Epilogue
EPILOGUE
RONAN
I sit back in my chair, a cigar in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other, surrounded by the men I consider my brothers. Declan, Killian, Kieran, Bash, Grady, and Patrick are sprawled out in a loose circle, their own cigars trailing lazy smoke into the sky.
There’s a calm among us, an unspoken understanding as we sip our drinks in silence. Smoke is dead. And though we know there is still so much evil in the world, we’ve eliminated one, and we’ll be ready for those that will surely come. Many people think the mafia are the worst kind of men, but what they don’t realize is we’ve made a commitment to keep women and children safe. We’ll do whatever it takes to do that, even if it makes us look like monsters.
When I proposed to Tessa for real, I’d planned on letting her take the time to plan whatever kind of wedding she wanted. Then, I lost my patience and hired multiple wedding planners to help her plan it quickly because I couldn’t wait six months or longer to marry her legally. She laughed and called me an unhinged possessive bastard. I didn’t deny it because it’s true. Thank fuck she loves me despite all that.
Declan takes a slow drag from his cigar; his mouth tipped up in a smirk. “Nervous?”
I chuckle, taking a sip of my whiskey. “No. Just… grateful. We’ve all been through a lot,” I say thoughtfully, my gaze fixed on the amber liquid in my glass. “Seen things, done things we’ll carry forever. But somehow, we’re here, surrounded by the women who’ve made our lives better, fuller. And that’s no small miracle.”
Killian raises his glass, his grin wide and mischievous. “Jesus Christ. You’re getting soft on us, Ronan.”
“He’s always been soft, he’s just hidden it well under his cranky-ass moods,” Bash adds, his smirk matching Killian’s.
I shake my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Maybe. But it’s true. We’re damn lucky, all of us. The women we have are strong and spirited, and somehow, they love us in spite of all our flaws. We don’t fucking deserve the beauty they bring into our lives.”
Kieran leans back, a lazy smile on his face. “Scarlet drives me crazy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Every day’s a new adventure with her.”
“Paisley’s got a temper,” Kieran admits, exhaling a cloud of smoke, “but that fire’s what I fell in love with. She keeps me on my toes, and fuck, do I love to spank her ass when she gets mouthy.”
I grin and take a sip of my drink. Paisley is definitely a handful, but Kieran isn’t an easy man. It’s fun watching the two of them together.
Grady nods, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Katie’s changed my entire outlook on life. She’s my angel.”
Patrick takes a deep pull from his cigar, his eyes warm. “Anastasia saved me in more ways than one.”
“And the best part,” Declan says, his voice laced with amusement, “is knowing we’ll always be chasing them around, reminding them who’s in charge.”
Bash chuckles. “Yeah, even though we all know they’re the ones who are in charge. But I still love threatening them with red bottoms, and those sneaky brats love it, too.”
I chuckle, the sound rich and genuine. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Silence settles over us again, but it’s a comfortable one. We are a brotherhood solidified by shared battles, both in the world and in our hearts. The thought of spending a lifetime with Tessa, watching her laugh, holding her close, and promising her forever is everything, and I’m going to spend every single day making sure she has the best life I can provide.
Footsteps on the gravel path catches our attention, and we look up as the wedding planner approaches, her clipboard clutched tightly in her hands. “Gentlemen,” she says, her smile polite but firm. “It’s time.”
I stand, setting my glass on the table. One by one, the men rise, stubbing out their cigars and finishing their drinks. Declan steps forward first, pulling me into a tight hug. “You’ve got this, brother,” he murmurs. “I love you.”
Killian is next, clapping me on the back.
Bash pulls me into a bear hug, his grin wide. “I’m proud of you.”
Kieran’s embrace is brief but solid. The bastard sucks at showing emotion. Then again, this isn’t the norm for any of us.
Grady’s grip is strong, his eyes sincere. “You’re a good man. Don’t ever doubt that.”
Patrick holds out his hand as if he’s going to shake mine. He’s the newest member of the top tier, and though he’s been in the mafia all his life, I think he’s still getting comfortable with us since we were his bosses for most of his career. I grab his hand and pull him in for a hug.
I take a deep breath and straighten my suit jacket. “Thank you for being my family. All of you.”
Declan claps me on the shoulder and grins. “We’ll see you at the altar.”
With one last look at my best men, I turn and make my way down the garden path toward the spot where we’re holding the ceremony. As I take my place at the altar, my heart pounding with each beat, I can hardly wait to see my girl walking down that aisle toward me. Her Daddy. Her husband. Her protector.
TESSA
T he soft rustling of silk and lace fills the room as I stand in front of the full-length mirror. My wedding dress fits perfectly, hugging my curves before flowing out into soft layers of fabric that shimmer in the light. It’s everything I ever dreamed of—timeless, elegant, and just a little bit magical. I feel like a Disney Princess, and I can’t wait to see Ronan’s face when he sees me coming down the aisle.
Paige stands behind me, carefully fastening the last few buttons. Her fingers are steady, but I catch the tiny tremble in them. She exhales softly as she finishes, resting her hands lightly on my shoulders.
“You look so beautiful, Tessa,” she whispers.
I meet her gaze in the mirror, my own eyes already glistening. “I wouldn’t have made it here without you.”
Paige huffs out a watery laugh, rolling her eyes as she gives my shoulders a squeeze. “Oh, please. You’re strong as hell, Tessa. You would’ve found your way.”
I shake my head, turning to face her fully. “No, Paige. You don’t get it. You were my rock when I was at my lowest. When I was lost, and I didn’t want to keep living, you never left my side. You never treated me like I was broken. You just—” My voice wobbles, and I sniff, trying to keep it together. “You were just there . And I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that. I hope you know how much I love you.”
Her lower lip trembles as she blinks rapidly, trying to fight off her own tears. “Damn it, Tessa. Now you’re gonna make me cry, and I just had my makeup done.”
I laugh through the lump in my throat, and before I can say another word, she pulls me into a fierce hug. I grip her just as tightly, burying my face against her shoulder as we both sniffle.
“I love you,” she says.
“I can’t believe we actually get to be sisters now.” I squeeze her tightly.
She pulls back, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “Right? And you know I’m gonna be the best, most annoying sister-in-law ever.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “Oh, I don’t doubt it for a second. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
There’s a knock at the door, and the wedding planner pokes her head in. “It’s time, ladies.”
Cali, Scarlet, Chloe, Paisley, Katie, and Anastasia file out of the room. They each give me a last-minute hug and tell me they love me.
Paige links her arm through mine, standing tall and proud beside me. “Ready?”
I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “More than ready.”
When we walk outside, my heart pounds as I take in the scene before me. The guests are all turned in their seats, flowers lining the path, and at the very end, standing tall and devastatingly handsome, is Ronan.
His dark eyes lock onto mine immediately, his expression unreadable for a moment before softening into something that makes my breath catch in my throat. He watches me like I’m the only thing in the world and nothing else matters.
As we near the altar, Paige slows our steps before finally stopping in front of Ronan. With a teasing grin, she places my hand in his and raises a brow.
“So, does this mean Tessa should start calling me Daddy now since I walked her down the aisle?”
Ronan rolls his eyes while the girls behind us dissolve into quiet giggles. I cover my mouth to stifle my own laughter as his grip on my hand tightens.
“Not a chance,” he mutters, glaring at Paige, though there’s amusement in his eyes.
Paige winks and lifts to her toes to kiss his cheek. “Relax, big guy. She only has eyes for you.”
She steps back, moving to stand with the rest of the girls, and Ronan turns his full attention to me. His thumb brushes the back of my hand, and just like that, all the teasing fades into the background. It’s just us.
Declan clears his throat, standing before us, his expression uncharacteristically soft. “All right,” he says, “Let’s get these two married— for real this time.”
T he garden is bathed in the soft glow of twinkling fairy lights and warm golden bulbs strung through the trees. It’s beautiful and magical, everything I could have ever hoped for in a wedding. The laughter and chatter of our guests fade into a gentle hum as Ronan leads me onto the dance floor. His hand is warm in mine, his grip firm but gentle. His other hand settles on the small of my back as the first notes of our song float through the air.
Everything around us slows. The world shrinks until it’s just me and him. Us.
I rest my cheek against his chest, closing my eyes for a moment as we sway together beneath the glowing lights. His scent fills my senses, settling my nerves. His fingers trace slow circles against my lower back, barely noticeable but enough to send my heart racing.
As the music plays, I lift my gaze, looking at the people surrounding us. Declan is off to the side with Cali, his arm wrapped around her waist as she grins up at him. Killian and Scarlet are sipping drinks, laughing at something Bash just said, while Chloe smacks Bash’s arm, shaking her head at him. Kieran has Paisley tucked into his side, and Patrick is standing close to Anastasia, the two of them looking effortlessly elegant together. Grady and Katie are whispering to each other as she snuggles deeper into his embrace.
At another table, Cage Black has his girl, Ember, perched on his lap while he chats with a dozen or so men who arrived with him. Ronan said they’re Cage’s brothers, but I can’t remember any of their names. Their sister, a tiny woman, sits among the muscled and tattooed men, looking like the most protected thing in the world.
Alessandro, the leader of the Italian mafia, and several of his men are standing near the bar, chatting with the Russian mafia leaders. When Ronan told me there would be different mafia syndicates here, I was surprised, but apparently, the Irish, Italians, and Russians are allies, so Ronan considers them friends.
At some point this evening, every single person here introduced themselves to me, and though they’re complete strangers, they made me feel like I belong. Like they’re thrilled to have me in their world.
None of these people are my blood, but now they’re my family.
And for the first time in my life, I realize I don’t miss my parents. I don’t feel their absence like a hole in my chest because the people here, the ones who have stood by me, fought for me, laughed with me, and cried with me, they are the only family I need.
“You’re quiet,” Ronan murmurs, dipping his head slightly so his lips brush my ear.
I smile, tilting my head back to meet his gaze. “Just thinking.”
“About?” His dark eyes search mine, full of warmth and love.
“How lucky I am,” I whisper, letting my fingers trace the back of his neck. “How I never thought I’d have this. You. All of them. A real family.”
Ronan's jaw tightens slightly, emotion flashing across his face before he pulls me closer, resting his forehead against mine. “You deserve all of this, baby girl. And more.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and blink up at him. “I love you,” I say softly.
His lips curve in the faintest smile, his thumb brushing my cheek. “I love you, Tessa Gilroy. And I’ll love you forever.”
I grin, tightening my arms around his neck. “Good. Because I’m holding you to it.”
He chuckles, his grip on me tensing as he leans down, capturing my lips in a slow, deep kiss. And as we stand there, wrapped in each other, surrounded by laughter, love, and the soft glow of a thousand tiny lights, I know with absolute certainty that this is my forever, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Sometimes, dreams really do come true.