Epilogue #2
"Is that..." I swallowed. "Is that what I think it is?" I reached out and touched the silky fabric of the scarf artfully draped around her neck.
That night from so long ago flashed through my head, when I’d had Beasty on the couch and tied this very scarf around her neck before she ran to her room.
Smiling, she covered my hand. "It is. I'm surprised you haven't seen it in my room. Joaquin saw it within the first few weeks I came back."
My throat thickened as I was at a loss for words. I'd placed this around her neck the first time she was with us, back when we were young and innocent, or as innocent as two troubled people with our backgrounds could be.
"I can't believe you kept it. After you left, I thought for sure..."
"Kim." She pulled my hand down and cupped it between hers.
"I love you. I always have, and even then, I could never destroy any part of you. I cherished it."
I nodded, my nose burning. Tugging her into my arms, I breathed her in.
"I love you too, Beasty. I can't believe this is where life brought us, but I'm glad I was finally able to save you like you saved us.
" She started to say something, but I pushed her face into my chest and she laughed.
"I finally feel worthy," I breathed, and she grew quiet.
"There will never be anyone else for me or us.
We forged a bond in the woods that day when you found us, I'm just sorry we were such idiots about it and didn't come for you until your graduation. "
Her hands gripped my back.
"You are worthy, Kim. You always have been." She rubbed her nose on my chest. "All of you are. And I have no regrets, not when it brought us here."
Joaquin
"I don't think she's going to like it." I scrubbed a hand down my face and angled the enclosure a little to the left. Which was fucking hard. This thing weighed a ton.
"She's going to love it. Quilliam already does." Atlas tapped the glass in front of where Quilliam was checking out the upgraded wheel. Did he ever use his old wheel? I just grabbed everything that a hamster would use but made sure it was the souped-up version.
"Fuck. Maybe I should have asked her before I took over her room with this thing." I stepped back and waved my hands at the giant-ass enclosure that went from floor to ceiling and covered almost a whole wall.
The top floors of Quilliam’s new home had lights but the bottom didn't, which was where we put his little igloo house. There were tunnels and toys and everything I could think of to make him happy. There were also little doors to get to him no matter what floor he was on.
I was more than a little curious to see where he spent his time.
"Stop, she's going to love it." Atlas gave me a look like he was done with my shit. If I kept this up, he'd make me choke on his dick.
Actually...
"She's going to hate—"
I didn't get another word out as Atlas slammed his mouth on mine before forcing me to my knees. "If you can't keep your mouth shut, I'll give you something to fill it."
Which of course was the time Beasty walked in.
I wish I could say her animated gasp was her excitement to join us, but I think it was for the ten level enclosure taking up so much space in her room.
Spoiler, she loved it.
Beasty
“You’re going to love it,” Desiree gushed, her voice full of hope and so much happiness. “I can’t believe how much space it has! There are literally floor to ceiling windows. So much light!”
I grinned as I unlocked the front door. “I can’t wait to see it. We can arrange a day where some of the girls can come over for a house warming party. On a night when there are no performances.”
We’d reopened Snatched not that long ago, and it was as busy as ever. It shouldn’t surprise me. Everyone loved my boys and wanted a piece of them. Only this time, it was on their terms.
“Done! I’m just ecstatic that Danielle bitch finally got fired. She was awful,” Desiree grumbled.
Danielle was terrible. As soon as things quieted down, firing her had been the first order of business.
I dropped my keys in the bowl. With all our threats taken care of and more security than we knew what to do with, Lake and Joaquin had bought me a car.
When I found it in the driveway, I hadn’t realized it was for me, until I caught the license plate.
B3ASTY
Joaquin lifted my hand and pressed the keys into my palm.
Lake kissed my forehead. “We got you the safest car known to mankind. It’s fuel efficient, bulletproof, and rides like a dream. It’s not flashy, so you shouldn’t have any complaints.”
“You’re welcome.” Joaquin chucked his knuckles gently under my chin.
I’d been working on my gratitude, so I nodded and drove like an old lady all the way to Snatched with Lake and Kim in the car ahead of me, and Joaquin and Atlas behind me.
Little foot shuffles came closer and there were my boys, all standing in the kitchen doorway looking like Fred from Scooby Doo with black floral scarves artfully decorating their necks. Except for Lake, he held his in his hand with a frown on his face.
But that wasn’t what caught my attention.
It was the half-portrait, half-painting taking up most of the wall in this two story room.
I choked.
“Desiree, I have to go.” I hit the end call button while she was mid sentence. “What is that?” I croaked.
Kim stepped forward, his eyes bright. “Don’t you remember?” He joined me, sliding his arm around my shoulders and pressing a soft kiss to my neck.
Oh, I remembered. But I couldn’t find my voice. It was…Stunning.
“Now everyone who passes through these doors will know exactly how we see you. We worship the ground you walk on. You’re our goddess.”
“The Beasty Goddess.” The words fell out of my mouth like it wasn’t even me who said them.
Atlas snorted while Joaquin and Kim laughed. Lake smiled.
“Sure.” Kim pressed his lips together in mirth. “If that’s how you want to see it. Our fierce, Beasty Goddess.”
They all had another laugh.
I tipped my head back, studying the art.
The base was a black and white photo Kim had taken of me, which there had been many in the last few months.
Only, sections were painted over, like half of my face and head, my shoulder, an arm, hips, and a leg.
Every inch that had been painted depicted a goddess, adding a gold laurel, a sheer, flowy white dress, and so much back light, I was ethereal.
Shaking myself out of my awe, I glanced at the guys.
“What is that around your necks?”
A huge smile spread over Kim’s face. “We started a fashion brand.”
“What?” I shouted. “When did you have time to do that?”
Kim shrugged, his eyes twinkling. “You know, here and there.”
“It’s called Beasty.” Lake shook out the silk scarf in his hand. It was so similar to the one I’d held onto for years, but simpler.
Still, it was gorgeous.
An elaborate B was stamped in the corner. Underneath it, THE COLLECTION was written in small print.
I wasn’t sure I liked that.
Stepping out of Kim’s hold and lifting the corner of the scarf to my face, I studied it. It was top of the line, if I could be trusted to know what that was.
Glancing at each of them, I furrowed my brow. “Is this what you want? You don’t hate that word?”
Joaquin stepped forward, running his fingers across the word that had haunted them most of their lives.
“Not when we make it ours. It no longer means what Gates wanted it to mean. And honestly, if we’re going to belong to anyone, it’s you. Isn’t it fitting that we’re your collection?”
I took a step back. “I don’t want you to belong to me like that.”
“Why not?” Atlas canted his head. “We are yours. You’ve already branded yourself in our lives, hell, on our very souls.”
“I don’t know about you, but I love the double entendre just like Snatched. The Collection is perfect for fashion.” Kim wrapped his arm around my chest.
Branded. If I’d branded them, they’d done the same to me.
Suddenly, I didn’t mind it so much. We were exactly where we were supposed to be.
Together.
The End