EPILOGUE
Twenty-four hours have passed since the auction.
We loaded Maxwell’s body up and brought him home with us, giving him a proper burial in the Hayes family cemetery.
Hayes allowed Alan to pick out his casket and flowers, along with the spot he would like him laid. All our men stood around in silence as Alan sobbed while his brother was lowered into the ground.
I stood beside him, holding his hand and cried with tears of sorrow too.
He won’t ever admit it, but I’m certain I saw a tear or two from Hayes during the ceremony.
I wanted to see the women at the Hope House, but Hayes made me take a shower, sleep last night, and eat before going.
He wants me to take in all that happened before bringing it in on the women.
His Audi pulls up to the front of the house. Grabbing my hand, he squeezes it for a little longer than normal. “We will stay as long as you would like.”
I nod and lean into him, giving him a soft kiss.
Letting go of my hand, he gets out on his side and walks around, opening my door.
My feet step on the bottom steps of the porch and by the time I reach the top of the porch, Gloria is running out of the door and hugging me. “Miss Olivia, I am so thankful you are okay.”
My arms go around her in a tight embrace, a tear forming in my eyes; what I did last night was for her. It was for all of them.
Backing away from our hug, her eyes meet mine. “Are you okay?”
I nod, fighting back tears and I whisper, “Gloria, he is dead.”
She blinks rapidly a few times. “Wh-what?”
Hayes grins, “The na?ve little woman I met at the first auction has become a force to be reckoned with. She shot him dead last night.”
I have to catch her before Gloria falls to her knees in sobs that gets the attention of the other women inside. “He is dead. The man who beat, raped, and hurt so many of us . . . he is no longer able to do that?”
Ruth comes out just in time to hear Gloria and she looks at me in shock. I nod to confirm what she heard was right.
She grabs her daughter, Meredith, and holds her close, “You mean to tell me my baby is safe? My baby can live a life without fear?”
Hayes wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into him, kissing me on the top of the head. “My mother would have loved you.”
I look up at him. “I know I would have loved her because she raised a man like you.”
We watch as the women all hug and cry together.
The weight that must have been released off them not being in fear for their lives or their children’s lives anymore was palpable.
Following them inside, I turn to Hayes. “Order take out and have it brought here please.”
He grins. “You are the boss.”
Maybe now I can help counsel these women the way Hayes’ mother intended to so they can have a chance out in the real world.
***
SIX MONTHS LATER
“Miss Olivia,” Isabella calls from my bedroom. I am in the bathroom Hayes and I share, getting ready for my day.
“Yes?” I ask her, looking at her in the bathroom mirror.
“Mr. Ricci says to be ready in thirty minutes, he wants to take you somewhere tonight.”
I eye her curiously. “Well, he is just full of surprises, isn’t he?”
She chuckles. “Yes ma’am, he is.” She stops before she leaves my room, “Maria is going to take the night off since you both will be out tonight.”
I nod, “Tell her to have a great night and we will see her tomorrow.” I smile and she exits the room.
We brought Isabella to live with us soon after my father’s death and she and Maria are actually long-lost friends who have not seen one another in years.
It makes my heart full knowing they have each other now and work together.
Slipping on my black cocktail dress, I grab some silver heels and apply a light nude lipstick.
Grabbing a hoop nose ring, I slid the stud out and put the ring in place. Giving my hair a little shake for volume; it seems I am ready to go in record time.
Walking down the stairs, a handsome, broody man comes into my sight, and I grin at him. “You better get out of here before my boyfriend finds out and kills you.”
He gives me a deep and sexy chuckle. “I think I’ll take my chances, seeing how beautiful you are.”
I stare at him. “Not so bad looking yourself.”
Wrapping his hand around my waist, he pulls me into him, giving me a soft kiss.
“Where are you taking me tonight?” I ask him.
“It is a secret. If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” he winks at me.
“Always so violent,” I smirk.
Grabbing his keys in one hand, Hayes grabs my waist with the other, leading me out to the garage.
Once on the road, he turns the radio up and Morally Grey by April Jai and Nations Haven plays on the radio.
Half an hour later, we are pulling up to a boat by the river. No—not just a boat, a yacht.
“Hayes?” I question him.
“Hmmm?” He grins.
“It’s beautiful.” I stare at it in awe.
“I was hoping you would think so because it is yours.” He hands over a key.
I look at him, dumbfounded. “Mine?”
He nods his head yes. “Go take a look around.”
Without hesitation, I run up on the boat and say a quick hello to the staff standing to greet us.
There have to be four rooms on it, a full deck with lounge chairs, and a kitchen. I stop in my tracks once I get to the bow and my knees wobble. Hayes is standing in the middle of a heart made from rose petals and candles.
“Olivia, can you come here for a minute?”
I nod, covering my mouth, and slowly make my way to him. My eyes catch a glimpse of Alan, standing off in the corner and he is smiling like a schoolboy.
Stepping into the heart, I notice the red velvet box in Hayes’ hands.
“Olivia,” he starts, and grabs my hand. “Something about you captivated me the night I met you. While others saw a sad, defenseless girl, I saw a woman ready to be born into who she was supposed to be all along.”
Rubbing his thumb over my hand he continues, “I am so incredibly proud of you. You fought hard to survive, and I got a front row seat to it all. These past six months have been the best months of my life, and I want nothing more than to give you a new name with power behind it. I want to run this Kingdom with you.”
Opening the red box, he slides down on one knee, “Will you marry me?”
I don’t know if I actually made out the word yes as I was a crying mess, but nodding my head like an idiot was all the clarification Hayes needed.
Taking the ring out of the box, he glides it on my ring finger, picks me up and spins me around, carefully lowering me to him and kisses me softly.
“The King is nothing without his Queen,” Hayes whispers in my ear.