Epilogue #4
Minutes later, the reception was in full swing. Laughter and music from the outside speakers filled the air as the sun began its descent toward the horizon.
The trio moved through the small crowd, accepting hugs and well-wishes. Heavenly’s heart was so full she thought it might burst.
“Hey, Seth,” Hammer called, stepping from the house and hurrying toward them with a package in his hands. “When I went inside to use the john, the doorbell rang. So I answered it. A delivery guy handed me this. It’s addressed to you.”
“Thanks, man.” Seth smiled.
“Hope it’s something good,” Hammer said, shoving the package in Seth’s hand before jogging back inside the house.
“Who’s it from?” Heavenly asked, peering over Seth’s shoulder.
“Tony.” Seth grinned, tearing it open before pulling out a bottle of champagne.
“Oh, there’s a note,” Heavenly said, pointing to the bottom of the box.
Seth plucked it up and began reading. “Hey, partner. Hope you have a wonderful wedding. Give my regards to your angel. Best of luck. Detective Second Grade, Tony Marconi. Well, I’ll be damned, he’s been promoted.”
“That’s great news, right?” Beck smiled.
“Awesome news.” Seth nodded. “Jericho told me that the precinct was in flux after they dismantled Gene’s operation. Guess they’ve been busy weeding out the good cops from the bad. And Tony is one of the best.”
“I’m so glad you two have remained friends,” Heavenly murmured and glanced at the numerous cloth-covered tables near the pool.
Beck joined Hudson, Jack, and Connor who were clustered together, laughing and talking. Not far from them, Matt and River were deep in conversation, while Danny sat beside them, bouncing Anna on his knee. Maggie smiled next to him, sipping more ginger ale.
Nearby, Buddy and Gloria swayed to the music, looking like they’d been dancing together their whole lives while Zach and Hannah, who were giving their relationship another try, talked quietly.
Seth trekked over to join his mom and Carl. Heavenly headed to the bar to grab some water. Off to the side, Nikolai and Jericho had their heads bent close together, talking in low tones.
Suddenly, Jericho straightened and held up his hands. “Don’t tell me. I don’t want to hear anything about that. It’s called plausible deniability.”
Nik chuckled, the sound low and gravelly. “You are right, my friend. Better you not know.”
Heavenly suspected they were talking about the aftermath of what had happened in New York. Clearly, the fallout wasn’t completely over yet.
Memories of that terrifying day crashed over her. Even now, three months later, she could still feel the cold terror of watching Beck bleed, of not knowing if he’d survive.
After Seth had ended Gene, Nik had taken control with frightening efficiency.
He’d called his doctor—a brilliant surgeon who’d trained in Moscow before coming to the States—who told Nik to get Beck there immediately.
While his men dealt with the crime scene, Nik had promised Seth he’d handle everything: replace the damaged doors, dispose of the body, erase all traces.
At the doctor’s brownstone, Boris had worked with steady, expert hands to remove the bullet while his wife, Yulia, fed the rest of them—keeping Grace and Hudson calm while Seth pored over the evidence from Michael’s binder.
Page after page of corruption. Proof of Gene’s criminal empire spanning decades.
Seth had called Jericho, whom he trusted implicitly, before he’d even finished reading. The FBI agent had promised justice would come—and it had.
Boris had emerged hours later with good news: the surgery was successful. Beck would heal completely and his career was safe. The relief had nearly brought Heavenly to her knees.
They’d returned to Grace’s house that night, exhausted but alive.
Seth had called in the whole family. Once everyone had arrived, he played the video tape his father had left in the storage unit.
Carl had wrapped a sturdy arm around his new bride.
When Michael Cooper’s face had filled the screen, Grace covered her mouth and silently cried.
Michael’s voice—identical to Seth’s—was steady as he detailed everything he’d discovered about Gene’s criminal empire.
It had been a message from beyond the grave. A father’s final gift to his family.
It had been gut-wrenching and emotionally crushing to watch. There had been tears—lots of them. Tight hugs, and finally closure that had been sixteen years in the making.
When they’d flown back to LA that Monday morning, Jericho had met them at the gate.
He’d assured Seth that no charges would be filed for Gene’s death—it was self-defense in the protection of hostages.
The fact that Zach had helped them take down The Chosen mere months ago gave Seth a ton of legal leverage.
Seth had given Jericho the satchel and the box he’d kept hidden in his closet...finally letting go of the burden he’d been carrying for half his life.
In the weeks that had followed, Jericho and Nikolai had established what they called a “working relationship”—a delicate alliance between law enforcement and organized crime.
It operated in morally gray areas that Heavenly tried not to think too hard about, and it served a purpose.
Any members of Gene’s organization who, for whatever reason, couldn’t be prosecuted through legal channels had met with unfortunate “accidents” orchestrated by Nik.
The rest had been arrested and were working their way through the justice system.
Gene’s organization had completely collapsed. Specter was gone. Nik had gleefully reclaimed his territory and restored his power in the Russian underworld.
Now, watching the unlikely pair together at her wedding, Heavenly felt a surge of gratitude. They’d saved her family and had helped bring justice and closure.
She approached them with a warm smile. “Thank you both for coming. It means a lot having you here.”
Nik’s face lit up with his trademark grin, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Thank me by naming baby Nikolai.”
Jericho scoffed and shook his head. “Oh, god! Don’t do that. Jericho is much easier to say...and spell. Plus the kid won’t get his ass kicked on the playground.”
Heavenly laughed and rolled her eyes. “I’ll take your suggestions under consideration.”
She plucked up her water and left them to their cryptic conversation, strolling across the patio to claim a seat at the table with Hammer, Liam, and Raine. But before she reached them, a hot hand settled possessively on her hip.
“Having fun, little girl?” Beck murmured in her ear from behind her.
“Yes.” She sighed, leaning back against his solid warmth. “This is perfect.”
“Almost,” Seth said, easing in beside her, voice dropping to that low, seductive tone that never failed to make her shiver. “We still haven’t had our first dance. Or cut the cake. Or—” His grin turned wicked. “Made good on our wedding night promises.”
Heavenly felt heat pool low in her belly despite her earlier nausea. “You two are insatiable.”
“Only when it comes to you,” Beck assured her, his lips finding the sensitive spot below her ear.
Before they could whisk her away for any of those activities, Seth’s expression turned serious. He took her hand, his thumb stroking across her knuckles. “Actually, angel, I have something for you first. Come with me?”
Curious and slightly apprehensive, Heavenly followed him to a quieter corner of the patio, away from the music and laughter. Beck splayed his hand on the small of her back as he walked beside her.
Seth reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew an envelope, his expression carefully neutral. “I found your mother.”
Heavenly’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at the envelope in shock, her heart racing wildly. “You…found her?”
“Yes. I tracked her down, just in case…” Seth pressed the envelope into her now trembling hands.
“If you want to know where she is, how to contact her, or what she’s been doing all these years, it’s all in here.
But Heavenly—” He searched her face, his stare intense.
“You don’t have to open it. You don’t owe her anything.
This is your choice, and your choice alone.
If you want to burn it without looking inside, I’ll light the match myself. ”
Beck’s hand remained on her lower back, steady and supportive. “Whatever you decide, we’re with you, one hundred percent.”
Heavenly stared at the envelope, feeling the weight of it in her hands. Inside was information about the woman who’d given birth to her, raised her for fifteen years, then abandoned her to chase whatever selfish dreams had been more important than her own daughter.
For a long moment, she wavered. Part of her wanted to know—wanted to understand why. Wanted to ask the questions that had haunted her eight long years. Wanted...something. Closure, maybe. Or answers that would explain why she’d never been enough to make her own mother stay.
But then she looked past her men...
To Hudson laughing with the twins.
To Maggie chasing a laughing Anna around the yard.
To the rest of Seth’s brothers, relaxing and seemingly enjoying each other’s company.
To Grace and Carl, Gloria and Buddy, Raine and her men—people who had claimed her as their own without hesitation—gathered together, grinning and swapping stories and laughter at the bar.
Unfiltered joy settled over her.
Heavenly finally understood the true meaning of family.
She thought about the baby growing inside her, about the future she and Beck and Seth were building, and about the bliss she’d found in their big, beautiful hearts.
These people had fought for her, protected her, celebrated her, and loved her.
Not the woman who’d walked away without a backward glance.
Not the woman who’d chosen herself over her own child...over her sick husband.