Epilogue
LILIANA
ONE YEAR LATER…
“I’ve totally got this,” I say to myself, holding my green eyes in the mirror. I smooth out my A-line black dress and brush a stray lock of hair from my face. I double-check the straps on my heels and then slip from the back gallery bathroom.
“We good?” Adrian’s got concern etched into his face.
“Yes,” I give him a nod, sliding my arm through his. He’s looking dapper as ever in his black tuxedo, taking the grand opening of the new gallery as seriously as I am. “Is Parker coming?”
“Yeah,” Adrian nods. “He’s got some special case he’s leaving for next week though.” Adrian hesitates. “Escaped convict. It’s a mess.”
I’m curious, but I don’t push. “The whole private investigator thing you two have going doesn’t require any stings tonight though, right?” I raise a brow at him, and he chuckles.
“Not tonight. It’s out of town later.”
“Good,” I smile, nudging him as we make our way through the hallway to the art exhibits. Honestly, shutting down the Monroe Street Gallery was what was best for me, especially with the news around Alice.
She was bad for business.
But… She was still my friend even if she tried to kill me.
She had her reasons, and sometimes I miss her, but then I’m rammed with Adrian’s cock and met with his smile, and everything is okay.
The world keeps spinning.
And even though somehow Adrian and Parker were able to wrap the case up neatly with evidence collected from Alice’s apartment, it was the end for them there. They started up their own private investigative company.
And now, Parker can fuck whoever he wants when it comes to cases.
Speaking of, as we make it to the main lobby, where some of the guests are already arriving, Parker stands in a burgundy tux, staring at the Alice Collection.
“What do you think?” I ask him, my voice coming out soft. “Do you think it does her justice?”
Parker purses his lips together, his eyes raking over the abstract portrait of my best friend as well as a few of the complete abstract pieces, which contain her blood.
Which I carefully collected before the CSI team arrived.
“I think it does her justice,” Parker’s eyes never leave the painting.
“It’s just a damn shame she wasn’t able to talk to me about what was happening in her mind.
It’s never good to hold that shit in.” He turns to me.
“I think it just eats you alive and causes you to do things you wouldn’t do otherwise. ”
“Well, I think Alice always had it coming,” Adrian says flatly.
Parker raises his eyebrows. “Empathy really isn’t your strong suit.”
“Nope,” Adrian says with a shrug, and then tightens his grip on me. “I don’t think that’s ever going to change.”
“I get plenty of it from him, though,” I point out. “That’s what happens when you love someone.” I wiggle my eyebrows at Adrian, and he chuckles at me.
“I do love you, that’s for sure.”
I grin and then look past the two of them. “I probably should start socializing more, given that I know none of these people.”
“You know that one.” Adrian nudges me, directing me to my mother, stepping through the front doors in a light purple dress. It’s everything I’d never wear, but she looks stunning in it.
“Mom!” I call out to her, and then slip my arm from Adrian, my heels clicking across the floors as I make it to her. She embraces me, giving me a tight hug that lasts a few seconds longer.
“I’m so proud of you, honey.” She places a soft kiss on my cheek. “The ashes just forged you, huh?” Her eyes drift around the gallery. “This place is ten times the Monroe Street.”
I nod, taking in the towering ceilings, the art displays, and the wall of windows in all the right places. “It’s something else. I think Alice would’ve totally loved it.”
“Yes…” My mother’s voice trails off, and her smile fades. “I know that you are empathetic and can see her obsession—”
“Mental health disorder,” I clarify. “It’s not like she was just crazy. She was sick, Mom. I just never saw it.”
“Well, she also tried to kill you, so there’s that.” My mom’s voice is flat. “But I hear you and validate that.”
“Wow, Mom,” I laugh. “I see you’ve been going to therapy, yeah?”
She giggles, draping her arm around my shoulders. “I’m working on my license to counsel victims of crimes. Moccasin Cove is full of some interesting character I should’ve done it a long time ago—maybe then I would’ve been better for you.”
“You and that small lake town.” I laugh and then peer over at her, my chest feeling tight. “You were everything a mom could’ve been, given the situation. And for the record, I didn’t end up like my father. In fact, I have a very healthy love life.”
Never mind all the knife and blood play.
“I know, I know.” Mom nods, reaching for a glass of champagne as it passes us. “You’re right. Adrian is a lovely man, and he takes good care of you. He let you just focus on the gallery while he worked hard.”
“Well, we’re a team.” My eyes bounce to my boyfriend, who hides his dark kinks better than anyone I’ve ever met. I love his dark, fucked up side.
He’s just not allowed to share it with anyone else.
Or I might pull an Alice on him.
“So,” Mom breathes out, “This is a big night?”
“Yeah,” I laugh, unable to read the way her eyes bounce around the place. “Why are you acting funny? I swear no one is going to get murdered here.”
Well, I don’t think so anyway.
“Nothing,” Mom’s eyes stop at Adrian, who’s watching us with his usual stone-cold expression. However, the moment his eyes jump to mine, they soften, just like they always do.
I smile back at him, my heart skipping a few beats. Thankfully, heart palpitations are totally normal—and something I deal with consistently ever since Adrian came into my life.
I hope they never go away. Ever.
I just want to be his Little Killer forever.
ADRIAN
“Thank you all for coming tonight,” Liliana speaks into the microphone, set up in front of the Alice Collection.
“As many of you probably already know, I used to own a gallery on the other side of town.” She pauses as everyone claps.
“I felt it was time to move on to something new—a new chapter, per se.” She smiles as she looks at me.
“And it’s been the best one yet. I hope you all enjoy the art, and if you’re interested in purchasing a piece, you can get with Jen. ”
I cheer as she gestures to her building manager, turned assistant. I’m not sure why Liliana didn’t want to start completely over and hire all new faces, but maybe it has something to do with trust.
There’s still a lot I don’t fucking understand about Liliana Wilson, but the vast majority? Yeah, I get her. She’s got a hurting inner child, just like me.
And all I want to do is heal her.
Even if it’s in my own way.
And speaking of… I clear my throat and shove my hands into the tuxedo jacket as Liliana steps down and hugs her mom for the hundredth time tonight. I give Parker the nod, and he heads for the small PA system set up. My partner grabs the microphone and then taps it.
“Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen,” he booms, so fucking awkward sounding that I cringe. “I’m sure some of you know my partner—and Liliana’s boyfriend—Adrian Shaw. He was hoping to share a few words tonight.”
Oh fuck. It’s time.
My hands start to sweat as I ignore the funny look Liliana is giving me. She’s probably concerned I’m going to do something stupid, like give a speech about how hard we worked to remodel this shithole building that was overrun with rats and roaches.
But nope.
It’s way more stupid than that.
It’s going to blow her goddamn mind.
I take the microphone from Parker and ensure I do not tap on the fucking thing. Instead, I lean in and swallow the nerves suffocating me. “Good evening.”
Liliana’s eyes narrow, and the cute little power move is so her.
“I’m not really doing this because I give a shit about any of you people in attendance,” I pause, trying not to burst into laughter over the glare I’m getting from Liliana.
“Anyway, this is for you.” I take a step toward her and extend my hand.
“Since I met you, over a year ago, I knew that you were different.”
She takes my hand and pulls her toward me. “What are you doing?” She mouths.
I ignore her and continue. “I thought you were eccentric, strange, mysterious, gorgeous, and honestly, maybe even a little murderous.” Everyone laughs at that, but Liliana knows I’m being dead fucking honest. “There was so much back and forth between us, and for a time, I thought maybe you were stalking me.”
Liliana giggles, shaking her head—I think she’s still in denial about that one.
“But the point is, you came in like a fucking whirlwind, and you busted down all the walls I put up. I thought you were like someone else who influenced me,” I say, thinking of my mother, who I no longer fucking hate.
“But you only have good things in common with her. You’re strong, powerful, but also soft and everything I need. ”
“Adrian…” Liliana bats the moisture from her eyes as I slowly drop to one knee, trying not to fucking fall over. I pull the ring box from my coat pocket and flip open the lid, revealing a perfectly cut diamond ring.
“Liliana Marie Wilson,” I say, the words coming out soft. “Will you do me the honor of marrying me? I don’t even care if you get paint on the ring.” Or other things.
Liliana squeezes her eyes shut, tears spilling over her cheeks. “Oh my.”
“Uh…” My voice trails off. “I hope that means—”
“Yes,” Liliana falls into my arms, her ass landing on the center of my thigh. I wince, since that’s where she likes to break skin still while she sucks me off. She wraps her arms around my neck, kissing my cheek. “There’s nothing I want more than to be yours.”
“Good,” I squeeze her, and then find her lips, pressing mine to hers, and then leaning into her ear. “All I want is for you to be my little killer for the rest of our lives.”
She presses her forehead to mine, holding my gaze and brushing her nose against the tip of mine. “Me, too. Just wait until we get home later.”
“Oh yeah?” I chuckle. “In the mood for a little murder play?”
She giggles, lightly kissing me. “Always.”