Epilogue
Priscilla
Receiving is an act of courage. Trust it. Honor it. Allow the universe the pleasure of giving to you. Accept it.
-Cilla’s Post-it note
"Tiny, stay still." Serene places another sticker in the center of his forehead, then begins to line more over the curve of his eyebrow. The big dog has his tongue hanging out from a corner of his mouth, and a long-suffering look on his face. He makes a whining sound of protest deep in his throat but obeys Serene.
We’re at Arthur’s place for the weekly lunch. He’s seated by the fire in his comfortable armchair. It’s warm in the room, but when Imelda places a blanket over his legs, Arthur doesn’t protest. Fighting the Big C has left its mark on him.
Every time I see him, he seems older, frailer, more dependent, and hence, more accommodating of Imelda fussing over him. When we walked in here after lunch, Tiny flopped on the floor between them, but as soon as Serene entered the room, he switched loyalties.
"She has that dog wrapped around her finger." Tyler puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. We’re standing by the window, watching our daughter pull out one of her face paints and begin to paint the Great Dane’s face. The dog’s expression turns even more agonized, but he, gamely, stays in his place.
Nathan and Skylar are seated on a settee facing the fire, at a right angle to Arthur and Imelda. They’re talking to Knox and June, both of whom are sprawled against the cushions on the carpet and in front of them. Knox has an espresso next to him, and June is sipping from an herbal tea. They look so happy together, and I'm glad we didn't go through with our ill-conceived plan. Though we had dessert after lunch, trays of fruit have been laid out on the coffee table.
Connor, who normally skips these lunches, as he’s often away on one of his research trips, is the surprising addition. And Brody, too, is present. The two are at the bar close to us, with espresso cups in front of them.
Ryot is traveling with his wife.
Sinclair and Summer were invited, but they skipped the meal to take Matty to football practice and then, to martial arts. Summer tells me her son has so much pent-up energy, it's important to channel it into sports.
I love being here with the Davenports. There’s a feeling of family at these meals which fills me with contentment. I look around at my husband, my child, my extended family, and allow a small smile to curve my lips. I didn’t manifest a life. I became someone who could hold it. It’s amazing how, when your dreams come true, you become more confident in yourself. In your ability to manifest. In your ability to receive, so your dreams become inseparable from you. Is this what all those self-help books meant by vibrating on the same wavelength as what you want so you could attract it? I might never know, although I think so. But the how seems inconsequential, compared to the reality of today. Now. When I’m happy. At peace.
Toren took the news of his new niece with surprising calm and a lot of excitement. He can’t wait to meet Serene. One thing I know about my brother? Even if Serene wasn’t biologically connected to me or him, he’d have accepted her right away.
"She seems fully recovered." Connor nods in my daughter’s direction.
Behind me, Tyler stiffens, as he often seems to do whenever the topic of Serene’s encounters with the woman who carried her comes up. I pat the arm he has wrapped around me, and some of the tension eases out of him.
"She’s doing well," he concedes. "She didn’t even have any nightmares after…what happened in our garden."
"She’s thriving." I smile without taking my gaze off Serene. "She’s started preschool and made new friends. Her teacher says she’s a happy child who’s inquisitive and loves drawing."
"It’s thanks to you." My husband kisses the top of my head. "You’re wonderful with her. You know when to be gentle with her and when to be firm. More than anything, your continued presence is a source of great comfort to her. She's secure in the knowledge her mom is here to stay."
"And, she has you too." I turn in his arms and wrap my arm about his neck. "You’ve come a long way from the man who didn’t know what to do with the baby who was deposited on your doorstep."
His smile dims a little. I know he’s thinking of the fact that it was also the day he asked me to leave him. I’m sorry for having reminded him of that. "What happened in the past doesn’t matter; it’s that we found ourselves again which does. That we're a family. That’s a miracle I’ll never take for granted."
"I’ll never take you for granted." He bends and captures my lips with his. I push the fact that his brothers are watching and that the rest of his family are in the same room out of my mind and respond. Within seconds, my heartbeat accelerates, and my pulse begins to pound. That familiar melting sensation curls in my lower belly. He releases my mouth to whisper, "Perhaps we should?—"
"Mama. Papa.” There’s a tug on my dress.
He groans, a frustrated look in his eyes as he releases me.
"Yes, Poppet." He looks down.
"I want to go out and play with Tiny. Can I?"
"Of course." I bend and kiss her forehead.
"I’ll take her." Connor approaches us.
"Are you sure?" I frown.
"Yes, he is." Tyler picks up the little girl and pretends to eat her arm. She giggles. "You be good for Uncle Connor, okay?" He hands her into Connor’s waiting arms. Connor heaves her up to sit on his shoulders.
She squeals, grabs hold of his hair, and tugs. "Horsey. Horsey. Giddy-up, Horsey."
Connor chuckles and walks toward the door on the side of the room that leads out onto the patio.
"I’ll go keep an eye on them." Brody winks at us. "You two, carry on."
I flush. Tyler huffs out a laugh, then kisses me again. "There’s a guest room upstairs which is free. We could?—"
"Nope! Absolutely not. You can control yourself until we reach home."
"Can I?" His eyes heat. "I’d rather use the little free time we have to be inside you with your hot, wet pussy milking my cock."
My flush deepens. I slap at his chest. "Keep your voice down; the others will hear us."
"They’re too busy catching up." He bends and kisses my lips again softly. "What do you say? An after-lunch quickie?"
"You’re never quick," I remind him, half amused.
"Only because I want to pleasure you thoroughly before I come inside you."
My cheeks turn to fire, which elicits a delighted laugh from him.
Our gazes meet, hold. That indescribable something flares between us again. His arms around me tighten. "I love you so fucking much."
"I love you," I say without hesitation. The more times I say it, the deeper the emotions I have for him grow. The more time I spend with Serene, the more the both of them become a part of me. What I feel for them is woven through my DNA, coiled in my cells, laced through my bloodstream. I am them, and they are me. We are a unit. It’s us against the world. I’ve found my safe space, and I’m so thankful to the universe for bringing me here.
The door at the far end of the living room opens again. A draft of air blows through before cutting off. There’s a shift in the air behind me. Enough for me to look over my shoulder.
Connor walks over to Arthur, a worried look on his face. He’s holding his phone in his hand as if he just took a call. Something in the tense lines of his body tells me he’s upset. Tyler must feel the same way, for he slides his hand down to mine, then leads me toward where Connor has stopped in front of Arthur.
"I have to leave. Something came up."
"Everything all right?" Tyler asks as we reach them.
I look past him through the glass door and find Serene and Brody tossing a ball, with Tiny lolling on the grass next to her.
"My best buddy called." Connor hesitates. "He’s away on a trip and won’t be home for another month. He wants me to go over and check on his sister."
"Is she in trouble?" I ask.
He slips the phone into his pocket and rubs the back of his neck, seemingly choosing his words carefully. "She’s been through a lot, and he’s worried about her. The last time he spoke to her, he got the impression she wasn’t herself. He wanted to go to her right away, but he can’t leave his mission halfway through. He called to ask if I could go in his place. Of course, I said yes."
Tyler nods. "Best thing you can do is put his mind at ease. If you need help?—"
Connor shakes his head. "I’m good. I’m sure she’s fine. He admitted he might be overreacting, but it’s best I go check up on her and let him know." He turns to Arthur. "Sorry, I need to cut out, Gramps." He nods at Arthur, then bends and kisses Imelda on her cheek. "Thanks for keeping an eye on this one."
"I’m still here," Arthur says in an irritable voice, but his expression indicates he isn’t averse to Imelda watching out for him. In the little time I’ve known him, he’s definitely mellowed.
"You behave for her, you hear me," Connor says in a mild voice.
Arthur scoffs, then a gleam comes into his eyes. "And you’d better not behave, if the opportunity arises."
Connor stares at him. "Do I even want to know what you mean by that?"
Arthur tries to look innocent and fails miserably, "All I’m saying is, with Tyler married, it’s your turn next. And you know the deal."
"Do I?” Connor knits his brows. “And I’m the youngest so shouldn’t it be Brody you should set your sights on?”
"It’s not about age but opportunity.” Arthur looks him up and down. “You’d better be married within the month, if you want me to confirm you as one of my heirs, so you can claim your inheritance. You feel me?”
To find out what happens next read Connor and Phoenix's story here
Read an excerpt
Connor
"Is that a threat?" I ask slowly.
"Consider it a forewarning." Arthur, that old coot, tilts his head. "An admonition, perhaps."
"Consider me admonished." I draw myself up to my full height. My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, and a message pops up on the screen. It’s a name and an address
I message back.
Me: On it.
Then I delete the message string, pocket my phone, and turn to my grandfather. "I don’t need your money. I have enough of my own."
Arthur leans back in his chair, then places his fingertips together. "Don’t forget who holds majority shares in the company of which you’re CEO; the company which also happens to own the patents to your various biochemical discoveries."
I stiffen, “The patents are?—”
“Not on your personal name, because the Davenport Group filed them on your behalf,” Arthur adds in a silky voice.
The old man is…right. I’d done that on purpose. But now’s not the time to reveal that. I set my jaw, pretend to be upset at this revelation, then curl my fingers into fists for good measure.
"I’m simply pointing out the reality." Arthur lowers his chin. "Of course, you could choose to walk away from your patents but?—”
"What he means is that he’s worried about you." Imelda stares at Arthur, who surprisingly subsides.
She rises to her feet and walks over to me. "You travel a lot and work so very hard. Arthur feels you don’t look after yourself enough. He only wants you to meet the right woman, so you’ll settle down. He wants you to be as happy as your brothers are." She levels a look at Arthur. "Isn’t that right, dear?"
Arthur looks like he’s about to protest. Then, with a disgruntled expression, he jerks his chin. "I do worry…about all of you." He looks around the room. "It’s why I helped all you find your soulmates and look how happy you are."
Tyler coughs. "I think the credit for finding the women we love and want to spend our lives with goes to us. Mainly."
"I played a role, didn’t I? If I hadn’t put the condition to have you all get married in order to inherit, I wager, none of you would have taken the final step needed to seal the deal."
Tyler’s lips quirk. He exchanges a glance with Nathan, who shakes his head in an imperceptible motion. Probably warning Tyler not to say anything which might antagonize the old man further. Not that I care.
Arthur thinks he’s responsible for my brothers getting their happy endings. But I’m too wise. I’m not going to fall prey to his machinations. It’s one of the reasons I’ve managed to stay away as much as possible from the family. Also, because I’ve been busy carving out my career. I’m determined to be independent. So far, I’ve succeeded. The only reason I stayed on this long is to help Tyler. I could never turn down my brother when he needed my help.
But Tyler’s settled now. His daughter Serene walks into the room, followed by Brody, with Tiny on their heels. She heads straight for her mother, who picks her up. Tyler wraps his arm around both of them in a protective gesture. Serene leans up and kisses him on his cheek, and his entire face lights up. He pulls both of them close.
My heart stutters in my chest. My chest hurts a little. It’s wonderful to see Tyler so content. But is that burning sensation in the pit of my belly jealousy? Nah, not possible.
I don’t begrudge my brothers their happiness. But I’m not going to fall into the same trap. I’m not going to give up my freedom. Besides, I’m too busy focusing on my job. Unlike my brothers, I didn’t become a Marine because I’ve always felt I could do more for my country on the outside.
And now, thanks to my buddy James, I have a new mission. It’s time for me to move on. I’ve never been good at being in one place.
I’ve always felt smothered when my family show their concern for me. Perhaps, it comes from being a nerdy kid who got bullied at school. Whose older brothers always had to rescue him from being pounded in the playground. It’s when I swore to find a way to show the world that I could take care of myself.
I knew, even then, I could use my brains to outwit anyone. But I also realized I needed the physical strength to go with it. I focused on building up my body, focused on being so strong that no one would dare bother me. Paired with my high IQ, I'm virtually invincible when it comes to the kind of career I've forged. One where I can use my intelligence to come to the aid of those who need it most. It’s what led to my becoming a private contractor for the government. I can serve my country, but I can choose the missions I go on, like the one I am taking on now.
With what I can only describe as relief that I have a reason to leave, I nod in my grandfather’s direction. "I appreciate your being concerned on my behalf, but there’s no need. I know what I want."
"Do you?" My grandfather frowns but doesn’t say anything else.
I pat Imelda’s shoulder. "You take care of yourself. Don’t let the cantankerous old coot get you down."
Arthur makes a noise of protest which I ignore. I kiss Imelda’s cheek. Nod toward Nathan and Knox and their wives, then head over to Tyler’s family. I ruffle Serene’s hair, clap Tyler on his back and smile at Priscilla. "I’ll see you guys soon."
"Thanks for your help." Tyler lets go of Priscilla and his daughter long enough to squeeze my shoulder. "Anything you need, don’t hesitate to reach out."
"I won’t." With a last wave at the group in the room, I head out of there. Nodding at Arthur’s butler Otis, who holds out my coat for me, I shrug into it, then leave through the kitchen using the back door. Cutting through the garden path, I head out toward the door behind the garden shed which leads out onto Primrose Hill. It’s locked.
I use the code Otis, Arthur’s butler shared with me to let myself out. I step out onto the grassy knoll and jump down from it onto the walkway that leads down to the entrance to the open space. The London skyline, made famous by scenes in so many movies, stretches out in front of me. I pause for a second to take it in.
Thankfully, I’m not jaded enough to not appreciate the beauty of the afternoon sun which bathes the scene in a golden glow. Cyclists overtake me. A couple holding hands walks past me, lost in each other. A family sits on a blanket in the grass having a picnic. Everyday sights and sounds surround me. The breeze ruffles my hair. I draw in a deep breath, and smell freshly cut grass mixed with fragrant flowers. More tension slips from my shoulders.
Why am I more comfortable when I'm on my own? I don’t hate my family. Far from it. Despite my impatience with my grandfather’s tactics in trying to get me hitched, I know, deep down, he only has my best interests at heart. He was there for us when our own father was too self-absorbed, and our mother too preoccupied with her society life.
It was Gramps who brought us up. His methods might have been more befitting that of an army sergeant who expected complete discipline from his troops. But even then, his love for us came through. Which is, perhaps, why my brothers and I put up with his meddling antics.
Not that Arthur has any military experience, but his father did. Our uncle Quentin was the first to enlist in the Royal Marines, following in his grandfather’s footsteps. And later, so did my brothers. I decided to follow my own instincts. Even then, it felt more natural to strike out on my own.
It took a few false starts, but here I am. The CEO of a biochemicals research company which I built. It did have seed funding from my grandfather, but everything else is mine. I'm the one who raised money for the IPO from the stock market. I'm the one who decides which initiatives we’ll focus on. I've kept the team small. Kept my own hours.
Kept a low enough profile that it's a perfect cover for the missions I take on for the government. This one, though, is personal.
I exit the park, pull the hoodie of my sweatshirt over my head, hunch my shoulders, and do my best to blend in. With my six feet six inches height, I’ll always stand out. But wearing everyday clothes helps. Ensuring I keep my chin lowered so my features aren't caught on any closed-circuit cameras is another.
I head to the nondescript white van with the name of a building company stenciled on the side. A bit predictable, but the best way to mask my presence. I asked one of my team to have it delivered so I could use it.
I take the key fob from the glove box, after keying in the code to open it, then drive off. A half-hour drive brings me to a quiet borough.
Not as well-heeled as Primrose Hill, but also, not as gritty as the East End. With its tree-lined streets and green spaces, Archway is quickly becoming sought after, in real estate terms. Given its proximity to Whittington Hospital, which is where the subject of my interest works, it makes sense that she lives here.
I double-check the address that James sent me, then shoot off a message to the investigator whose part of my team, asking him to send me a full background check on her.
I park the car a few houses down from the address I’ve been given.
I don’t have to wait long before the door to the terraced house opens. A woman dressed in scrubs, which mark her out as a medical professional, steps onto the pathway.
Even under the shapeless clothes, and despite the distance, I can make out her hourglass figure. She wears them with the panache of a princess wearing a gown, and glides like she’s wearing not sneakers, but stilettos. The pathway in front of her seems to resemble a catwalk; that’s how arresting her gait is. Thick chestnut hair flows down her back. I can make out her high cheekbones, the sweep of her nose, the evenly spaced features of her face. Though I can’t make out the details, I see enough to tell me she’s striking. Enough to send a sizzle of awareness down my spine, and for the hairs on the back of my neck to rise to attention. Next time, I’m getting a camera with a high-powered lens so I can watch her closely.
When I received my best friend James’ message to look out for his little sister, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But his message was urgent enough that I headed here right away. That, and the fact I felt at loose ends.
I spent the better part of the last month helping my brother Tyler with his division of the Davenport Group, so he could spend more time with his wife and daughter.
Now that he's resuming his duties, I’m ready for a new challenge. And the woman in front of me represents the kind of task which is both intriguing and feeds into my sense of responsibility. I owe James so I’m more than happy to help out. If I’m honest, the fact that his sister has something indefinable about her which draws me could be a complication, but it’s also alluring. Besides, I'm here to watch her, so I’m not doing anything wrong, right?
The object of my attention pushes open the waist-level gate—it’s more a demarcation than a deterrent, something which is a red flag among the many other red flags I’ve already spotted in terms of her security—and steps onto the sidewalk.
She hefts her backpack more securely, pulls out her phone and fiddles with it. She walks up the road in the other direction from me, head bent, seemingly occupied with whatever she sees on screen. Then her steps slow. She seems to stiffen and glance around.
Good instincts.
She looks over her shoulder. I’m parked far away enough that I’m sure all she’ll make out is an indistinct figure behind the wheel. A food delivery person cycles by.
He stops at a house between us, gets off his bike, walks to the front door, and rings the bell.
It seems to ease her nerves—she turns away and walks on. I release the handbrake, ease off the brake pedal, and let the car roll forward. She rounds the corner. I follow, keeping a careful distance, shadowing her on the fifteen-minute walk to the hospital.
Despite a couple of times when she stops and turns to look over her shoulder to survey the area before she continues, I'm far enough away, and with more vehicles on the road, there's no way she notices me.
She’s more alert, more aware than I expected her to be. It makes me respect her more. It makes me want her even more.
I wait until she’s safely inside the hospital, then turn the van around and head back to her home. I’m tempted to go in, but damn, that would be an infringement of privacy. I respect James too much to do that. And it wouldn’t be fair to her either. I satisfy myself by doing another drive-by around her house to familiarize myself. Then, I head back to the hospital and park a little way down the road. My phone vibrates, I check the screen and answer the FaceTime call.
"James?"
"Connor, did you see her?" James’ worried features appeared on the screen. "Is she okay?"
"I did, and she’s fine. I’m headed back to the hospital to wait for her to leave; I'll follow her back home."
He heaves a sigh of relief. "Thanks, man. I’d keep an eye on her myself, but if she’d spotted me, I’d get an earful. She wouldn’t be happy." He makes a face.
"Something tells me, she’s not going to be much more appreciative when she finds out you’ve asked me to fill that role." I jerk my chin at him.
I haven’t spoken to her, but given the stubbornness I’d glimpsed on her face, I’m sure she’s the kind who won’t take too kindly to her brother hovering over her. Or any other man, for that matter. Not that I’m going to let myself be found out. I push that thought aside. "What’s this all about? Why do you think she needs to be watched over?"
James rubs at his temple. Then he nods to someone I can’t see out of frame. Behind him, I hear the sounds of his kitchen and spot some of his staff dressed in chef’s jackets and aprons scurrying about. He heads away, and the noise recedes, presumably because he stepped out of the kitchen. He heads into another room, where he sits down at a desk and places the phone on it. Then he leans back. "It might be nothing but?—"
"But you don’t think so."
He shakes his head. "Phoenix is the youngest of us eight siblings."
"Big family." I grew up with five brothers, plus a half-brother I discovered later, so I'm no stranger to having multiple siblings. But eight sounds excessive, even to me.
James laughs. "Growing up, it was quite competitive between us, as you can imagine. She’s the quietest of the lot. As the youngest, you’d think she would've been the most spoiled, but she’s always been too independent for that. She put herself through medical school on her own merit, refusing to take money from any of us to help."
My esteem for her increases. It’s not cheap to get that kind of education, and she stuck it out on her own.
"She’s always been reticent, but over the past few months she's withdrawn even more into herself. She doesn’t come to family get-togethers or our weekly dinners—not that I blame her. My family can be a little full-on. But she also doesn’t answer our calls. She checks in with our mother, and me on occasion, but that’s only through text messages. She refuses to share her thoughts with us. And if she knew I was concerned enough to contemplate following her to make sure she's okay, she’d—" He shakes her head. "She’d be pissed off, and that’s putting it mildly."
"So, you want me to be the one tailing her?"
"I get the impression she’s going through something personal. Something she doesn’t want to share with us. And that’s fine; it’s her prerogative. But it’s also my prerogative, as her brother, to watch out for her and make sure she’s okay."
I nod slowly. "If you want security, you should speak to Quentin or Nathan."
"They’re too busy to take this on personally. Whereas you?—"
"Have no such commitments." I twist my lips.
He half-smiles. "It’s the truth."
I blow out a breath. I should be amused that he thinks my lack of a personal life or a family means I have the time to take this on. Instead, something inside me resents it. Not that he wants me to help; I’d do that in a heartbeat. It’s more the fact that I don’t have anything resembling personal commitments or people I care for that clears the way for me to do so. Which is bizarre.
Perhaps, it’s the fact four of my brothers have settled down in the last year and walk around looking happy, that’s making me wonder if Arthur isn’t perhaps right in having given them deadlines to get married?
If you’d told me that a few years ago, I’d have laughed. Now, I have the evidence in front of my eyes, and a part of me is envious. On the other hand, I’m happy in my bachelor state.
“This won’t be cheap," I warn.
He barks out a laugh. "I didn’t expect it to be."
"I’m turning down another assignment to do this." It might cost me my career, but that doesn't seem as important as ensuring I watch over Phoenix.
His features soften. "I appreciate this. My sister is important to me."
And to me.
Perhaps, something of my thoughts shows on my face, for a flicker of something sparks in his eyes. "I’d do anything for her. And if anyone hurts her"—he sets his jaw—"I won't hesitate to punish whoever it is."