Epilogue Two Years Later #2
Everyone opened their gifts until mine was the last one. As I loosened the ribbon, Ray laid his hand over my busy fingers. Jonah shot him a glance. The light reflected off his shining forehead.
“We’ve been thinking a lot.”
My stomach tightened, and my throat went dry. I looked at Beck, and instead of the unreadable, cool expression he normally wore, rabid hunger infused his sharp features. Like he wanted to clear the table and eat me all up.
“About the future.”
My ribs tightened.
The future. A big blanket of the unknown.
One I’d never given much thought to. I was used to taking things day by day, and the habit was hard to break.
But Adelaide had been pestering me about joining her in a happily married life, especially since I followed her lead and got a trio of lovers like her as well.
“Really?” I whispered.
“Open it.” Beck urged, his voice wrapped in shadows.
I peeled away the wrapping paper to reveal a leather box.
“Oh. My. God.” Jenny’s high-pitched whisper was followed by a clatter of cutlery.
My fingers trembled as I tried to open the box. Ray laid his hand over mine and helped me, stroking his thumb over my heated skin. Inside, nestled on dark velvet, was a thin gold ring with a dark gem nestled in the middle.
“W-what?” I didn’t quite know what I was asking.
“It’s black obsidian.” Jonah brushed the crystal. “It means protection. A shield. There’s a wedding band that comes with it. It has three diamonds on it. One for each of us.”
The stone didn’t reflect the light. It absorbed it, just like us. We’d grown in dark places and stolen the strength that was supposed to destroy us. It made us unstoppable. Nobody could ever understand our pain like we did for each other.
Ray spoke first, starting off confident, until his voice cracked. “You saved me before I even knew I needed saving.”
I searched his face, over the scar and the terrible, beautiful, vulnerable side he showed so rarely. Ray had covered all his weaknesses with humor and reckless behavior. He’d saved me too. Pushed me into taking a leap, and choosing life, not just masks.
Jonah reached out to brush my jaw, and my throat bobbed, tight with emotion.
“You are the home I always dreamed of. Fierce, but soft. So clever and utterly brilliant. I need you.”
I’d never had a home before Jonah either.
He was the calm in a storm, the stoplight when I wanted to plant my foot on the accelerator.
With him, I could breathe. Jonah made every small moment feel intentional.
Jonah loved with everything, generous with his heart, his loyalty, and his protection. I wanted to be his person forever.
Beck cleared his throat. Needing the last word. His words dropped to a scrape, just for me.
“You are the only thing that keeps my dark heart beating. I crave to be yours permanently.”
When I met him, thorns had overgrown Beck.
Prickly, impenetrable. But the wildness and violence in him attracted me.
I’d loved him long before he had me, hoping in a small private place I could capture the heart of an unfeeling man.
He wasn’t a man, but a monster. With teeth that had torn me to pieces, and a love that left scars.
Yet I couldn’t imagine life without him.
He’d dug out my ruthless edge from a girl afraid of the world, and made me claim my power.
He might be obsessive, and possessive, but he wanted me to stand next to him, not behind him.
Tears obscured the ring. For the gift of these men, and the joy of being theirs. Ray squeezed my hand.
“Marry us, volpe mia. I can’t keep beating up every asshole that hits on you.”
I let out a breath mingled with a wet laugh. Jonah leaned over and kissed a tear that escaped.
“Is that a yes?”
“Of course,” I said as my lip trembled.
Ray leaned in. “Yeah?”
“Yes. God, yes.”
Beck slid the ring on my finger, and the weight of it was perfect.
They kissed me each— Ray with cheeky tongue, Jonah with sensual romance, and Beck with teeth.
Until the entire room erupted in noise. All of them, even Beatrice, couldn’t contain their excitement.
Ray pulled me into his arms and swung me around, tossing his head back like a lunatic.
Jonah pulled me from his embrace and held my face between his hands.
“You’ll never regret it.”
“I never have.”
Our journey hadn’t been easy. Anything less would have bored me.
Adelaide had been right when she urged me to consider honoring my heart.
Hiding from my feelings had been easier.
Our love was forged in blood, adrenaline, and need that sank into our marrow.
Beck wrapped his arms around me, and Ray pressed in, bouncing on his toes.
“Adelaide is going to be so angry you did this without her, you know.” I wagged my finger at them.
Greenich Bay had been home for so long, it felt strange to go somewhere else.
Ray and Jonah worked for Adelaide as her seconds, while Beck and I worked together in whatever role she needed us to fill.
Last week, I’d planted bugs in the current mayor’s secret apartment to get proof of his mistress.
Maybe then he’d change his mind about capitulating to Adelaide.
“She’s in Italy. I think she’ll live. Besides, who do you think helped us design the ring?” Jonah stroked my cheek.
The ring warmed on my finger, and somehow it seemed like a journey of everything we’d been through. All the darkness, sharp edges, and pain melded into something beautiful.
The future was unknown, but with these three by my side?
I couldn’t wait to speed into it.
THE END