Epilogue
Ben--Two Years Later
The venue wasn’t very big. It could fit about three hundred people comfortably and safely. The tickets had flown off the website as soon as the gig had been announced.
All the money would go to a charity that was spearheading addiction research for all species.
Max squeezed my hand tightly, and I smiled. He was more nervous than Luca. It was cute.
Rian sat on my other side, looking like a proud parent. He had his phone out, ready to snap photos for Luca’s social media. We had started to joke that he’d become a Momager, to which he’d replied he was a Papager, since Luca sometimes called him Papa for fun.
Luckily we’d managed to drag Brodie to Pittsburgh so he could be there with his mate. It was the second time in two years he’d left the property for an overnight stay. Kye was taking video of the whole thing for those who couldn’t be here today.
The fire, small as it had been, had shaken Brodie to the core in ways that had made Kye talk him into therapy. We were all still glad that Holly had only gotten a five-year sentence and would probably get out on good behavior earlier than that.
The lights lowered and a spotlight hit the center stage where a lone microphone and a stool sat.
Luca walked on the stage with Betty. She was the second most stunning thing I liked to see him wrapped around.
“Hi, everyone,” Luca started. “It’s been a while.”
He looked so good. We’d given him an extra top up of blood just before we found our seats, and he looked so healthy and happy and at ease it made my heart skip a beat.
We watched from the sidelines as he effortlessly charmed the audience, then kept them enraptured for the whole set.
His first EP had sold like hot cakes and all the money from that, too, had gone to the same charity. Luca just wanted to make music—just thinking about that made me feel choked up—and didn’t need or want the money.
When he finally got to the end of the set and the single that had broken all sorts of records and was touted as one of the top love songs of the decade, Max and I were wiping our cheeks. Brodie reached over and clapped Max’s shoulder in support, but I could see his eyes were glistening, too.
The song crescendoed, Luca turned his gaze toward us and his beautiful, raspy tone filled every corner of the venue as he sang the final line.
“And when I’m with you, I’m always safe at home.”
Max burrowed into my arms, and I held him as the crowd cheered.
We’d wait until Luca was done talking to the fans and signing things. Then we’d go to the hotel where we were staying to get some sleep.
In the morning, bright and early, we’d go grab breakfast and then drive back home, where we belonged.
Want to see what happens with the boys when the lights go out? Click here for Safe At Home: After Dark.