Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Cecely
The sun is warm on my skin as I stretch out on the balcony, the salty breeze drifting in from the ocean. It’s been three months since we disappeared. Since we let the world believe Claudius Irons was dead. Since I chose this life. I never thought I’d feel free again. But here, in this moment, I do.
My phone buzzes. A name flashes across the screen. Harvey.
A grin spreads across my face as I answer. “Hey, stranger.”
His voice comes through lighter than I’ve ever heard it.
“Cecely.” He lets out a deep breath, almost like he’s choking on emotion. “It’s gone.”
The world tilts.
“What?”
“The tumor.” His voice cracks. “It’s gone. The doctors just called. All the scans came back clean.”
Tears prickle my eyes. I press a hand to my round stomach, overwhelmed with relief, with joy, with something too big to name.
I laugh, the sound shaky. “Harvey…oh my God.”
“I’m going to live, Cec.”
His voice is thick with something raw.
And so is mine when I whisper?—
“Yeah. You are.”
“Enough about that. Tell me everything. Have you popped yet?”
I snort. “Any day now.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to be an uncle. And I really can’t believe that my bestie owns an island.”
“I can’t wait for you to get here.”
“You say that now. Just wait until Lili and all of her kids are there. You won’t get a moment of peace.”
I laugh. “I can’t wait.”
“Hey, I need to run. Tad is here. See you soon.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I end the call, smiling. A shadow falls over me. I look up to find Claudius watching me, brow raised. I don’t even hesitate. I grab him by the shirt and pull him into me, kissing him hard.
When I pull away, breathless, he smirks. “Good news?”
I nod, tears slipping down my cheeks. “The best.”
Because for the first time in my life, there is no more waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Harvey is going to live.
And for the first time in a long time, so am I.
Claudius presses his lips against mine again. “Good. And how are the babies?”
Yet another surprise. Once everything settled down, Claudius flew in a doctor. To our joy, everything was fine. To our shock, we found out I was carrying twins. Two girls.
I guess it’s just not meant for there to be any other males on Isola Ombrafiore, except for Claudius. I mean, he and Gabriel are a handful as it is.
“Active. I think it’s getting crowded in there.”
He leans, speaking directly to my stomach. “Come on, girls. Be nice to mama and hurry up. There are a lot of people waiting to meet you.”
It’s true. All the women that Claudius saved are thrilled that the babies will be here any day. They’ve become family. Even Agnes.
“When are Bonnie and Alyssa arriving?”
I answer, “Tomorrow. They said Aimée is coming.”
His eyebrow lift. “I’m shocked.”
“So am I. They claim she’s a new woman since Blanc died.”
It’s strange that I’ve kept in contact with Aimée more than my mother. I think it’s mostly because of Bonnie and Alyssa, who are determined to make us family. The thing is? I think it’s working.
“So no guests and no babies.” His voice dips into something lower and rougher. “Whatever shall we do?”
Heat curls in my stomach.
“Oh?” I tease, tilting my head. “And what exactly do you have in mind?”
“Well, let’s see.” His hands skim down my arms, slow, deliberate. “We could read a book.”
His fingers dip beneath the hem of my dress, brushing against my bare skin. A slow, teasing stroke.
“Watch a movie.”
He gives me a wicked look.
“So many things we could do.”
A breath shudders out of me. I know exactly what he’s suggesting. And damn it, I want it, too.
I stand, moving closer, my belly pressing against him. His hands drop lower, kneading the curve of my hips.
“We should take advantage of the peace and quiet,” I whisper.
His eyes darken. “I was hoping you’d say that, though there won’t be much peace or quiet when you’re screaming my name.”
He picks me up effortlessly, carrying me inside, kicking the door shut behind us. We tear our clothes off, both of us in a hurry.
I laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck as he lays me on the bed, his body settling between my legs. His mouth meets mine, slow at first, teasing. Then, the heat builds, the need between us turning sharp, desperate.
Hands grasping. Lips tracing. Breath hitching.
My fingers dig into his back, my body arching into his as he slides into me.
“Claudius,” I moan as he slides deeper, pushing me closer and closer to the edge.
And then a sharp pain rolls through me. I gasp, my whole body going stiff. Claudius freezes, instantly alert.
“Cecely?” His voice is tight, controlled.
I squeeze my eyes shut as another wave rolls through me. Then a warm rush between my legs. I don’t even need to look to know.
I groan. “Oh, you have got to be kidding me.”
Claudius’ eyes widen as realization dawns. “Did you just?—?”
“My water just broke.”
Silence. Then he lets out a low, incredulous laugh.
“Damn, mama. You really know how to kill the mood.”
I glare at him, smacking his chest.
“Shut up and get Agnes. And the midwife.”
His laughter doesn’t stop, but he’s already moving, reaching for his clothes.
I breathe through another contraction, gripping the sheets. Of all the ways I thought this moment would go… This was definitely not one of them.
He turns to me at the door. “You know, this is the same way Carter’s wife went into labor. He’s going to get a kick out of this in the group chat.”
“Go!”
He laughs, hurrying away.
But I’m smiling as I rub my stomach. “Mama can’t wait to meet you.”
Everything happens quickly once Agnes and the midwife enter the room.
“She’s ready to push.”
God, everything hurts. The room is too bright. Too cold. Too chaotic.
I hear voices. Urgent. Encouraging.
I hear Claudius.
“Breathe, mama. You’ve got this.”
I want to punch him. This is his fault—Gabriel’s fault—for chasing me through the woods and fucking me senseless all those months ago.
Instead, I squeeze the hell out of his hand, digging my nails into his skin.
Another contraction. Another push. And then a small, sharp, piercing sound that shatters my entire world. A cry. From my baby.
I sag against the bed, exhausted, overwhelmed. My vision blurs. Then suddenly warmth. A tiny, writhing body placed against my chest. I suck in a ragged breath, blinking rapidly, taking it in.
Blonde hair. A scrunched little face. The softest, tiniest fingers curling against my skin. Tears spill down my cheeks as I stare down at my baby. My baby.
My joy is short-lived as another contraction rips through me.
“Here comes our other baby girl,” Agnes says. “Come on. You’ve got this!”
I push. And push. And then there’s another cry, and another baby placed on my chest. My girls.
Claudius is silent. Too silent. I lift my gaze, my pulse skipping at the look on his face. This man who has faced death, war, blood, and betrayal without blinking looks completely, utterly wrecked. His jaw is tight, his Adam’s apple bobbing. His fingers twitch like he’s afraid to move. I’ve never seen him uncertain. Until now.
“Do you want to hold them?” I whisper.
He doesn’t move at first. Then, slowly, carefully, reverently, he reaches out, his large hands cradling our baby’s tiny body. Agnes helps him lift our other daughter.
The moment their weight settles in his arms, Claudius falls apart.
His chest rises sharply, his breath shaky. His head dips, his lips pressing against the babies foreheads.
One breath. Two.
Then, in the softest, most unguarded voice I’ve ever heard from him, he whispers, “You’re real. You’re both real.”
His fingers brush over a tiny fist, tracing a path down to delicate little toes. He does this twice, meeting our girls.
His shoulders shake. His smirk is gone. His walls are gone. There is nothing left but raw, unfiltered love. And as he looks at our twins, something flickers in his eyes. A vow. A promise. A silent, unwavering devotion. His gaze lifts, meeting mine.
And when he finally speaks, it’s not the man who has spent his life fighting. Not the monster the world tried to turn him into. Not the man who lost himself along the way.
Not even Gabriel, who still lives somewhere deep inside, though he doesn’t come out as much.
Just Claudius.
A father.
A protector.
Mine.
And with a voice thick with emotion, he whispers, “We did it, mama. We did it.”
*** Four Years Later ***
Laughter echoes across the beach, mixing with the crash of waves and the playful shrieks of children. The sun is warm, the breeze carrying the scent of salt and grilled food from the massive outdoor kitchen Claudius built just for moments like this.
Moments we never thought we’d have.
Moments we fought like hell to deserve.
Harvey is chasing Raquel, who giggles wildly as she kicks up sand in her tiny footsteps.
“You better run, little monster!” he teases, arms outstretched, pretending to trip over himself. “Me and Uncle Tad are going to get you.”
Lili, watching from her seat under the shade, laughs as she cradles her newborn against her chest.
“You’re never going to catch her, Harvey. She’s got my speed.”
Dimitri sits beside her, laughing as their other children, Diego, Clara, Isadora, and Javi, run up, squirting Harvey with a water gun.
Alessandro and Isabetta are deep in conversation, watching their son, Luca, run around the bonfire pit.
Greer, Grant’s wife, is reading a book, somehow ignoring the chaos while Grant, still wearing his damn suit jacket on a beach, attempts to build a sandcastle with their daughter, Gracie.
Gracie cries when the sandcastle topples over and says, “Daddy, you’re doing it wrong!”
Grant sighs, shooting a look at Greer. “A little help here?”
She flips a page. “I believe in you.”
Brooks is sprawled in a chair, sunglasses perched on his nose, while his wife, Hannah, walks along the shoreline with their twins, Katie and Samantha.
And then there’s us.
Claudius stands next to the grill, flipping steaks, one arm wrapped possessively around my waist.
Callie is settled on his hip, her curls bouncing as she watches him with rapt fascination. I keep teasing him about holding her even though she just turned four, but I do the same with Cora.
“Daddy, I want a turn!” she demands, reaching for the spatula.
Claudius smirks, handing it over. “Alright, chef. But don’t burn my steaks.”
She giggles, clutching the spatula like it’s her greatest treasure. Cora comes up, pouting. And what does my husband do? He produces another spatula for her.
I lean into him, pressing a kiss to his jaw. “You’re soft.”
His brow raises. “I let my daughters help me cook, and that makes me soft?”
I grin. “Admit it. You’re wrapped around their tiny little fingers.”
He lets out a mock sigh, pressing a kiss to the top of Callie’s head.
“Fine. But only Callie and Cora. And you. That’s it.”
Callie immediately turns in his arms and shouts— “Daddy says he only likes me, sissy, and Mommy!”
Harvey snorts. “Sounds about right.”
Dimitri shakes his head. “Such a liar, Irons. We all know you secretly love us.”
“Keep dreaming, Santos.”
More laughter. More teasing.
More family.
Because that’s what we are now.
The world forgot us.
The Brotherhood moved on, surviving.
And yet, here we stand.
Living. Thriving.
Building something new. Something real.
Claudius hands me a glass of wine. “To new beginnings, mama.”
I smile, pushing the glass back toward him. “I can’t drink right now.”
His eyes widen, his gaze going to my stomach.
“You’re sure?”
“Yup.” I brush my lips against his. “You’re going to be a daddy again.”
Happiness fills his eyes, and I let him pull me in.
Because we won.
And no one will ever take this from us again.
Claudius
I join Moretti, Santos, Henderson, and Carter in my study, closing the door behind me. I settle into my chair, fingers steepled as I take in the four most powerful men in the world sitting before me.
“So, are you going to tell me why you’re really here?”
Santos speaks first. “My eldest son, Jo?o, is running for President of the Brotherhood.”
I arch a brow. “Jo?o Santos wants to be President of the Brotherhood? And is this a good thing?”
He dips his head. “I think it is.”
Moretti exhales, leaning back in his chair. “The kid is smart. Progressive. He thinks there’s a way to transform the Brotherhood into something… not entirely corrupt.”
I snort. “Good luck with that.”
Henderson rubs his jaw. “Adam Montgomery is backing him. If they win, things change.”
I don’t know much about Adam Montgomery, only that he briefly dated Lili Santos before Santos finally got his head on straight.
I narrow my eyes. “And what does any of this have to do with me?”
A beat of silence.
Then Carter speaks. “They want you to come back. We want you to come back.”
I still.
The words hang heavy in the air, like a loaded gun waiting to go off. I glance between them, waiting for the punchline. Waiting for the fucking joke. Because surely, this is one.
“I faked my death. I left all of this behind. And now you’re telling me you want me to return?”
Dimitri’s jaw tightens. “Not want. Need.”
I exhale slowly, dragging my tongue over my teeth. “And why the hell would I ever say yes?”
Moretti leans forward, his expression deadly serious. “Because if Jo?o doesn’t win, the Brotherhood will fall into the hands of someone far worse.”
I exhale through my nose, my pulse thrumming in my ears.
Henderson meets my gaze, his usual cocky grin nowhere in sight. “You have a choice, Irons. Stay here, stay dead. Or step back into the fire and burn with the rest of us.”
I don’t answer right away. I should tell them to fuck off. I should walk away and never look back. But deep down, I already know the truth. If the Brotherhood were to get in the wrong hands, no one I love would be safe. Not even here.
I drag a hand through my beard, then reach for the glass of whisky beside me. I take a slow sip, the burn steadying me. Then I set the glass down, my decision settling like steel in my spine.
I meet their gazes, one by one, knowing what this means. What it risks.
But also what it protects.
Cecely. Cora. Callie. The baby that’s on the way. The life we built. The future we deserve.
I exhale slowly, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips.
“Tell Jo?o I’ll be there.”
Because no matter how hard any of us try to deny it, the Defiant God Brotherhood is for life.
And I’ll do anything to protect my family. Even if that means letting Gabriel out more often.
THE END