulls up a new file. “Property transfers. Tony held seventeen residential properties across the city, all purchased through shell corporations. We’ve identified nine as safe houses for the auction operation.”
“Liquidate them,” I say. “All proceeds to the foundation.”
“And the auction house?” Damien asks.
I consider Halcyon Hall, the place where Jade had almost been sold off. The place that represents everything I almost lost.
“Burn it,” I say. “Make sure nothing’s left standing.”
No one questions the order, accepting the deviation from our standard procedure with the same ease they accepted everything else. This is what family means in the Rockford world. Not just business, but blood.
The door opens behind me, and a sweet, unmistakable scent sweeps into the room, demanding my attention.
I turn to see Jade standing in the doorway, fever-bright eyes fixed on mine, jaw set with the same determination. My body responds instantly, blood rushing south as my instincts flare to life.
He doesn’t acknowledge the others as he crosses the room and closes his fist around my tie.
The silk pulls tight around my neck as he yanks me forward in a demand my body is already answering.
Liam’s laugh breaks the silence first, delighted at witnessing this moment. Nolan makes a sound that might be a smothered comment, while Damien smirks, and Milo snickers.
The meeting isn’t over. We still have an entire stack of files to go through. But as Jade holds my eyes, pupils dilated with desire, I find I don’t care about precedent or expectations or anything beyond what he needs.
He tugs again, a wordless command I have no intention of refusing.
“I believe we’re done here,” I say, steadier than I have any right to be with Jade’s pheromones flooding my system. “We’ll reconvene in a few days to finalize the eastern transfers.”
No one argues as they gather their materials, and I can already hear the teasing gossip that will await us when we reemerge from our suite.
But none of that matters as Jade turns without releasing my tie, and I follow, allowing myself to be pulled from the room and into the main corridor.
Staff members scatter as we pass, heads bowing while their shoulders shake with contained amusement. Two security officers step aside with knowing smirks, and I spot Mrs. Bustly freezing in the doorway to the east wing, before she turns away, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
It should bother me, being led through my own house like this.
It doesn’t.
All I see is my mate in front of me, ready to be claimed.
We pass Caleb and Oliver in the family gallery, and Caleb elbows his mate with a hissed, “Told you so!”
Oliver shushes him, but the damage is done. Jade’s step falters, a flash of uncertainty coming over him.
I place my hand at the small of his back in silent reassurance. He glances over his shoulder, vulnerability flashing across his features before determination reasserts itself. His pace increases, his hold on my tie tightening as he turns toward the private wing.
Jade leads me to my suite, soon to be our suite once he moves his belongings up from his room. He releases my tie and turns to face me with his back to the polished wood.
“Last chance to back out,” he warns, rough with want. “Once we go in there, we’re not leaving until I’m Marked.”
I step closer, eliminating the space between us. “I’m not stopping this time, Jade. Not now. Not ever.”
Relief flickers across his face as he punches in the code and pushes open the door without breaking eye contact, then backs into my suite with the absolute certainty of someone returning to a place that’s always been theirs.
As the door closes behind us, Jade undresses, still walking backward, heading for the bedroom.
The late afternoon sun streaming through the windows paints golden light across his flushed skin.
There’s no hesitation in his movements, no uncertainty anymore, just the absolute focus of someone who’s made their choice and has no intention of turning back.
He’s beautiful, all lean muscle and smooth skin, marked here and there with scars that tell the story of the life he’s lived and survived up until now.
My eyes trace a thin line across his ribs, a small divot in his left shoulder, the larger mark on his arm where a bullet grazed him during his first encounter with Tony, what feels like a lifetime ago. Each one is a reminder of everything he’s endured, everything he’s overcome.
Everything that’s brought him here.
To this moment.
To me.
The last shred of clothing drops away, and he turns toward the full-length mirror mounted on the wall next to my wardrobe.
I study his reflection. The flush that started on his cheeks has spread down his neck to his chest, painting his skin a delicate pink that deepens to red across his shoulders.
His dick stands at attention, and his breathing comes faster now, but there’s no desperation in his movements, no blind need driving him forward.
He’s present. Conscious.
Choosing.
“Touch me,” he demands.
I step in behind him, not quite touching, and his heat radiates against my chest. “In this position?”
He meets my gaze in the mirror, vulnerability flashing across his features before determination reasserts itself. “Yes.”
My hands find his slender, muscular waist, fingers spanning the narrow plane with room to spare. His skin burns beneath my palms, slick with a fine sheen of sweat that has nothing to do with the room’s temperature and everything to do with the Heat raging through his system.
He leans back into the contact, head tipping to rest on my shoulder as he grips my wrists. “Harder. I’m not going to break.”
I tighten my hold, fingers digging into the muscle just enough to make him gasp. His lashes flutter closed for a moment, lips parting on a soft sound that goes straight to my cock. When they open again, the blue has almost disappeared, consumed by the black of his pupils.