EPILOGUE
TRAVIS
One year later
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My life is almost unrecognizable. Not only do I live with a cat and have cat litter in one of my bathrooms, but there are pink cushions on my sofa.
Mauve, apparently.
But they are fucking pink.
And I’m standing under an arch of flowers waiting for my bride to walk down the aisle.
Parker and Aurora are chasing around a set of twins—boys—who are as cheeky as their father.
Beside me Maddox, who is now a married man, is checking his cufflinks.
It took Brook around two months to fully heal. Not that it stopped us having sex during that time. I think I waited another forty-eight long-suffering hours. Then said, fuck this, and spread her legs, sucking that delicious pussy of hers.
After Maddox and Kyra’s wedding, I knew for certain I wanted that with Brook. We were a part of each other’s lives.
Each week she came with me to Mama’s for dinner and visits her at other times when I’m not there. It makes me so damn happy.
She’s close with Aurora and Kyra, who have also adopted Jasmine. Who is now pregnant.
Tony is a good guy. He’s a little guarded, but that’s probably because me and the guys are so tight.
Brook’s mom and I get along well. She loves me, but I think that’s because I appreciate her cooking. She might be a professor, but she enjoys being in the kitchen.
Her father works long hours, but we have a strong respect for one another. When I asked him for his daughter’s hand, he said I don’t think I have a say in the matter. If she says yes, then make sure you love her well.
“I will, sir. Till the day I die.”
“Good boy.”
Boy, that made me smile. I wasn’t a boy anymore. I wasn’t that boy, but I had become the man that Brook loves and needs. A man who provides her tight security and keeps her safe. A man who devours her body at night—and the morning—and makes her laugh.
A man who is determined to get her off the pill and start making a family.
But the real change is when I wake up in the morning and focus on what my life’s purpose is.
Instead of dreaming of revenge and the hatred I have for my father, I dream of how I can surprise my soon-to-be wife.
Vacation destinations. Homes. A diamond Swiss watch for her birthday, which she hugged to her chest.
She’d seen it in the gift shop in Riffelalp and remembered. That I’d remembered earned me one of the best blow jobs of my life.
Not sorry at all.
Sofia sits in the front row with her kids. She smiles at me.
I’m nervous and don’t know why.
Zayne and Killian walk through the garden toward us.
“Two minutes,” Killian says, glancing at his watch, then gives the wedding planner the nod.
It’s a small and intimate wedding at a luxury Hamptons vineyard. We’re surrounded by nature and a large mansion where we’ll all stay for the weekend.
The music starts up.
And a minute later, my beautiful bride appears.
Step by step, almost meeting the beats of my heart, Brook gets closer. I need her to be my wife like my life depends on it.
We’ve spent the last year learning about one another, and I’ve fallen more and more in love with her.
Sure, in the background, I’ve watched Leo Taylor’s life fall apart. I had to do very little. The authorities took action, and after getting enough evidence, he was arrested.
Obviously, he didn’t get his star. The City of Los Angeles announced that his nominee had been rejected soon after Brook aired my audio.
He’s now behind bars awaiting trial. The evidence against him is huge. If need be, I will step forward, but I don’t think it will be necessary.
The greatest challenge between Brook and me was the club. I had no idea she knew about it.
“You need to visit.”
“I think I know what goes on at one of those places.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not sure I’m okay with it.”
I slowly nodded.
The desire to go had almost evaporated. I understood why Parker and Maddox didn’t want to go when they had the women they loved at home.
Zayne was traveling more and more for work, and with Killian busy opening another restaurant in London, our regular Friday nights at the clubs simply stopped happening.
We still have lunch at Dune on Wednesdays, but it’s whoever can make it. Nowadays we are busy with weddings and the birth of babies.
Like I say, my world has changed.
Our worlds have changed.
From those nights at school fighting, trying to rid our souls of the shame and pain, to standing here watching the woman I love step in front of me to take her vows.
I’m blessed.
I feel whole.
And I’m abso-fucking-lutely saying I do.
Dressed in a long cream mermaid-shaped gown, which is covered in sparkles, she looks like a fucking princess. Ahead of her, Jasmine walks in a gold dress, carrying a bouquet bursting with color.
My eyes drop back to my bride as she stops in front of me.
I swear if I were ever going to cry...it would be right now.
“Hi.” Brook smiles.
I start to move, and Maddox grabs my arm.
“Kiss her at the end.” He growls.
“Fuck that.” I growl right back and smash my mouth down on hers.
Everyone laughs.
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SITTING WITH MY arm around my wife, we watch everyone dancing. It’s been an amazing day. The sun set a few hours after we said I do to one another, and then the party started.
I glance down.
She has her head resting on my arm.
“Tired?”
The scar is hidden under the lace of her dress, but it's always a reminder of what I could have lost. We will always have security now—I glance up at the Barrett Security guards dotted around—and then back down.
Frowning, I take her flute and lift it to my nose.
Brook lifts her head and smirks at me.
“You aren’t drinking.” I drop my brows, surprised I’ve just noticed..
“Nope.”
I shift, turning my body and tossing the flute onto the grass, my heart thumping.
“Mrs. Warner, do you want to tell me something?” I demand playfully...but not all that playfully.
She lifts a shoulder.
“Brook.” I growl.
“Keep making noises like that and I’ll be dragging my husband up to our room.”
I do another growl.
She smirks.
“Are you pregnant?” I ask quietly, hopefully.
For months we’ve had discussions about her stopping the pill, and she wanted to wait.
“Yes.” She smiles, tears filling her eyes.
“Oh, my god.” I stand, then sit. “How? Fuck. I know how.”
Her head drops to my chest, and I want to lift her and kiss her and spin her and scream to the universe.
Then she glances up. “I stopped it six weeks ago. It should take longer, but apparently you have super sperm.”
I grin. “Yeah, I do. Fuck yeah, I do.”
Then I can’t stop myself. I stand and lift her off the ground, spinning her around. Giggling, Brook tells me to slow down, and I guess I don’t want to freak the kid out.
“Trav, you are going to be a daddy.”
“The best dad.”
“The best husband and the best daddy. I love you so much.”
This time I fail.
A tear rolls down my cheek.
“Thank you,” I whisper as I hold her against my heart. “Thank you for giving me everything.”
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I hope you loved Travis and Brooklyn’s romance.