Epilogue
BASILIO -SEVEN YEARS LATER
S t. Jean d’Arc School Opening.
Unofficially, the school of badass females. Though there are plenty of boys in it.
“Daddy, when I get big can I go to school here?” My four-year-old asked. My little Miss Independent was the spitting image of Wynter. Her big green eyes shimmered as she met my gaze. She knew how to play me, like a goddamn fiddle.
And I let her. Every damn time because I couldn’t bear to see her unhappy. Fallon, true to her name's meaning, knew how to rule a room and the people in it. Much to Wynter’s dismay.
My wife called it payback for the shit we’d done. I called it a fucking blessing.
“Only if I come.” My eldest chimed in. Even at six-years-old, Grayson acted like an overbearing big brother. “Nobody touches my sisters.” He was a fucking terror and occasionally took protection of his two younger sisters to a whole new level.
Our youngest, twenty-month-old Noelle, flapped her legs and arms, excited to hear her big brother’s voice.
“You’re not coming,” Fallon screeched her protest in indignation. “Badass females. You’re not a female.”
She raised her hand like she was going to smack the shit out of her big brother when I snagged her hand.
“No hitting, Fallon,” I scolded her and her green eyes filled with fire. “And no bad words. Mommy won’t be fucking happy if she hears it. And I promised your mamma, I’d always make her happy.”
With her blonde, curly pigtails, and her big eyes, she looked like an angel. Until she got pissed off. Then she was a fucking monster in disguise.
Did I mention Fallon had a fucking Irish temper?
Just like her damn Aunt Jules.
Our family was a fucking nightmare. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Hitting is bad,” I explained, my voice stern.
The baby squirmed in my arms like a wild animal, squealing, “Down. Down.”
“Whatever,” Fallon muttered, rolling her eyes. Are four-year-olds even supposed to roll their eyes? Fuck if I knew. All I knew was that Fallon would drive a fucking saint to drink.
“Hello, Mr. DiLustro.” Two sets of blue eyes met mine. Nico Morrelli’s eldest daughters. Their father and mom slowly approached us with their own little hellions.
“Hannah. Arianna.” I could never figure out which one was which so I just let it go. “Looking forward to going to school here?”
“Hell yeah,” one of them answered. “Can't wait to taste freedom.”
Yep, those two would be trouble.
“Hey, Basilio.” Bianca was first to greet me, leaning in to press a kiss to my cheek.
Yes, these women were setting some new, supposedly normal, standards around here.
Nico growled and his wife rolled her eyes.
Their twenty kids ran around wild. Okay, maybe not twenty but lots of kids.
Twins. How in the fuck they kept them straight, I had no fucking idea.
“Down, down,” my youngest demanded again. The little monster was a wiggle worm. “Me want,” she babbled.
Noelle knew how to make her wants heard.
“I see the kids are doing good,” Nico announced. “You must be proud.”
My eyes darted back to where my wife stood. Proud didn’t even begin to describe it. “More than proud.”
Bianca chuckled. “And to think you had to drag her down the aisle.”
Of course, it was a topic of discussion almost every holiday. Fuckers.
Bianca reached out for Noelle’s little hand that kept reaching for her aunt. Or was it cousin, fuck if I knew. The family connection was complicated, connecting my wife to Bianca through the crazy Pakhan.
“From what I hear, Nico forced you down the aisle too,” I mused while lowering down to set my toddler down.
She chuckled. “Right you are. Best fucking day ever.”
I grinned. I couldn’t quite figure out if we had corrupted our women or vice versa.
All three of my kids took off in the direction of their mother who stood surrounded by the new students. Some fascinated by her ice skating career, and others asking questions about the school.
“I’m gonna say hi to Wynter,” Bianca announced and I nodded. Minutes passed in silence.
“It never goes away, huh?” Nico’s remark had me raising my eyebrows. “The worry constantly lingers that something could change it all. Take it all away from us.”
My eyes sought out my wife again. He was right. The worry never truly ended. No matter what, it probably never would. I’d worry about my wife and our children until my dying breath.
“It never goes away,” I confirmed.
Nico dispersed to go help his daughters get situated into whatever dorm they’d stay in. I’d talk to Wynter about putting extra insurance on that building, because those two were sure to wreak havoc.
My wife’s eyes flickered my way and instantly my chest grew full. Yes, I ruled the Syndicate alongside my cousins. Yes, we still dealt with illegal shit. And fuck yes, I killed anyone who tried to threaten my family.
But at the end of the day, I’d always come home to them. To a house full of children, toys scattered around and my wife as she attempted cooking. She was better at ice skating and running the school, but my wife was not a quitter. My cook made sure of it.
Noelle found her way to her mother, grinning and reaching up her chubby arms. I could hear her faint demand. “Up.”
Before my wife had a chance to pick up our baby, Grandma snatched her up.
“Where is my baby girl?” Aisling cooed at her. “Guess what I have?”
Wynter’s mom found a cure to aging. Though it only worked on her. My wife swore she had never seen her mother like this. She glowed from happiness. And my uncle spoiled her rotten. The woman deserved it though.
“Ummy beaws!” Noelle squealed excited and instantly opened her mouth.
It was her favorite junk food. Out of nowhere, Fallon and Grayson found themselves next to their grandmother. Little rascals.
The salty ocean air drifted from the shoreline.
Despite the girl squad sucking at their criminal activity, I had to admit they did well with this project.
They have found the perfect location, the large acreage of woods hiding them from the nearest road of nosey passersby and the ocean views on the opposite side.
My wife’s hands wrapped around my waist from behind, her touch sending a small shudder through my spine. Every. Fucking. Time.
At this rate, we’d end up filling the school with our own kids.
“Hey, husband. How is your stay-at-home dad job going? Or is being the kingpin more to your liking?”
I brought her around to my front, so I could get lost in her eyes.
She was my own personal heaven. “Well, I have another ten hours to go. We only managed to spill one juice box and a handful of animal crackers inside the car. This kingpin will forever be happy to spend a day with our kids. And you, principessa.”
Her soft chuckle vibrated against my chest. “You did good,” she murmured. “You’re as good at your daddy job as you are at your kingpin job.”
There were days I was so goddamn happy, I feared it was all a dream. I’d wake up and realize I was still searching for the love of my life, hunting down the Russians and all other villains on this Earth.
“I love you,” she murmured and satisfaction ran hot through my blood every time she said those words to me. Nothing mattered more to me than her and our family. My cousins and hers came to visit. The dream family we both always wanted came true.
Her bottom lip came between her teeth and an alert instantly shot through me. “What’s the matter?”
“Why do you think something’s the matter?” she questioned.
“Because I know you.”
“You do,” she confirmed. “How do you feel about another baby?”
I stilled, searching her face for any sign that she was joking. There were none.
I cupped her face and ran a thumb across her cheek. “Are you happy?” She nodded, her lips parting and a blush rising to her cheeks. “Then I’m happy. We can have as many babies as you want.” A corner of my lips lifted. “Nothing makes me happier than making them.”
She rose to her tiptoes and breathed against my mouth. “I’m so fucking happy that it scares me sometimes.”
I leaned in to nip her bottom lip. “The only one allowed to scare you is me, principessa. Anyone else, I’ll kill them.”
THE END