Epilogue
Six months later.
Ronan
It has taken us six months to get here. Four of those months to totally dismantle the Children of the Fallen.
The FBI closed the case against Colton, and he officially adopted Ollie two months ago.
There are still two kids that we are looking for.
They were taken out of the country, and the trail has gone cold.
We’re not giving up. Right now, though, we are all focused on today and family.
“Ollie, you need to let go of Ronan. Remember how we practiced. You’re going to walk to me at the end of the aisle.” Colton tries to coax Ollie away from my leg.
I have to admit that I like that he attaches himself to me, especially when he’s unsure of his surroundings. It gives me a weird sense of pride. Colton, on the other hand, is having a hard time adjusting to not being Ollie’s sole support.
“Ollie, walk like a big boy and hand the rings to Uncle Conor. You can sit with Daddy until I come to get you. Understand?”
Ollie scowls at me but nods. Colton stands and scowls as well. “You know that pisses me off when he won’t listen to me, but does when you speak.”
I’ve learned his moods and tells over the last few months. He took care of me while I healed from my wound, and we were together twenty-four seven. Mom and Dad helped with Ollie during the day. But at night, we have a very domestic routine. One that I never saw myself having.
Dinner at six thirty, bath time at eight, story time done by nine.
Then Daddy and Papa time. The first few weeks were agonizing for me.
I wanted Colton, wanted to reclaim him physically, but Colton wouldn’t give in until the doctor gave us the all clear.
I swear that old man added days just to torture me.
I bend down and kiss Ollie’s head before straightening and pressing a kiss to Colton’s lips. He still melts against me every time I touch him, softening in a way that makes something possessive and warm settle inside my chest.
Then I make my way to the front of the ballroom and take my place beside my brothers. Declan stands a few feet ahead of us, waiting.
The music starts, soft at first, and the crowd turns toward the back doors. Ollie steps through first. Colton circles around the outside, making his way toward the front. Both of them look incredible in their tuxes.
Ollie pauses just inside the doorway, looking around at the room full of people.
There are so many faces, so many strangers smiling at him, and I see the exact second it becomes too much.
His little lip pokes out. His steps stop.
Fear flashes across his face so quickly it feels like a knife to my chest. Before I can think better of it, I step out from my place and move closer so he can see me.
His whole face changes the second he does.
“Papa!” he yells across the room, his voice carrying over the guests’ laughter.
Then he runs. His legs are steadier now than they used to be, but there is still that little toddler wobble to him as he hurries toward me. I bend down and scoop him into my arms. It is completely off script. I don’t give a fuck.
I saw the fear in his eyes, and there is no world in which I would leave him standing there alone when I can fix it. Declan and Xavier will just have to deal with it. It was Xavier’s idea to make an eighteen-month-old the ring bearer in the first place.
Once I’m back in line, Ollie secure in my arms, he pushes the pillow with the rings toward Conor.
“Unc Con,” Ollie says to get his attention. See, my boy knows what he’s supposed to do. Conor takes the rings and puts them in his pocket. We all watch as first Blake, then Jessie, walk in and take their place on the other side of Declan.
The music changes, and Xavier walks into the ballroom.
I glance over at Declan automatically. The look on his face when he sees Xavier in the white tux would have amused me before.
Now it just makes something settle heavily in my chest. Because I know that is exactly how I’m going to look when Colton walks down the aisle toward me one day.
Xavier is escorted by Mom and Dad. Apparently, there still hasn’t been any reconciliation between him and his mother.
At the front of the room, there’s a portrait of his family from before everything happened, sitting in the place where they would have been.
The reminder of it all hangs quietly in the room, bittersweet and impossible to ignore.
The ceremony itself is short, but neither of them seems to notice. They only have eyes for each other.
I watch Colton while Declan and Xavier say their vows, and I know with absolute certainty that one day it will be me standing across from him, promising myself to him in front of everyone we love.
I know already that I’ll never get enough of him because he is my addiction.